International

• Monday, December 16th 2013 - 16:31 UTC

  Falklands/Malvinas controversy: Argentine Senator rejects Oxford invitation and honors

  

  An Argentine national senator publicly rejected an invitation to attend a special business and academics conference in Oxford arguing he could not participate in an event coming from a country “which has troops occupying part of our motherland territory”.

• Monday, December 16th 2013 - 10:37 UTC

  Chile/Peru maritime dispute: International Court of Justice verdict January 27

  

  As the International Court of Justice is set to release its final verdict in January, Peru announces plans to build a new settlement less than a mile from the Chilean border. After years of tribulation, an end is finally in sight for a maritime dispute between Chile and Peru, with The Hague to announce its verdict on the case Jan. 27.

• Saturday, December 14th 2013 - 06:58 UTC

  Pot fumes: Mujica calls UN official, 'liar', after he accused Uruguay of 'pirate attitudes'

  

  President Jose Mujica reacted furiously to the accusation of Uruguay as a 'pirate state' from the UN official in charge of drugs' control, who was protesting the legalization of marihuana and because allegedly he was never received by the Uruguayan leader. Mujica bluntly replied, leaving aside all nice talk, “tell that old man to stop lying and stop showing off to the stands”.

• Saturday, December 14th 2013 - 06:40 UTC

  A Nobel peace prize for Uruguay for legalizing cannabis

  

  Uruguay's recent passing of a bill legalizing cannabis from production to distribution has generated headlines and controversy worldwide. The basics of the law is that current methods to combat drugs addiction and trade have failed completely and new options should be experimented.
  The Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins writes on the controversy.

• Saturday, December 14th 2013 - 06:34 UTC

  UK Armed Forces minister shows the flag in Gibraltar waters

  

  UK Minister for the Armed Forces said that a very, very long and continued presence in Gibraltar, with no defense cuts for the foreseeable future and full support of sovereignty were the key ingredients in the UK message he brought to the Rock. Before meeting Gibraltar authorities the minister took a tour of British Gibraltar waters with the Royal Navy.

• Saturday, December 14th 2013 - 06:26 UTC

  Bank of England concerned about potential for a UK housing market bubble

  

  Bank of England governor Mark Carney has said he is concerned about the “potential” for a UK housing market bubble, but will tighten lending requirements if necessary. Meanwhile, a survey suggested house prices will continue “surging ahead”.

• Saturday, December 14th 2013 - 06:21 UTC

  Lloyds bank 'collects' another fine: this time for retail conduct failings

  

  Lloyds Banking Group has been fined £28m for “serious failings” in relation to bonus schemes for sales staff. The UK Financial Conduct Authority said it was the largest fine that it or the former Financial Services Authority had imposed for retail conduct failings.

• Saturday, December 14th 2013 - 05:56 UTC

  Prince Harry and team of 'Walking with the wounded' reach South Pole

  

  Prince Harry and his fellow adventurers in the Walking With The Wounded expedition have arrived at the South Pole, the organizers have said. The group stood at the bottom of the world at 12:00 GMT Friday after more than three weeks of pulling sleds.

• Friday, December 13th 2013 - 18:06 UTC

  UK dengue fever health warning for Britons traveling to the Caribbean

  

  The United Kingdom has issued a new health advisory for Britons travelling to the Caribbean following a surge in the incidence of dengue fever in England. The steep rise in British cases of the mosquito-borne disease has forced the health agency Public Health England (PHE) to warn travelers to be on the alert for signs of the illness after visiting the Caribbean.

• Friday, December 13th 2013 - 13:14 UTC

  Madrid vows to block any independence referendum in Catalonia

  

  The Spanish government has vowed to block plans by parties in Catalonia to hold a referendum on independence on 9 November of next year. “The poll will not be held,” Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon told journalists moments after Catalonia's President, Artur Mas, announced a deal.