Stories for February 2009

Monday, February 16th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
UK financial watchdog admits “risk assessment” errors

The head of Britain's Financial Services Authority (FSA) has admitted that the watchdog did not focus enough on the excessive risks being taken by banks.
Monday, February 16th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Argentine fisheries exports totalled 550.000 tons in 2008

Argentina's fisheries exports in 2008 reached 550.000 tons valued 1.172 billion US dollars, which represents an increase both in volume and value (2% and 11% respectively) over the previous year according to the latest statistics released by Senasa, the country's food quality control office.
Sunday, February 15th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Argentine torture centre turned into human rights bastion

The grounds of the largest clandestine detention and torture centre in Buenos Aires during Argentina's “dirty war” crackdown on dissent are now a United Nations human rights centre.
Sunday, February 15th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Ecuador defers (”illegitimate) bonds' interest payments

Ecuador won't pay bondholders 135 million US dollars in interest while it decides whether to default on a significant percentage of its foreign debt, deemed “illegitimate” by in audit, said on Saturday Finance minister Maria Elisa Viteri.
Saturday, February 14th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Spain faces worst recession in half a century

Spain's economy shrank by the most in more than 15 years in the fourth quarter in what may become the worst recession in half a century pushing the unemployment rate to the highest in Europe.
Saturday, February 14th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Record applicants for 38 jobs in BAS research stations

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has offered some 38 jobs in five of its research stations on the world's coldest continent, Antarctica. The BAS advertisement invites plumbers, carpenters, electricians and chefs to fill its vacant spots for a period of 4 to 18 months, MailOnline reported.
Saturday, February 14th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Significant drop in visitors to Antarctica this season

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators or IAATO has reported that the number of tourists visiting Antarctica is projected to drop significantly in the 2008/09 season according to a report from Outside Online
Saturday, February 14th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Invitation to surf in Falklands' empty, consistent waves

DailyStoke.com one of surf-addicts most popular sites is inviting its followers to try the empty, consistent waves of the Falkland Islands, a British Crown dependency that sits in the South Atlantic, just a few hundred miles off the coast of Argentina.
Saturday, February 14th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Argentina trying to arrange Obama-CFK meeting

Argentine diplomacy is looking forward to arrange a meeting between US President Barack Obama and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, CFK, and there are “good open chances” for such an event according to Deputy Foreign Affairs minister Victorio Tachcetti who next week begins a round of talks in Washington.
Saturday, February 14th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Brazilian family “shocked” with UK prosecutors' attitude

The family of Brazilian citizen Jean Charles de Menezes dropped their legal battle for justice after British prosecutors refused to bring charges over his death. They said almost four years of relentless campaigning brought them little closer to holding any individual to account for the innocent Brazilian's death.