International

Saturday, December 31st 2011 - 03:32 UTC
More than 100 journalists killed in 2011; call on the UN for protection action

More than 100 journalists or other media staffs were killed in 2011, up from last year's toll, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said, calling on UN Secretary General Bank Ki-moon to act to help protect the profession.
Saturday, December 31st 2011 - 03:26 UTC
UK awards 46 offshore hydrocarbons exploratory licences in controversial areas

UK government has awarded 46 new offshore exploratory drilling licences to firms, including Shell and Centrica, looking for oil and gas. The awards were initially held back due to environmental concerns.
Saturday, December 31st 2011 - 03:18 UTC
Thatcher was warned about risks of Navy cuts a year before the Falklands conflict

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was warned about the risks in slashing Britain's navy, a year before the 1982 Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands, secret files released Friday showed.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 21:51 UTC
How the Gibraltar naval dockyard was saved from the axe back in 1981

British ministers feared the closure of Gibraltar’s naval dockyard would throw the local budget into “chronic deficit” and precipitate a “constitutional crisis” according to newly-released files, some of which were published by the Gibraltar Chronicle.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 21:45 UTC
Business as usual says North Korea regime; calls Seoul politicians ‘foolish puppets’

North Korea sounded on Friday a bellicose note in its first communication with the outside world since the death of leader Kim Jong-il, saying its confrontational stance against South Korea would not change and labelling its opponents “foolish.”
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 21:39 UTC
New Spanish government announces draconian measures to balance the budget

Spain's new government revealed on Friday that the public deficit for 2011 would come in at 8% of GDP, well above a target of 6%, and announced income and property tax hikes and a civil servant wage freeze in response.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 06:03 UTC
New York Times major blooper sends e-mails to 8 million instead of 300 people

Some 8 million people received emails from the New York Times on Thursday offering a special discount if they would reconsider their decision to cancel their subscriptions.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 05:53 UTC
Titanic sinking anniversary includes the auction of a 5.500 item collection

The biggest collection of Titanic artefacts is to be sold off as a single lot in an auction timed for the 100th anniversary in April of the sinking of the famed ocean liner.
Thursday, December 29th 2011 - 22:59 UTC
Turkish economist named World Bank new Vice-President for Latin America

Hasan Tuluy, a Turkish national and a strong supporter of inclusive growth, will become the new World Bank Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) as of January 1st, 2012. Mr. Tuluy will oversee the Bank’s lending, knowledge, and poverty-fighting operations in the region, which totalled 9.6 billion dollars in fiscal year 2011.
Thursday, December 29th 2011 - 22:48 UTC
The Iron Lady opens Friday in the US, “a Shakespearean story about power and loss”

Making a film about an iconic politician like Britain's Margaret Thatcher is akin to walking into a movie minefield, and casting an American -- even one as revered as Meryl Streep -- is asking for more trouble.