Stories for March 27th 2013

Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 23:11 UTC
Bristow Helicopters takes over UK search and rescue service from RAF and RN

Britain’s Department for Transport (DfT) has announced the signing of a £1.6 billion contract to provide the UK's search and rescue helicopter services. UK SAR is currently provided by RAF and Royal Navy personnel using Sea King helicopters from eight bases across the UK and through a civilian helicopter service under contract to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) from four bases.
Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 21:52 UTC
Falkland Islands issue gets involved in Argentina’s 150th celebration of Welsh settlers in Patagonia

Argentine ambassador in London Alicia Castro revealed she has been meeting with Welsh MPs for the potential organization of the 150th anniversary of Welsh settlers in Patagonia in 2015. However Welsh sources said initial discussions broke down because the Argentine representatives were seeking people supportive of their views in the Falkland Islands dispute.
Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 21:19 UTC
BRICS summit decides ‘formal negotiations’ to create a development bank

The leaders of the five BRICS nations stopped short of establishing a highly-promoted development bank at this week’s summit in South Africa, instead saying they would enter “formal negotiations” on the issue. But the summit did yield some agreements, including big-money bilateral trade deals.
Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 21:07 UTC
Land values in northern Australia have fallen 20/25%; valuations in line with productivity

Land values in northern Australia have fallen 20-25% since the global financial crisis of 2008, and will continue to fall until valuations are in line with productivity. Meanwhile, says Ross Copland, the Alice Springs-based director of Integrated Valuation Services, the curtailing of live export sales that began in 2011 has flipped perceptions of Territory pastoral productivity.
Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 21:04 UTC
African swine desert out of control in Russia and former Soviet republics

African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in 2012 have been the worst yet in Russia, with over half a million pigs having fallen victim to the disease and subsequently culled. It is hard to pinpoint causes, but lack of bio-security knowledge appears to be part of the problem which seems out of control. Surrounding countries reporting ASF to the OIE included Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and even Ukraine.
Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 19:56 UTC
Brazil’s Dilma seems unbeatable 18 months ahead of the presidential election

Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff leads comfortably vote intention according to two public opinion polls published by leading newspapers, which indicate that she would have an easy win in the first round of the 2014 presidential election.
Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 19:12 UTC
Conservative candidate leads polls in Paraguay April 21 presidential election

Paraguay businessman Horacio Cartes a newcomer to politics and the presidential candidate for the conservative Colorado party that ruled the landlocked country for decades leads public opinion polls less than a month ahead of the general election.
Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 19:07 UTC
Argentine rugby union admits concern about possible incidents when England plays next June

Ahead of the coming tour to Argentina of the English national team, the head of the local Rugby Union, (UAR) Luis Castillo admitted he was concerned about possible threats from militant groups in support of ‘Argentine Malvinas’ and which have been involved in violent actions.
Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 08:04 UTC
Falkland Islands: Argentina and UK clash at UN: no talks without the accord of Islanders

Argentina's Foreign minister Hector Timerman together with Latam representatives called on UN chief Ban Ki Moon and demanded talks with the UK on the Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty, but Britain again refused, pointing to the Islanders' overwhelming vote this month to remain British.
Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 07:57 UTC
Francis scheduled to visit Argentina, Chile and Uruguay next December

Pope Francis is scheduled to make his first official visit to Argentina, where he was born, next December ‘to be close to his fellow compatriots’, according to ecclesiastic sources in Buenos Aires. The visit in the first half of December could extend to neighbouring Uruguay and Chile.