Stories for February 2013

Wednesday, February 13th 2013 - 20:43 UTC
Dr. Kim Crosbie named Executive Director of Antarctic tour operators

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) announced on Wednesday a restructuring of its Secretariat, re-establishing the post of Executive Director, with Dr. Kim Crosbie named to the position.
Wednesday, February 13th 2013 - 20:36 UTC
USA and EU make official talks to begin Atlantic free trade alliance

The United States and the European Union agreed on Wednesday to push for the launch by the end of June of talks to create an Atlantic free trade alliance that could be a benchmark for global partners to follow. A free trade deal would be the most ambitious ever attempted, encompassing half the world's economic output and a third of global trade flows.
Wednesday, February 13th 2013 - 19:05 UTC
Peruvian lawmaker supports Falkland Islanders’ referendum

Peruvian lawmaker Lourdes Alcorta openly dissented with President Ollanta Humala latest statements on ‘unconditional support for Argentina and the Malvinas issue”, and called to respect the Falkland Islands referendum next month.
Wednesday, February 13th 2013 - 19:01 UTC
Argentina labels Uruguayan lawmaker as ‘traitor’ for observing Falklands’ referendum

Argentina’s president of the Lower House and Malvinas veteran Julián Domínguez described as “treason to Latinamerica” the fact that Uruguayan lawmakers will be travelling to the Falklands to observe the coming referendum on the Islands political status and future.
Wednesday, February 13th 2013 - 05:24 UTC
Obama challenges Congress to ‘take a vote’ on a package of progressive reforms

President Barack Obama pledged in his annual State of the Union speech to revive the sluggish US economy by creating “good, middle-class jobs”. The Democratic president promised “smarter” rather than bigger government for “the many, and not just the few” and called on Congress 'to take a vote' on a package of progressive reforms..
Tuesday, February 12th 2013 - 21:05 UTC
Argentina says three-side dialogue on Falklands/Malvinas issue is unthinkable

Argentine ambassador in the UK, Alicia Castro described the coming Falkland Islands referendum on March 10/11 as a ‘media ruse’ and insisted that a three-side dialogue on Malvinas sovereignty is ‘unthinkable’ because the issue is bilateral: UK/Argentina.
Tuesday, February 12th 2013 - 20:17 UTC
Argentine Jewish community calls on Congress to reject understanding with Iran

Argentine Jewish leaders from Community Centres AMIA and DAIA, Guillermo Borger and Julio Schlosser rejected on Tuesday once more the agreement signed by the Argentine and Iranian governments last week to investigate the 1994 AMIA centre bombing which killed 85 people and left hundreds injured.
Tuesday, February 12th 2013 - 19:04 UTC
CPA regional conference on “self determination” takes off in the Falklands

The 43rd British Islands and Mediterranean Region Annual Conference (BIMR) of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, hosted by the Falkland Islands Government, opened in Stanley Tuesday morning. The theme of the two-day conference is “Self-determination and its role in self governance and devolution”.
Tuesday, February 12th 2013 - 18:00 UTC
Punta Arenas cruise business picking up; 62.000 visitors expected this season

The cruise business has been picking up for the last three seasons and so far including January an estimated 31.000 visitors landed in Punta Arenas, extreme south of Chile, which represents a 7% increase over the previous season and 10% for international cruises, said the head of the Austral Port Authority, Ignacio Covacevich.
Tuesday, February 12th 2013 - 17:02 UTC
Japanese scientists explain how flying squid jet out of sea and glide for over 30 meters

Looks like Olympic Gold medalist Usain Bolt may finally have some competition. Japanese researchers published a study in German magazine ‘Marine Biology’ about the ocean squid that can fly more than 30 meters through the air at a speed of 11.2 meters per second.