Stories for October 2016

Wednesday, October 19th 2016 - 22:09 UTC
Eccentricity: Falklands' budget surpluses under-forecasting triggers lively debate

While in the rest of the world, budget shortfalls and downplayed soaring deficits are the norm, a lively discussion ensued at this week’s Falkland Islands Standing Finance Committee when MLA Michael Poole suggested the forecasting process needed revising when most years a deficit was forecast, but then resulted in a surplus.
Wednesday, October 19th 2016 - 21:03 UTC
Sulivan Shipping opens Falklands' 2016/17 cruise season on Saturday with M/V Sea Spirit

Approximately 63,000 cruise ship passengers arrivals are expected in the Falkland Islands this season which is slightly up on the previous season when just over 56,000 passengers were received from 105 ship visits. Staff at Sulivan Shipping are looking forward to the start of the 2016-2017 tourism season, with the arrival of the first cruise ship passengers on next Saturday’s flight, to board the M/V Sea Spirit.
Wednesday, October 19th 2016 - 20:48 UTC
Falkland Islands and Punta Arenas interested in increasing links and cooperation

A delegation from the UK embassy in Chile and a member from the Falklands Legislative Assembly met in Punta Arenas with the Magallanes region finance minister Christian Garcia to increase science and education cooperation links and promote people and economic exchanges. Many Chileans mainly from Punta Arenas have jobs in the Falklands.
Wednesday, October 19th 2016 - 07:33 UTC
Spain anticipates closed frontier if Gibraltar does not accept joint sovereignty

Spain's Acting Foreign Minister says free movement across the Gibraltar frontier will automatically end unless Gibraltarians accept joint sovereignty proposal with Spain. Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo was answering a question by Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation at a press conference after he met with Andalusia politicians in Algeciras, including the mayors of Algeciras and La Linea. From Seville Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said no democratic nation would get away closing a frontier.
Tuesday, October 18th 2016 - 18:58 UTC
The tiny crustacean which plays a key role in fertilizing the Southern Ocean

Scientists have discovered that Antarctic krill – a tiny shrimp-like crustacean – plays a key role in fertilising the Southern Ocean with iron, which stimulates the growth of phytoplankton, the microscopic plants at the base of the marine food web. This finding is important for understanding the oceans’ capacity for carbon capture.
Tuesday, October 18th 2016 - 10:31 UTC
Argentina lowers interest rates for businesses as inflation tends to subside

Argentina's main state-run bank said it lowered its headline interest rates for loans to businesses on Monday amid expectations that inflation will begin to slow in Latin America's third-largest economy, a move that will help put credit back within firms' reach. Banco Nacion, the country's largest financial institution and which also acts as a development bank, set its annual nominal reference rate for business loans at 27%, down from 32%.
Tuesday, October 18th 2016 - 08:44 UTC
Malcorra regrets no previous warning on the Falklands' military exercises

Argentine foreign minister Susana Malcorra said that the recent diplomatic row with the UK over military exercises in the Falkland Islands shows that the consequences of the war persist and reiterated her disappointment with London for not giving the Argentine government any previous warning.
Tuesday, October 18th 2016 - 08:31 UTC
WikiLeaks claims Assange's internet was shut down; possible controversy over Hillary's speeches

Anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks said on Monday that its founder Julian Assange's internet was shut down by the government of Ecuador, deflecting blame from the U.S. or British governments which have sparred with Assange for releasing sensitive material.
Tuesday, October 18th 2016 - 08:11 UTC
Argentina congratulates Guterres on appointment as next UN Secretary General

Argentina extended on Monday its congratulations to Portuguese former prime minister and ex UN High commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres for his appointment by the UN General Assembly as the next UN Secretary General for the 2017/2021 period.
Tuesday, October 18th 2016 - 07:48 UTC
Falklands military exercises: Governor Bertone condemns “UK's bad faith”

Argentine Tierra del Fuego governor Rosana Bertone joined the group of protestors condemning the military exercises, including launching of Rapier missiles, announced by British forces stationed in the Falkland Islands, and accused London of acting in “bad faith” just a few days after releasing a joint statement with Argentina to improve relations.