International

• Saturday, February 4th 2012 - 19:42 UTC

  Captain Schettino’s lover admits she was in the Concordia bridge when the crash

  

  The Moldovan blonde spotted with the captain of the shipwrecked Costa Concordia, Francesco Schettino, on the night of the disaster, has told Italian investigators she is in love with him.

• Saturday, February 4th 2012 - 05:37 UTC

  PM Cameron meets Obama in March ahead of the Falklands conflict anniversary

  

  British Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama will meet in Washington next month, three weeks before the 30 anniversary of the beginning of the Falklands conflict.

• Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 23:19 UTC

  IMF calls on emerging countries to contribute to increase its war-chest

  

  International Monetary Fund should proceed with talks on increasing the size of its war-chest at the same time as Europe discusses how to build a firewall to contain its debt crisis, a senior official from the fund said on Friday.

• Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 19:04 UTC

  Spain committed to best UK relations but asks for Gibraltar sovereignty talks

  

  Spain has formally asked Britain to reopen talks over the sovereignty of Gibraltar. The petition was made by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Garcia-Margallo shortly after UK Europe Minister David Lidington told an audience in Madrid that Britain would not discuss sovereignty against Gibraltar’s wishes.

• Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 19:00 UTC

  China has neither the ability or the intention to ‘buy Europe’ says Wen Jibao

  

  China's Premier Wen Jiabao said on Friday the Asian giant had neither the ability nor the intention to “buy Europe”, amid concerns over growing Chinese investment in debt-stricken Euro zone economies.

• Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 18:40 UTC

  Cruise bookings down, but industry will recover, say main operators

  

  The downturn in cruise bookings by North American and European customers noted earlier this week by industry giant Carnival Corp. is taking place at rival Royal Caribbean Cruises, too, but overall the industry is optimistic.

• Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 18:25 UTC

  Shell announces major investment drive to boost falling production

  

  Royal Dutch Shell has said it will launch a major investment drive in an effort to boost falling production. The oil giant said it would spend 30bn dollars on new oil and gas projects this year, compared with 24bn in 2011.

• Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 18:19 UTC

  UK Energy secretary steps down charged with perverting the cause of Justice

  

  Chris Huhne has quit as UK energy secretary after learning he was to be charged with perverting the course of justice over a 2003 speeding case. His ex-wife Vicky Pryce will face the same charge in relation to claims she accepted his penalty points.

• Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 06:16 UTC

  UK warns Argentina on cutting off the air link of Falklands with South America

  

  Britain warned Argentina against cutting off an air link to the Falklands as part of an economic blockade of the Islands, reports the Evening Standard. Buenos Aires is threatening to stop a weekly flight from Punta Arenas in Chile to Port Stanley by refusing permission for it to use Argentine airspace.

• Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 06:12 UTC

  Following on the Indian deal, France expects Brazil will purchase Rafale fighter jets

  

  French Defence minister Gerard Longuet said that following on the deal to sell 126 Dassault Rafale fighter jets to India, Paris is hopeful it can seal a similar contract with Brazil.