Politics

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 10:12 UTC

  UK 'unreserved' support for Gibraltar's international sports: first football, now rugby

  

  Britain’s Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Maria Miller, has pledged her ‘unreserved’ support Gibraltar’s international sporting ambitions. The backing for Gibraltar comes as the Gibraltar Rugby Football Union (GRFU) goes through the process of FIRA/AER (European Rugby Federation) membership after being previously rejected and blocked by Spain last July despite meeting the necessary criteria.

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 07:25 UTC

  US defies China's 'air defense identification zone' over disputed islands

  

  US has flown two B-52 bombers over disputed islands in the East China Sea in defiance of new Chinese air defense rules, officials say. China set up its “air defense identification zone” on Saturday insisting that aircraft obey its rules or face “emergency defensive measures”.

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 07:21 UTC

  Independent Scotland would keep the pound, the Queen and oil and gas reserves

  

  Scottish leader Alex Salmond unveiled on Tuesday what he called a “mission statement” for the country’s future: a 649-page paper detailing many of the terms for an independent Scotland. The country’s first minister released his Scottish National Party’s so-called white paper ahead of a referendum on independence from the United Kingdom set for next September.

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 07:10 UTC

  “Capitalists speculate and steal, as we do” admits in a passionate slip Maduro

  

  No end to Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro oral bloopers. In campaign for the municipal elections of 8 December and in the midst of an economic war on big business of which it accuses of promoting inflation and destabilizing his government, a self confession or “sincericide” (a blend of sincerity and suicide) became the delight of social networks ant twitters.

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 07:00 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez meets top delegation of German chemistry and oil corporation

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez definitively abandoned strict mourning on Tuesday wearing a white blouse and black trousers in her first interview with foreign business people since her return to the job after 45 days of medical leave because of cranium surgery and cardio-vascular exams.

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 06:43 UTC

  Sound fiscal policy is new target of Brazilian economy: subsidies to be lessened

  

  Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said on Tuesday the government will remove some subsidies and delay tax breaks to keep the country's fiscal policy sound. Likewise the state development bank, BNDES, will stop funding lines for regional government next year.

• Wednesday, November 27th 2013 - 06:35 UTC

  YPF shares and Buenos Aires market soar to record highs on announcement of agreement with Repsol

  

  Argentina's Merval benchmark stock index climbed 3% on Tuesday to finish at a record high of 5,696.2 points, following a strong hike in YPF and Edenor stocks. YPF shares soared 11%, while electricity distributor Edenor saw prices close 19% up at the end of trading.

• Tuesday, November 26th 2013 - 20:55 UTC

  Chile turns left again

  

  By R Viswanathan (*) The Leftist coalition candidate Michelle Bachelet won 47% of the votes in the presidential elections held on 17 November while her rightist rival Evelyn Matthei got just 25% votes.

• Tuesday, November 26th 2013 - 20:41 UTC

  UK and EU have not been firm enough with Spain, claims former Royal Navy chief

  

  Current events in Gibraltar and the continued incursions by Spanish vessels in the Rock's territorial waters were addressed in a strong piece in the Daily Telegraph by the former head of the Royal Navy, Lord Admiral West. This follows calls from British MPs last week for pressure to be brought on Spain within the context of NATO.

• Tuesday, November 26th 2013 - 20:34 UTC

  Spain prepared to take UK to the EU Court of Justice over Gibraltar waters

  

  Spain’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, Miguel Arias Cañete, said Spain would take the UK to the European Court of Justice if the European Commission failed to take action over reclamation works in Gibraltar waters.