MercoPress https://en.mercopress.com/ South Atlantic News Agency en Copyright 2026, MercoPress. https://en.mercopress.com/web/img/en/mercopress-logo.gif MercoPress http://en.mercopress.com/ <![CDATA[Uruguay says RAF Falklands flight was medevac; Tierra del Fuego alleges airspace breach]]> Sources close to the Islands' administration who spoke with MercoPress had already indicated that many of these flights are medical evacuations of Islanders Uruguay's Ministry of Defense confirmed on Wednesday that the flight of a Royal Air Force (RAF) Airbus A400M Atlas between the Falkland Islands and Montevideo was a medical evacuation of two patients, authorized under decree 419/021, which permits the landing of foreign state aircraft for humanitarian reasons or force majeure. Uruguayan Air Force press spokesperson Marisol Diana provided the explanation to Informativo Uruguay.

]]> Thu, 16 Apr 2026 22:46:00 GMT <![CDATA[Logistics corridor to Falklands via Uruguay: former Kirchnerist diplomat denounces untracked flight]]> According to a source close to the Islands' administration who spoke with MercoPress, many of these flights are medical evacuations of Falkland Islanders A Royal Air Force (RAF) Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft operated on April 12 between Mount Pleasant base in the Falkland Islands and Carrasco airport in Montevideo, switching off its transponder during the return leg to the islands, rendering it invisible to civilian tracking systems, according to the specialized outlet Escenario Mundial, which identified the aircraft as registration ZM413 operating flights RRR4000 (outbound) and RRR4001 (return).

]]> Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:55:00 GMT <![CDATA[Falklands, Plant Heritage seeds to turn the Islands into a Cosmos garden]]> Speaking before the seeds departed Sheppard said “Cosmos are really an accessible plant. People can have a garden full of color from just a packet of seeds.” Falkland Islands gardeners will be receiving cosmos seeds from Jonathan Sheppard, known as “King Cosmos,” who holds National Plant Collections for both hollyhocks and cosmos, and grows all his plants without the use of pesticides.

]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:28:00 GMT <![CDATA[Falklands Government denies MV Bandero access over “questionable actions” at sea]]> The MV Bandero, a Captain Paul Watson Foundation vessel The Falkland Islands government has banned the MV Bandero, a Captain Paul Watson Foundation vessel, from entering its territorial waters following the ship's collision with a Norwegian industrial krill trawler in Antarctic waters on March 31. The order, signed on April 9 by the Acting Governor, took effect immediately.

]]> Sat, 11 Apr 2026 06:34:00 GMT <![CDATA[Falklands launches consultation on proposed National Nature Reserves]]> The proposed reserves are located on land owned by the Falklands Islands Government (FIG), Falklands Conservation, or other private landowners. The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) has launched a public consultation to seek views on its proposal to designate or expand National Nature Reserves. The proposal seeks to designate 10 new National Nature Reserves and expand 5 existing National Nature Reserves.

]]> Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:31:00 GMT <![CDATA[Chilean President Kast backs Argentine claim over Falklands in first state visit to Buenos Aires]]> Milei thanked Kast “on behalf of the Argentine government for the traditional support of the Chilean government on the Malvinas Islands Question.” Photo: Juan Mabromata / AFP Chilean President José Antonio Kast formally backed Argentina's sovereignty claim over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands and surrounding maritime areas during his first state visit to Buenos Aires, where he met his counterpart Javier Milei at the Casa Rosada.

]]> Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:05:00 GMT <![CDATA[Replacement of Ice Patrol HMS Protector in the Works?]]> HMS Protector a regular scientific explorer in Antarctica waters during the austral months. She is also a regular visitor and strongly linked to the Falklands Islands. Portsmouth News has reported that UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) has confirmed that capabilities for a future ice patrol ship are currently in the works. Minister for Defense readiness and industry, Luke Pollard, confirmed the development when responding to a parliamentary written question from Reform (former Tory) MP Andrew Rosindell.

]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:23:00 GMT <![CDATA[Falklands plans for oil future, Monday begins Economic Development Forum]]> From left to right: Targ Patience, Dr. Genève Phillip-Durham and Kathy Smith As of Monday April 6th the Falkland Islands will become a hub of conferences and workshops with the inauguration of the 2026 Economic Development Forum, prepared by the Falklands Chamber of Commerce and presented by the Falklands Development Corporation, FIDC, which will be looking ahead to the challenges from the oil and telecommunications industries and their transformative dynamics into the future.

]]> Sun, 05 Apr 2026 11:26:00 GMT <![CDATA[British ambassador calls Bolivia's Falklands/Malvinas support for Argentina “unacceptable”]]> Porter recorded a video outside Bolivia's Foreign Ministry building in which he declared that “the Falkland Islands are British, their sovereignty is not in question” and cited the 2013 referendum Argentina on Friday thanked Bolivia for its support on the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty claim and called “unfortunate” the remarks by the British ambassador in La Paz, Richard Porter, who branded the Bolivian position “deeply disappointing and unacceptable.”

]]> Sat, 04 Apr 2026 03:03:00 GMT <![CDATA[What did Milei say about Falklands oil and why does it matter for Sea Lion?]]> “We act with determination against unilateral and illegitimate activities that seek to exploit resources belonging to the Argentine people,” the president said Argentine President Javier Milei warned Thursday that his government "will respond with all necessary diplomatic measures" to protect the country's interests in the face of the advancing Sea Lion oil project, operated by Rockhopper Exploration and Navitas Petroleum in the North Falklands Basin. The remarks, delivered during the ceremony marking the 44th anniversary of the war, represent the Milei government's firmest stance yet on a project that has just cleared a decisive financial milestone.

]]> Fri, 03 Apr 2026 04:46:00 GMT