Stories for February 2011

Friday, February 11th 2011 - 06:19 UTC
Major brawl in Venezuelan congress between pro and anti Chavez lawmakers

Venezuelan lawmakers exchanged punches in parliament on Thursday when a fight erupted between members of President Hugo Chavez's socialist party and rivals, in a sign of the country’s political polarization.
Friday, February 11th 2011 - 06:10 UTC
Colombian rebels release hostage but at the same time kidnap two contractors

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos blasted Thursday the “double moral” of the FARC guerrilla that kidnapped two workers while preparing for the release of several hostages held for years and revealed he was tempted to suspend the liberation operation.
Friday, February 11th 2011 - 06:06 UTC
Two more babies die of malnutrition in north Argentina: seven in 40 days

Another two babies died of malnutrition in the Argentine northern province of Salta, totalling seven so far this year. They all belong to indigenous colonies in this case from the Wichi community living under subsistence conditions in non fertile areas of the province.
Friday, February 11th 2011 - 05:57 UTC
Australian study links sunlight exposure and vitamin D with multiple sclerosis

An Australian study published in the February issue of Neurology provides additional evidence for a potential role for low levels of sunlight exposure and vitamin D as triggers for multiple sclerosis.
Thursday, February 10th 2011 - 23:33 UTC
FAO admits illegal fishing remains major threat; calls for a global record of fishing vessels

Countries are making progress in implementing the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, which is now 15 years old, but still extremely relevant. However, additional efforts are needed, declared participants at the close of the 29th session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries.
Thursday, February 10th 2011 - 23:24 UTC
Bank of England at a crossroad leaves interest rates on hold at 0.5%

Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has kept UK interest rates on hold at 0.5%, and unveiled no new quantitative easing (QE) measures.
Thursday, February 10th 2011 - 23:20 UTC
Easter Island Rapa Niu peoples’ land claims’ turns international

The Inter-American Commission for Human Rights (IACHR), a body within the Organization of American States, has issued Precautionary Measures to protect the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island.
Thursday, February 10th 2011 - 23:06 UTC
Japan’s public debt and fiscal deficit “unsustainable” warns IMF

The weight of Japan's public debt, the highest in the world, is unsustainable in the medium and long term warned this week Naoyuki Shinohara, Deputy Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund.
Thursday, February 10th 2011 - 22:59 UTC
Another green revolution in the making with the “Green Super Rice”

The world appears to be on the threshold of another green revolution in rice production as a result of an intensive, 12-year partnership between the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing and the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines.
Thursday, February 10th 2011 - 22:53 UTC
Unasur becomes fully in force March 11, following on Uruguay’s ratification vote

The Uruguayan government officially delivered this week the formal ratification of the UNASUR (Union of South American Nations) founding charter thus turning the political project into juridical reality.