Stories for August 12th 2006

Saturday, August 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

IMF describes Chile's performance “exemplary”

The latest report from the International Monetary Fund describes Chile's economic and financial performance as “exemplary” and is full of praise with words such as successful, brilliant, prudent, transparent, strict and enviable.

Saturday, August 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

UN votes immediate cessation of Middle East hostilities

The Security Council voted Friday night to halt the deadly conflict that has engulfed Lebanon and northern Israel for the past month, passing a resolution that calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities followed by the deployment of Lebanese troops and a significantly expanded United Nations peacekeeping presence across southern Lebanon as well as the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the same area.

Saturday, August 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

US: “there's no figure in Cuba to match Fidel Castro”

The United States top diplomat for Latin American affairs said that Fidel Castro's decision to “temporarily” hand over power to his brother after undergoing surgery indicates the Cuban leader's condition is “serious”.

Saturday, August 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Fresh fruit and vegetables five times a day

Next Wednesday the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture will launch the “5 times a day” program targeted to fight obesity by promoting the consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Saturday, August 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Low squid prices send Argentine jigger fleet back to port

A drop in catches plus the halving of the international price for Illex squid forced most of the Argentine fleet of jiggers back to port virtually closing this year's season when the official scheduled date is August 31, reports the Argentine press.

Saturday, August 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

The growing power of Argentina's Kirchner

Political virtuosity has enabled Argentine President Néstor Kirchner to increase his power over all government branches without transforming him into a Hugo Chávez look-alike, according to London-based international affairs publication The Economist.

Saturday, August 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Ronaldinho joins UN fight against poverty

Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho, one of the world's best known sports figures, agreed to use his celebrity status to help the United Nations fight poverty when he was appointed UN Spokesperson for Sport for Development and Peace.

Saturday, August 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Greenland's ice cap melting faster than anticipated

The meltdown of Greenland's ice sheet is speeding up reaching 239 cubic kilometres per year according to an article in Science journal based on satellite measurements. Data from a United States Aero Space Agency, Nasa satellite show that the melting rate has accelerated since 2004.

Saturday, August 12th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Buenos Aires celebrates routing of British invasion

The 200th anniversary of the “invasiones inglesas” (British invasions) is marked this weekend in Buenos Aires, Argentina with the Reconqista (Re conquest) remembered Saturday August 12. In London, Argentine Ambassador Federico Mirré will be opening the residence, in Belgrave Square, to Argentine residents and British guests, to mark the event.