Stories for 2012

Tuesday, August 14th 2012 - 07:42 UTC
Pope’s former butler and a computer expert to stand trial for “aggravated theft”

Vatican magistrate ordered Pope Benedict's former butler to stand trial on charges of aggravated theft for leaking documents alleging corruption in the Vatican. In a 35-page document on the case which has rocked the Holy See since Paolo Gabriele was arrested last May, the Vatican also charged a computer expert who worked in the Vatican bureaucracy with involvement in the case, the first mention of a second man.
Tuesday, August 14th 2012 - 07:31 UTC
Obama announces 170m dollars emergency support for scorched farms

President Barack Obama announced an emergency purchase of up to 170 million dollars of meat and fish on Monday on a campaign trip to drought-hit Iowa, and accused Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan of blocking disaster aid to farmers.
Monday, August 13th 2012 - 23:14 UTC
HMS Dauntless in Falklands after spending four months in West Africa

The Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless arrived last week to the Falkland Islands in the last leg of its six month deployment in the South Atlantic, spending most of the time along the West African coast.
Monday, August 13th 2012 - 22:21 UTC
Limited effect for the Falklands of Argentina’s latest ban on Red Ensign vessels

The Buenos Aires Province Senate on 2 August passed a law last week banning British flagged vessels associated with activities in Falkland Islands waters from calling at Argentina’s largest ports.
Monday, August 13th 2012 - 22:04 UTC
HMS Edinburgh and HMS York on sale; “illustrious names to be mothballed”

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence’s Disposal Services Authority has put the Royal Navy ship HMS Edinburgh, also known as the “Fortress of the Sea” and another Type 42 destroyer, HMS York, have been put up for sale on its website.
Monday, August 13th 2012 - 21:57 UTC
UN launches new initiative to protect oceans on 30th anniversary of Law of the Sea

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched on Monday a new initiative to protect the oceans and the people whose livelihoods depend on it, and called on countries to work together to achieve a more sustainable management of this precious resource and address the threats it is currently facing.
Monday, August 13th 2012 - 16:14 UTC
Germany prepared to veto aid and exit Greece from the Euro

A senior member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's party issued a stark warning to Greece, saying Germany would not hesitate to veto further aid to the country if there were any signs it was not meeting the conditions of its bailout.
Monday, August 13th 2012 - 16:11 UTC
Brazilian federal staff strike extends affecting airports, ports and foreign trade

The Brazilian economy is slowing down and civil servants are threatening to intensify the several weeks strike to protest government policy that they allege is appealing to savings in salaries and working conditions to address the situation.
Monday, August 13th 2012 - 05:58 UTC
Argentina again conditions contract to deep-dredge River Plate access canal

Foreign Minister Hector Timerman said that Argentina “is ready to sign” the deep dredging of the River Plane access canal Martin Garcia but warned that before doubts generated by Uruguay’s National Auditing Office regarding the performance of dredgers’ Riovía during the tender process, must be resolved.
Monday, August 13th 2012 - 05:55 UTC
Santiago sacks Mayor of Magallanes region for alleged irregularities

Chile’s Presidency secretary Andrés Chadwick confirmed that the former Mayor from Magallanes Region in the extreme south of the country, Arturo Storaker had effectively resigned because of alleged irregularities during his performance.