International

• Wednesday, August 16th 2017 - 19:14 UTC

  Queen's Baton Relay of Commonwealth Games arrived in the Falkland Islands

  

  The Queen's Baton Relay of the Commonwealth Games has arrived in the Falkland Islands. The baton carries a message from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Head of the Commonwealth, and is travelling around the world prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games in April 2018. This tradition began in 1958. The baton visit was organised by the Falkland Islands Overseas Games Association (FIOGA)

• Wednesday, August 16th 2017 - 16:07 UTC

  Cunard celebrates Queen Elizabeth 50th anniversary with Mediterranean cruise

  

  Luxury cruise brand Cunard, is honoring the 50th anniversary of its longest serving ocean liner, QE2, with a special voyage onboard the luxury cruise liner Queen Elizabeth. The 50th anniversary of this much-loved ship will be remembered as Queen Elizabeth sets sail from Southampton on Friday 8 September for a 17-night voyage. Departing guests will enjoy Venice's iconic canals, mythical Mount Etna in Sicily and Corfu's leafy beauty.

• Wednesday, August 16th 2017 - 15:51 UTC

  Bill and Melinda Gates donate US$ 4.6bn to charity; since 1994 they have given US$ 35bn

  

  Bill Gates has given away US$4.6bn to charity in his largest donation since 2000. He remains the world's richest person, despite giving away 64 million shares in Microsoft. The shares are equivalent to 5% of his total fortune, currently estimated to be US$ 89.9bn.

• Wednesday, August 16th 2017 - 13:45 UTC

  Calls for a Brexit minister in Welsh cabinet: “the biggest constitutional challenge of our time”

  

  A Brexit minister should be appointed to put Wales' interests “at the centre” of negotiations, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies has said. Mr Davies said the first minister could not handle the “biggest constitutional challenge of our time” alone and insisted the Welsh government should be reconfigured to give “strong and constructive representation” to UK ministers on EU negotiations.

• Wednesday, August 16th 2017 - 10:29 UTC

  UK post-Brexit customs plan “is almost laughable” says Scottish First Minister Sturgeon

  

  First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon has dismissed the UK government's plans for a post-Brexit customs deal with the EU as a “daft 'have cake and eat it' approach”. UK ministers have set out plans for an “ambitious new customs arrangement” with the EU after the UK leaves.

• Wednesday, August 16th 2017 - 09:39 UTC

  Air carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth arrives at her home port of Portsmouth

  

  HMS Queen Elizabeth, Britain's newest Aircraft carrier arrived at its home port of Portsmouth this Wednesday morning for the first time. The 280 meters long carrier is currently undergoing sea trials since it left Rosyth dockyard in Scotland in June.

• Wednesday, August 16th 2017 - 09:22 UTC

  UK rejects any border posts between Ireland and Ulster, according to Brexit paper

  

  The United Kingdom government has said it does not want any border posts between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in its new position paper on Brexit. The paper is part of its negotiations with the European Union and the broad ideas in the document appear familiar.

• Wednesday, August 16th 2017 - 08:02 UTC

  The iconic Big Ben will undergo conservation and remain silent until 2021

  

  Since it first rang out in 1859, Big Ben has become one of London’s most iconic landmarks, faithfully marking every hour and quarter hour with resounding bongs and tinkling chimes. But a four-year conservation project will soon cause the historic clock tower to fall silent, as Tara John reports for Time.

• Tuesday, August 15th 2017 - 15:44 UTC

  Trump orders review of China's practices regarding intellectual property; Beijing warns it “will not sit idle”

  

  President Donald Trump has asked his country's top trade official to review China's practices regarding intellectual property. The move was incremental, but could eventually lead to the US imposing trade sanctions.

• Tuesday, August 15th 2017 - 14:52 UTC

  UK wants to secure a post-Brexit “ambitious new customs arrangement” with the EU

  

  The UK has set out the “ambitious new customs arrangement” it wants to secure with the EU after Brexit. Ministers said the plans would mean the “freest and most frictionless possible trade” with the rest of Europe and could include a “temporary customs union” after Brexit to prevent border problems as the UK leaves the EU.