International

• Tuesday, July 3rd 2012 - 06:20 UTC

  The Vatican bank opens up to show it is not involved in ‘sinful’ activities

  

  Vatican bank, one of the more secretive institutions of the secrecy-obsessed Vatican, opened itself up to a little external scrutiny in a bid to show it is serious about fighting money-laundering and being more financially transparent.

• Tuesday, July 3rd 2012 - 03:31 UTC

  EU markets’ watchdog investigating three major credit rating agencies

  

  The European markets watchdog is investigating whether the big three credit ratings agencies' methods of evaluating banks are rigorous and transparent enough, its chairman Steven Maijoor told the Financial Times on Monday.

• Tuesday, July 3rd 2012 - 02:50 UTC

  Mandela’s eldest daughter South Africa’s ambassador to Buenos Aires

  

  Argentina has handed Nelson Mandela’s eldest daughter, Zenani Mandela-Dlamini, credentials as South Africa’s ambassador to Buenos Aires, the foreign ministry said on Monday.

• Tuesday, July 3rd 2012 - 02:16 UTC

  Euro zone unemployment reaches another record high in May

  

  Joblessness in the Euro zone rose to a new record high in May, pushed up by lay-offs in France, Spain and even stable Austria, as the several years long debt crisis continues to eat away at the currency bloc's fragile economy.

• Tuesday, July 3rd 2012 - 01:37 UTC

  ECB tells Greece to implement reforms: forget about “softer” austerity program

  

  Greece must not lose time trying to renegotiate its foreign bailout but focus on reforms instead, European Central Bank policymaker Joerg Asmussen said on Monday, in a blow to Greek hopes of winning quick concessions from its lenders.

• Tuesday, July 3rd 2012 - 00:50 UTC

  Japan and allies thwart South Atlantic Whale sanctuary at the IWC

  

  By a vote of 38 in favour to 21 opposed, the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary (SAWS) failed to meet the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) required 3/4 majority to pass and be established.

• Monday, July 2nd 2012 - 23:55 UTC

  Libor rates abuses: major shake up at Barclays’ and wider government inquiry into banking

  

  British Barclays’ group has promised a “root and branch review” of its business practices and announced the resignation of its chairman Marcus Agius. This follows Barclays' attempts to manipulate inter-bank lending rates, for which it was fined £290m.

• Monday, July 2nd 2012 - 23:36 UTC

  Jeremy Browne alerts Argentina against Falklands’ politicization of London Olympics

  

  In an interview to British newspaper Financial Times, United Kingdom’s Foreign Office Minister for South America, Jeremy Browne, alerted Argentina against the politicization of the London Olympics, set to begin on July 27th by bringing up claims over the Falklands.

• Monday, July 2nd 2012 - 06:19 UTC

  PM Cameron suggests referendum on UK’s conditions and EU membership

  

  British Prime minister David Cameron has indicated that a referendum on the United Kingdom’s conditions of European Union membership is increasingly likely, but ruled out one that offers voters a straight “in or out” choice.

• Monday, July 2nd 2012 - 06:07 UTC

  Spain economy shrinks in second quarter; forecasted to contract 1.7% this year

  

  Spain's economy shrank further in the second quarter but looks set to stabilise over the rest of the year while the government continues to push structural reforms and budget austerity, Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said.