Stories for March 4th 2008

Tuesday, March 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina confirms first case of yellow fever in 40 years

A farm worker has become the first person diagnosed in Argentina with yellow fever in forty years since the recent outbreak of the mosquito-transmitted disease in neighboring Paraguay, Brazil and Bolivia, confirmed Argentine Health ministry authorities.
Tuesday, March 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
First Week of the Blue Whale on Chiloé Island

Starting this week Chile's Center for Cetacean Conservation is sponsoring the first celebration of the Week of the Blue Whale in Ancud, on island of Chiloé. The event is part of an international program in which over 400 coastal communities around the world mark the seasonal visits of various whale species.
Tuesday, March 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Low prices, soaring costs, discourage Argentine jiggers

Argentina's squid season has had a poor start threatened by a weak demand and low prices, reports the newspaper El Chubut, from Puerto Madryn in the Patagonian province of Chubut.
Tuesday, March 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US housing decline costs UK's main bank 17.2 billion dollars

HSBC, the UK's largest bank, has said it has made a 17.2 billion US dollar loss after the decline in the US housing market hit the value of its loans. However annual profits still rose 10% to 24.2 billion, up from 22.08 billion the year before.
Tuesday, March 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Colombia to bring genocide charges against Chavez

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe announced Tuesday he will ask the International Criminal Court in Rome to bring genocide charges against President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. He accused Mr Chavez of sponsoring and financing Colombian FARC rebels. Venezuela denies the charge.
Tuesday, March 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chilean salmon crisis forces sacking of Fisheries head

Ongoing problems affecting Chile's once booming salmon industry have prompted a shake up in the National Fishing Service (SERNAPESCA), the Chilean government body responsible for overseeing all fishing activity in the country.
Tuesday, March 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Prosecutor reviewing ex-governor Kirchner Santa Cruz oil funds

An Argentine prosecutor has requested former president Nestor Kirchner be summoned to declare on alleged irregular handling of funds belonging to the provincial government of Santa Cruz, which he ruled during eleven years
Tuesday, March 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US dollar in Chile looses 9.8%; 10 year low: 453 pesos

The US dollar marked its sixth consecutive fall and reached a new ten year minimum against the Chilean peso pushed by the interest rates differential between Chile and United States and the sustained growing price for copper.
Tuesday, March 4th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UN urges C 24 decolonization advance process

All over the world, hundreds of millions of people had exercised their right to self-determination and achieved self-government, and facilitating that process was “one of the proudest chapters of our Organization's history” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said last week as he opened the current session of the Special Committee on decolonisation, the so called C24 (according to official UN reports).