International

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.
Thursday, January 2nd 2014 - 18:02 UTC
Gibraltar visitors in October/November down 40% because of Spanish checks at border

Visitors to Gibraltar during the peak months of October and November have decreased by over 40% from the previous year, statistics reveal. This comes after restrictions were imposed at the border by the Spanish authorities which they say was in response to tobacco smuggling but began immediately after the Government’s decision to lay an artificial reef in July.
Thursday, January 2nd 2014 - 16:00 UTC
China starts to build its fourth Antarctica base: more planned

Just days after the Chinese rover Jade Rabbit settled down on the moon, China is setting out to bolster its presence in another remote place: Antarctica. Chinese state media said on Thursday that construction workers are en route to the future site of China’s fourth Antarctic research station, after a pit stop at one of its other bases.
Thursday, January 2nd 2014 - 15:49 UTC
Chinese helicopter rescues stranded passengers from Russian vessel trapped in Antarctic ice

A Chinese helicopter reached on Thursday a Russian ship stranded in Antarctica for nine days to pick up 52 passengers who spent Christmas and the New Year trapped in ice, the expedition leader has said.
Sunday, December 29th 2013 - 08:24 UTC
One for the White House: NSA program keeping phone call records is 'lawful'

A federal judge ruled that a National Security Agency program that collects records of millions of Americans' phone calls is lawful, calling it a “counter-punch” to terrorism that does not violate Americans' privacy rights.
Friday, December 27th 2013 - 05:18 UTC
Australian cruise operators interested in developing Puerto Williams in Chile

Australian travel agents linked to the cruise industry visited Puerto Williams in the extreme south of Chile to check on the facilities, services and infrastructure with the purpose of planning cruise calls on a regular basis. Puerto Williams in located on Navarino island across from Ushuaia in Argentina.
Friday, December 27th 2013 - 05:07 UTC
World Cup 2014: Brazil most expensive stadium has a leaking roof

Reports from stadium operators in Brazil have revealed that the most expensive of the 12 stadiums built or renovated for the 2014 FIFA World Cup has a leaking roof, less than eight months after it was finished.
Friday, December 27th 2013 - 05:01 UTC
UK Met Office will offer daily forecasts about the weather in space: solar storms the target

The United Kingdom Met Office is to begin offering daily forecasts about the weather in space. The 24 hour service will aim to help businesses and government departments by providing early warnings of solar storms that can disrupt satellites, radio communications and power grids. The first forecast is expected to be available next spring.
Friday, December 27th 2013 - 00:59 UTC
China pumps 5bn dollars to help banking system with rising interest rates

China's central bank has pumped 5bn dollars into the banking system to ease concerns over a credit squeeze that has caused rising interest rates. The People's Bank of China did not explain its actions, but over the last few days there has been growing concern over the availability of credit.
Thursday, December 26th 2013 - 08:43 UTC
Virus kills over 1.000 migratory bottleneck dolphins in US eastern seaboard

More than 1,000 migratory bottlenose dolphins have died from a measles-like virus along the US Eastern Seaboard in 2013 and the epidemic shows no sign of abating, a marine biologist said. The death toll exceeds the 740 dolphins killed during the last big outbreak of the then-unknown virus in 1987-88.