International

• 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.

• Monday, July 2nd 2012 - 05:56 UTC

  New World Bank president pledges to help emerging markets keep expanding

  

  Jim Yong Kim, who took over as World Bank president said his first task will be to help emerging markets keep expanding at a time of stress for the world economy.

• Monday, July 2nd 2012 - 05:48 UTC

  Gay cruise vessel banned from Casablanca forced to dock in Malaga

  

  The cruise ship “Nieuw Amsterdam” on its present voyage catering to gay clients docked Sunday in Malaga, south of Spain, after Moroccan authorities prohibited it from making its scheduled port of call in Casablanca.

• Monday, July 2nd 2012 - 05:22 UTC

  Gibraltar will never cede “an iota of sovereignty to Spain”, says Picardo

  

  Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo has declared that he will never hand over “a grain of sand, a drop of water or a breath of air to Spain”. In an interview with the Spanish national press agency EFE, in Gibraltar House in London, Picardo regretted the “difficult relations with Spain” but reiterated that he would never cede “an iota of sovereignty to Spain.”

• Monday, July 2nd 2012 - 05:13 UTC

  Gibraltar and Spain agree on new round of fishing activities technical talks

  

  Gibraltar and Spain are edging closer to a fishing activities agreement and a further round of technical talks between the Gibraltar Government’s fishing commission and Spanish fishermen has been agreed for next week.

• Saturday, June 30th 2012 - 05:25 UTC

  Relief in EU: German parliament approved Euro rescue fund and fiscal pact

  

  As expected, more than two-thirds of the lawmakers in Germany's parliament moved on Friday to approve the permanent Euro rescue fund, the European Stability Mechanism, and a fiscal pact long championed by Chancellor Angela Merkel.

• Saturday, June 30th 2012 - 05:19 UTC

  Brazil farmers rush to cash soy exports on high prices and favourable exchange rate

  

  Brazil could soon run out of soybeans to export this year after farmers’ frontloaded their shipments more than normal to cash in on high international prices and a favourable exchange rate.