International

• Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 23:11 UTC

  Bristow Helicopters takes over UK search and rescue service from RAF and RN

  

  Britain’s Department for Transport (DfT) has announced the signing of a £1.6 billion contract to provide the UK's search and rescue helicopter services. UK SAR is currently provided by RAF and Royal Navy personnel using Sea King helicopters from eight bases across the UK and through a civilian helicopter service under contract to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) from four bases.

• Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 21:52 UTC

  Falkland Islands issue gets involved in Argentina’s 150th celebration of Welsh settlers in Patagonia

  

  Argentine ambassador in London Alicia Castro revealed she has been meeting with Welsh MPs for the potential organization of the 150th anniversary of Welsh settlers in Patagonia in 2015. However Welsh sources said initial discussions broke down because the Argentine representatives were seeking people supportive of their views in the Falkland Islands dispute.

• Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 21:19 UTC

  BRICS summit decides ‘formal negotiations’ to create a development bank

  

  The leaders of the five BRICS nations stopped short of establishing a highly-promoted development bank at this week’s summit in South Africa, instead saying they would enter “formal negotiations” on the issue. But the summit did yield some agreements, including big-money bilateral trade deals.

• Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 21:07 UTC

  Land values in northern Australia have fallen 20/25%; valuations in line with productivity

  

  Land values in northern Australia have fallen 20-25% since the global financial crisis of 2008, and will continue to fall until valuations are in line with productivity. Meanwhile, says Ross Copland, the Alice Springs-based director of Integrated Valuation Services, the curtailing of live export sales that began in 2011 has flipped perceptions of Territory pastoral productivity.

• Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 21:04 UTC

  African swine desert out of control in Russia and former Soviet republics

  

  African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks in 2012 have been the worst yet in Russia, with over half a million pigs having fallen victim to the disease and subsequently culled. It is hard to pinpoint causes, but lack of bio-security knowledge appears to be part of the problem which seems out of control. Surrounding countries reporting ASF to the OIE included Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan and even Ukraine.

• Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 19:07 UTC

  Argentine rugby union admits concern about possible incidents when England plays next June

  

  Ahead of the coming tour to Argentina of the English national team, the head of the local Rugby Union, (UAR) Luis Castillo admitted he was concerned about possible threats from militant groups in support of ‘Argentine Malvinas’ and which have been involved in violent actions.

• Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 08:04 UTC

  Falkland Islands: Argentina and UK clash at UN: no talks without the accord of Islanders

  

  Argentina's Foreign minister Hector Timerman together with Latam representatives called on UN chief Ban Ki Moon and demanded talks with the UK on the Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty, but Britain again refused, pointing to the Islanders' overwhelming vote this month to remain British.

• Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 07:53 UTC

  YPF and US based DOW sign memorandum to develop shale gas in Patagonia

  

  Argentina’s nationalized energy company YPF on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with the local subsidiary of the US Dow Chemical to develop the shale gas deposits in the southern Nequen province.

• Wednesday, March 27th 2013 - 07:46 UTC

  ‘Olympic’ embarrassment for Brazil which is forced to close indefinitely major stadium

  

  A stadium in Brazil that was due to host athletics at the 2016 Olympics has been closed indefinitely because of structural problems with its roof. The Joao Havelange stadium in Rio de Janeiro was built only six years ago. It was also being used as the main football venue in Rio, while the city's Maracana stadium is being renovated for next year's World Cup.

• Tuesday, March 26th 2013 - 21:33 UTC

  Setback in New York court for Argentina’s strategy in its battle with bond holdouts

  

  A US court in New York on Tuesday rejected Argentina's request for a full-court rehearing of an appeal it lodged as it struggles to shake off holders of 1.3 billion dollars in defaulted bonds.