Stories for August 12th 2009

Wednesday, August 12th 2009 - 19:40 UTC
Back to the sea for Falklands fisheries research

AFTER eighteen months without a research vessel, the Fisheries Department (FIFD) will be back on the water in October 2009 with a survey in the western parts of the FICZ. The survey will examine the distribution and abundance of hoki and Patagonian hake returning to their feeding grounds after spawning in Argentinean and Chilean waters.
Wednesday, August 12th 2009 - 12:30 UTC
President Oscar Arias sick with H1N1 virus.

Costa Rican President Oscar Arias is said to have the H1N1 virus. He was placed under medical care at his home, but he will not delegate power in the meantime, Presidency Minister Rodrigo Arias said.
Wednesday, August 12th 2009 - 12:19 UTC
Chavez and Cristina sign a billion USD trade agreement

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez received on Tuesday Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in Caracas to sign agreements expanding trade between the two countries. Among the deals was an accord to import as many as 10,000 cars from Argentina this year instead of Colombia.
Wednesday, August 12th 2009 - 12:12 UTC
Oil at 70 USD per barrel threatens fragile global recovery, says IEA

A fragile global economic recovery will be hurt if oil prices stay at 70 USD per barrel or rise higher, according to International Energy Agency (IEA) Chief Economist Fatih Birol. The IEA advises 28 industrialised countries.
Wednesday, August 12th 2009 - 12:10 UTC
“Discrimination-free” and when possible “free-of-charge” soccer in Argentina

The Argentine Football Federation Executive Committee agreed Tuesday to end the contract that for two decades had united AFA with television company Televisión Satelital Codificada, owner of the television rights for Argentina’s soccer.
Wednesday, August 12th 2009 - 12:02 UTC
Chinese economy recovering on government stimulus spending

New economic figures show that China's export-geared economy still has weaknesses, but is showing signs of recovery. Still, there are warnings that much of the gain is dependent on government stimulus spending.
Wednesday, August 12th 2009 - 11:58 UTC
OPEC expects demand for crude to decline further next year

Oil prices have fallen after producers group OPEC said it now expected demand for its crude to decline further than predicted next year. Blaming the slow nature of the global economic recovery, OPEC now expects demand for its crude to average 27.97 million barrels per day in 2010.
Wednesday, August 12th 2009 - 11:55 UTC
Falklands’ readies new grenadier commercial fishery

Enough studies have taken place to include a new grenadier (Macrourus spp.) fishery in the Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) system under the commercial category, said Falkland Islands Director of Fisheries John Barton.
Wednesday, August 12th 2009 - 11:53 UTC
Cuba remains as the country “with the worst human rights record”

Cuba remains as the country with the worst human rights record in the western hemisphere and nothing has changed since President Raul Castro took over from his brother Fidel, according to the latest report from the dissident Cuban Commission of Human Rights CCDHRN).
Wednesday, August 12th 2009 - 11:50 UTC
Biggest gems heist in British history: £ 40 million

Police are hunting robbers who stole items worth nearly £40m in what is believed to be the biggest gems heist in British history. Two smartly-dressed armed robbers stole jewellery worth almost £40 million from Graff Jewellers in London's West End last Thursday.