International

Monday, January 23rd 2012 - 15:15 UTC
New Spanish minister proposes Gibraltar ‘quadripartite’ talks on cooperation

Spanish Foreign Affairs minister Jose Garcia-Margallo is seeking to revisit talks on co-operation with the disputed Gibraltar UK Overseas Territory on a new variation of the formulas for talks: a quadripartite forum.
Monday, January 23rd 2012 - 15:13 UTC
Mass pilot whale stranding in New Zealand; desperate efforts to save remaining 77

New Zealand officials say at least 22 pilot whales have died after being beached on the country's South Island.
Monday, January 23rd 2012 - 15:10 UTC
Dutch school girl mariner completes youngest round the world solo

Dutch schoolgirl sailor Laura Dekker, who has fulfilled her dream to become the youngest round-the-world sailor, arrived late on Saturday on the Dutch Antillean Island of St Maarten in the Caribbean, a year and a day after starting her epic voyage and breaking all the records she set out to surpass.
Monday, January 23rd 2012 - 15:00 UTC
Cairn Energy sells 30% of stake in Greenland licence to Norway’s Statoil

British Oil explorer Cairn Energy has sold off a 30% stake in one of its Greenland exploration licences to Norwegian group Statoil. It is part of Cairn's plan to bring in a partner in to share the costs of exploration in the Arctic.
Monday, January 23rd 2012 - 04:08 UTC
Asia welcomes the Year of the Dragon, the most revered sign of the Chinese zodiac

Asia welcomed the Year of the Dragon on Monday with a cacophony of fireworks, hoping the mightiest sign in the Chinese zodiac will usher in the wealth and power it represents.
Sunday, January 22nd 2012 - 23:36 UTC
A “psychological war” to persuade UK to negotiate Falklands’ sovereignty

So far it’s a psychological war to try and persuade the British to begin Falkland Islands a sovereignty discussion with Argentina but there is nothing to discuss about since the Islanders don’t want to belong to Argentina and that’s it, said UK retired Major General Julian Thompson.
Sunday, January 22nd 2012 - 23:30 UTC
Historic Portsmouth dockyard could face the axe, says The Sunday Times

UK arms manufacturer BAE Systems said it was reviewing its warship business but refused to comment on a newspaper report that it was set to close the historic Portsmouth dockyard.
Sunday, January 22nd 2012 - 20:45 UTC
“Argentina not looking to organize a blockade of the Malvinas”, says Timerman

Argentine Foreign Affairs minister Hector Timerman said that Argentina “is not looking to organize a blockade of the Malvinas” but only wants “to counter British interests” based on the Unasur and Mercosur decisions to bar Falklands’ flagged vessels from having access to regional ports.
Sunday, January 22nd 2012 - 05:29 UTC
EU shipping safety review to take full account of Costa Concordia sinking

A review of EU passenger ship safety rules is being stepped up following the Costa Concordia shipwreck off the Italian coast. Europe’s transport Commissioner Siim Kallas announced Friday that the review, which began in 2010, must take full account of the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the cruise vessel Costa Concordia in shallow water a week ago.
Sunday, January 22nd 2012 - 04:57 UTC
Argentina is “not intimidating Falkland Islanders”; claiming sovereignty right

Argentine Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo, quickly hit back at the statements made by the British government, after Foreign Secretary William Hague said that Argentina “should stop their intimidation attempts” against the Falkland Islanders.