Stories for January 3rd 2014

Friday, January 3rd 2014 - 14:43 UTC
Chinese icebreaker trapped in Antarctica after rescuing passengers from Russian vessel

The Chinese icebreaker that helped rescue 52 passengers from a Russian ship stranded in Antarctic ice found itself stuck in heavy ice, further complicating the 9-day “roller-coaster” rescue operation. “Snow Dragon” (Xue Long) had ferried the passengers from the stranded Russian ship to an Australian icebreaker late on Thursday.
Friday, January 3rd 2014 - 06:07 UTC
FIFA takes no risks: Aggreko will provide power solutions in all World Cup stadiums

FIFA announced the appointment of Aggreko as a Branded Licensee for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. As part of this agreement Aggreko will provide temporary broadcast power solutions for the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) and the stadiums in all twelve Host Cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Friday, January 3rd 2014 - 06:02 UTC
Catalonia president takes vote on independence case to EU heads of government

Catalonia's president has called on European Union prime ministers for support as the region seeks a vote on independence in November this year, the source of an increasingly bitter fight with Spain's central government.
Friday, January 3rd 2014 - 05:56 UTC
Falklands' war Regan/Thatcher fake tape had CIA and MI6 in disarray for months

A fake tape of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher arguing over the Falklands War had the British secret services scrambling to identify the culprits, archive files released Friday showed. The tape, supposedly a telephone recording of then US president Reagan and the British prime minister, was anonymously sent to several Dutch newspapers during the 1983 UK general election.
Friday, January 3rd 2014 - 05:51 UTC
France's controversial 'super-tax' becomes effective despite business leaders and football clubs

A French court has approved a highly controversial “millionaire tax” on annual salaries above €1 million. The super tax, one of President Francois Hollande’s signature policies, has infuriated business leaders and football clubs.
Friday, January 3rd 2014 - 05:46 UTC
Latvia becomes the 18th member of the Euro club: not all Latvians convinced

Latvia woke up to both a New Year and a new currency Wednesday after the ex-Soviet Baltic state swapped its cherished 'lats' for the euro at midnight, becoming the 18th member of the troubled Euro-zone. The entry of the country of two million people capped another turbulent year for the Euro zone, recovering gradually from a crippling debt crisis and ensuing recession.
Friday, January 3rd 2014 - 05:36 UTC
Mujica admits relation with Argentina is “at a standstill”: all depends on Cristina

President José Mujica admitted that Uruguay's relationship with Argentina is “at a standstill”, and suggested that improving relations was up to counterpart Cristina Fernández and her actions, since “I'm always open to dialogue”.
Friday, January 3rd 2014 - 00:30 UTC
Chrysler becomes 100% Italian as FIAT buys remaining 41% stake

Shares in Italian car giant Fiat have jumped more than 15% following the announcement of its plan to buy the remaining 41% of Chrysler it does not own. Fiat has owned a majority stake in the US company since 2009.
Friday, January 3rd 2014 - 00:24 UTC
Record breaking Pope: Francis drew more than 6.6 million people to his audiences

Pope Francis drew more than 6.6 million people to his audiences, Masses and other events in Vatican City during his first year in office, figures show. The statistics cover the period from the Argentine's election in March to the end of 2013, the Vatican said.