In brief: Downgraded bank in Spain seeks aid

Madrid – Spain’s troubled bank, Bankia, has asked the Spanish government for $23.8 billion in financial support just as a leading credit rating agency downgraded it to junk status.

Jose Ignacio Goirigolzarri, the bank’s president, said late Friday that the bailout would reinforce “the solvency, liquidity and solidity of the bank.”

The request came as Standard & Poor’s downgraded Bankia and four other Spanish banks to junk status because of uncertainty over restructuring and recapitalization plans.

Man arrested in leak scandal, Vatican says

Vatican City – The Vatican said Friday that it has arrested someone for illegally holding secret documents as it tries to get to the bottom of an embarrassing leaking scandal.

Spokesman for the Rev. Federico Lombardi declined to immediately identify the person, other than to say he was a layman. He has been arrested and Vatican judicial authorities are examining his case.

Vatican documents leaked to the press in recent months have pointed to power struggles and accusations of corruption touching senior Vatican cardinals.

Gun crackdown in Venezuela permanent

Caracas, Venezuela – Venezuela’s government has prohibited people from possessing guns in public places in an effort to counter rampant violent crime.

The measure outlaws guns in all public places and specifically mentions city squares, parks, sports facilities and other types of establishments such as restaurants.

Venezuela has in recent years had one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America.

President Hugo Chavez’s government in February announced temporary measures outlawing gun possession in public areas as well as halting gun sales and the granting of permits for firearms. The new rules make those changes permanent and also call for metal detectors in places such as restaurants and bars.