International

• Thursday, February 2nd 2012 - 21:41 UTC

  UK tells Spain: sovereignty negotiations only if Gibraltar so wishes

  

  Britain would only enter into sovereignty negotiations with Spain if Gibraltar was happy for it to do so, Europe Minister David Lidington told the House of Commons this week

• Thursday, February 2nd 2012 - 21:27 UTC

  Controversy over criteria for the award of the Nobel Peace Prize

  

  Swedish authorities are looking into whether the Nobel Peace Prize has been going to the “wrong” type of people, like human rights campaigners and environmentalists, in violation of prize founder Alfred Nobel's will.

• Thursday, February 2nd 2012 - 05:31 UTC

  American Airlines presents union plan to cut costs and 13.000 layoffs

  

  American Airlines said on Wednesday it needed to cut costs by 20% to stay afloat, as it met with union representatives to detail a plan for layoffs that reports said would total 13,000 workers.

• Thursday, February 2nd 2012 - 05:21 UTC

  US plans to wind down combat operations in Afghanistan by mid 2013

  

  The US will seek to wind down combat operations in Afghanistan during 2013, more than a year before a deadline for withdrawal, the defence secretary says. Speaking while travelling to a Nato summit, Leon Panetta said the US hoped to switch to a role training and supporting Afghan forces.

• Thursday, February 2nd 2012 - 05:15 UTC

  IMF warn Argentina on ‘lack of progress’ in addressing inflation data

  

  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned Argentina about its “lack of progress” in addressing inflation data and called on the country to implement “specific measures” within the next six months to improve it.

• Thursday, February 2nd 2012 - 05:13 UTC

  Cocker spaniel puppy will keep Catherine company while William is in Falklands

  

  Prince William's wife Kate will not be on her own during her husband's tour of duty in the Falkland Islands: the couple have a new puppy, St James's Palace said Wednesday.

• Thursday, February 2nd 2012 - 05:10 UTC

  Europe’s largest bank profits boosted by its operations in Latin America

  

  Spain’s Banco Santander said that 2011 net profits reveal the growing importance of its Latin America operations which contributed with 51% of the bulk. Last year net profits totalled 5.4 billion Euros, down from 8.2 billion Euros in 2010.

• Wednesday, February 1st 2012 - 07:14 UTC

  Brazil reiterates support for Argentina, denies any blockade to the Falklands

  

  Brazil reiterated its support for Argentina’s Malvinas Islands sovereignty claim and insisted that solving the controversy with the UK is ‘most important’ for South America’s stability. It also pointed out that it’s not correct to talk about “a blockade”.

• Wednesday, February 1st 2012 - 07:09 UTC

  Spanair files for voluntary bankruptcy; strands tens of thousands of passengers

  

  Spanish carrier Spanair filed for voluntary bankruptcy Monday, officials said, three days after abruptly stopping all flights and stranding tens of thousands of passengers.

• Wednesday, February 1st 2012 - 06:59 UTC

  Well managed marine sectors to promote a “Green economy in a blue world”

  

  Healthy seas and coasts would pay healthy dividends in a green economy, according to a report released by several United Nations Programs, the International Maritime Organization and a group of environmental groups that highlights the huge potential for economic growth and poverty eradication from well-managed marine sectors.