Stories for May 19th 2015

Tuesday, May 19th 2015 - 10:03 UTC
Obama bans supply of military-style equipments to local police forces

President Barack Obama has banned the US government from giving certain kinds of military-style equipment to local police forces. The announcement follows criticism that police were too heavy handed in dealing with protests in Ferguson, Missouri, that turned violent last summer.
Tuesday, May 19th 2015 - 09:55 UTC
Two Palestinian nuns gain sainthood in mass attended by president Abbas

Two 19th-century nuns on Sunday became the first Palestinians to gain sainthood during an open-air mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St Peter's Square attended by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
Tuesday, May 19th 2015 - 07:33 UTC
Chinese PM in Brasilia; Beijing prepared to invest 100bn in transport and energy

China's Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Brasilia on Monday to sign agreements on infrastructure, energy and aviation that experts say could reach 100 billion dollars. The South American tour also includes Colombia, Peru and Chile and aims to restructure China's resource-driven trade with Latin American countries by including more value-added products.
Tuesday, May 19th 2015 - 07:05 UTC
Falklands celebrates 30th Anniversary of Mount Pleasant Airport opening

”The Falkland Islands airport emerges from rock and peat-bog” said The Times in its 11 May edition, the day before the official opening of Mount Pleasant Airport in 1985, thirty years ago last week.
Tuesday, May 19th 2015 - 02:23 UTC
Independent John Bercow re-elected unopposed as Speaker of the Commons

John Bercow has been re-elected unopposed as Speaker of Britain's House of Commons as MPs returned to Parliament for the first time after the election. The choice of the next Speaker was the first act of the new Parliament before newly elected MPs are sworn in.
Tuesday, May 19th 2015 - 02:16 UTC
UK commends Guyana's elections and pledges support for President Granger

The United Kingdom congratulated Guyana for last week's general election and promised to continue working with the new government of David Granger to build on the strong and long-standing relationship between the two countries.
Tuesday, May 19th 2015 - 02:05 UTC
Latam unemployment expected to increase as economic activity weakens

The non encouraging economic outlook for the current year will likely prompt a mild increase in the regional unemployment rate to 6.2% from the 6.0% registered in 2014, according to estimates released by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the International Labor Organization (ILO).
Tuesday, May 19th 2015 - 01:53 UTC
Monsanto hits back with global campaign: “food is more than just a meal, it's love”

As the seed and chemical maker Monsanto woos Swiss agrochemicals firm Syngenta, the US company is also is trying to win over consumers in key international markets, rolling out social media and marketing campaigns.
Tuesday, May 19th 2015 - 01:40 UTC
Qatar World Cup building sites working conditions again targeted: letters to the sponsors

Fifa sponsors are being asked by a new campaign grouping to speak out about working conditions at the 2022 World Cup building sites in Qatar. The working and housing conditions of migrant construction workers have been heavily criticized.