Stories for February 12th 2007

Monday, February 12th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Buenos Aires “invaded” by 10.000 visitors in six cruises

Three major cruise vessels with 10.000 tourists called in Buenos Aires over the weekend signaling a peak for the current season.
Monday, February 12th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Lesbians take on Santiago, Chile

Feminist lesbians from 18 different countries in Latin America took to the streets of Santiago this weekend to protest against the institutionalized homophobia that still exists in many parts of the continent. About 200 lesbian activists had been participating in the Seventh Latin American and Caribbean Lesbian feminist Conference, the first to take place in Chile.
Monday, February 12th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Venezuela may control food distribution

President Hugo Chavez's government has drafted a decree allowing it to take control of food distribution chains, possibly including supermarkets and storage depots, if services are interrupted, officials said Sunday.
Monday, February 12th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Chile faces “aging population” challenge

Chile's birth rate has dropped substantially from 3.5% in 1962 to just 1.6% today. And with the country's “baby boom” generation (1957ÃÂ¢€”1962) turning grey, Chile could face a future crisis of social care and pension payments.
Monday, February 12th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Ecuador delays debt payment and readies for political battle

Ecuador's new administration of President Rafael Correa that has threatened to default on the country's debt, will use a 30-day grace period to make a payment that is due this week, Deputy Economy Minister Fausto Ortiz told reporters in Quito.
Monday, February 12th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Spain accepts Gibraltar phone code and travel documents

Telephone calls between Spain and Gibraltar have gone international, following the acceptance by Spain from this weekend of Gibraltar's international dialling code, reported the local press.
Monday, February 12th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Falklands' veteran HMS Intrepid to be recycled

The former Royal Navy assault ship HMS Intrepid, a key part of the fleet that led the campaign to retake the Falkland Islands 25 years ago, is expected to be recycled at a British facility, the Ministry of Defense announced Monday.
Monday, February 12th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Asian fungi detected in Argentina soybean cultivation

Argentina detected the presence of dangerous Asian fungi in soybean cultivations in the province of Santa Fe the second oilseed producing area of the country, reported the Agriculture Health and Quality National Service, SENASA.
Monday, February 12th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Several cases of dengue fever on Easter Island

Three new cases of Dengue Fever (DF) were reported last weekend on Easter Island, a Chilean outpost in the South Pacific. Two men and one woman, both native islanders, were found to be infected with the disease.
Monday, February 12th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
WTO praises Argentina but warns about inflation

Argentina has successfully emerged from one of the worst recessions in its history, and the economy has been growing at a fast pace since 2003, according to a World Trade Organization Secretariat report on the trade policies and practices of Argentina released this week.