Stories for February 2014

Thursday, February 27th 2014 - 04:59 UTC
Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica in 'Sea Spirit' 2015/16 expedition cruises

Poseidon Expeditions has chartered the 114-passenger Sea Spirit for polar operations starting in May 2015. Built as Renaissance V in 1991, the 4,200 gt ship currently operates on charter to Quark Expeditions and is managed by FleetPro Ocean. For the 2015/16 season Poseidon will offer expeditions to Antarctica, Falklands and South Georgia.
Thursday, February 27th 2014 - 04:52 UTC
Colombia fed up with Maduro's government accusations and insults to former president

Colombian Minister of Foreign Affairs María Ángela Holguín complained on Wednesday about consistent verbal by the Venezuelan government on ex Colombian President Álvaro Uribe and the accusations of being the mastermind of the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela.
Thursday, February 27th 2014 - 04:47 UTC
Inter-American Development bank holds its annual meeting in Bahía

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will hold its 2014 Annual Meeting in Bahía, Brazil, March 27-30, bringing top economic and business leaders to discuss how the private sector can help boost economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Thursday, February 27th 2014 - 04:41 UTC
Brazil raises basic interest to 10,75%; same rate as when Rousseff took office

Brazil's central bank raised its benchmark interest rate Wednesday to 10.75% from 10.5%, and left the door open for more rate increases while slowing the pace of the hikes. The move continues the bank's yearlong fight against inflation even as rising interest rates and the poor performance of the country's exporters jeopardize already feeble growth in an election year.
Thursday, February 27th 2014 - 03:21 UTC
Russia with plans for military bases in Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela

Russia is planning to expand its permanent military presence outside its borders by placing military bases or seeking permission for navy ships to use ports in a number of foreign countries, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Wednesday. The list includes Vietnam, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, the Seychelles, Singapore and several other countries
Thursday, February 27th 2014 - 03:19 UTC
Booming world fish trade generating more wealth than ever, says FAO report

The booming world fish trade is generating more wealth than ever before, but countries must help small-scale fishers and fish farmers benefit too, says FAO.
Thursday, February 27th 2014 - 03:08 UTC
Argentine social programs praised by FAO and World Bank, says government

Argentina praised some of the “positive and favorable comments” by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank regarding the country’s social and economic agenda, regretting that “certain” media “downplay” such news.
Thursday, February 27th 2014 - 00:36 UTC
Total fortune of wealthiest Argentines estimated at 26.85bn dollars

The total fortune of the 15 wealthiest Argentines has been estimated at 26.85 billion dollars, falling just shy of the 27.679 billion dollars currently in the Central Bank’s foreign reserve account, according to a list of the country’s richest people published recently by the local edition of Forbes magazine.
Thursday, February 27th 2014 - 00:31 UTC
IMF lets fresh air in and addresses income inequality and redistribution debate

Income inequality can lead to slower or less sustainable economic growth, while redistribution of income, when measured, does not hurt and can even help an economy, IMF staff found in a research study released on Wednesday. Although the study by IMF economists does not reflect the Fund's official position, it is another sign of a shift in its thinking about income disparity.
Wednesday, February 26th 2014 - 23:13 UTC
OAS Permanente Council special meeting on Venezuelan situation suspended

The meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS), Permanent Council convened to evaluate the possibility of holding a meeting of ambassadors to address the current political situation in Venezuela, has been postponed after pressure from the Venezuelan Government, said Carlos Ponce, coordinator for the Latin American and Caribbean Network for Democracy (Redlad).