International

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 16:10 UTC

  Foreign Office complains to Spain search of a UK diplomatic bag at the Gibraltar border

  

  The British Government said Spain’s decision to search a UK diplomatic bag at the border with Gibraltar was “a serious infringement” of international diplomatic protocol. In a statement, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office said it had called on the Spanish Government to look into the incident and ensure it was not repeated.

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 10:12 UTC

  UK 'unreserved' support for Gibraltar's international sports: first football, now rugby

  

  Britain’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Maria Miller, has pledged her ‘unreserved’ support Gibraltar’s international sporting ambitions. The backing for Gibraltar comes as the Gibraltar Rugby Football Union (GRFU) goes through the process of FIRA/AER (European Rugby Federation) membership after being previously rejected and blocked by Spain last July despite meeting the necessary criteria.

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 07:25 UTC

  US defies China's 'air defense identification zone' over disputed islands

  

  US has flown two B-52 bombers over disputed islands in the East China Sea in defiance of new Chinese air defense rules, officials say. China set up its “air defense identification zone” on Saturday insisting that aircraft obey its rules or face “emergency defensive measures”.

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 07:21 UTC

  Independent Scotland would keep the pound, the Queen and oil and gas reserves

  

  Scottish leader Alex Salmond unveiled on Tuesday what he called a “mission statement” for the country’s future: a 649-page paper detailing many of the terms for an independent Scotland. The country’s first minister released his Scottish National Party’s so-called white paper ahead of a referendum on independence from the United Kingdom set for next September.

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 07:07 UTC

  Premier Oil with operations in the Falklands launches bond to diversify its debt away from banks

  

  FTSE 250-listed energy explorer Premier Oil with strong interests in the Falkland Islands oil industry, launched this week a new bond, as it looks to diversify its debt away from banks.

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 06:35 UTC

  YPF shares and Buenos Aires market soar to record highs on announcement of agreement with Repsol

  

  Argentina's Merval benchmark stock index climbed 3% on Tuesday to finish at a record high of 5,696.2 points, following a strong hike in YPF and Edenor stocks. YPF shares soared 11%, while electricity distributor Edenor saw prices close 19% up at the end of trading.

• Tuesday, November 26th 2013 - 20:41 UTC

  UK and EU have not been firm enough with Spain, claims former Royal Navy chief

  

  Current events in Gibraltar and the continued incursions by Spanish vessels in the Rock's territorial waters were addressed in a strong piece in the Daily Telegraph by the former head of the Royal Navy, Lord Admiral West. This follows calls from British MPs last week for pressure to be brought on Spain within the context of NATO.

• Tuesday, November 26th 2013 - 20:34 UTC

  Spain prepared to take UK to the EU Court of Justice over Gibraltar waters

  

  Spain’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, Miguel Arias Cañete, said Spain would take the UK to the European Court of Justice if the European Commission failed to take action over reclamation works in Gibraltar waters.

• Tuesday, November 26th 2013 - 20:27 UTC

  EU/US/UK ambassadors openly support Paraguayan prosecutors investigating corruption and abuse in Congress

  

  The United States, European Union and UK ambassadors in Asuncion openly expressed their support for Paraguay prosecutors that have been threatened by members of Congress because they insist in investigating lawmakers that are allegedly involved in corruption cases.

• Tuesday, November 26th 2013 - 20:17 UTC

  Pope Francis condemns unfettered capitalism as a ”new tyranny' and calls for renewed Church

  

  Pope Francis called for renewal of the Roman Catholic Church and attacked unfettered capitalism as “a new tyranny”, urging global leaders to fight poverty and growing inequality in the first major work he has authored alone as pontiff.