Stories for 2017

Monday, July 24th 2017 - 09:29 UTC
UK government tries to reassure Ulster farmers about post-Brexit subsidies

British government has attempted to reassure Northern Ireland’s farmers about the level of subsidies they will receive after the UK leaves the European Union. Michael Gove, secretary for the environment, food and rural affairs, visited an agricultural show in Co Antrim at the weekend and also held meetings with the DUP and the Ulster Farmers’ Union.
Monday, July 24th 2017 - 09:26 UTC
Submarine HMS Ambush collision off Gibraltar cost at least £ 3.4m

British taxpayers were left with a bill of over £3.4m following the collision off Gibraltar last year between a Royal Navy submarine and a merchant ship. HMS Ambush, one of Britain’s new Astute-class nuclear-powered submarines, sustained damage to its conning tower during a glancing collision with a chemical tanker while submerged in international waters 3.3 nautical miles off Gibraltar.
Monday, July 24th 2017 - 09:03 UTC
RAF tanker and US fighter jets nearly crashed as flight controller was distracted by cell phone call

An RAF tanker aircraft and two F-15 fighters came within a split second of colliding over the North Sea after a flight controller was distracted by a phone call, an official report has revealed.The pilots of the RAF Voyager claimed that one of the United States Air Force jets was as near as 50 metres when it flew directly across their path as they were flying at 322mph.
Monday, July 24th 2017 - 08:50 UTC
Brazil cuts spending and raises taxes, including on fuel, to try and balance the budget

Brazil's government increased a spending freeze and raised taxes to cover a budget gap this year, reinforcing its commitment to fiscal discipline but dealing a potential blow to fragile economic growth. In a statement by the Finance and Planning Ministries, the government said it will freeze an additional 5.9 billion Reais (US$1.9 billion) in federal spending this year
Monday, July 24th 2017 - 08:38 UTC
Morales highlights Bolivian independence from the IMF and World Bank

President Evo Morales has highlighted the total Bolivian independence from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), which have carried out “devastating economic policies for many years” in this South American nation.
Monday, July 24th 2017 - 08:22 UTC
Brenda Hale, named first woman president of the UK Supreme Court

Brenda Hale was appointed as the UK Supreme Court's first female president on Friday, July 21st. The former deputy president of the court for four years will take on the role as the thirteenth President of the Supreme Court on October 2nd, following a line of twelve all-male predecessors.
Monday, July 24th 2017 - 07:07 UTC
Mercosur and Colombia agree to a limited list of tariff-free products

Mercosur inked a trade deal with Colombia last Friday to allow limited quantities of tariff-free trade in products including automobiles, textiles and agrochemicals, Argentina's and Colombia's governments said.
Monday, July 24th 2017 - 06:49 UTC
First full-scale floating wind farm begins to take shape off Scotland

The world's first full-scale floating wind farm has started to take shape off the north-east coast of Scotland. The revolutionary technology will allow wind power to be harvested in waters too deep for the current conventional bottom-standing turbines used.
Monday, July 24th 2017 - 06:36 UTC
Corbyn, “the greatest rebel ever”, invited to avoid de-selection of MPs

A former Labour chief whip has urged Jeremy Corbyn to “reflect” on Tony Blair's approach when party leader by ruling out the de-selection of MPs. Baroness Hilary Armstrong told the BBC Mr Corbyn was “the greatest rebel ever” as a backbencher but Mr Blair was reluctant to discipline him. She said the then prime minister felt that Labour was “a broad church”.
Monday, July 24th 2017 - 06:09 UTC
Falklands war new book says invading Argentines faced fierce defense from Marines and suffered heavy casualties

A new book has challenged the official account of the Falklands War, including allegedly one of the worst kept secrets of the conflict. The First Casualty, written by noted military historian Ricky Phillips, reveals that, far from surrendering without a fight when the Argentines invaded the Islands in April 1982, a detachment of Royal Marines battled for more than two hours and killed around 100 of their opponents.