International

• Tuesday, August 9th 2016 - 22:18 UTC

  Seabirds threatened by by-catches, pollutants and climate change, according to BAS research

  

  A review of breeding distributions, population trends, threats and key priorities for conservation actions on land and at sea for the 29 species covered by the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP) has been published in the journal Biological Conservation. It reveals increased conservation efforts are required in order to secure a sustainable future for albatrosses and large petrels.

• Tuesday, August 9th 2016 - 09:11 UTC

  Pope Francis blesses massive dignity march in Buenos Aires against unemployment and recession

  

  Argentines with the support of the Catholic Church and a message from Pope Francis, on Sunday turned an annual religious celebration into a massive rally to protest growing unrest over unemployment, recession, inflation and a promised second half of the year rebound which remains absent.

• Tuesday, August 9th 2016 - 08:51 UTC

  China's foreign trade further declines in July: imports down by 12.5%

  

  Chinese exports have seen a further decline in July, adding to concerns over the global economic outlook. Exports fell by 4.4% compared to a year earlier, which was a slight improvement over June's 4.8% drop but still worse than analysts had been expecting. And imports were also weaker than estimated, down by 12.5%.

• Tuesday, August 9th 2016 - 08:24 UTC

  Ban Ki-moon praises Argentina's commitment with the UN and cooperation with other countries

  

  United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon applauded on Monday Argentina's commitment and strong partnership with the UN and its cooperation with other countries. Ban Ki-moon arrived in Buenos Aires from Paraguay and previously from Brazil where he was part of the inauguration of the Rio Olympic Games.

• Sunday, August 7th 2016 - 20:39 UTC

  Venezuela claims “the triple alliance” want to storm the Mercosur presidency

  

  Venezuela announced it will not allow Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, “the triple alliance” to storm the Mercosur pro tempore presidency, which the government of president Nicolas Maduro is fully exercising. Caracas also claimed that economic forces operating in the dark are interested in a Mercosur “implosion”.

• 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.