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| BBC News - World |
| Mladic trial focus on Srebrenica Thu, 17 May 2012 08:27:27 GMT Bosnian Serb ex-army chief Ratko Mladic's war crimes trial enters its second day, with prosecutors focusing on the 1995 Srebrenica massacre. |
| Passport boost for activist Chen Thu, 17 May 2012 07:54:35 GMT Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng says he and his family have completed passport applications and officials say they should be ready in 15 days. |
| Spain set to pay more on bonds Thu, 17 May 2012 04:39:52 GMT Spain's borrowing costs look set to spike in a bond auction on Thursday, as the Greek crisis saps confidence in other indebted economies. |
| Robert F Kennedy Jr's wife dead Thu, 17 May 2012 01:32:36 GMT Mary Kennedy - the estranged wife of Robert F Kennedy Jr, nephew of John F Kennedy - is found dead at her home. |
| Afghan suicide raid kills police Thu, 17 May 2012 08:33:58 GMT At least six policemen and a civilian have been killed and 13 wounded in a suicide attack on a governor's compound in western Afghanistan, police say. |
| Congo warlord's 'days numbered' Thu, 17 May 2012 03:11:09 GMT The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor tells the BBC he believes the net is closing around Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda. |
| Rebuilding spurs Japan economy Thu, 17 May 2012 06:51:16 GMT Japan's economy grows by 1.0% between January and March compared with the previous three months, official figures show. |
| North Koreans 'hold Chinese crew' Thu, 17 May 2012 08:13:31 GMT Unidentified North Koreans holding 29 Chinese fishermen and three boats seized in the Yellow Sea demand payment for their release, Chinese media reports. |
| French PM Ayrault names cabinet Wed, 16 May 2012 18:13:38 GMT France's new Socialist Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault names his government but party leader Martine Aubry will not join the cabinet. |
| Syria is 'losing information war' Wed, 16 May 2012 18:38:04 GMT Syria is losing the information war against the West, President Bashar al-Assad has said, amid continuing violence across the country. |
| Indian actor faces stadium ban Thu, 17 May 2012 07:00:15 GMT Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan may be banned from entering Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium after reports that he was involved in a brawl with the staff. |
| Obama honours Vietnam War soldier Wed, 16 May 2012 22:01:30 GMT US President Barack Obama awards the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam War soldier, four decades after his original recommendation was lost. |
| Turks take bird for Israeli spy Wed, 16 May 2012 14:38:47 GMT Villagers in south-eastern Turkey sound the alarm after mistaking a migratory bird - a common European bee-eater - for an Israeli spy. |
| Escapee penguin 'found' in Tokyo Wed, 16 May 2012 15:34:52 GMT A young penguin which escaped from Tokyo's Sea Life Park has reportedly been spotted swimming in waters around the Japanese capital. |
| Robotic arm controlled by thought Wed, 16 May 2012 17:05:51 GMT Two patients who are paralysed from the neck down are able to control a robotic arm using their thoughts. |
| Activists storm Montreal classes Wed, 16 May 2012 18:49:08 GMT Student protesters in Montreal storm the University of Quebec, disrupting classes as they were due to resume after a boycott protesting rising tuition fees. |
| Brazil truth commission installed Wed, 16 May 2012 21:27:47 GMT Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff inaugurates a truth commission to investigate rights abuses, including those committed during military rule from 1964-1985. |
| Mexico generals face drugs probe Wed, 16 May 2012 17:45:01 GMT Two Mexican generals are detained and questioned on suspicion of having links to a Mexican drug cartel. |
| Seven die in south Libya clash Wed, 16 May 2012 16:34:29 GMT Seven people are killed and more than 20 injured in clashes in Libya's western desert town of Ghadames, the government says. |
| Man held over Kenya club attack Wed, 16 May 2012 16:32:07 GMT A man is arrested on suspicion of helping to carry out an attack on a Mombasa nightclub, in which one person died, police say. |
| N Korea 'resumes work' on reactor Thu, 17 May 2012 03:36:12 GMT North Korea resumes work on a light water reactor that could be used to support its nuclear programme after months of inactivity, a US institute says. |
| Malaysia sentences five to death Thu, 17 May 2012 07:01:40 GMT A Malaysian high court sentences to death five men, including three Mexican brothers, for drug trafficking, reports say. |
| Cannes jury denies 'sexism' claim Thu, 17 May 2012 07:27:17 GMT The Cannes jury responds to claims of sexism prompted by the lack of female filmmakers in the running for this year's Palme d'Or. |
| Spanish queen cancels UK visit Wed, 16 May 2012 21:17:23 GMT Spain's Queen Sofia cancels a visit to the UK for the Diamond Jubilee following disputes with London over the territory of Gibraltar. |
| New Palestinian cabinet sworn in Wed, 16 May 2012 18:04:09 GMT Palestinian Authority President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas swears in a new cabinet in the West Bank, a move Hamas describes as a "big error". |
| South Yemen air strikes 'kill 16' Wed, 16 May 2012 21:33:36 GMT Air strikes kill 16 suspected al-Qaeda fighters in southern Yemen, officials say, as a US-backed government offensive against militants continues. |
| Vauxhall car plant 'saved by GM' Thu, 17 May 2012 08:38:47 GMT Workers at Vauxhall vote in favour of a new pay deal, clearing the way for owner General Motors to invest in the company's Ellesmere Port plant, securing 2,100 jobs. |
| Olympic flame to be handed over Thu, 17 May 2012 07:43:45 GMT The Olympic flame is to be officially handed over to organisers of the London Games at a ceremony in Athens. |
| Chinese gold demand hits record Thu, 17 May 2012 06:40:55 GMT Chinese demand for gold hit a record in the first quarter of 2012 and it remains the world's biggest market for gold, the World Gold Council says. |
| Bank warns of euro crisis 'storm' Wed, 16 May 2012 16:09:44 GMT The Bank of England warns that the eurozone is "tearing itself apart" with the "storm" threatening the UK recovery, as it cuts its forecast for growth this year. |
| Facebook to sell 25% more shares Wed, 16 May 2012 16:23:57 GMT Facebook says it will sell 25% more shares than first planned in its forthcoming flotation in response to strong demand. |
| No front-runners for Reds hotseat Wed, 16 May 2012 22:45:26 GMT Liverpool's owners want the club's new boss to be in place for four to five years, but as of yet there are no front-runners. |
| Strauss not thinking of quitting Wed, 16 May 2012 18:59:19 GMT Andrew Strauss says he has not thought of giving up the England captaincy, ahead of the first Test against West Indies at Lord's. |
| No pressure to pick Beckham - Coe Thu, 17 May 2012 08:35:47 GMT London 2012 chairman dismisses suggestions that GB coach Stuart Pearce is being asked to pick David Beckham. |
| Mexico writer Carlos Fuentes dies Wed, 16 May 2012 09:43:41 GMT Carlos Fuentes, one of the most famous Latin American authors, known for fiction and political essays, dies in Mexico at the age of 83. |
| Masseur drops Travolta sex claim Wed, 16 May 2012 09:16:53 GMT One of the two male masseurs who have accused actor John Travolta of sexual assault withdraws his legal action. |
| Thompson confirms Annie script Thu, 17 May 2012 06:01:09 GMT Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson confirms she is writing a modern version of the musical Annie starring Willow Smith. |
| VIDEO: Greeks withdraw millions from banks Thu, 17 May 2012 05:47:01 GMT Savers in Greece have been withdrawing hundreds of millions of euros from Greek banks, amid fears the country may have to withdraw from the single currency. |
| VIDEO: Soyuz spaceship docks at ISS Thu, 17 May 2012 06:59:45 GMT A Soyuz spacecraft has successfully docked with the International Space Station. |
| VIDEO: Pakistan set to lift Nato Afghan blockade Thu, 17 May 2012 03:16:30 GMT The Pakistani government appears to be on the verge of lifting its six-month blockade on the transport of Nato goods through Pakistan to Afghanistan. |
| VIDEO: Moonrise Kingdom opens Cannes Thu, 17 May 2012 06:56:43 GMT Bruce Willis and Bill Murray were amongst the stars on the red carpet for the opening of the Cannes Film Festival. |
| VIDEO: Mladic war crimes trial begins Wed, 16 May 2012 22:24:04 GMT Former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic has gone on trial for war crimes at The Hague. |
| VIDEO: ECB's 1-trillion-euro bank rescue Thu, 17 May 2012 00:36:08 GMT Benoit Coueure, from the European Central Bank, has been speaking about their decision to provide a loan of more than a trillion euros to hundreds of banks. |
| VIDEO: Mexico mourns Carlos Fuentes Wed, 16 May 2012 18:36:06 GMT Mexicans pay tribute to one of Latin America's greatest authors, Carlos Fuentes, who died on 15 May in Mexico City. |
| VIDEO: Gaga refused permit for Jakarta gig Wed, 16 May 2012 15:57:29 GMT Indonesian police have refused to issue a permit for a Lady Gaga concert scheduled to take place in Jakarta next month. |
| VIDEO: One-minute World News Thu, 17 May 2012 08:38:08 GMT Watch the latest news summary from BBC World News. International news updated 24 hours a day. |
| Mali coup: Tuaregs tell of ethnic attacks Thu, 17 May 2012 07:20:22 GMT Teacher tells of fleeing ethnic attacks during Mali rebellion |
| France's new Socialist cabinet named Wed, 16 May 2012 21:31:12 GMT Names to watch in Francois Hollande's new cabinet |
| Cuba faces housing crunch Thu, 17 May 2012 06:17:15 GMT Cuba bids to shore up its crumbling houses in Havana |
| 'Growing menace' of Australian bike gang violence Wed, 16 May 2012 23:10:05 GMT Bike gang shootings rock Australian city |
| Swiss Army knife adapts to remain a cutting-edge tool Wed, 16 May 2012 23:26:03 GMT The Swiss Army knife had to adapt after the events of 9/11 |
| VIDEO: War photographer remembered at auction Wed, 16 May 2012 18:27:57 GMT Auction tribute to combat photojournalist killed in Libya |
| China's ageing economic time bomb Wed, 16 May 2012 23:31:58 GMT How an ageing population threatens China's economy |
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| Word of the day |
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for May 17, 2012 is:
maffick • \MAF-ik\ • verb
: to celebrate with boisterous rejoicing and hilarious behavior
Examples:
Fans mafficked for hours outside the stadium, celebrating the team's dramatic victory in the division championship.
"In half an hour, after the mildest of mafficking, the last visitors of the exhibition's last day had gone out of the gates and the staff began their final acts of closing up shop." — From an article in The Guardian (London), October 1, 2011
Did you know?
"Maffick" is an alteration of Mafeking Night, the British celebration of the lifting of the siege of a British military outpost during the South African War at the town of Mafikeng (also spelled Mafeking) on May 17, 1900. The South African War was fought between the British and the Afrikaners, who were Dutch and Huguenot settlers originally called Boers, over the right to govern frontier territories. Though the war did not end until 1902, the lifting of the siege of Mafikeng was a significant victory for the British because they held out against a larger Afrikaner force for 217 days until reinforcements could arrive. The rejoicing in British cities on news of the rescue produced "maffick," a word that was popular for a while, especially in journalistic writing, but is now relatively uncommon.