Antarctica

• Wednesday, April 11th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Icebreaker “Almirante Irizar” ablaze in the South Atlantic

  

  Argentine icebreaker “Almirante Irizar” is ablaze in the South Atlantic and all the crew has abandoned ship in an orderly way, with no loss of life or injured, reported the Argentine Navy Wednesday in a press conference in Buenos Aires.

• Tuesday, April 3rd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Possible weather pattern changes as El Niño becomes La Niña

  

  The most recent El Niño, the periodic weather pattern that can have repercussions around the world from torrential rains and floods in the Americas and Africa to droughts and brush fires in Australia and Asia, has now ended and a transition to its mirror image, La Niña, is a substantial possibility, according to the latest United Nations forecast.

• Sunday, February 25th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  British Science Minister off to learn in Antarctica

  On the eve of International Polar Year, Britain's Science and Innovation Minister Malcolm Wicks is visiting the British Antarctic Survey's Rothera research station this week. During the visit, the Minister will have an opportunity to see first-hand the prestigious Government-funded facility that carries out world-leading research into global environmental issues.

• Saturday, February 24th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Crippled Japanese whaler in Antarctica again on the move

  A Japanese whaling ship which was crippled by a fire and laden with fuel begun moving away from Antarctica under its own power, confirmed on Sunday an official from Japan's Institute for Cetacean Research following on reports from the New Zealand press.

• Friday, February 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Nordkapp en route to Buenos Aires; “no traces of pollution”

  

  The Norwegian flagged Nordkapp which ran aground in the South Shetlands Islands at the end of January has caused no environmental damage and “no traces of pollution have been found at or around Deception Island” according to a release from the Norwegian Coastal Voyage cruise company.

• Tuesday, February 6th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Bill Gates and Paul Allen cruise Antarctica in super yacht

  

  Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft and the world's richest man is currently on an Antarctica cruise in one of the largest and most luxurious private super-yachts belonging to his associate Paul Allen.

• Thursday, February 1st 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  HMS Endurance to the rescue

  

  Ice patrol ship HMS Endurance has assisted with the rescue of 280 passengers and 50 non-essential crew from a cruise ship damaged off the Antarctic peninsula.

• Tuesday, January 30th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Polar First helicopter fliers land in Buenos Aires

  

  The Polar First helicopter pilots, Jennifer Murray and Colin Bodill arrived on Sunday at the Don Torcuato airfield, north of Buenos Aires. They will stay in Argentina's capital until February 13, while the Bell helicopter is serviced.

• Wednesday, January 24th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Edmund Hillary returns to Antarctica for anniversary

  

  Mount Everest conqueror and Antarctic explorer New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary has returned to the frozen continent, at age 87, for what he believes will be his last time.

• Tuesday, January 2nd 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Two NZ adventurers reach South Pole unsupported

  

  The New Zealand Thermal Heart Antarctic Expedition of Jamie Fitzgerald (26) and Kevin Biggar (36) achieved on Tuesday their goal of trekking 1.100 kilometers unsupported to the South Pole. They are the first all NZ expedition to reach the South Pole for 50 years.