International

• Monday, August 29th 2016 - 06:49 UTC

  Germany admits US/Europe trade talks have failed; growing fears of populism reactions

  

  Talks aimed at setting up a U.S.-European free trade zone have run aground because of intransigence on Washington's part, a top German politician said Sunday. The Obama administration and the 28-member European Union have been in talks to set up the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP, which would be the world's largest free trade zone.

• Monday, August 29th 2016 - 04:11 UTC

  Venezuela and Iran announce new “dynamic bilateral relations”

  

  Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro named Chief General Jesus Gonzalez as the country's new ambassador to Iran on Saturday, while announcing the beginning of a new dynamic era in Caracas-Tehran bilateral relations.

• Saturday, August 27th 2016 - 05:21 UTC

  NOAA “flying laboratory” scheduled to circle St Helena Island

  

  As part of an international study to be able to deliver more accurate weather forecasts across the South Atlantic, a United States NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) “flying laboratory” is planning to operate over St Helena this coming weekend, to undertake a series of weather-related measurements.

• Saturday, August 27th 2016 - 05:12 UTC

  PM Theresa May congratulates President Santos on the historic peace deal

  

  British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke with President Juan Manuel Santos to congratulate him about the historic peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). President Santos thanked the UK for its central role in helping reach the agreement.

• Saturday, August 27th 2016 - 04:40 UTC

  Falkland Islander voted as Chair of Cruise New Zealand, leading voice of the country's sector

  

  Falkland Islander Debbie Summers was this week voted in as Chair of Cruise New Zealand, the leading voice for the country’s cruise sector. Currently Executive Director of ID New Zealand Destination Management, Debbie left the Falklands nine years ago having progressed the Islands’ cruise ship industry as Tourism Manager for Sulivan Shipping Ltd.

• Saturday, August 27th 2016 - 04:26 UTC

  French ruling suspends “burkini” swimsuit ban in the Riviera resorts

  

  Mayors of French towns who banned the controversial “burkini” swimsuit have been warned they must heed a court ruling suspending the action. Human rights lawyer Patrice Spinosi said if any mayors did not comply, he would take each case to court but at least three mayors have said they will keep the bans on their beaches.

• Friday, August 26th 2016 - 11:16 UTC

  Blatter confident his six-year ban from football will be lifted

  

  Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter says he’s confident his six-year ban from football will be lifted. Blatter resigned as the head of FIFA in June 2015 after 17 years at the helm and just four days after his reelection for a fifth term he was handed an eight-year ban along with European football chief Michel Platini for ethics violations.

• Friday, August 26th 2016 - 08:35 UTC

  Malcorra behind the Portuguese candidate in her bid to become UN secretary-general

  

  Argentine foreign minister Susana Malcorra visited Cairo courting Egyptian support for her bid to become the next UN secretary-general, following on from her visit to Angola earlier in the week. The minister also met with secretary-general of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit. However the emergent frontrunner to succeed Ban Kimoon is ex Portuguese prime minister is Antonio Guterres.

• Friday, August 26th 2016 - 08:13 UTC

  Falklands and Montserrat sign marine spatial environment partnership accord

  

  UK Overseas Territories governments of the Falkland Islands and Montserrat have signed an agreement that facilitates a Territory to Territory partnership with the purpose of transferring knowledge and skills from the South Atlantic and the Caribbean. The skills and knowledge transfer will focus on information management and marine spatial planning.

• Thursday, August 25th 2016 - 07:13 UTC

  Edinburgh zoo King Penguin named “Brigadier Sir Nils Olav” by the King of Norway Guard

  

  On Monday the King of Norway's Guard paid a very special visit to RZSS Edinburgh Zoo to bestow a unique honor upon the resident king penguin Sir Nils Olav. Already a knight, the most famous king penguin in the world was given the new title of “Brigadier Sir Nils Olav”.