Stories for February 11th 2013
Following EU horse-meat guidelines, Falklands removes potentially affected products
The European horse-meat scare has reached the Falkland Islands but the government has stated that local retailers have voluntarily removed potentially affected products from their shelves and “there is nothing to suggest a safety risk to consumers who may have eaten affected products”.
Quick rescue operation for ‘Carnival Triumph’ adrift in the Gulf of Mexico
Carnival cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico with more than 4,200 passengers and crew will be towed to port after a weekend engine fire left it dead in the water, a cruise line official announced. The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Vigorous arrived early Monday to aid the stranded ship. The first of two tugboats is expected on the scene by midday, said Greg Magee, commander of the Vigorous.
FAO January food price index shows oil and fats up, cereals down, dairy and beef unchanged
FAO Food Price Index held steady at 210 points in January 2013 after three straight months of decline. Increases in oil and fats prices offset lower cereals and sugar quotations while dairy and meat values remained substantially unchanged. The pause in the Index's decline tallies with a significant upward revision in FAO latest forecast for 2012 world cereal production. This is now estimated at 2.302 million tonnes - 20 million tonnes up on December's forecast.
OAS celebrates 50 years of ‘electoral observance’ which makes to democracy foundations
Electoral observance “serves to build the foundations of Latin American democracy” said Organization of American States, OAS, Secretary General Jose Miguel Inuslza during opening remarks at a Roundtable entitled “International Election Observation: Progress and Challenges,” held at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC.
Australian/UK team complete re-enactment of Shakleton’s epic Antarctic expedition
Nearly 100 years after Sir Ernest Shackleton’s legendary Antarctic survival journey, a team of British and Australian explorers have completed their expedition to recreate it. Team leader Tim Jarvis and climber Barry Gray arrived at the Stromness whaling station in South Georgia on Sunday, despite extreme weather over the weekend that had put the expedition in jeopardy.
Gibraltar delegate to address ‘self-determination and sovereignty claims” at Falklands’ conference
The 43rd British Islands and Mediterranean Region Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association hosted by the Falkland Islands for the second time begins on Tuesday. Over forty delegates have travelled to the Islands for the Conference and Falklands Radio will be broadcasting some of the sessions.
Everybody fears Berlusconi, who keeps climbing in the polls for Italian elections
Prime Minister Mario Monti accused his media magnate rival Silvio Berlusconi of trying to buy votes with impossible promises as Italy's election campaign entered its last phase. With February 24-25 vote two weeks away, polls suggest the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) will win a solid lower house majority but may need a deal with Monti's centrists to gain the control of the Senate it must have to govern.
Next Pope could be Latinamerican, admit senior Vatican officials
With Pope Benedict's stunning announcement that he will resign end of the month, the time may be coming for the Roman Catholic Church to elect its first non-European leader and it could be a Latin American. The region already represents 42% of the world's 1.2 billion-strong Catholic population, the largest single block in the Church, compared to 25% in its European heartland and is has several outstanding candidates, according to Church sources.
Millions celebrating the arrival of the ‘snake’ and Chinese New Year
Millions of people are celebrating Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, the most important annual holiday in much of Asia. The New Year began in China at midnight Saturday, with firework displays and family gatherings. It marked the opening of the year of the snake, taking over from the dragon.
Argentina/Iran accord increases crossfire between government and Jewish community
A new crossfire has emerged between the Argentine President Cristina Fernandez and the Jewish community over the agreement reached by the Argentine government with Iran to investigate the 1994 bombing of a Jewish institution in Buenos Aires which left 85 dead and hundreds injured, and remains unresolved.
