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Portal:Current events/2012 May 14

{{Current events|year=2012|month=05|day=14|content=

;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. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9264079/Syrian-army-looses-23-troops-in-assualt-on-Rastan-in-defiance-of-ceasefire.html (Daily Telegraph)]

;Business and economy

  • An Air India pilots' strike enters its seventh day, with the airline cancelling 13 international flights. [http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/air-india-deadlock-13-international-flights-cancelled-angry-passengers-try-to-block-road-outside-mum-210343 (NDTV)] [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-18055260 (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. [http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-48939-Plane-carrying-21-crashes-in-Nepal ("The News")] [http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nepal-plane-crash-4-indians-among-14-ki.../949091/ (Indian Express)] [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/14/nepal-plane-crash_n_1513692.html (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. [http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hY6HGanb_JfypO1kOLk3sjwBtXhw?docId=CNG.33dfdf92f197b303c9a7053e17b8f902.281 (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. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/lee-making-1st-visit-by-south-korean-leader-to-myanmar-since-1983-assassination-attempt/2012/05/14/gIQASFZqNU_story.html (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. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18062016 (BBC)][http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=269964 (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. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18055381 (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." [http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/independent-woman/celebrity-news-gossip/xfactor-judge-louis-walsh-wants-access-to-sun-documents-on-false-assault-accusation-3108842.html (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. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18063092 (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. [http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/14/breaking-ron-paul-to-end-active-campaigning/?hpt=hp_t2 (CNN)]

;Science

;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. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-18055225 (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. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18060989 (BBC)]
  • Málaga CF player Ruud van Nistelrooy announces his retirement from professional football. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18060653 (BBC)]

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