Stories for January 26th 2016

Tuesday, January 26th 2016 - 12:22 UTC
Dire state of fisheries and worsening air pollution, revealed by Environmental performance index

The worrying state of many fisheries and worsening air pollution are some of the problems revealed by the 2016 Index of Environmental Performance (EPI), an initiative that assesses how 180 countries protect ecosystems and human health of environmental damage.
Tuesday, January 26th 2016 - 08:54 UTC
ECB Dragui insists his policies will help raise inflation, currently at 0.2%

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi has fought back against critics, insisting the bank's policies will help to raise inflation. Eurozone inflation is currently 0.2%, way below the ECB's target of near 2%. But Mr Draghi insisted that the central bank would meet its obligations.
Tuesday, January 26th 2016 - 08:47 UTC
Malvinas: when Argentina is strong and united, world public opinion will back us

The meeting of the Argentine president with the British prime minister in Davos was “a good thing” a symptom that we are back on the right political track, which has been applied before: to continue claiming sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands, without having to spoil good relations, investments, trade, and with time and circumstances even consider joint undertakings.
Tuesday, January 26th 2016 - 08:37 UTC
Chilean Army clearing Magallanes region of anti personnel mines

The Chilean Army is involved in anti personnel-mine sweeping operations in the Magallanes region, north of Punta Arenas, as part of the country's commitment to have the region free of all mines by 2020 thus complying with the Ottawa convention.
Tuesday, January 26th 2016 - 08:23 UTC
Falklands' opportunities for Caribbean residents, promoted by MLA Hansen

Falkland Islands are well on their way to mining oil and member of the Legislative Assembly Ian Hansen said there are possible opportunities for locals to consider relocating to the Britain territory, according to a report from Antigua's Daily Observer.
Tuesday, January 26th 2016 - 08:14 UTC
Shackleton Solo Expeditioner dies in Punta Arenas hospital

Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions, ALE, reports with great sadness the death of polar expeditioner Henry Worsley at a hospital in Punta Arenas, Chile, after complications caused by bacterial peritonitis. Henry returned from Antarctica on January 23 after nearly completing his Shackleton Solo Expedition.
Tuesday, January 26th 2016 - 08:06 UTC
Pan American Health Organization statement on Zika virus transmission and prevention

Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that is new to the Americas. Since Brazil reported the first cases of local transmission of the virus in May 2015, it has spread to 21 countries and territories* of the Americas (as of 23 January 2016).
Tuesday, January 26th 2016 - 07:55 UTC
OAS 'virtually bankrupt and facing existential threat' says Permanent Council chairman

The new chairman of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) Sir Ronald Sanders says the institution is now facing a “serious existential threat”, with its coffers virtually empty. OAS currently has Uruguay's Luis Almagro as Secretary General.
Tuesday, January 26th 2016 - 07:46 UTC
UK government chief scientist in Chile to attend congress on education and science

Sir Mark Walport, the British Government Chief Scientific Adviser and Head of Science and Engineering Profession, arrived in Chile on 21 January. He has been invited by the Chilean Senate to participate in the Futures Congress, in which national and international scientists, analysts and thinkers, analyze the most significant issues, challenges and achievements in the world of science.
Tuesday, January 26th 2016 - 07:34 UTC
Venezuela could lose UN voting rights because of US$ 3m in arrears

St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic are among nine countries that have lost their voting rights at the United Nations because of arrears in their annual contributions to the world body.