Stories for April 2013

Thursday, April 4th 2013 - 07:40 UTC
Batelco completes buyout of Cable & Wireless; includes Falklands, St Helena and Ascension services

Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) has completed the disposal of the majority of its Monaco & Islands division, which was announced last December and includes the South Atlantic islands of Falklands, Ascension and St Helena.
Thursday, April 4th 2013 - 07:28 UTC
UN calls for a world free from the threat of mines and other remnants of war

On 8 December 2005, the UN General Assembly declared that 4 April of each year shall be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. To that effect UN Secretary General has released a message.
Thursday, April 4th 2013 - 07:07 UTC
On Mine Awareness Day, OAS praises Colombia, Peru and Ecuador

On the International Mine Awareness Day (April 4), the Organization of American States highlighted the successful humanitarian demining efforts throughout the Americas. National authorities in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are to be commended for increasing awareness of the dangers posed by landmines, for reducing the number of landmine victims, and for assuming responsibility for their national programs, said OAS.
Thursday, April 4th 2013 - 02:47 UTC
Argentine defaulted bond-holders have until 22 April to respond to the proposed payment plan

A US appeals court gave holders of defaulted Argentina debt three weeks to respond to the country’s proposed plan to pay them much less than the 1.33 billion dollars they have sued to collect.
Thursday, April 4th 2013 - 02:06 UTC
Expanding Antarctic sea-ice triggers different scientific explanations

Climate change is expanding Antarctica's sea ice, according to a scientific study in the journal Nature Geoscience. The paradoxical phenomenon is thought to be caused by relatively cold plumes of fresh water derived from melting beneath the Antarctic ice shelves.
Thursday, April 4th 2013 - 01:49 UTC
China reports further cases of A (H7N9) flu; scientists confirm mutation of the virus

As China’s Health and Family Planning Commission notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of an additional four cases of human infection with influenza A(H7N9), scientists revealed that the genetic sequence data on the deadly strain of bird flu previously unknown in people show the virus has already acquired some mutations that might make it more likely to cause a human pandemic.
Thursday, April 4th 2013 - 00:08 UTC
Carnival’s Triumph breaks loose from its dock; US Senator calls for “Cruise Ship Passenger Bill of Rights”

One person was missing Wednesday afternoon after high winds in Mobile, Alabama, caused the disabled cruise ship Carnival Triumph to break loose from its dock, officials said. An official with the city's fire department said the missing man and another person were in a guard shack that was blown into Mobile River. One man has been recovered from the water.
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’.