Stories for January 26th 2018

Friday, January 26th 2018 - 15:13 UTC
Falklands fines Spanish trawler for failing to make a fish end report

A Falkland Islands Summary Court acting Justice of Peace Andrew Brownlee and Leeann Harris handed out a conditional discharge for eighteen months to Spanish fishing captain, Oscar Gomez, while fining his company, Pesquerias Marinenses SA, a total of £5,000, plus court costs of £150. Mr Gomez was also ordered to pay £150 costs.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 14:53 UTC
Royal Navy received the new Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Forth

British Defense Minister Guto Bebb formally announced on Thursday the acceptance of HMS Forth, the Royal Navy’s new Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), from manufacturer BAE Systems at the company’s Scotstoun shipyard.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 09:46 UTC
Uruguay and China flirt with a trade agreement, but Mercosur is not convinced

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that Beijing is willing to negotiate step by step, a free trade agreements with Uruguay and other countries in South America, particularly members of Mercosur.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 09:42 UTC
Massive vaccination, 23.8 million, against yellow fever in Sao Paulo and Rio do Janeiro

Brazil launched a mass immunization campaign that will deliver fractional doses of yellow fever vaccine to residents of 69 municipalities in the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. The strategic plan for the campaign was developed with support from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). It will be the world’s largest vaccination campaign, to date, using fractional doses of yellow fever vaccine.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 09:37 UTC
French fishermen protest against pulse fishing and block Calais and Boulogne

French fishermen have blocked the ports of Calais and Boulogne in protest at so-called pulse fishing, which uses electrified nets to stun fish. Fishing boats stopped ferries entering or leaving Calais while a roadblock stopped traffic at Boulogne. Calais is a major link between the UK and France used by thousands of tourists and lorries every day.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 09:31 UTC
Venezuela expels Spanish ambassador: Madrid expected to reciprocate

Venezuela has expelled the Spanish ambassador to Caracas, Jesús Silva Fernández, accusing him of interfering in its internal affairs. Spain has rejected the allegations and said it would reciprocate.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 09:27 UTC
Brazil announces open skies policy with US and an end to the 20% ownership cap

Brazil’s Congress will finalize as soon as February legislation opening the way for deregulation of flights to and from the United States, Minister of Tourism Marx Beltrao said. He also expects legislators to approve a plan to allow foreign carriers a bigger chunk of Brazilian airlines. Both measures are part of a government drive to push down fares and boost tourism, which accounts for an estimated 3.7% of GDP.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 09:24 UTC
“Argentina has left the populist experiment, and no other country has its potential”

Argentina has left behind its populist experiment, and there is no other country with greater potential, Argentine president Mauricio Macri told the World Economic Forum in Davos during a speech to the forum of world political and business leaders.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 09:11 UTC
Soros blasts tech monopolies such as Facebook and Google: 'a threat to democracy'

Hungarian born billionaire investor George Soros has criticised tech “monopolies” such as Facebook and Google, calling them a threat to democracy. At his annual dinner at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Soros warned that social media platforms were “obstacles to innovation”.
Friday, January 26th 2018 - 07:41 UTC
Falklands' 26-competitor team to Commonwealth Games in Australia

The Falkland Islands will be sending a team of 26 competitors and officials to the 21st Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast Australia in April. Two sports will be represented: badminton and various shooting disciplines and the whole event will run from April 4 -15.