International

• Monday, June 20th 2011 - 21:26 UTC

  Iran and Cuba, two of the most repressive countries for journalists, says CPJ

  

  Nearly 70 journalists were forced into exile over the past 12 months, with more than half coming from Iran and Cuba, two of the world's most repressive nations, a new survey by the Committee to Protect Journalists has found.

• Monday, June 20th 2011 - 21:10 UTC

  Uruguay presides over the UN Human Rights Council for the next 12 months

  

  Uruguay in representation of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean countries (GRULAC) will occupy for the next twelve months the rotating presidency of the United Nations Human Rights Council which is seated in Geneva.

• Monday, June 20th 2011 - 06:01 UTC

  Norwegian Kon-Tiki expedition ‘partly right’ about Easter Island-Bolivia links

  

  A new study has found that a Norwegian, who undertook a Kon-Tiki expedition to prove that Polynesians had South American roots, was partly right about his theory.
  In 1947, late Thor Heyerdahl controversially claimed that Easter Island's famous statues were similar to those at Lake Titicaca in Bolivia.

• Monday, June 20th 2011 - 05:37 UTC

  Chilean volcanic ash cloud affects flights in South Africa

  

  The ash cloud from the Chilean Volcano Puyehue-Cordón Caulle in eruption since June 4 has reached Cape Town airspace affecting flights in and out of Cape Town International Airport.

• Sunday, June 19th 2011 - 22:52 UTC

  Cruise vessels would be allowed to operate casinos while docked in Gibraltar

  

  Senior cruise executives from across the globe showed “considerable interest” in plans to permit gambling on cruise ships docked overnight in Gibraltar.

• Sunday, June 19th 2011 - 22:46 UTC

  Greece and Spain react to the Euro-pact of painful economic reforms

  

  As the Euro crisis debt crisis expands, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou appealed to parliament to support a new cabinet appointed to push through painful economic reforms, saying a debt default would be catastrophic for the country and the European Union.

• Saturday, June 18th 2011 - 08:09 UTC

  Falklands’ “is not negotiable”; UK calls for talks with Argentina on other issues

  

  Britain again categorically rejected any Falkland Islands sovereignty negotiations with Argentina and reiterated that London’s position on the issue “has not changed at all”. However “as has been standing policy”, the UK is always ready to discuss issues of common interest in the South Atlantic.

• Saturday, June 18th 2011 - 08:00 UTC

  Security Council recommends Bank Ki-moon be appointed for a second term

  

  The Security Council announced Friday that it is recommending to the General Assembly that Ban Ki-moon be appointed to a second consecutive term as Secretary-General of the United Nations.

• Saturday, June 18th 2011 - 03:19 UTC

  In milestone vote UN Human Rights Council approves gay rights

  

  Despite strong opposition from Arab and African states, the UN Human Rights Council voted 23-19 in favor of a history-making resolution that supports equal rights for everyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

• Saturday, June 18th 2011 - 02:56 UTC

  Memorial service for Admiral of the Fleet who was decisive for the Falkland’s recovery

  

  Representatives from the United Kingdom top echelon of the armed forces and Falklands’ representative in London were among 800 people who attended a memorial service in Hampshire for Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Leach