Stories for April 2015

Wednesday, April 29th 2015 - 01:18 UTC
Falklands confident of its oil industry safety regime and environment protection commitment

The Falkland Islands maintain strong regulatory oversight on all oil and gas operations and its offshore safety regime is based on the North Sea’s Safety Case regulatory structure, recognized as one of the highest standards in the world, said the Falklands' government in a release following concerns related to technical issues on the rig Eirik Raude, currently operating in the South Atlantic.
Tuesday, April 28th 2015 - 20:53 UTC
Pepsi changes artificial sweetener over consumer concerns about its safety

A controversial artificial sweetener is being removed from Diet Pepsi in the US amid consumer concerns about its safety. Aspartame-free cans of the drink will go on sale from August in America, but not in Britain. However regulators in the UK and the US insist aspartame is still safe to use in soft drinks.
Tuesday, April 28th 2015 - 08:05 UTC
IAATO 2015 convention starts today in Rotterdam - Falkland Islands Tourist Board Management in Attendance

Tony Mason, Director, International Communications and Stephanie Middleton, Interim CEO of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board are in Rotterdam, Netherlands this week attending the IAATO conference where key issues affecting the region will be discussed.
Tuesday, April 28th 2015 - 05:44 UTC
Brazil's economy expected to further contract and inflation to reach 8.25%

Analysts have reviewed negatively Brazil's 2015 inflation and growth forecasts, according to the latest Focus report from the Central Bank, released on Monday. The survey which includes 100 analysts from private financial institutions on the state of the economy anticipates inflation of 8.25% and 1.1% contraction of GDP by the end of the year.
Tuesday, April 28th 2015 - 05:38 UTC
Australia intercepts and boards the fishing vessel 'Perlon', from the IUU list

Australia has intercepted in the Southern Ocean the fishing vessel Perlon, believed to have been operating under a false flag in defiance of international conventions, according to an official report from the Ministry of Immigration and Border Protection.
Tuesday, April 28th 2015 - 05:26 UTC
France leads world wine production and exports, with third largest area with vineyards

There was both good and bad news for France in this week’s annual report on the outlook of the wine industry by the International Organization of Wine and Vine (OIV).
Tuesday, April 28th 2015 - 05:20 UTC
Fitch cuts Japan's credit rating: high and rising level of government debt

Fitch cut its credit rating for heavily indebted Japan by one notch on Monday, saying it has not done enough to plug a budget gap left by its decision to delay the second stage of a sales tax hike.
Tuesday, April 28th 2015 - 05:13 UTC
China's oil giant Sinopec under investigation over corruption suspicions

A senior executive at state energy firm China Sinopec Group is under investigation for suspected “serious disciplinary violations”. The China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) named Wang Tianpu, an oil industry veteran and president of Sinopec Group, in a statement on its website. Sinopec Group is the parent of Sinopec Corp, Asia's largest oil refiner.
Tuesday, April 28th 2015 - 05:04 UTC
New York dims lights in high buildings to help birds' migration

The state of New York is to turn off non-essential lights in state-run buildings to help birds navigate their migratory routes in spring and autumn. Migrating birds are believed to use stars to navigate but they can be disorientated by electric lights, causing them to crash into buildings.
Tuesday, April 28th 2015 - 02:07 UTC
Falklands' fisheries contribute an additional £6 million to Islands' budget

It's budget time in the Falkland Islands and fishing again has boosted the government coffers this year with more than £6 million above that originally budgeted, according to the Penguin News.