Stories for February 2009

Wednesday, February 18th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
IMF insists main immediate goal is to clean-up banks

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that global recovery efforts are being undermined by the presence of “toxic” assets on banks' balance sheets. IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said in an interview to French radio France-Inter that this undercuts stimulus efforts by various governments.
Wednesday, February 18th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
UK annual inflation falls to 3% in Jan; deflation fears

A smaller-than-expected drop in inflation has failed to ease fears that the UK could soon be in the grip of deflation. The UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) data revealed a fall in the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) to 3% in January from 3.1% in December, which was far lower than experts had predicted.
Wednesday, February 18th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Zero-emission, energy self sufficient Antarctic base

Belgium opened a new 20 million Euro “zero emissions” polar science station in Antarctica on Sunday, returning to the continent to study climate change 42 years after closing its first base there.
Wednesday, February 18th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
A Falklands area ice-block breaks off in Antarctica

A 14.000 square km ice block, almost the area of the Falkland Islands (12.173 sq. km.), has broken off Antarctica's Wilkins Ice Shelf and fragmented into smaller icebergs reported on Tuesday the Spanish National Research Council, CSIC.
Wednesday, February 18th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Argentina opens to ideas to improve hake conservation

Argentina's Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Food (SAGP&A) is temporarily exempting the use of the selective fishing device (DEJUPA) for catching hake (Merluccius hubbsi) while other alternatives are proposed.
Wednesday, February 18th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Bolivia: dengue death toll increases; malaria outbreak

The number of deaths from hemorrhagic dengue so far this year in Bolivia has increased to 13, the government reported while admitting that an outbreak of malaria has been detected in three provinces.
Wednesday, February 18th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Beijing wants closer political and trade links with Latam

Chinese Vice-president Xi Jinping currently in Venezuela, the fourth leg of a regional tour hailed the vigorous growth in relations between China and Latin America in recent years and described the pace of cooperation as “unprecedented”, according to reports from Beijing news agencies.
Wednesday, February 18th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Knighted billionaire faces “Ponzi-wicket” fraud charges

Billionaire financier and cricket entrepreneur Sir Allen Stanford has been charged by US regulators over an alleged multi-billion dollar fraud. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a complaint in a Dallas Court against Sir Allen and three of his companies for “orchestrating a fraudulent, multi-billion dollar investment scheme”.
Wednesday, February 18th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Ocean Nova passengers safely en route to Ushuaia

All 65 passengers on board M/V Ocean Nova which run aground during an Antarctic cruise were safely transferred Wednesday afternoon to M/V Clipper Adventurer, which is currently sailing for Ushuaia, Argentina, reported the Argentine Navy and operator Quark expeditions.
Tuesday, February 17th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Doubts about Uruguay's second pulp mill project

Spanish pulp maker Ence has narrowed a search for a partner in its 1.6 billion US dollars paper mill in Uruguay to four foreign players as it struggles with huge debt, tight credit and an ailing European paper industry, reports Reuter's office in Madrid.