Stories for February 13th 2012
South Africa will have a new multi-purpose polar research vessel next season
The South African 30 years old research and supply ship “SA Agulhas” made her last ever call to King Edward Cove in South Georgia Island on January 15th. She will be replaced by a new icebreaker currently being built in Finland next season, reports the South Georgia Newsletter.
Seven crew members abandon jigger in Falklands, but later decide to return
Seven Vietnamese crewmen who jumped into Stanley Harbour from their Falklands’ licensed fishing vessel in the early hours of Sunday morning were later found safe and well by a local resident.
The Falklands “a fantastic corner of the world with much trade to be done”
“Far beyond expectations; this is a fantastic corner of the world”, said Dr. Nicolas Negrin, Head of Mission for the Uruguayan delegation describing his impression of the Falkland Islands. The 19 member Uruguayan business delegation spent a week in the Falklands and left on Saturday with impressions considerably different to those they had arrived with.
Chilean community in Falklands plan to write a letter to President Piñera
After a successful turnout and demonstration last week, the Chilean community in the Falkland Islands will be deciding this week on addressing letters to President Sebastian Piñera and President of the Senate, Guillermo Guiralde to tell them that in the Islands there is also a piece of Chile.
FAO Food Price Index up 2% in January, first increase since July 2011
The FAO Food Price Index rose by nearly two percent or four points from December to January, its first increase since July 2011. According to FAO prices of all the commodity groups in the index registered gains last month with oils increasing the most followed closely by cereals, sugar, dairy products and meat.
Agriculture methods accelerate erosion and global warming, says UN report
Global warming will get worse as agricultural methods accelerate the rate of soil erosion, which depletes the amount of carbon the soil is able to store, a United Nations' Environment Programme report said on Monday.
Falklands: Sean Penn in Argentina, calls for dialogue and an end to colonialism
US actor Sean Penn gave his full support to Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands and underlined the conflict must be solved through dialogue. The Hollywood star visited Buenos Aires on Monday as representative of the Haitian people and survivors of the earthquake that bashed the Caribbean nation in 2011.
Baroness Meryl Thatcher wins Bafta best actress for “The Iron Lady”
Meryl Streep won the best actress at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Bafta, for her performance in The Iron Lady, continuing a triumphant awards season that looks set to carry her all the way to Oscar glory.
“We may be poor but not stupid”, China is not interested in EU government bonds
The head of China’s 410 billion dollars sovereign wealth fund CIC brushed aside a call by German Chancellor Angela Merkel to buy European government debt, saying such investments were “difficult” for long-term investors.
Controversy erupts in Argentina as lawmakers vote to double their salaries
A controversy has erupted in Argentina following lawmakers vote to double their congressional income while the federal government is cutting on subsidies and expenditure and has suggested ‘salary moderation’ for the coming round of negotiations with a roof of 20%.
