Stories for February 2012
Argentina urges industry and business to cut imports from the UK
The Buenos Aires media, basically the ambito.com site reports that Argentine industry and business leaders were contacted by the Ministry of Industry which tried to persuade them from buying British supplies.
Tugs pulling ‘Costa Allegra’ to Seychelles; helicopter drops of bread and torches
Two tugs finally reached on Tuesday the stranded “Costa Allegra” cruise and are pulling her to the Seychelles Islands. The vessel on Monday suffered a fire which left her powerless approximately 200 miles southwest of the Indian Ocean islands.
British cruise avoids Chilean port because of protests and social unrest
Another British cruise vessel had to cancel its visit to a South American port, this time in Chile but not because of political disputes with the UK, but rather as a direct consequence of local protests against the national government.
Banning cruise vessels coming from Malvinas, “cheap way of making sovereignty”
The law was ‘misinterpreted’ and “the authorization awarded to cruise vessels by the (Argentine) Foreign Affairs ministry was ignored”, claimed the president of Ushuaia Chamber of Tourism Marcelo Lietti reacting to the weekend decision to bar two red ensign cruises from entering Tierra del Fuego.
UK ‘sad and frustrated’ with Argentine decision to turn away cruise vessels sailing from Falklands
The British government has said it is a source of ”sadness and frustrated” that Argentina decided to turn away British tourists wishing to visit Argentina as a result of the ongoing row over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.
Argentine government takes over train line involved in tragic accident
The Argentine government announced on Tuesday it was taking over two train lines, one of which was involved in last week’s tragic accident in a downtown Buenos Aires terminal which killed 51 people and left another 704 injured.
Giant ‘Kariuku” penguins populated New Zealand some 27 million of years ago
Palaeontologists have unearthed fossils of what they say the tallest ever penguin species that lived in what is now New Zealand some 27 million years ago. The he lanky bird that stood as high as 4.2 feet was also slimmer than modern penguins, with a long beak and flippers.
Judge Garzón cleared of investigation into murders by Franco forces
Spain's Supreme Court cleared former judge Baltasar Garzón of overstepping his authority when he ordered an investigation into the murders of more than 100,000 people by forces loyal to late dictator Francisco Franco.
Santiago de Chile has the tallest building in South America
Santiago de Chile has the highest skyscraper in South America: the Gran Torre Costanera reached this condition when it surpassed the 300 metres height. The 107.125 square metres block has been designed by Chilean architects Alemparte, Barreda & Associates together with Pelli, Clarke, Pelli Architects, responsible for the Petrona Towers in Kuala Lampur.
A quarter of people in England support Scotland becoming independent
Just over a quarter of people in England support Scotland becoming independent, a new survey has found. The latest NatCen Social Research British Social Attitudes Survey found 26% of English residents favoured ending the union between the two countries, the highest figure yet in such a survey.
