Stories for January 2009

Friday, January 30th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Release of Colombian hostages planned for Sunday/Wednesday

A Colombian delegation headed by Senator Piedad Córdoba left for Brazil on the first leg of a multi-day journey to obtain the release of six hostages held by the FARC guerrilla group. The first stop is at San Gabriel de Cachoeira in Brazil's Amazon jungle, where the group will coordinate the hostage release
Thursday, January 29th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Unemployment reveals impact of crisis on real economy

The global economic crisis is expected to lead to a dramatic increase in the number of people joining the ranks of the unemployed, working poor and those in vulnerable employment, the International Labour Office (ILO) said in its annual Global Employment Trends report released on Thursday.
Thursday, January 29th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Chilean ruling coalition agrees on presidential candidate

Chile's Party for Democracy, or PPD, named former president and leader of the Christian Democrats Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle as presidential candidate for the December election.
Thursday, January 29th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Davos: China admits crisis; Russia cuts defence outlays

China admitted the global financial crisis has had “a rather big impact” on its economy and Russia warned of over relying on the US dollar as a reserve currency, at the major World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
Thursday, January 29th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Argentina swaps 4.3 bn USD local debt for long term bonds

Holders of 15.1 billion pesos (4.3 billion US dollars) of Argentine local debt agreed to swap the securities for longer-term bonds in an exchange the government set up to help cover its growing financing needs.
Thursday, January 29th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Southern Ocean climate fix remains afloat

Plans to curb climate change by using plankton to draw carbon dioxide into the world's oceans have been boosted.
Thursday, January 29th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Poachers beware: new tech. monitoring Falklands waters

Developments in satellite and communications technology combined with new fisheries legislation have given the Falkland Islands Fisheries Department the opportunity to add new aids to the monitoring and tracking of fishing vessels in the Falkland Islands fishery.
Thursday, January 29th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Dengue epidemic in Bolivia; worst outbreak in 22 years

Landlocked Bolivia has declared a health emergency as a dengue fever epidemic spreads across much of the country. Health officials say it is the worst outbreak in 22 years and at least three people are known to have died from the disease.
Thursday, January 29th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Record losses in Ford but “no need” for government aid

US carmaker Ford reported this week the biggest full-year loss in its history, but said it still was not going to ask for government loans. Ford said its net loss for the fourth quarter of 2008 was 5.9 billion dollars, and 14.6 billion for the whole year.
Thursday, January 29th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Falklands' war trophy auctioned for ten times its value

A Falklands Islands war trophy has been sold at auction for around ten times its estimated value, reports mediawales.co.uk. The oak nameplate carrying the name Islas Malvinas from an Argentine patrol vessel went under the hammer for £ 5.040 at an auction of military memorabilia by auctioneers Bonhams.