International

• Tuesday, August 22nd 2017 - 07:04 UTC

  Brexit: A paper on the role of the European Court of Justice expected this week

  

  In the latest in a series of papers setting out its Brexit negotiating plans, the government will say disputes need to be resolved “in a clear and sensible way”, saying it is determined to agree new arrangements. This will be crucial for both UK and EU citizens and businesses that buy and sell across borders, it says.

• Tuesday, August 22nd 2017 - 06:23 UTC

  Chinese automaker “deeply interested” in buying Jeep from Fiat Chrysler

  

  A Chinese automaker is “deeply interested” in buying Jeep, an iconic American brand, from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in a move that likely would face political opposition in the U.S. and create angst among workers. Great Wall Motor told trade publication Automotive News it also has “indirectly expressed interest” in acquiring the brand known for its rugged, off-road vehicles.

• Tuesday, August 22nd 2017 - 06:10 UTC

  Trump announces greater involvement in Afghanistan; Taliban pledge to fight on

  

  President Donald Trump announced on Monday night his administration’s plans to continue the engagement of the United States military in Afghanistan, a strategy meant to combat the influence of the Taliban and the ISIS affiliate in the country that will for go a formal timetable and instead rely upon “conditions on the ground” to guide U.S. activities.

• Tuesday, August 22nd 2017 - 05:45 UTC

  Big Ben falls silent after Monday's midday bongs until Remembrance Sunday and New Year

  

  The Big Ben has fallen silent for major repair work expected to last until 2021. The Monday midday bongs were the last regular chimes from the famous bell until the repairs to its tower are complete. It will still be used for special occasions, including New Year's Eve and Remembrance Sunday.

• Monday, August 21st 2017 - 10:42 UTC

  Warnings about Northern Ireland peace funding and Brexit negotiations

  

  Lord Peter Hain has called on the government to “soften” its approach to ”taking the UK out of the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).” The former secretary of state claimed that such a move could result in Northern Ireland losing millions of pounds of peace funding. The ECJ oversees reconciliation grants to North Ireland in the region of £240 million.

• Monday, August 21st 2017 - 10:34 UTC

  Intellectual property: Trump orders investigation into China's policies and practices

  

  United States has formally launched an investigation into China's policies regarding intellectual property. The top US trade official, Robert Lighthizer, said his office had “determined that these critical issues merit a thorough investigation”.

• Monday, August 21st 2017 - 08:45 UTC

  Hard Brexit proposal to remove all trade tariffs and barriers sparks strong controversy

  

  Removing all trade tariffs and barriers would help generate an annual £135bn uplift to the UK economy, according to a group of pro-Brexit economists. A “hard” Brexit is “economically much superior to soft” argues Prof Patrick Minford, lead author of a report from Economists for Free Trade, which insists that eliminating tariffs, either within free trade deals or unilaterally, would deliver huge gains.

• Monday, August 21st 2017 - 08:22 UTC

  Terrorists in Barcelona were planning major attacks: they had 120 gas canisters ready to use in vehicles

  

  The twelve strong terror cell that carried out two attacks in Spain this week had collected 120 gas canisters and was planning to use them in vehicle attacks, Spanish police say. Canisters were found at a house, said to be used by the cell, that blew up in the town of Alcanar on Wednesday night.

• Sunday, August 20th 2017 - 13:47 UTC

  Indian Navy all women team in global tour scheduled to call in Falklands

  

  A six-member women’s team of the Indian Navy will set sail in early September to circumnavigate the globe on the sailing vessel, INSV Tarini. This is the first-ever circumnavigation of the globe by an all-woman crew from India, and one of the calls will take place in the Falkland Islands.

• Saturday, August 19th 2017 - 10:25 UTC

  Baton’s subpolar stopover in Falklands before Europe

  

  The Commonwealth Games Queens Baton visits all 71 Commonwealth countries and territories on its journey from Buckingham Palace to the host city. In 2018 that is Gold Coast in Australia; one territory is missing from the relay, because it has not been possible to schedule St Helena this year. However several Saints saw and carried the baton in the Falkland Islands, so we have helped a little bit.