International

Monday, January 20th 2014 - 22:19 UTC
Over 400 priests defrocked in two years by former Pope Benedict XVI

Close to 400 priests were defrocked in only two years by the former Pope Benedict XVI over claims of child abuse, the Vatican has confirmed. The statistics for 2011 and 2012 show a dramatic increase compared to previous years, according to a document obtained by the Associated Press (AP).
Monday, January 20th 2014 - 22:07 UTC
Cuba proposes declaring Latam and the Caribbean a Zone of Peace

Cuba that is hosting a major regional summit at the end of the month will propose that Latin America and the Caribbean be declared a Zone of Peace, according to reports from the Cuban Foreign ministry.
Saturday, January 18th 2014 - 06:32 UTC
Gibraltarians will travel to EU offices in Brussels to protest Spain's border controls

The Gibraltar Government will sponsor a group of Gibraltarians and local residents who plan to travel to Brussels to protest before the European Union about delays caused by Spanish checks at the border, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle. The group approached the Government in recent months and is said to include people from all walks of life and from all shades of political opinion.
Saturday, January 18th 2014 - 06:26 UTC
Hague tells Scotland that the “UK is stronger and safer together”

Foreign Secretary William Hague has said the United Kingdom is “stronger and safer together” as he outlined the case for Scotland to reject voting for independence. Mr. Hague spoke of shared values between Britain and Scotland and said that remaining united would give the UK greater international “clout” and allow it to be “better able to make a difference in the world”.
Saturday, January 18th 2014 - 06:21 UTC
Obama announces contention policy for NSA monitoring activities

President Barack Obama has announced a ban on US eavesdropping on the leaders of close friends and allies, and rein in the vast collection of Americans' phone data in a series of reforms triggered by Edward Snowden's revelations.
Saturday, January 18th 2014 - 06:10 UTC
Haiti PM Lamonthe pledges free, fair and honest elections later this year

Haiti’s Prime Minister Laurent Lamonthe has pledged that his government will provide the necessary means to the electoral council to facilitate the holding of legislative and local elections this year.
Saturday, January 18th 2014 - 05:55 UTC
Dairy values and meat peaked in 2013 according to FAO Food Price Index

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 206.7 points in December 2013, nearly unchanged from November, as a sharp increase in dairy prices and firming meat values largely balanced out a steep decline in sugar quotations and lower cereal and oil prices.
Saturday, January 18th 2014 - 05:50 UTC
Global cereal production in 2013 and outlook revised upward, says FAO

FAO’s latest forecast for world cereal production in 2013 has been revised upward marginally (2 million tons) since November to a new high of almost 2 500 million tons (including rice in milled terms), 8.4% more than last year and some 6% above the previous record in 2011.
Saturday, January 18th 2014 - 05:08 UTC
Falklands' pastures development scientist in the New Year's Honors List

Two scientists from Britain's Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) have been awarded OBEs in the New Year’s Honors list. Professor Jim McAdam from Queen's University Belfast, for services to research and agriculture in the Falkland Islands, and Dr Danny Todd was honored for his contribution to biological sciences and veterinary work, reports Farming Life.
Saturday, January 18th 2014 - 04:58 UTC
Catalonia lawmakers have asked Madrid for a referendum on the region's future

Lawmakers from the Spanish region of Catalonia voted to seek a referendum on breaking away from Spain on Thursday, setting themselves up for a battle with an implacably opposed central government in Madrid. The Catalan Parliament in Barcelona voted 87 to 43, with 3 abstentions, to send a petition to the national parliament seeking the power to call a popular vote on the region’s future.