Stories for February 2018

Monday, February 19th 2018 - 09:33 UTC
Falklands conflict: Sir Henry Greald Elliot, an involuntary trigger

Sir Gerald Henry Elliot, businessman and philanthropist died, 28 January 2018 in Edinburgh. Gerald Elliot was managing director, and later chairman, of the Edinburgh shipping company Christian Salvesen when it signed a deal with an Argentine scrap merchant, Constantino Davidoff, to have machinery removed from some disused whaling stations it had on the island of South Georgia.
Monday, February 19th 2018 - 09:29 UTC
Yellow fever in Brazil: extended vaccine fractionation because of lack of supplies

$Preliminary data from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo shows that 3.95 million people were vaccinated, 3.6 million with fractional doses and 356,800 with standard doses.$

The Brazilian Ministry of Health has reported that from July 1, 2017 to February 15 of this year, 409 cases of yellow fever were confirmed in the country, 183 in São Paulo, 157 in Minas Gerais, 68 in Rio de Janeiro and 1 in the Federal District. There were also 118 deaths throughout the country, 44 in Minas Gerais, 46 in São Paulo, 27 in Rio de Janeiro and one death in the Federal District.
Monday, February 19th 2018 - 09:25 UTC
Temer announces the creation of a public security ministry

Brazilian President Michel Temer has announced the creation of a public security ministry after giving the military full control over security in crime-plagued Rio de Janeiro. Temer came to the city to meet Governor Luiz Fernando Pezao, several ministers and General Walter Souza Braga Netto, who will lead the operation and who was in charge of coordinating security when the city hosted the 2016 Olympic Games.
Monday, February 19th 2018 - 09:21 UTC
Mass shooting survivors planning to march “for our lives” in Washington on 24 March

Students who survived a mass shooting at their Florida school on Sunday (Feb 18) announced plans to march on Washington in a bid to “shame” politicians into reforming laws that make firearms readily available. The “March for our Lives” will take place on Mar 24, with sister rallies planned across the country, a group of students revealed.
Monday, February 19th 2018 - 09:14 UTC
Venezuela launches its “Petro” crypto-currency, backed with oil, on Tuesday

Venezuela’s “Petro” crypto-currency will attract investments from Turkey, Qatar, the U.S., and Europe, the country’s crypto-currency regulator, Carlos Vargas, told reporters. The Petro will be offered for sale this Tuesday, February 20th, and comes as Venezuela is suffering from quadruple-digit inflation and chronic shortages of food and medicine.
Monday, February 19th 2018 - 09:09 UTC
Italian election with no clear winner: Berlusconi's coalition ahead with 37.2% support

The coalition, which includes former prime minister’s Forza Italia (Go Italy) Silvio Berlusconi and two far-right parties, is being seen within the context of Europe’s lurch away from conventional parties ahead of the March 4 vote.
Monday, February 19th 2018 - 08:59 UTC
US scientists discover new family of antibiotics that combat drug resistant diseases

US scientists have discovered a new family of antibiotics in soil samples. The natural compounds could be used to combat hard-to-treat infections, the team at Rockefeller University hopes.
Monday, February 19th 2018 - 08:53 UTC
Peru and Australia sign trade deal, which opens market for Aussie farm produce

Australia and Peru have signed a new trade deal that is expected to lead to more local products - including beef, sugar, almonds and dairy - being sold in nation which is a full member of the Pacific Alliance.
Monday, February 19th 2018 - 08:13 UTC
Mexico presidential race down to three names: Lopez Obrador, Anaya and Meade

The campaign for Mexico's Jul 1 presidential election began in earnest on Sunday (Feb 18) as the country's top parties officially nominated their candidates, with all three front-runners trying to sell a message of change.
Saturday, February 17th 2018 - 19:49 UTC
Chinese New Year marks start of the Year of the Dog (honest, just and loyal)

February 16 is Chinese New Year and marks the start of the Year of the Dog - one of the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac. Unlike Western astrology, each sign lasts for a whole year and each year takes the name of an animal whose characteristics color and influence everything that happens for the next 12 months.