Stories for February 21st 2005

Monday, February 21st 2005 - 21:00 UTC

HMS Gloucester heading for Brazil.

South Atlantic patrol HMS Gloucester left the Falkland Islands last Friday and is heading north towards Brazil.

Monday, February 21st 2005 - 21:00 UTC

Further purge in Venezuelan government oil industry

Rafael Ramirez Venezuelan Energy and Oil Minister, and president of Petroleos de Venezuela, or PDVSA, announced the government owned company was sacking dozens of managers and supervisors allegedly involved in corruption practices.

Monday, February 21st 2005 - 21:00 UTC

Fisheries News.

Headlines:
Uruguayan Navy arrests Brazilian poacher;
Salmon safeguards: EU accepts consultation process with Chile; European Fisheries Agency takes off in 2006; 199 Spanish vessels allowed to fish in Northeast Atlantic; New denomination for Chilean scallop exports to Italy.

Monday, February 21st 2005 - 21:00 UTC

Brazilian business and unions blast monetary policy.

Brazilian business organizations and trade unions bitterly criticized the Central Bank's monetary policy which last week raised the basic interest rate, Selic, for the sixth consecutive time, to 18,75%, considered the highest in the world.

Monday, February 21st 2005 - 21:00 UTC

OAS Secretary General still an open race.

United States Under Secretary for Hemispheric Affairs Roger Noriega said that the coming election of the next Organization of American States, OAS, Secretary General should be decided before June when the region's Foreign Affairs ministers will be holding a regular meeting in Fort Lauderdale.

Monday, February 21st 2005 - 21:00 UTC

Massive shellfish intoxication in Chile.

Chilean Deputy Public Health Minister Soledad Ubilla discarded decreeing a “sanitary emergency” since the medical centres capacity has not been overwhelmed by the extending sea food intoxication crisis which has reached 5,955 cases.

Monday, February 21st 2005 - 21:00 UTC

Breaking News.

Headlines:
Torres del Paine Park fire out of control; Project to grow fresh lettuce in Antarctica; Copper makes Chilean peso surge.