Stories for January 22nd 2015

Thursday, January 22nd 2015 - 15:47 UTC
Toothfish poachers caught red-handed in Antarctica waters slip away

Staying hidden behind sea ice and large waves, sailors aboard a navy patrol boat from New Zealand sneaked up on three suspected poaching ships, then took photos and video of the fishermen hauling in prized fish in banned nets from the ocean near Antarctica. Seemingly caught red-handed, the crews of the rusting vessels just kept on fishing.
Thursday, January 22nd 2015 - 11:36 UTC
Oil price collapse hurting some more than others

U.S. oil and gas rig counts dropped to their lowest level in over four years, falling by an additional 74 units for the week ending on January 16. The lower count provides fresh evidence that low oil prices are forcing drillers to pare back operations and slash spending.
Thursday, January 22nd 2015 - 07:23 UTC
A third passage to Nisman's apartment and a locksmith who testified the service entrance was not locked

Investigators found a footprint and a fingerprint in a third –recently discovered- access to prosecutor Alberto Nisman’s apartment, which became the latest clues in the investigation of the death of the AMIA special prosecutor late on Sunday.
Thursday, January 22nd 2015 - 07:17 UTC
Suspicious death in Argentina by The New York Times editorial board

The following editorial was published on Wednesday by The New York Times addressing recent events surrounding the mysterious death in Buenos Aires of special prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who was investigating the still unsolved case of the July 1994 attack on the Argentine Jewish community center, AMIA. He had been involved in the case for ten years and investigating an alleged Iranian connection.
Thursday, January 22nd 2015 - 06:53 UTC
Uruguay's Almagro becomes the only contender for OAS Secretary General post

Guatemalan former Vice President Eduardo Stein on Wednesday announced that he was withdrawing his candidacy to head the Organization of American States due to health reasons. Stein's withdrawal leaves Uruguay's foreign minister, Luis Almagro, as the only declared candidate for the post.
Thursday, January 22nd 2015 - 06:39 UTC
Brazil central bank increases basic rate to 12,25%, highest since August 2011

Brazil's central bank raised interest rates to a more than three-year high on Wednesday, maintaining an aggressive pace of monetary tightening to contain high inflation, help the economy back on its tracks and win investors disillusioned with the once-booming economy.
Thursday, January 22nd 2015 - 06:26 UTC
US/Cuba talks take off and are described as “productive and constructive”

US and Cuban officials launched historic talks to shed their Cold War-era hostility on Wednesday, complimenting each other on the first day's progress despite persistent differences over migration policy.
Thursday, January 22nd 2015 - 06:09 UTC
Right to sunbathe topless triggers spontaneous protest in Rio beaches

A scantily clad group of female protesters drew a heavily breathing gaggle of journalists and cell-phone wielding onlookers to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. The protest was not meant to draw attention to another corruption scandal, police killing, or unwanted hike in transit fares, rather demand women’s right to sunbathe topless, a cause that most of the onlookers appeared to support.
Thursday, January 22nd 2015 - 05:52 UTC
Argentina's economy forecasted to contract 1.5% this year, says IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that Argentina's economy will contract by 1.3% in 2015, a figure smaller than original estimates, as the organization revised its world projections to reflect tumbling oil prices.
Thursday, January 22nd 2015 - 05:38 UTC
Morales invested as Indian leader in Andean ritual calls to defend Mother Earth Pachamama

Bolivian President Evo Morales called Wednesday for a halt to “the crazy race of destroying the Earth in the name of development” after being invested as Indian leader in a ritual at the pre-Colombian ruins of Tiahuanaco, located some 71 kilometers from La Paz.