Stories for September 14th 2009
Re-sail of Darwin’s global travel calls in Falklands next November
The international project “Beagle, on the Future of Species” a re-sail of Charles Darwin’s global travels which 150 years ago drastically changed the concepts of creation and evolution, but now geared to investigate the earth’s future is scheduled to call in the Falkland Islands next November
French unions against military technology transfer to Brazil
French unions are not pleased with the transfer of military technology to Brazil recently agreed between presidents Nicholas Sarkozy and Lula da Silva, according to press reports.
Britons’ collective value of wealth dropped 12% in 2008
Britons saw the value of their wealth dive by 12% during 2008 on the back of steep house price falls and sliding equity markets, research showed yesterday. The collective wealth of all UK households dropped from £6.736 trillion at the end of 2007 to £5.921 trillion at the end of last year, according to Halifax.
The fiscal cost of pulling Brazil out or recession was “very cheap”
Brazilian Minister of Finance Guido Mantega said that the global crisis has a “very low cost” for the finances of Latinamerica’s largest economy which last week officially announced the end of recession.
Scientists confirm link between declining CO2 levels and Antarctica ice cap
The link between declining CO2 levels in the earth's atmosphere and the formation of the Antarctic ice caps some 34 million years ago has been confirmed for the first time in a major research study.
Massive beaching of pilot whales in Patagonian coast
Almost 50 dead pilot whales were found stranded Sunday on a beach in the Argentine Patagonia province of Chubut. The cause of the stranding at Bahía Bustamante, and later death, remain a mystery, according to the regional press.
Russia finances sale of tanks and missile to Chavez regime
Russia has agreed to lend Venezuela over 2 billion US dollars to buy weapons, President Hugo Chavez has said. The credit will be used to purchase nearly 100 tanks and a series of anti-aircraft rocket systems from Russia.
Street crime, damages and hundreds arrested in Chile on coup anniversary
This weekend’s “demonstrations” commemorating the 36th anniversary of the 9/11/73 military coup in Chile that toppled the Socialist government of President Salvador Allende left three dead, 19 policemen wounded, more than 200 arrested and millions of pesos in property damage.
Botnia dispute in The Hague: first round of hearings begins
Argentina begins Monday a round of public hearings before the International Court of The Hague and will be arguing against Uruguay’s alleged unilateral decision to allow the construction of a pulp mill on a jointly managed river and which has been at the heart of a long standing litigation between the neighbouring countries.
Brazilian minister calls for the de-criminalization of marihuana
Brazil’s Environment Minister Carlos Minc called on the country’s Supreme Court to imitate Argentina and de-criminalize possession of drugs by adults for personal consumption.
