Stories for August 2009

Wednesday, August 26th 2009 - 02:06 UTC
Foreign Office impressed with Falklands oil security measures

A British Foreign and Commonwealth security consultant whose work will assist the Falkland Islands Government to progress the drilling of offshore exploration wells spent a week in the islands earlier this month.
Wednesday, August 26th 2009 - 02:01 UTC
Skyrocket US budget deficit: tax rise once recession is over

The US budget deficit will soar to almost 1.6 trillion US dollars this year, the highest on record, both the White House and Congress have warned. Fuelled by President Obama's 787 billion stimulus package and reduced tax revenues due to the recession, it compares with a 455 billion US dollars deficit in 2008.
Wednesday, August 26th 2009 - 01:53 UTC
A miserable story of accountability and opportunity

Abdelbaset Ali al Megrahi was an intelligence agent. Since he worked for the Libyan government, he probably did some bad things. But he probably did not do the specific bad thing for which he was sentenced to 27 years in prison in Scotland.
Wednesday, August 26th 2009 - 01:39 UTC
Unasur remains divided on the US/Colombian military agreement

The Union of South American Nations, Unasur, will be meeting Friday in Bariloche, Argentina for an extraordinary summit to address an agenda headed by the Colombia/US agreement which triggered a controversy in the region and impeded an official statement at recent the Quito, Ecuador summit, last August 10.
Wednesday, August 26th 2009 - 00:50 UTC
The presidential re-election syndrome torments Latinamerica

Presidential re-election has become a controversial issue in Latinamerican politics and some of the latest incidents are regional headlines including the current upheaval in Honduras which remains unsolved and can be traced to ousted President Manuel Zelaya alleged re-election bid.
Wednesday, August 26th 2009 - 00:33 UTC
Spain and Morocco to monitor Gibraltar Strait traffic; UK side-lined

Britain has been side-lined from a proposal to change the mandatory reporting system for ships sailing through the Strait of Gibraltar, despite its jurisdiction over Gibraltar and the surrounding waters, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.
Tuesday, August 25th 2009 - 22:30 UTC
South Korea launched its first space rocket with “partial success”

South Korea has launched its first space rocket, though a scientific satellite it was carrying failed to enter into its proper orbit. South Korean officials described the launch as a “partial success”.
Tuesday, August 25th 2009 - 22:20 UTC
UK avionics controversy delays delivery of eight Chinook choppers to Afghanistan

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence has denied claims that eight Chinook helicopters have not been usable since they were bought in 2001 because of a failed attempt to design its own software for them.
Tuesday, August 25th 2009 - 22:08 UTC
Obama confirms nomination of Bernanke as head of the Federal Reserve

President Barack Obama confirmed Tuesday that he has nominated Ben Bernanke for another term as chairman of the US central bank, the Federal Reserve. The president took a break from his summer holiday to make the announcement.
Tuesday, August 25th 2009 - 15:15 UTC
Venezuela’s Mercosur incorporation approval ever more distant

Mercosur has enough problems and of different kinds and does not need to include another one by voting for the incorporation of Venezuela to the trade block, according to Paraguayan senator Marcelo Duarte.