International

• Sunday, August 7th 2016 - 17:56 UTC

  Falklands' permission for new demining program this summer

  

  The Falkland Islands Planning and Building Committee has granted permission to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to undertake clearance of land mines (a technical assessment) at various sites around the Falklands.

• Sunday, August 7th 2016 - 17:47 UTC

  “Independent Falkland Islands”, Di Tella's proposal to Rifkind in 1997

  

  The Evening Standard has published a brief summary of the book, “Power and Pragmatism”, which collects the memoirs of former foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind, and there are some interesting passages referred to talks with Argentine officials about the future of the Falkland Islands.

• Friday, August 5th 2016 - 21:18 UTC

  Rio Games have an international counterterrorism office, a first for an Olympic event

  

  A lot of people are fretting about the safety of the Rio Olympic Games. Zika fears, the notoriously unsafe water in Guanabara Bay, an Olympic venue so filthy that some rowers and sailors are planning to wear protective gear and of course violent crime.

• Friday, August 5th 2016 - 12:07 UTC

  UK admits economy contraction and announces a bold package of stimulus measures

  

  The Bank of England has unveiled a series of stimulus measures in the wake of Brexit, including its first interest rate cut since the global financial crisis (2009), as it tries to jumpstart an economy shocked by Britain’s vote to leave the European Union.

• Thursday, August 4th 2016 - 23:08 UTC

  “Double-lock” commitment for Gibraltar ensures UK minister for Europe

  

  Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo has met with the new Minister for Europe, Sir Alan Duncan, in London, where he set out the concerns that Brexit has created in the Rock. Mr. Picardo also outlined the opportunities that could now be exploited as a result of a new relationship with the EU.

• Thursday, August 4th 2016 - 22:59 UTC

  FAO Price Index reports modest decline in July as grains and vegetable oils drop

  

  The international prices for major food commodities saw a modest decline in July, following five consecutive months of increases. The FAO Food Pice Index (FPI) averaged 161.9 points in July 2016, slipping 0.8 percent (1.3 points) below its level in June and 1.4 percent below its level of July 2015.

• Thursday, August 4th 2016 - 22:09 UTC

  RMS St Helena schedule extended another year until airport is ready for commercial flights

  

  RMS St. Helena, one of the last Royal Mail Ships in the world is to continue serving her remote South Atlantic island namesake until 1 July 2017, the St Helena Government has announced. The RMS passenger and freight service will continue to operate between Cape Town, St Helena and Ascension Island with the extended schedule confirmed by the island's director of tourism.

• Wednesday, August 3rd 2016 - 07:12 UTC

  US 'Dream team' rented cruise liner “Silver Cloud” as their Olympic Village

  

  Multi-millionaire members of the US Olympic basketball team have rented a massive luxury cruise ship to call their home while they compete at the Rio Olympics. Super rich members of the 'Dream Team' are shirking the nightmare of the Olympic Village, still undergoing finishing touches in some areas and likely to remain “under construction” throughout the games in others. Members of the women's team are also reported to be calling the cruise ship home.

• Wednesday, August 3rd 2016 - 06:58 UTC

  Rio Games opening tailored to the current economic conditions in Brazil

  

  Rio de Janeiro Olympics opening ceremony on Friday will break with the recent tradition of large-scale and expensive shows, featuring a low-emissions cauldron and an “analogue” experience, executive producer Marco Balich said.

• Tuesday, August 2nd 2016 - 06:07 UTC

  China's leading role in Argentina reviewed and confirmed by Macri

  

  China’s role in Argentina’s foreign relations will be more balanced than during the Kirchner administrations, with a larger role played instead by the United States and European countries, the country’s ambassador to Beijing Diego Guelar said, claiming Chinese investment will have to be more competitive.