Stories for November 2nd 2009
Latest News feedUS puts pressure on Brazil to purchase Boeing’s F 18 Super Hornets
United States president Barak Obama has a special interest in the sale of 36 fighter aircraft Brazil has announced it plans to purchase and would consider a “disappointment” if the contract goes to any of its competitors (France or Sweden), said Ellen Tauscher Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security.
Chilean Navy state of the art OPV “Piloto Pardo” visits Punta Arenas
One of Chile’s Navy latest incorporations Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV 81) “Piloto Pardo” is currently in Punta Arenas from where it will be operating during summer months in fisheries patrol protection, search and rescue operations and other Chilean sovereignty activities along the country’s long coastline, EEZ plus Antarctic logistics tasks.
Stora Enso confirms construction of pulp mill in Uruguay
The Swedish-Finland group Stora Enso and Chile’s Arauco confirmed to the Uruguayan government their intention of building a pulp mill in the country with an investment in the range of two billion US dollars reports the Montevideo daily Ultimas Noticias.
Antarctica cruise season begins in Ushuaia; 225 calls anticipated this year
With the departure last week of icebreaker “Kapitan Khlebnikov” (*), Ushuaia marked the beginning of the Antarctica cruise season. Located in the extreme south of Argentina Ushuaia has become the gateway for Antarctic cruises virtually monopolizing 92% of the traffic
Brazil’s plan to boost the economy and send a good report to Copenhagen
Brazil has extended tax breaks on energy-efficient home appliances for three months in a bid to boost consumption and consolidate a rebound in Latinamerica’s largest economy. The announcement was made last week by Finance Minister Guido Mantega and becomes effective this month.
Satellite to study the Earth’s soil moisture and ocean salinity in orbit
Europe has successfully launched a new satellite to unravel the mysteries of Earth’s water cycle, shedding new light on how moisture is absorbed into the atmosphere and the process’s link to climate change.
Lloyds planning huge shares and bonds issue to cut off from government umbrella
Lloyds Banking Group is prepared to pay a fee of close to £2.5 billion to steer clear of the Government Asset Protection Scheme (GAPS), according to BBC sources. Lloyds believes it can survive without the GAPS and does not want the additional government influence which comes with the scheme.
Massive oil spill from Australian underwater well; top brains unable to plug leak
An oil well at the centre of a massive spill in the Timor Sea off the North West coast of Australia is on fire. The company which runs the well, PTTEP Australasia, said the fire broke out as it made another attempt to plug a leak deep underwater at the West Atlas rig.
Honduras election commission takes off; Lobo leads in opinion polls
United States secretary of Labour and a former Chilean president were named Sunday to a commission tasked with monitoring the creation of a power-sharing government in Honduras, under a US-brokered agreement to end the Central American nation’s four-month-old political crisis.
China’s manufacturing increases at fastest rate in 18 months
China’s Purchasing Managers Index, a gauge of the country’s manufacturing activities, rose at the fastest pace in 18 months in October when it expanded to 55.2, up from 54.3 in September, the China Federation of Logistic and Purchasing said this week.
