Portal:Current events/2012 May 14

May 14, 2012 (Monday)

Armed conflict and attacks

Syrian uprising: At least 30 people die in a battle between Syrian government forces and rebel fighters in the town of Rastan. Reportedly, 23 of the dead are government soldiers. (Daily Telegraph)

Business and economy

An Air India pilots' strike enters its seventh day, with the airline cancelling 13 international flights. (NDTV) (BBC)

Disasters

An Agni Air flight carrying 21 people crashes while trying to land at Jomsom Airport in mountainous northern Nepal. 15 people are reported dead. ("The News") (Indian Express) (AP via Huffington Post)
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake strikes the Peruvian–Chilean border, causing power cuts but no serious immediate damage. No casualties have been reported. (AFP via Google)

International relations

The President of South Korea, Lee Myung-bak, commences the first official visit by a South Korean leader to Myanmar since 1983, when North Korean commandos attempted to assassinate the then-President, Chun Doo-hwan, in a bomb attack. (AP via Washington Post)
Over 1,500 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons end their mass hunger strike after reaching an agreement with Israeli authorities in an Egyptian-mediated deal. (BBC)(The Jerusalem Post)

Law and crime

News Corporation scandal:
- Tony Blair's former Director of Communications, Alastair Campbell, tells the Leveson Inquiry that there was no "express deal" between Blair and News Corporation CEO Rupert Murdoch in the run-up to the 1997 UK general election. (BBC)
- Entertainment manager Louis Walsh seeks access to documents which allegedly show that Murdoch's tabloid The Sun paid €700 to a man who made, in a high profile case, what turned out to be a false sexual assault accusation against Walsh. The senior counsel for Walsh tells Ireland's High Court: "The Sun directed the operation to take out Louis Walsh as a public person." (Irish Independent)

Politics and elections

A fourth successive attempt by major Greek political parties to form a coalition government ends in failure. Another attempt is scheduled for May 15; if a coalition cannot be agreed, emergency elections must be held in June. (BBC)
American Republican politician Ron Paul states he will be ending his active presidential campaign bid. However, he will still try to secure delegates before the Republican National Convention in August. (CNN)

Science

Scientists at California's Stanford University invent a working bionic eye powered only by focused light. Though currently a prototype, the device could eventually restore the sight of millions of people suffering from eye diseases such as macular degeneration and retinal pigmentosa. (BBC)

Sport

Tens of thousands of people line the streets of Manchester in celebration of Manchester City's victory in the Premier League season finale – the team's first Premier League win since 1968. (BBC)
Queens Park Rangers player Joey Barton is charged by the Football Association in relation to his behaviour during yesterday's game at Manchester City, in which he assaulted several opposing players. (BBC)
Málaga CF player Ruud van Nistelrooy announces his retirement from professional football. (BBC)