International

• Friday, September 27th 2013 - 22:12 UTC

  EC concludes fact-finding mission in Gibraltar/Spain border; tax fraud was not in agenda

  

  European Commission said that it had received no “official, specific” complaint alleging tax fraud in Gibraltar, despite Spain’s repeated accusations against the Rock. Commission spokesman Olivier Bailly made the clear statement as he reminded reporters that allegations of tax evasion had not formed part of Wednesday’s fact-finding mission to the border.

• Friday, September 27th 2013 - 21:52 UTC

  “Appalling conditions” for workers readying the 2022 World Cup hosted by Qatar

  

  Qatar 2022 World Cup organisers say they are “appalled” by the findings of an investigation into the treatment of migrant workers in the country. The Guardian reported Nepalese workers in Qatar “face exploitation and abuses that amount to modern-day slavery”.

• Friday, September 27th 2013 - 05:47 UTC

  Argentina and Iran meet on Saturday to address the Jewish community bombing

  

  Argentine foreign minister Hector Timerman has confirmed that he will meet Iranian counterpart Javadi Zarif, in a talk designed to throw light on the current status of the AMIA agreement. The meeting coincides with the announcement that the six major powers and Iran have agreed to meet in Geneva next month for further talks on resolving the standoff with Tehran on its nuclear program.

• Thursday, September 26th 2013 - 22:43 UTC

  Argentina appeals Judge Griesa ruling stating central bank reserves are ‘seizable’ for certain purposes

  

  New York Judge Thomas Griesa has ruled against Argentina's request to dismiss a lawsuit over the Central Bank (BCRA) reserves, which if upheld could allow holdout creditors to seize assets belonging to the country.

• Thursday, September 26th 2013 - 21:36 UTC

  Spain out of recession “but not out of the crisis”, Rajoy tells US financial media

  

  President Mariano Rajoy making the round of financial media in New York this week, said Spain had emerged from recession in the third quarter with estimated economic growth of 0.1% to 0.2% forecast and 0.5% to 1% in 2014.

• Thursday, September 26th 2013 - 21:29 UTC

  Rajoy calls on UK for dialogue on Gibraltar, last ‘colonial anachronism’ in Europe

  

  Addressing the UN General Assembly Spanish President Mariano Rajoy described the Gibraltar situation as a ‘colonial anachronism’ and criticized UK’s dialogue denial attitude on the Rock’s sovereignty. The speech comes at a tense moment in Gibraltar and Spain relations, but according to the Madrid press, Rajoy was less forceful than expected.

• Thursday, September 26th 2013 - 21:19 UTC

  FAO believes livestock greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced as much as 30%

  

  Wider use of available best practices and technologies could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock sector by as much as 30%, according to a new study released on Thursday by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO.

• Thursday, September 26th 2013 - 21:04 UTC

  A sugar rush that could fuel the economy

  

  By R. Viswanathan (*) - India should take its cue from Brazil and invest in ethanol as a viable commercial substitute for costly petrol.

• Thursday, September 26th 2013 - 20:55 UTC

  Falklands/Gibraltar: Argentina and Spain agree to team up and pressure UK

  

  Argentina and Spain agreed on Thursday to team up to pressure Britain to discuss their separate claims on British territories: the Falklands in the south Atlantic and Gibraltar near the southern tip of Spain.

• Thursday, September 26th 2013 - 06:14 UTC

  Uruguayan diplomat awarded a Chevening scholarship at Oxford University

  

  British Ambassador in Uruguay hosted a lunch in honor of Laura Silva, awarded a Chevening Scholarship to study in the United Kingdom. As part of the Foreign Service Program, Laura will pursue a Master in Diplomatic Studies at Oxford University.