Stories for March 19th 2010
Falklands’ delegation at annual OCT’s forum for closer links with European Union
A Falkland Islands delegation is on its way to Brussels for the annual Forum for Overseas Countries & Territories of the European Union, which will be attended by representatives of all 21 EU Overseas Countries & Territories, reports the Falklands Legislative Assembly
Falklands rife with speculation waiting for first oil drilling results
Speculation was mounting this week on news of a potential oil strike as a promised announcement from hydrocarbons exploration company Desire Petroleum grew closer.
Chile considers increasing mining royalty to help earthquake reconstruction
Marking a break from established policy, the Chilean government is considering the opposition’s proposal to increase the mining royalty tax. Government ministers are currently studying the implications of a tax increase, the money from which would be used to aid in earthquake reconstruction.
Falklands: Taiana certain UK will understand it must sit to negotiate
Argentine Foreign Affairs minister Jorge Taiana said on Thursday that there has been progress in creating the “political and diplomatic conditions” for the United Kingdom to understand the need for negotiations on the Falkland Islands sovereignty.
Warning petrol in UK could reach 120p a litre; 3p increase from April
Petrol prices could reach an eye-watering 120 pennies per litre later this year, the AA is warning. The organisation is claiming that unleaded fuel could even top the price, equivalent to £5.41 a gallon, and Alistair Darling is being urged to delay the introduction of a planned 3p increase in petrol duty due to come in on April 1.
King Penguin with avian pox; “one in zillion” black KP in South Georgia
A small percentage of King Penguins in a variety of locations around the South Georgia Island are suffering from disease, possibly avian pox, reports the latest edition of the South Georgia Newsletter.
Haiti reconstruction bill estimated in 11.5 billion USD
Haiti will need 11.5 billion US dollars to rebuild after the devastating earthquake in January, the country's government estimates. The amount is a rough estimate of money required for a complete overhaul of the impoverished country, officials say.
EP president condemns arrest of Cuban political prisoners’ women relatives
The president of the European Parliament has sharply condemned Cuba for arresting a group of women, all of them relatives of political prisoners, who were demonstrating in Havana on Wednesday.
Relatives of quake victims suing Chile for absence of tsunami warning
Relatives of two sisters who died in the Feb. 27 tsunami are suing Chilean government agencies they claim are responsible for the absence of an adequate tsunami warning.
Argentine government expects quick return to international bond markets
Argentina moved a step closer to a planned swap of defaulted debt and an issue of up to 15 billion US dollars in new bonds, with an amended filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC
