Stories for February 3rd 2009

Tuesday, February 3rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Falklands denies any arrangements for SAR pilot Prince William

Falkland Islands deputy governor Paul Martinez described British press reports on Prince William doing part of his 18 month RAF Search and Rescue (SAR) course in the South Atlantic Islands (claimed by Argentina) as speculation and not correct.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Argentine governors call for lower taxes on farm exports

Cordoba and Santa Fe, two big farming provinces in Argentina, are calling on the federal government to suspend crop export taxes for three to six months to help farmers in the face of the worst drought in decades.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
National holiday to celebrate Venezuela's Chavez ten-year rule

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has declared a national holiday to mark his 10 years in power. The capital, Caracas, was quieter than usual, as workers and children stayed away from offices and schools.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil paid “too much” for Rio Tinto iron ore assets

Brazil's Vale do Rio Doce may have paid too much for its purchase of iron-ore and potash assets from Rio Tinto Group, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Banco Santander SA.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Regional Spanish airline plans flights to Gibraltar

An airline based in the Spanish region of Andalusia, Andalus Lineas Aereas, is planning to restore daily air links between Gibraltar and Madrid as part of an ambitious strategic plan to link regional air routes across Spain and Morocco.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
French minister warns of more social unrest in Europe

With the rising threat of further job cuts and economic contraction Europe faces the risk of more social unrest unless measures are taken to quickly tackle the global economic crisis, France's finance minister says. Christine Lagarde said trust in the financial system needs to be restored.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Warning on the “other CO2 problem”: ocean acidification

The world's marine ecosystems risk being severely damaged by ocean acidification unless there are dramatic cuts in CO2 emissions, warn scientists. More than 150 top marine researchers have voiced their concerns through the “Monaco Declaration”, which warns that changes in acidity are accelerating.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
UK unions seek disclosure from “nationalized” banks

Banks which have received UK Government help to deal with the financial crisis should be made to reveal full details of their tax haven activities, urged union leaders in Britain, reports The Gibraltar Chronicle.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Coal and oil will make Magallanes “Chile's energy centre”

Magallanes region in the extreme south of Chile is becoming the “energy centre of the country” based primarily on the development of coal resources and the exploration for hydrocarbons said Chile's National Energy Commission president Marcelo Tokman.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Prince William and Falklands: no decision taken says MoD

Confirming what was advanced by Mercopress, the UK Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday “no decision has been taken to post Prince Williams to the Falklands”, following news in the British press which caused a strong reaction from Argentina that has sovereignty claims over the South Atlantic islands.