Stories for January 9th 2013
Venezuela top court endorses inauguration postponement; massive ‘legitimization’ rally on Thursday
Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal constitutional chamber endorsed the postponement of Hugo Chavez inauguration scheduled for Thursday and ruled that the cancer-stricken leader remained as the constitutional president of the country since he was re-re-elected and was granted a leave of absence for medical reasons by the National Assembly.
Lula da Silva to be investigated over the vote-buying scheme in Congress
Brazilian prosecutors will likely investigate former President Lula da Silva's alleged involvement in a vote-buying scheme in Congress that led to the conviction of several of his closest aides for corruption, two newspapers reported.
New oil extraction technologies have the US closer to energy independence
US crude oil production is expected to rise by the largest amount on record in 2013, the Energy Information Administration said, and is set to soar by almost a quarter over the next two years.
Paraguay admits defeat to dengue and declares national epidemics alert
The mosquito transmitted dengue disease can’t be eradicated, but only controlled at least this tropical summer admitted Paraguayan health officials after extending the national epidemics alert to the whole territory of the landlocked country.
Argos Resources storms ahead of its Falklands’ oil drilling rivals
Argos Resources the only Falklands explorer to not drill a well has had the most successful year of them all in share price terms. Results of interpretation of 3D seismic data are encouraging with a number of prospects identified and the company is looking for industry partners to take exploration drilling forward. Year to date share price performance: up 107.92% at 24.95p.
Rockhopper planning minimum three wells offshore Falklands in 2014
Rockhopper Exploration which discovered oil offshore the Falkland Islands in 2010 at its Sea Lion prospect is planning a minimum of three exploration and appraisal wells on its North Falkland Basin acreage in 2014 including Sea Lion satellites Casper, Casper South, and Beverley.
Venezuelan government postpones inauguration because of Chavez health problems
Venezuela will postpone Thursday's presidential inauguration due to President Hugo Chávez' continuing health problems, the government announced on Tuesday. Chavez who has dominated Venezuelan politics almost undisputedly since 1999 has not been heard from or seen in public since his Dec. 11 cancer surgery in Cuba.
US says Chavez succession is an issue for Venezuelans to decide and must include all voices
The United States is concerned for the health of President Hugo Chavez and wishing a speedy recovery, but the succession situation in Venezuela “is an issue for Venezuelans to decide” and it should be done in a manner “that includes all the voices in the discussion”, said State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland on Tuesday.
Mujica flies to Caracas “to support the government and people of Venezuela”
Uruguayan president Jose Mujica leaves for Caracas “to support the government and people of Venezuela” on Thursday 10 January, the date in which convalescent re-re-elected president Hugo Chavez is supposed to take the oath of office.
The 2012/13 cruise season: a new case of Argentine intolerance towards Malvinas
Most probably this cruise season 2012/2013 will be remembered not for the record number of calls or visitors (estimated in half a million) but as a new case of Argentine intolerance with the Malvinas Islands in centre stage, writes La Nacion columnist Emiliano Galli.
