Stories for February 18th 2008
Argentina's 2007 foreign trade reached 100.7 billion dollars
Argentina's foreign trade last year reached a record 100.7 billion US dollars with a surplus of 11.154 billion US dollars according to the latest release from the Statistics and Census Institute, Indec.
Celebrities support pop star banned by Chavez regime
Over one hundred celebrities from the singer Shakira to soccer star David Beckham backed a Spanish pop star in a dispute with Venezuela after a concert was canceled following his criticism of President Hugo Chavez.
“Still much to do for Cuba”, say released political prisoners
The four Cuban political prisoners released by the regime of interim president Raul Castro arrived Sunday in Spain “full of enthusiasm” and committed to keep battling for the more than fifty others whom remain in Cuban dungeons.
Brazilian president commits support for Antarctic research
Brazilian president Lula da Silva felt overwhelmed during his brief Sunday visit to the country's base in Antarctica, a dream since a child, promised more resources for scientific research, according to the Brazilian press.
Northern Rock PLC quagmire brings back nationalization oldie
Struggling bank Northern Rock PLC will be nationalized after the British government rejected two private takeover bids, Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling said Sunday. Darling told a news conference that the ailing mortgage lender would be placed under temporary public ownership because both private proposals had failed to meet the government's criteria for protecting taxpayers.
Former bishop leads in tight Paraguayan presidential bid
A former bishop is leading in what promises to be a very tight presidential election next April in Paraguay. The latest polls published this Sunday in the capital Asunción media shows ex bishop Fernando Lugo with 31.2% of vote intention followed by a former Army general Lino Oviedo with 25.3% and the outgoing administration candidate and ex Education minister Blanca Olevar with 24.3%
North Falkland 3D seismic data, an invitation for oil rig
Prospects identified from 850 square kilometers of 3D seismic in the North Falkland basin (South Atlantic) could contain 1.9 billion barrels of un-risked recoverable oil, estimated directors of Rockhopper Exploration PLC.
Undercover video forces massive recall of beef in California
The United States Department of Agriculture on Sunday ordered the recall of approximately 64.000 tons of beef from a Southern California slaughterhouse that is the subject of an animal-abuse investigation.
First fatal victim of yellow fever in urban Paraguay
A 17 year old allegedly is the first fatal victim of a yellow fever outbreak in Paraguay, a disease which reappeared after 34 years, according to the country's sanitary authorities. However controversy has emerged following a press report saying that the death toll caused by the mosquito transmitted disease is seven.
Hammerhead shark joins the red list of globally endangered
Populations of tiger, bull, dusky and other sea sharks have plummeted by more than 95% since the 1970s, according to an expert from the World Conservation Union. But ongoing efforts to identify shark “hotspots” across the oceans could help improve their chances of survival in future.
