Stories for February 2010

Monday, February 22nd 2010 - 23:51 UTC
Goldman Sachs defends 2001 swap-deal to mask debts of Greece

Goldman Sachs defended the 2001 debt-swap deal with Greece that may have allowed the country to mask the extent of its debt woes. Gerald Corrigan, chairman of Goldman Sachs Bank USA, the bank's holding company, said it was “consistent” with the regulations of the time.
Monday, February 22nd 2010 - 23:47 UTC
Scientists warn about impact on marine life of growing oceans’ acidity

With the growing level of pollution, the world's oceans are becoming acidic faster that could destroy the marine life and food supplies, a new study has claimed.
Monday, February 22nd 2010 - 21:31 UTC
Vindication of siesta: steps up brain’s ability to absorb new information

A nap during the day improves the brain's ability to absorb new information, US scientists claim. Volunteers who slept for 90 minutes during the day did better at cognitive tests than those who were kept awake.
Monday, February 22nd 2010 - 19:58 UTC
Falklands’ veteran emotional return to the Islands in support of traumatised soldiers

The campaign by millionaire Scots businessman and ex-Para Tony Banks to raise funds for British soldiers traumatised by their wartime experiences will receive a shot in the arm, with the screening in April of a documentary charting his emotional return to the Falkland Islands.
Monday, February 22nd 2010 - 19:44 UTC
Too much rainfall threatening Argentina’s record soybean crop

Argentina’s record soybean crop may yield less than expected as continued downpours threaten to cause beans to rot and fungal diseases to spread, according to a Buenos Aires Cereals Exchange official quoted on Monday.
Monday, February 22nd 2010 - 19:12 UTC
Argentine former president Duhalde confirms his bid for the presidency in 2011

Argentine former caretaker President Eduardo Luis Duhalde assured Monday that he will run for president in the 2011 elections even if Senator Carlos Reutemann, tipped as one of the favourites, decides to do the same.
Monday, February 22nd 2010 - 05:56 UTC
US/Cuba dialogue to continue in spite of incident with “dissidents”

Cuba criticized US diplomats Saturday for meeting with political opponents after bilateral talks on immigration in Havana, accusing the diplomats of “promoting subversion.”
Monday, February 22nd 2010 - 05:48 UTC
Latinamerica agrees on new regional organization without US and Canada

The new Latinamerican and Caribbean organization that would not include the United States, Canada and Spain could formally be launched on 5 July 2011, during a summit in Venezuela once the statute is drafted and approved, according to the ministerial meeting previous to the Rio Group two-day summit scheduled to begin Monday.
Monday, February 22nd 2010 - 01:21 UTC
Falklands suffer the first Argentine attack of the 2010 cyber war

The Falkland Islands suffered a first cyber-war attack from Argentine hackers who hijacked the website of the Falkland Islands' weekly, Penguin New, posting reasons why the disputed Islands should belong to Argentina rather than Britain.
Monday, February 22nd 2010 - 01:01 UTC
Ecuador strongly defends relations with Iran, in spite of black list

Ecuador's inclusion on an international list of nations accused of lagging in the fight against money laundering is a hypocritical punishment for its relations with Iran, Ecuador's president said during his weekly television address.