Stories for May 23rd 2011
Next RN Ice patrol in Portsmouth; in June she becomes HMS Protector
The next Royal Navy Ice patrol vessel is expected this week in Portsmouth where she will be taking over the navy’s Antarctic mission in November following the accident suffered by HMS Endurance in 2008.
Final trip for HMS Gloucester after Falklands’ duties and Saxon Warrior exercise
Veteran warship HMS Gloucester, the Fighting G, which spent most of her last twelve months in South Atlantic duties in the Falklands and South Georgia, returned to Portsmouth for the last time Monday 23.
France wants to combat commodities volatility, not limit prices
The best way to cool soaring food prices is to boost output, the Argentine government said, following talks on a French proposal for increased regulation of commodity markets in the framework of a G20 meeting in Buenos Aires.
Colombia’s oil company makes new discovery; plans to drill another ten wells in the block
Colombian state oil company Ecopetrol said it made a new discovery at a well in the south-eastern Caño Sur block, of which the company is the sole owner and operator.
The Mito-1 exploratory well yielded an average of 200 barrels per day of heavy oil in initial testing, Ecopetrol, which plans to drill another 10 wells at that block in the near future, said.
Mexico Casterns throws his hat into the IMF MD election ring
Mexico central bank Governor Agustin Carstens will be presented as a candidate for managing director of the IMF, the Finance Ministry said in an e-mailed statement Sunday.
Colombia/Venezuela broker agreement for Honduras return to OAS
Colombia and Venezuela brokered an agreement between Honduras's incumbent president and its deposed former leader to try to help the Central American nation be readmitted to the Organization of American States.
Peruvian president says he’s rather fond of Chavez with whom fights are over
Peruvian outgoing president Alan García said on Sunday that the days of rivalry and fights with his peer Hugo Chavez are over and admitted he’s quite fond of the Venezuelan president whom he considers a man “respectful of institutions and power”.
Spain’s ruling Socialists suffer major defeat but early elections ruled out
Spain's ruling Socialist Party sustained heavy losses in municipal elections on Sunday, amid widespread protests against high unemployment. The conservative People's Party (PP) took 37.5% of the vote compared with almost 28% for Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's PSOE, with more than 90% of votes counted.
Violent riots in Argentine port on rumours two vessels were involved in Falklands oil exploration
Two Norwegian flagged vessels contracted in support of Argentina’s YPF oil rigs in the South Atlantic but which rumours had them working for the Falkland Islands, triggered major rioting and protests Friday and early Saturday in the city of La Plata.
Uruguay ratifies “continental solidarity” in the Falklands/Malvinas dispute
Uruguay ratified to visiting UK Foreign Minister for Latin America Jeremy Browne, Montevideo’s “continental solidarity” policy with Argentina regarding the Falklands/Malvinas dispute but also described relations with the UK as “extremely cordial”.
