Stories for February 22nd 2010
NZ joins Australia in pressing Japan to end annual whale hunt in Antarctica
New Zealand said Monday it may join Australia in seeking international legal action against Japan over its annual whale hunt in the Antarctic if negotiations fail to produce a diplomatic solution.
Germans record underwater massive iceberg crash into Antarctic ice-shelf
German oceanographers in Antarctica used underwater microphones this month to listen in on a massive iceberg crashing into the Antarctic ice-shelf, which cause a 2 000- metre crack, the ice lab headquarters said on Monday.
Goldman Sachs defends 2001 swap-deal to mask debts of Greece
Goldman Sachs defended the 2001 debt-swap deal with Greece that may have allowed the country to mask the extent of its debt woes. Gerald Corrigan, chairman of Goldman Sachs Bank USA, the bank's holding company, said it was “consistent” with the regulations of the time.
Scientists warn about impact on marine life of growing oceans’ acidity
With the growing level of pollution, the world's oceans are becoming acidic faster that could destroy the marine life and food supplies, a new study has claimed.
Vindication of siesta: steps up brain’s ability to absorb new information
A nap during the day improves the brain's ability to absorb new information, US scientists claim. Volunteers who slept for 90 minutes during the day did better at cognitive tests than those who were kept awake.
Falklands’ veteran emotional return to the Islands in support of traumatised soldiers
The campaign by millionaire Scots businessman and ex-Para Tony Banks to raise funds for British soldiers traumatised by their wartime experiences will receive a shot in the arm, with the screening in April of a documentary charting his emotional return to the Falkland Islands.
Too much rainfall threatening Argentina’s record soybean crop
Argentina’s record soybean crop may yield less than expected as continued downpours threaten to cause beans to rot and fungal diseases to spread, according to a Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange official quoted on Monday.
Argentine former president Duhalde confirms his bid for the presidency in 2011
Argentine former caretaker President Eduardo Luis Duhalde assured Monday that he will run for president in the 2011 elections even if Senator Carlos Reutemann, tipped as one of the favourites, decides to do the same.
US/Cuba dialogue to continue in spite of incident with “dissidents”
Cuba criticized US diplomats Saturday for meeting with political opponents after bilateral talks on immigration in Havana, accusing the diplomats of “promoting subversion.”
Latinamerica agrees on new regional organization without US and Canada
The new Latinamerican and Caribbean organization that would not include the United States, Canada and Spain could formally be launched on 5 July 2011, during a summit in Venezuela once the statute is drafted and approved, according to the ministerial meeting previous to the Rio Group two-day summit scheduled to begin Monday.
