International

• Wednesday, October 25th 2017 - 09:35 UTC

  Weak pound makes UK one of the best-value travel destinations, says Lonely Planet

  

  The weak pound has made the UK one of the world's best-value travel destinations, according to publisher Lonely Planet. Sterling has fallen sharply against the dollar and the euro since last year after ongoing Brexit uncertainty.

• Wednesday, October 25th 2017 - 08:57 UTC

  Australia and France fresh push for East Antarctica MPA in CCAMLR meeting

  

  Australia and France have kicked off a fresh push this week to create a vast marine sanctuary in pristine East Antarctica, hoping to build on the success of landmark deal secured last year at a key annual conservation summit.

• Tuesday, October 24th 2017 - 07:05 UTC

  Catalonia representatives anticipate civil disobedience against Madrid

  

  Representatives of the government and parliament in Catalonia have warned that civil disobedience may be possible if Madrid actually triggered the constitutional clause stopping the autonomous rights of the region.

• Tuesday, October 24th 2017 - 06:58 UTC

  Venezuela delaying debt payments: foreign reserves down to US$ 9.9 billion

  

  One week before Venezuela faces a critical debt payment, the distressed country is already late on a series of smaller bills. The nation's state-owned oil giant, Petroleos de Venezuela, SA, has two major bond payments totaling about US$2 billion coming due in the next two weeks.

• Tuesday, October 24th 2017 - 06:06 UTC

  Theresa May dismisses a call for second Brexit referendum: “out of the question”

  

  Prime Minister Theresa May has dismissed a call for a second referendum as “out of the question”, affirming that Britain will be leaving the EU. Mrs May was asked whether people should have the chance to vote again by Labour’s Paul Flynn, who said “second thoughts” were superior.

• Monday, October 23rd 2017 - 07:55 UTC

  Two of Italy's richest regions vote for more autonomy

  

  Two of Italy's richest northern regions have voted for more autonomy, according to their leaders. More than 90% of voters in Lombardy, home to Italy's financial capital Milan, and the Veneto region around Venice, voted yes in the non-binding referendum, their presidents claimed.

• Monday, October 23rd 2017 - 07:51 UTC

  Brexit countdown: PM May faces Parliament and Davis travels to Paris

  

  UK Brexit Secretary David Davis will travel to Paris on Monday for talks days after French President Emmanuel Macron suggested Britain would need to up its divorce payment offer to unlock trade negotiations. Davis will have dinner with French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in the UK’s latest attempt to jump-start withdrawal talks with the European Union.

• Monday, October 23rd 2017 - 07:45 UTC

  UK's biggest business lobbies calling for urgent Brexit transition deal

  

  Britain's five biggest business lobby groups are calling for an urgent Brexit transition deal, or they warn the UK risks losing jobs and investment. In a joint letter being sent to Brexit Secretary David Davis, the groups, including the Institute of Directors and CBI, will say time is running out.

• Monday, October 23rd 2017 - 07:40 UTC

  Staunch Remainer convinced there's no way to prevent UK leaving the EU

  

  The conservative former chancellor Ken Clarke has said he believes there is now no way to prevent the UK leaving the EU. The staunch Remainer said there was “little doubt” that Brexit would take place and argued a second referendum on any deal would be “folly”.

• Monday, October 23rd 2017 - 05:29 UTC

  WHO Director General rescinds Goodwill Ambassador appointment

  

  World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has announced that after much listening and reflection, he has decided to rescind the appointment of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe as a WHO Goodwill Ambassador for NCDs in Africa.