International

Wednesday, June 26th 2013 - 18:11 UTC
UN warns about the rise of legal ‘designer drugs’ which entice young consumers

A sharp rise in the variety of legal “designer drugs” with names that entice young people into thinking they pose no risk is alarming from a public health standpoint, the United Nations drugs agency said.
Wednesday, June 26th 2013 - 17:15 UTC
Ecuador tells Washington to submit its position on Snowden case ‘in writing’

Ecuador said on Wednesday the United States must “submit its position” regarding Edward Snowden to the Ecuadorian government in writing as it considers the former U.S. spy agency contractor's request for asylum. Ecuador, in a statement from its embassy in Washington, said it would review the request “responsibly”.
Wednesday, June 26th 2013 - 16:02 UTC
Francis names special commission to review activities of scandal-plagued Vatican bank

Pope Francis has set up a special commission to review the activities of the scandal-plagued Vatican bank to ensure that it operated in “harmony” with the mission of the Catholic Church, the Vatican confirmed.
Wednesday, June 26th 2013 - 15:24 UTC
Preserving independence for the Falklands

By Mike Summers (*)
Published in The Washington Times

In 1776, a group of American patriots wrote a letter to their king informing him they were unhappy with their political status and had plans to change it. Americans know this story well. That letter, the Declaration of Independence, formed the United States' profound belief that we all have “certain unalienable rights,” including “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Tuesday, June 25th 2013 - 23:33 UTC
Argentina appeals to US Supreme Court its legal battle with ‘holdout’ creditors

Argentina took on Tuesday its legal battle with “holdout” creditors to the US Supreme Court by appealing an adverse decision handed down by a lower US court in October of last year, according to Telam the official news agency from the Argentine government.
Tuesday, June 25th 2013 - 19:49 UTC
Chinese stocks tumble as Beijing announces an end to the era of cheap credit

Chinese stocks touched a four-and-a-half-year low on Tuesday amid persistent concerns over the government's credit-tightening policy. The Shanghai Composite SSE index fell as much as 5.8% at one point, before a late rally meant it ended down 0.3%.
Tuesday, June 25th 2013 - 18:39 UTC
Repsol to consider YPF compensation offer, including stake in shale deposits

Spanish oil corporation Repsol's board is scheduled to consider on Wednesday a non-cash compensation offer from Argentina over the seizure of its majority stake in energy firm YPF, according to the Spanish government news agency EFE.
Tuesday, June 25th 2013 - 18:20 UTC
Foreign Office protests to Spain chase and shooting incident in Gibraltar waters

British Minister for Europe David Lidington strongly protested on Tuesday to Spanish Minister, Íñigo Mendez de Vigo, following an incident in British Gibraltar territorial waters, when allegedly shots were fired.
Tuesday, June 25th 2013 - 17:08 UTC
Argentine indigenous people ask Francis to intercede before Cristina Fernandez

Leaders of an Argentine indigenous community together with Nobel Peace Prize Adolfo Perez Esquivel met on Monday with Pope Francis and requested he intercedes before Argentine president Cristina Fernandez so that she receives a delegation from the Qom community.
Tuesday, June 25th 2013 - 16:52 UTC
Colombia establishes closer information security links with NATO

Colombia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization signed an agreement on information security that will allow exploring future cooperation and consultation in areas of common interest. The agreement was signed on Tuesday in Brussels by NATO Secretary General Ambassador Alexander Vershbow and the Defense Minister of Colombia, Juan Carlos Pinzón Bueno.