Stories for December 2008
Forty days repairs for “Ushuaia” in Punta Arenas dry dock
The Panamanian flagged cruise vessel Ciudad de Ushuaia that in early December ran aground close to the Antarctic Peninsula should be ready to resume her activities in 30/40 days time according to sources from Asmar Magallanes, the yard in Punta Arenas, extreme south of Chile where she is undergoing repairs.
Brazil unveils plan to expand ethanol sales in Asian market
Brazil's giant oil and gas corporation Petrobras has plans to open next year its first service stations in Japan to promote the distribution of ethanol, of which Brazil is the world's second leading producer, according to a report from O Estado de Sao Paulo. Petrobras already operates an oil refinery in Japan.
Red, Orange UV alert in Punta Arenas and Tierra del Fuego
Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile has released a Ultra Violet radiation alert recommending people to avoid photo-exposure, particularly between 10:00 in the morning to 16:00 hours in the afternoon, given the high (orange and red) levels registered in Punta Arenas and two locations in Tierra del Fuego.
British bishops call Labour policies “morally corrupt”
The British Government was embroiled in another row with the Church of England after bishops condemned its policies as “morally corrupt”. Five senior Church figures delivered a scathing assessment of Labour's record in power, warning that the country was suffering from family breakdown, an addiction to debt and a growing gap between rich and poor.
Spain's “Law of Grandchildren” spurs long queues in Cuba
Starting Monday, hundreds of thousands of descendants of Spaniards who went into political exile around the world during the years of Francisco Franco's dictatorship will be able to petition for Spanish citizenship under the provisions of a law intended as reparation for past injustices.The period of time established in the bill extends from July 18, 1936 to December 31, 1955.
HMS Endurance KO; she will be towed back to Britain
The Royal Navy ice patrol HMS Endurance, --and familiar sight in the Falkland Islands--, currently under repairs in Punta Arenas, extreme south of Chile after having suffered severe damages in the engine room, should be ready to be towed back to England sometime next week, according to the local press.
President Michelle Bachelet Improves in Chile
Public support for Michelle Bachelet has markedly increased in Chile, according to a poll by Ipsos. 56.8 per cent of respondents approve of the Chilean president's performance, up 9.9 points since August.
Tainted milk: Chinese dairies to compensate 300.000 children
Chinese dairy firms involved in the tainted milk scandal are to compensate the families of the nearly 300,000 affected children, state media said. Twenty-two companies will make an undisclosed one-off cash payment to the families Xinhua reported quoting the China Dairy Industry Association.
Landlocked Paraguay short of fuel because of shallow rivers
Land locked Paraguay is suffering a shortage of fuel because a serious drought has left the main river, and lifeline, too shallow for vessels with a plus ten feet draught, according to the capital Asunción press.
Suspected killer of rainforest activist arrested in Brazil
Brazilian police detained a rancher suspected of the murder of rainforest activist Dorothy Stang for allegedly acquiring titles illegally to land that the United States missionary died trying to defend.
