Stories for February 28th 2014

Friday, February 28th 2014 - 05:09 UTC
Minister announces Maduro will inform Unasur on the Venezuela situation

Foreign minister Elías Jaua said that Caracas will not accept international mediation in the current situation faced by Venezuela but nevertheless thanked Uruguay's president Jose Mujica for his efforts and knowledge about what's going on in his country.
Friday, February 28th 2014 - 05:00 UTC
Falkland Islands acting governor until the end of April sworn in

John Duncan OBE was sworn in as Acting Governor of the Falkland Islands on Thursday at 5pm at Government House, in advance of the arrival of the Islands’ next Governor Colin Roberts CVO at the end of April.
Friday, February 28th 2014 - 04:49 UTC
Falkland Islands considering signing the UN Convention on Biological Diversity

Although the Falkland Islands has not yet signed up to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) it is being actively considered, stated Environmental Officer Nick Rendell, responding to an article that criticized the fact that only four UK Overseas Territories have joined the treaty, reports the latest edition from the Penguin News.
Friday, February 28th 2014 - 03:28 UTC
Brazil GDP expanded 2.3% in 2013; agriculture again the main engine

Brazil's economic output grew 2.3% in 2013 for a third straight year of modest expansion by Latin America's biggest economy, the government announced on Thursday. GDP for the final quarter of the year rose a 0.7% compared to the third quarter, according to Brazil's Institute for Geography and Statistics, IBGE.
Friday, February 28th 2014 - 03:14 UTC
Pescanova's survival to be decided in a month; Friday first deadline

One of Spain's leading fishing companies Pescanova (under administration) faces a decisive deadline for its future, while banks finalize the negotiation of a creditors’ agreement based on debt cuts and investment in the firm, according to Europa Press based on sources familiar with the situation of the company.
Friday, February 28th 2014 - 03:05 UTC
Ocean Summit takes off with US proposal for a watchdog

The proposal to create an international body within the UN governing the seas was the focus this week at the beginning of the Ocean Summit. In this international meeting, world leaders emphasized its fast degradation and increasing pressure to further exploit its resources.
Friday, February 28th 2014 - 02:55 UTC
Brazil and Cuba, for different reasons, trying to unravel Venezuela's political crisis

The visit this week of Brazil's former president Lula da Silva to Havana could help to unravel the current political crisis in Venezuela according to Argentine political analyst Rosendo Fraga, since both countries have much to lose if the conflicting situation continues.
Friday, February 28th 2014 - 02:42 UTC
Venezuela political power, 'concentrated in a single party with an authoritarian executive'

An executive summary published on Thursday by the US State Department describes Venezuela’s political power as “concentrated in a single party with an authoritarian executive”, and reported human rights abuses, including corruption, freedom of speech restrictions, and political persecutions amid others.
Friday, February 28th 2014 - 02:36 UTC
Fed asks US Congress to look into legal option for regulating virtual currencies such as bitcoin

The US Congress should look into legal options for regulating virtual currencies such as bitcoin, said Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yelleny. Japan-based bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox went dark leaving customers unable to access their accounts. Experts have warned they might not have much recourse to recover their money.