Stories for February 8th 2012

Wednesday, February 8th 2012 - 23:57 UTC
Eight ton whale shark hauled out of the water: Largest catch?

A group of Pakistani fishermen caught a monstrous whale shark in the Arabian Sea. A video clip was posted on YouTube showing the fish, about 40 feet long and six feet wide, being hauled in at the port using cranes in the Pakistani city of Karachi.
Wednesday, February 8th 2012 - 23:38 UTC
Turn on your ‘sepoy’ detector and weed out the ‘anti-Malvinas traitors’

Jorge Lanata is one of Argentina’s most famous and fierce journalists, feared by politicians and union leaders, famous for uncovering corruption and confronting the sacred cows of the country’s establishment. This week he made some controversial comments about the Malvinas Islands which rocked the whole country.
Wednesday, February 8th 2012 - 23:28 UTC
Argentina has no more claim to the Falklands than Canada does to Alaska

Argentina has no more claim to the Falklands than Canada does to Alaska Giving the Falkland Islands to Argentina makes as much sense as giving Alaska to Canada: none whatsoever, says George Grant.
Wednesday, February 8th 2012 - 22:14 UTC
US diplomacy reiterates Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty is a bilateral issue

The US Acting Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Roberta Jacobson, ratified the Obama administration’s standing on the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty issue, which urges Argentina and the United Kingdom to find a diplomatic exit to the matter.
Wednesday, February 8th 2012 - 22:08 UTC
Brazil celebrating unconfirmed report that Lula da Silva is free of cancer

A piece of news in a Brazilian website on Wednesday today caused a wave of reactions and expectations when it declared sources close to the medical team treating former Brazilian President Lula da Silva for a throat cancer said he is free of the disease.
Wednesday, February 8th 2012 - 22:03 UTC
Why you can’t find a Big Mac on Argentina’s Mc Donald’s menu?

Argentina’s booming economy has been one of the few bright lights in an otherwise gloomy global financial picture the last few years. But inflation of up to 25% threatens that growth. It's one of the world’s highest inflation rates, reports the US public funded Public Radio International.
Wednesday, February 8th 2012 - 20:24 UTC
Argentina’s night of “show-biz” leaves Falkland Islanders feeling bemused?

The night of “show-biz” glitz, light-shows, orchestrated crowds and even musical allusions, that surrounded Tuesday night’s announcement on the Falklands by Argentine President Cristina Fernandez from the Casa Rosada has left Falkland Islanders on the streets of Stanley feeling slightly bemused at the scenes, considered by many to be more reminiscent of the half-time entertainment at a Super-Bowl than a political debate.
Wednesday, February 8th 2012 - 20:16 UTC
Furious Malvinas war veterans attack lawmaker; claim they were ‘manipulated’

A group of Malvinas war veterans assaulted Tuesday evening an Argentine lawmaker as he exited Government House following President Cristina Fernandez Malvinas war “give peace a chance” speech. He had to be rescued by the police and driven away in his car.
Wednesday, February 8th 2012 - 20:06 UTC
Russian icebreaker ‘Vasily Golovnin’ supplying Argentine Antarctica bases

The Russian icebreaker ‘Vasily Golovnin’ left Buenos Aires this week for Antarctica to deliver equipment, fuel, food and general cargo to Argentina’s Antarctic bases.
Wednesday, February 8th 2012 - 19:56 UTC
Argentina is welcome to take Falklands ‘militarization’ to UN, but also principle of self determination

There was considerable anticipation and speculation in the Falkland Islands on Tuesday as residents and visitors alike waited to hear Argentine president Cristina Kirchner’s much-publicized evening announcement.