International

• Friday, December 20th 2013 - 05:57 UTC

  Argentina files complaint with WTO against EU duties on bio-diesel

  

  Argentina has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization against the European Union’s decision to impose anti-dumping duties on its biodiesel exports. The duties are “clearly protectionist” and will affect annual sales worth more than 1.5 billion, Argentina’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday on its website.

• Thursday, December 19th 2013 - 06:25 UTC

  UK claims Argentina escalating Falklands dispute to divert public opinion from economic problems

  

  Britain accused the Argentine government on Tuesday of revving up a dispute over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands to try to divert public opinion attention away from the country's severe economic problems.

• Thursday, December 19th 2013 - 06:06 UTC

  Brazil surprises and hands Sweden Gripens the contract for 36 new fighters

  

  Sweden's Saab AB prevailed over U.S. giant Boeing and French manufacturer Dassault Aviation in a competition to supply the Brazilian air force with 36 aircraft to replace its aging Mirage 2000s, Brazil said Wednesday.

• Thursday, December 19th 2013 - 05:41 UTC

  Euro-zone agrees on banking reform, another step towards banking union

  

  Euro-zone finance ministers have agreed on a long-awaited pact on how to deal with failing banks in the region. It aims to create a 55bn euro fund - financed by the banking industry, over the next 10 years. The fund would be backed by a new agency, which will decide on how to deal with failing banks.

• Wednesday, December 18th 2013 - 16:46 UTC

  Falklands to cash 146m dollars from tax on farm-out deal in oil industry

  

  An agreement has been reached between the Falkland Islands government and Rockhopper Exploration regarding tax arising from the Sea Lion farm-out to Premier Oil, an operation involving a billion US dollars, and which according to the settlement generated a credit of 146m dollars for the Islands Treasury.

• Wednesday, December 18th 2013 - 06:43 UTC

  First ruling against US government 'metadata' collection; Obama meets top technology companies leaders

  

  A US judge has ruled the National Security Agency's mass collection of telephone data may be unconstitutional. Federal District Judge Richard Leon said the electronic spy agency's practice was an “arbitrary invasion”.

• Wednesday, December 18th 2013 - 06:19 UTC

  Falklands oil industry: Buenos Aires rejects UK formal protest; 'Malvinas are Argentine'

  

  Argentina formally rejected on Tuesday the United Kingdom's 16 December protest against the latest Argentine hydrocarbons legislation which seeks to criminalize oil industry activities in Falklands/Malvinas Islands waters and which London argues is not applicable to the Islands.

• Tuesday, December 17th 2013 - 17:58 UTC

  Beijing thanks Argentina for protecting Chinese-owned stores during recent riots

  

  China expressed appreciation on Monday for Argentina's efforts to handle recent looting and damage to supermarkets owned by overseas Chinese. Beijing last week urged Buenos Aires to protect Chinese citizen's security and interests after one Chinese was killed in recent riots and looting.

• Tuesday, December 17th 2013 - 17:51 UTC

  West Antarctic ice sheet loss, one of the multi-year projects to be started this year by BAS

  

  With the Antarctic Summer well underway, British Antarctic Territory Commissioner Peter Hayes has sent his well wishes to British Antarctic Survey staff (BAS) working on the continent over the coming months. In a recent letter to UK Base commanders Dr Hayes commented:

• Tuesday, December 17th 2013 - 03:04 UTC

  Indian designed tablet goes on sale in the UK at £30 (48 US dollars)

  

  A tablet costing £30 (48 US dollars) has gone on sale in the UK. The UbiSlate 7Ci, made by UK-based company Datawind, is the commercial version of the Aakash 2 tablet, which was originally launched in India, where it is mainly used by students and was designed to provide cheap internet access to help improve education.