Stories for August 16th 2007

Thursday, August 16th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Deadly magnitude 7.9 earthquake strikes central Peru

An earthquake of magnitude 7.9 struck off the coast of central Peru on Wednesday evening killing 337 people, injuring at least a thousand and triggering a tsunami warning for South America's central Pacific coast, according to the first reports from the media in the capital Lima.
Thursday, August 16th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
UN Tourism organization plans “carbon-neutral” conference

The United Nations World Tourism Organization has announced that it will try to make all travel, accommodation and activities related to a climate change conference it is staging in early October “carbon neutral” to set an example about the benefits of offsetting greenhouse gas emissions.
Thursday, August 16th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Fears of worse to come make markets immune to liquidity injections

A week after share prices around the world first began to fall markets in Asia on Thursday were still on the way down following on the volatility that has gripped United States and European markets.
Thursday, August 16th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
The “Uruguayan formula” secures Argentine natural gas for Chile

Chilean gas company Metrogas has succeeded in securing additional natural gas from Argentina to supply its needs for Santiago. The new agreement, dubbed “the Uruguayan Formula,” involves importing gas which was originally meant for Uruguay to Chile.
Thursday, August 16th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Chavez formalizes proposal for his perpetuation in office

In spite of protests from the opposition and Roman Catholics Bishops conference President Hugo Chavez called for changes to Venezuela's constitution Wednesday night which would allow him to be re-elected indefinitely.
Thursday, August 16th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
UK: Foot-and-mouth control zones lifted but relentless vigilance still needed

Defra has confirmed that two temporary control zones in Kent and Surrey, set up to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease, have been lifted.
Thursday, August 16th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Paulson: risk re-pricing “inevitable”, but no recession

United States Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said the current turmoil in financial markets will slow economic growth but should not spark a recession, according to a report published Thursday in The Wall Street Journal.
Thursday, August 16th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Malvinas war veterans file lawsuit against Argentine officers

About 39 Argentine war veterans from the 1982 Falkland/Malvinas conflict with Great Britain are expected to file a lawsuit before a federal judge in Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego, accusing their officers of torture during the war.
Thursday, August 16th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina implements strict conservation in hake fisheries

Argentina's Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Foods (SAGP&A) established strict limits on common hake (Merluccius hubbsi) catches with the purpose of safeguarding the species fisheries.
Thursday, August 16th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Peru “megathrust” quake toll keeps mounting as rumbling ceases

The death toll rose to 500 on Thursday in the magnitude-8 earthquake that devastated cities of adobe and brick in Peru's southern desert. Public services collapsed, emergency operations are slow in delivering and rescue efforts seem minimal compared to the magnitude of the tragedy.