Stories for March 14th 2014

Friday, March 14th 2014 - 10:15 UTC
Falklands' referendum a year ago remembered at the Australian parliament

One year on from the Falkland Islands' referendum and public diplomacy efforts are paying dividends according to Members of Legislative Assembly Mike Summers and Michael Poole, reports the latest edition of the Penguin News.
Friday, March 14th 2014 - 10:12 UTC
China's first two months industrial output figures feed fears of a slowdown

China's industrial output rose 8.6% in January and February, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Retail sales - a key measure of consumer spending - also increased 11.8% from the year before, government figures show. The figures were less than analysts had been expecting, adding to fears of a slowdown.
Friday, March 14th 2014 - 10:07 UTC
Fonterra, world's leading dairy exporter admits four food-safety violations

New Zealand's Fonterra has admitted four food-safety violations following a botulism scare last year that led to recalls of milk products in China. Government officials had filed charges against the dairy company, accusing it of processing and exporting dairy products which did not meet standards.
Friday, March 14th 2014 - 09:18 UTC
Falkland Islanders right to self determination reaffirmed by Minister Swire

Foreign Office minister for Latin America Hugo Swire MP, who recently visited the Falklands, sent a letter to Falkland Islanders thanking the warm reception and congratulating them on their strong sense of identity and community. The letter was published in this Friday's edition of the Penguin News.
Friday, March 14th 2014 - 09:08 UTC
Falklands focused on a multi-year plan of mine clearance

Demining work did not take place this summer in the Falkland Islands, “because efforts were focused on agreeing a multi-year plan for the next round of mine clearance operations,” Member of Legislative Assembly Mike Summers stated this week.
Friday, March 14th 2014 - 09:00 UTC
Farm land sales in Uruguay last year totaled a record 1.3bn dollars

Farm land sales in Uruguay totaled a record 1.3bn dollars in 2013, involving 1.868 operations and 370.927 hectares, which is 10% more than in 2012, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food ministry's Stats Office, DIEA. Uruguay's farmland covers approximately 17 million hectares and the most dynamic buyers are the pensions funds, says the report.
Friday, March 14th 2014 - 08:52 UTC
Venezuela reassures fearful Caribbean allies about ALBA and PetroCaribe

Venezuela said the current political unrest in the country poses no danger to the future of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of the Americas(ALBA) and the oil initiative PetroCaribe.
Friday, March 14th 2014 - 08:49 UTC
Death toll in a month of violent protests in Venezuela has risen to 28

Venezuela's state prosecutor said on Thursday the death toll from a month of violent protests had risen to 28, after the nation's top court ordered opposition mayors to dismantle barricades set up by street protesters.
Friday, March 14th 2014 - 08:42 UTC
US will not side with Argentina in its dispute with hedge funds, says Kerry

US Secretary of State, John Kerry has rejected the possibility that the Barack Obama administration would side with Argentina in the long-standing dispute with hedge funds over the defaulted bonds from the 2001/2 meltdown. Still the US official praised what he considered some “positive steps” by the Cristina Fernandez government.
Friday, March 14th 2014 - 08:36 UTC
Timerman happy with the way he is running Malvinas policy

Argentine Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman said he must be doing the right things regarding the Falklands/Malvinas issue because the Foreign Office prefers to talk to members of the opposition.