International

• Friday, February 24th 2012 - 07:34 UTC

  Extremely rare beaked whales filmed for the first time ever in Australian waters

  

  Australian researchers on Thursday revealed they had filmed a pod of extremely rare Shepherd's beaked whales for the first time ever.The Australian Antarctic Division team was tracking blue whales off the coast of Victoria state in January when they spotted the reclusive mammals, which are so rarely seen that no population estimates of the species exist.

• Friday, February 24th 2012 - 05:33 UTC

  Spain trusts Gibraltar and Malvinas cases will be addressed at next UN General Assembly

  

  Spain’s Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo trusts the next UN General Assembly will debate on the Gibraltar and Malvinas Islands conflicts, “and express support for negotiations”.

• Thursday, February 23rd 2012 - 06:33 UTC

  Argentine group insists with Falklands’ self determination and sharing natural resources

  

  A group of Argentine intellectuals, academics and free-thinkers have criticized President Cristina Fernandez government strategy of confronting the UK on the Malvinas Islands sovereignty dispute and called for dialogue that guarantees the self determination of the Falkland Islanders.

• Thursday, February 23rd 2012 - 05:19 UTC

  Spanish corporations freeze investment in Latam fearing the global crisis

  

  Spain’s main corporations are freezing investments in Latinamerica this year with no chances of an increase given the risk of the global financial crisis hitting negatively in the region, particularly Brazil and Mexico.

• Thursday, February 23rd 2012 - 05:14 UTC

  Mujica says presence of Prince William in Malvinas is not a ‘nice’ gesture

  

  Uruguayan president Jose Mujica said that the presence of Prince William, heir to the British Crown, in the Malvinas Islands is a gesture “not at all nice” and called for the dispute with Argentina not to become military because it’s no good for anybody, least for the region.

• Thursday, February 23rd 2012 - 04:30 UTC

  Wife of former PM Blair began legal action over hacking of her private phone

  

  The wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has begun legal action over the alleged interception of her private phone messages, her lawyer said on Wednesday, making her the latest public figure to be drawn into a hacking scandal that has shaken the country's media.

• Wednesday, February 22nd 2012 - 20:39 UTC

  British subs to provide under-the-ice data to help with Arctic climate change

  

  Data collected by Royal Navy vessels, as part of standard operations, is set to provide clues on Arctic climate change. Little is known about the areas of water underneath the Arctic ice, as sensors are difficult to place for long term deployment. Now UK environmental researchers are to be presented with previously unavailable information provided by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD).

• Wednesday, February 22nd 2012 - 17:21 UTC

  Royal Navy orders four 37.000 tons tankers to support renewed surface fleet and attack submarines

  

  A new generation of 37.000-tons tankers has been ordered for the Royal Navy fleet, the MoD announced Wednesday. The new Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) tankers will maintain the Royal Navy’s ability to refuel at sea and will provide fuel to warships and task groups.

• Wednesday, February 22nd 2012 - 16:33 UTC

  Cameron reaffirms to Rajoy 30.000 Gibraltarians right to self determination

  

  Britain will not negotiate with Spain on the question of sovereignty over Gibraltar without the approval of the colony's residents, Premier David Cameron said this week during a visit by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

• Wednesday, February 22nd 2012 - 04:04 UTC

  Argentina begins offensive to strengthen ties with CARICOM members

  

  Argentina is hoping to use its “strong political commitment” with St Lucia to strengthen ties with the wider Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping, its ambassador Marcelo Aldo Salviolo has said.