International

Saturday, June 22nd 2013 - 05:55 UTC
FCO Director for Europe next British ambassador to Spain

The British Government has appointed a new ambassador to Spain. Simon Manley will succeed Giles Paxman as the UK’s ambassador in Madrid and non-resident ambassador to Andorra. He takes up the post in October.
Saturday, June 22nd 2013 - 05:51 UTC
Pacific Alliance in a “marketing success” and no concern for Mercosur, says Brazil

The Pacific Alliance is a ‘marketing success’ and does not represent a concern for Mercosur since it does not have the potential for physical integration as other blocks from the region, said Brazilian Foreign minister Antonio Patriota during a congressional hearing this week in Brasilia.
Friday, June 21st 2013 - 16:54 UTC
UK consolidates its position as world’s second defense exporter after the US

New figures published on Friday by the UK Trade and Investment Defense and Security Organization (UKTI DSO) show that UK defense exports totaled £8.8 billion over the past year, a rise of 62% from 2011 in a global market that grew by 45%. The results mean the UK maintains its position as the second most successful defense exporter after the United States.
Friday, June 21st 2013 - 16:41 UTC
Russia to supply China 270bn dollars in oil on 25 year contract

Russian state oil company Rosneft has agreed to double its oil supplies to China, in a deal worth 270bn dollars over 25 years. Under the terms of the deal, Rosneft will supply 300.000 barrels of oil a day to China starting in 2015.
Friday, June 21st 2013 - 16:29 UTC
Irish-bred sheepdog ‘Bob’ is auctioned at a record-breaking €11,000

An Irish-bred sheepdog has shot to fame by becoming the most expensive working dog ever sold at an official sale, making almost €11,000 at auction. Bob, a 15-month-old dog sold by John Bell of Parks Farm, Howden, Selby in East Yorkshire, for a record-breaking £9,240 at the working dog sale in Skipton Auction Mart, North Yorkshire, on May 17.
Friday, June 21st 2013 - 06:34 UTC
Malvinas referendum has left dispute resolution “hostage in London”, claims Timerman

Foreign minister Hector Timerman once again anticipated Argentina’s willingness to overcome the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands sovereignty conflict through dialogue, but unfortunately a resolution of the dispute was ‘hostage in London’ and of UK’s ‘imperial disdain’.
Friday, June 21st 2013 - 06:03 UTC
Main Mercosur obstacle is Argentina, say Brazilian farmers promoting an EU/Brazil trade accord

One of Mercosur ‘main obstacles’ is political and has its origin in Argentina, a country that is ‘extremely protectionist’, said the president of Brazil’s National Agriculture Confederation, CAN, Senator Katia Abreu currently in Brussels promoting the idea of a bilateral Brazil/EU free trade agreement.
Friday, June 21st 2013 - 06:01 UTC
Super star Messi and father must appear in court accused of tax fraud in Spain

Argentine soccer super star Lionel Messi and his father Jorge were ordered to appear before a Barcelona court in September after Spanish prosecutors accused the pair of tax fraud.
Thursday, June 20th 2013 - 16:40 UTC
C24 ‘no longer relevant’ and is ‘insulting’ to describe BOT/London relations as colonial

The Decolonization Committee is no longer relevant and to describe the relation of British Overseas Territories with the UK as colonial is insulting both for the BOT and London, said a Foreign Office spokeswoman following Thursday session when the Falklands/Malvinas case was debated at the UN C24.
Thursday, June 20th 2013 - 16:19 UTC
Falklands’ people happy exercising self-determination and with ‘current relationship with UK’

Falkland Islands representatives told the Special Decolonization Committee that under UN resolutions non self governing territories are entitled to exercise self determination and self government and C24 does not have the responsibility to judge on that right. Likewise the Falklands’ representatives again invited C24 to visit the Islands (seventh time) but with no reply.