Stories for February 18th 2013

Monday, February 18th 2013 - 17:26 UTC
Gibraltar and the Falklands referendum: “we are with you every step of the way”

Chief Minister Fabian Picardo has expressed Gibraltar’s “unqualified” support for the people of the Falklands in their forthcoming referendum. Picardo’s remarks were delivered by Samantha Sacramento last week at the Commonwealth parliamentary Association regional conference in the capital of Stanley in Falklands.
Monday, February 18th 2013 - 16:55 UTC
Floater options under consideration for Darwin offshore Falklands development

Oil and gas exploration company Borders & Southern, B&S, expects to start work this month on two projects concerning its licenses in the offshore South Falkland basin, reports from London ‘Offshore’.
Monday, February 18th 2013 - 16:29 UTC
Morales nationalizes control of Bolivia three main airports

Populist Bolivian President Evo Morales on Monday nationalized control of the country’s three main airports from Spain’s operator Abertis-Aena, arguing that the company had not fulfilled investments commitments promised for years.
Monday, February 18th 2013 - 15:44 UTC
Chavez in Caracas military hospital; presidential oath ceremony expected

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is resting in Caracas military hospital after his Monday early dawn return from Cuba where he spent ten weeks recuperating from cancer surgery. However contrary to other occasions no video or pictures were shown and officials confirmed he has a tracheal tube which limits speech.
Monday, February 18th 2013 - 06:55 UTC
Correa wins re-election by a landslide turning him into indisputable regional leader

President Rafael Correa swept to a re-election victory on Sunday promising to strengthen state control over Ecuador’s economy and continue using booming oil revenues to build roads, hospitals and schools in rural areas and shanty towns.
Monday, February 18th 2013 - 06:44 UTC
PM Cameron in India to increase trade and after major defence contract

Seeking to build “one of the great partnerships” of the 21st century, British Prime Minister David Cameron begins a three-day official visit to India on Monday during which he will meet his counterpart Manmohan Singh and discuss issues of common interest.
Monday, February 18th 2013 - 06:39 UTC
Scandal-hit Vatican bank tries to make clean start but again stumbles

The Vatican appointed a German lawyer to head its bank, but the bid to turn the fortunes of the scandal-hit institution was clouded by his business links to a military shipbuilder.
Monday, February 18th 2013 - 06:33 UTC
Head of Italy’s main defence firm arrested on allegations of corruption in helicopter sales

The chairman and chief executive of the Italian defence firm Finmeccanica, has formally resigned. Giuseppe Orsi was arrested in Italy this week as part of a corruption investigation involving the sale of helicopters to the Indian government. India has started the process of cancelling the 750m dollars contract.
Monday, February 18th 2013 - 06:29 UTC
Russian meteor: 17 metres wide, weighed 10.000 tons and crashed at 64.373 km/h says NASA

The meteor that exploded over Russia Friday was slightly larger than previously thought and more powerful, too, NASA scientists say. The explosion over the city of Chelyabinsk, on Friday injured more than 1,000 people and blew out windows across the region in a massive blast captured on cameras by frightened witnesses.
Monday, February 18th 2013 - 06:26 UTC
New strain of dengue further exposes Paraguay’s population to the spreading disease

Paraguay health officials have detected a new strain of the tropical mosquito-transmitted disease dengue identified as serotype 4, the first case reported since last year which expands significantly the population’s exposure. Likewise the latest official report indicates 26 confirmed dengue deaths and over 13.000 infected.