Stories for April 3rd 2013

Wednesday, April 3rd 2013 - 23:50 UTC
Falkland Islands’ success in Colombia: debate at leading university and speech before Congress

A Falkland Islands delegation concluded this week a very successful visit to Colombia where they not only met with local authorities and lawmakers but also addressed the Lower House of Congress and were able to express loud and clear the Islanders’ message born out of the recent referendum in which they overwhelmingly voted to remain a British Overseas Territory.
Wednesday, April 3rd 2013 - 07:08 UTC
Falklands’ lawmaker regrets South American leaders take for granted Argentina’s version of events

Falklands’ lawmaker Gavin Short regretted on Tuesday in Bolivia that the governments of South America take for granted the Argentine version of the conflict between Argentina and the UK over the Islands sovereignty without ever having listened to the other side.
Wednesday, April 3rd 2013 - 07:03 UTC
Maduro launches presidential campaign saying ‘Chavez’s spirit’ appeared to him in the form of a singing bird

Ruling-party presidential candidate Nicolas Maduro said on Tuesday at the childhood home of late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez that he felt that his deceased mentor appeared to him in the form of a “little bird”, blessed him and made a strong call ‘on to (electoral) battle’.
Wednesday, April 3rd 2013 - 06:57 UTC
Uruguayan Senate approves by a clear majority same-sex marriage

The Uruguayan Senate voted overwhelmingly, 23-8, in favor of a same-sex marriage measure Tuesday, which now must return to the Lower House before it is finally approved and signed by President Jose Mujica who has indicated he supports the measure.
Wednesday, April 3rd 2013 - 06:48 UTC
Buenos Aires collapses after 155mm of rainfall in seven hours flood the city

At least eight people are reported dead after torrential rain and powerful winds battered Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires and surrounding neighbourhoods flooding streets, knocking out power, downing trees and damaging homes and cars, officials said Tuesday. An estimated 350.000 people have been affected by the floods.
Wednesday, April 3rd 2013 - 06:44 UTC
Falklands’ referendum at the heart of a controversy in Colombia

A diplomatic ‘gaffe’ referred to the Falklands/Malvinas Islands and the recent referendum seems to have been committed by the British embassy in Colombia, gaining great display in the Argentine media.
Wednesday, April 3rd 2013 - 03:49 UTC
Francis first real challenge: re-structuring the scandal ridden Vatican bank

Pope Francis, who has said he wants the Catholic Church to be a model of austerity and honesty, could restructure or even close the Vatican's scandal-ridden bank as part of a broad review of its troubled bureaucracy, Vatican sources say.
Wednesday, April 3rd 2013 - 03:03 UTC
Falkland Islands’ referendum blasted by the Argentine embassy in Montevideo media

In full half page white and blue ads the Argentine embassy in Montevideo expressed on Tuesday how grateful it is to Uruguay for its support in the Malvinas Islands claim and for having been one of the first countries to reject the ‘legitimacy and publicity stunt’ of the ‘pseudo-referendum’ recently held in the Falklands.
Wednesday, April 3rd 2013 - 01:20 UTC
UN approves first-ever historic arms trade treaty with 23 abstentions and 3 negative votes

The 193-nation UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the first-ever treaty on global arms trade that seeks to regulate the 70 billion dollars international business in conventional arms ranging from light weapons to battle tanks and warships.
There were 154 votes in favour, 3 against and 23 abstentions.
Wednesday, April 3rd 2013 - 00:59 UTC
Falkland Island's: identification of NN remains at Darwin memorial back on stage

President Cristina Fernandez announced on Tuesday that 91 next of kin of Argentine combatants buried in NN graves at the Falkland Islands Darwin memorial have agreed and signed to have the remains DNA tested and clearly identified.