Stories for February 2007

Monday, February 5th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Mercosur helps Bolivia combat FAM outbreaks

Several Mercosur members have offered Bolivia to “unite efforts” and help control “as soon as possible” the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. Bolivia declared last week a “state of emergency” following the confirmation of outbreaks in three counties in Santa Cruz province.
Monday, February 5th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Brazilian negotiator pessimistic about Doha round conclusion

Brazil's chief negotiator at the Doha Round of trade talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO) accused United States of moving “countercurrent” regarding the liberalization of global agricultural trade and expressed uncertainty that negotiations can conclude this year.
Monday, February 5th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Fatal blazes strike Punta Arenas and Valparaiso

Two devastating fires this weekend in Chile, one Punta Arenas and the other in Valparaiso have taken the lives of at least 13 people.
Monday, February 5th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
UN calls for better management of fish stocks

Rising demand for seafood and other marine produce will lead to a collapse of today's commercial fish stocks by 2050 unless better management is introduced, exemplifying the challenges facing Governments in a globalized world, according to a new United Nations report released Monday.
Monday, February 5th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Pulp mills: uneventful protest of pickets in Montevideo

A small group of Argentine pickets protesting the construction of pulp mills in a shared and jointly managed river with neighboring Uruguay took their complaints to Montevideo Monday morning where they distributed leaflets but finally had to be escorted under protection by police forces.
Friday, February 2nd 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Weekly Penguin News Update

Headlines: “Our ship” Clyde joins the Navy; Cruiser grounds in Antarctica; Fishery turns 20; Head-less school?; Crown calls in.
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.