Stories for February 1st 2007

Thursday, February 1st 2007 - 20:00 UTC
IMF “shape up” policy includes selling gold reserves

A report by a Committee of Eminent Persons advised the International Monetary Fund on Wednesday to sell 400 tons of its gold reserves as part of a new strategy to set the Fund's finances on a sustainable basis.
Thursday, February 1st 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Mexican protestors: don't mix tortillas with party politics

Tens of thousands of trade unionists, farmers and common citizens marched through downtown Mexico City on Wednesday to protest price increases for basic foods like tortillas, the staple of Mexico's poor.
Thursday, February 1st 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Cruise ship grounding a warning says Falklands Conservation manager.

The grounding of a cruise liner in Antarctic waters on Wednesday appears to have been handled without damage either to the environment or to passengers, according to Grant Munro, Manager of the Falkland Islands non-governmental organisation, Falklands Conservation, which is an associate member of the International Association of Antarctic Cruise Organisations.( IAATO)
Thursday, February 1st 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Chile's Foreign Ministry rejects Peru border definition proposal

Chile's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday rejected a proposal from the Peruvian government to redefine maritime borders between the two countries. In a public declaration issued by Foreign Minister Alexander Foxley, Chile's government stated that the Chile-Peru maritime border had already been defined by international treaties in the past.
Thursday, February 1st 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Argentina last year exported less honey but got higher revenue

Argentina, which is constantly challenging China as the world's largest honey exporter, last year exported 99,000 tonnes of honey for 146 million, a decline of six percent in volume but an increase of 15 percent in revene reflecting higher prices for the product.
Thursday, February 1st 2007 - 20:00 UTC
HMS Endurance to the rescue

Ice patrol ship HMS Endurance has assisted with the rescue of 280 passengers and 50 non-essential crew from a cruise ship damaged off the Antarctic peninsula.
Thursday, February 1st 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Argentina shuts border to Bolivian meat

Argentina has suspended the import of all meat products from Bolivia in response to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, Senasa, the agricultural health and quality service, announced Tuesday.
Thursday, February 1st 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Ecuador names woman as defense minister

The Ecuadorean government named another woman to be defense minister, to take over after the first female to hold the office was killed in a helicopter accident.
Thursday, February 1st 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Air travel expected to double by 2025

The number of air travellers is expected to double by 2025, rising to more than 9 billion a year, a body representing the world's airports said on yesterday. The Airports Council International (ACI) predicted air freight would triple over the same period.
Thursday, February 1st 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Chile's first fish farming park to be built in Tongoy

The University of Los Lagos (ULA) is planning to build the first Fish Farming Park in Chile on a 5.5-hectare terrain, in the Tongoy Bay of Coquimbo Region IV, investing more than CLP 450 million (USD 826.400).