International

• Saturday, February 11th 2017 - 07:51 UTC

  Brexit Bill faces Lords' battle, where Tories do not have a majority

  

  Prime Minister Theresa May will face a parliamentary battle to get her Brexit Bill through the House of Lords as Labour launched its effort to rewrite the legislation. The House of Commons overwhelmingly backed legislation allowing the PM May to formally begin Brexit without altering it, but the British Government will face a stiffer test in the Lords where the Tories do not have a majority.

• Saturday, February 11th 2017 - 07:14 UTC

  UK's “exit bill” £ 48 billion? “It would be like leaving a bar without paying for your drinks”

  

  The European Commission has refused to discuss the size of the “exit bill” to be handed to the UK when it withdraws from the EU, amid reports the demand has been fixed at around £48 billion.

• Friday, February 10th 2017 - 18:49 UTC

  Goldman Sachs hedge fund closing London operations and moving to New York

  

  A Goldman Sachs hedge fund is closing its London operations and moving staff to New York, the firm has confirmed. About eight staff members who were part of the Goldman Sachs Investment Partners (GSIP) Team in London have been told to move. The decision follows the departure of the team's managing director, Nick Advani.

• Friday, February 10th 2017 - 18:38 UTC

  Greenpeace calls on Mitsubishi not to move salmon farms to Magallanes region in Chilean Patagonia

  

  Greenpeace has urged Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi to stop expanding its salmon farming operations in Magallanes, as part of its new global campaign focused on protecting the seas of Chilean Patagonia. The launch of the campaign, “Save the seas at the end of the world,” brought together people and activists who gathered in lighthouses along Chile's nearly 4,000 kilometres coastline to claim protection for ecosystems of the southern seas.

• Friday, February 10th 2017 - 11:28 UTC

  Spain must act intelligently in its approach to Gibraltar, says foreign minister

  

  Spain’s Foreign Minister, Alfonso Dastis, said that he believed Gibraltar should be Spanish, though he added Spain must be intelligent in its approach to the Rock. He was speaking during a wide-ranging interview on the morning politics show Los Desayunos, on state broadcaster TVE1.

• Thursday, February 9th 2017 - 15:45 UTC

  Cereal prices continue to rise despite improved supplies, says FAO

  

  The FAO Food Price Index averaged 173.8 in January, its highest value in almost two years, marking a 2.1% increase from its revised December value and 16.4% above its 2016 January level. The FAO Sugar Price Index surged 9.9% in the month, driven by expectations of protracted supply tightness in Brazil, India and Thailand.

• Thursday, February 9th 2017 - 07:28 UTC

  Brexit bill unchanged moves to House of Lords; Scots reprimanded for singing the EU national anthem

  

  Members of Parliament have overwhelmingly agreed to let the government begin the UK's departure from the EU as they voted for the Brexit bill. The draft legislation was approved by 494 votes to 122, and now moves to the House of Lords.

• Wednesday, February 8th 2017 - 11:20 UTC

  Rajoy speaks to Trump and offers to act as a link with Latin American countries

  

  United States President Donald Trump has expressed his commitment to NATO and bilateral cooperation with Spain during a telephone call with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, a media report said on Wednesday. They also discussed the fight against the terrorist group Islamic State (IS), and Spain's role as potential bridge with Latin American countries and Europe.

• Wednesday, February 8th 2017 - 10:49 UTC

  Scottish Parliament opposes UK government starting the Brexit process

  

  The Scottish Parliament has voted by 90 to 34 to oppose the UK government starting the Brexit process. The Supreme Court ruled last month that there was no legal need for Holyrood to give its consent to the triggering of Article 50, but First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would let MSPs have a say, despite it being largely symbolic.

• Wednesday, February 8th 2017 - 10:28 UTC

  British government manages to avoid conditions to the Brexit bill

  

  The British government has seen off an attempt to add conditions to its Brexit bill as a Conservative rebellion was avoided. MPs rejected a bid by Labour's Chris Leslie to force the government to consult Parliament on the deal struck with the EU before it is finalized. It came after ministers pledged that a “meaningful” vote would be offered.