Stories for January 20th 2010
New ball game in the US senate: Obama looses “super-majority”
US President Barack Obama called on Democratic lawmakers not to try to “jam” health-care legislation through Congress before newly elected Republican Senator Scott Brown is seated. The election of Senator Brown means the end of Obama’s “super majority” in the Upper House and comes on the first anniversary of the presidential inauguration.
Aftershocks cause panic among Haitians and rescuers
A powerful aftershock sent Haitians screaming into the streets on Wednesday, collapsing buildings, cracking roads and adding to the trauma caused by the major quake eight days ago.
Haiti Football Federation confirms 30 deaths and dozens missing
Thirty members of the Haitian Football Federation have been confirmed dead and dozens others are missing following the massive earthquake that rocked the country. This was confirmed by Caribbean Football Union vice-president Captain Horace Burrell in a report sent to FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, following an assessment carried out last weekend.
China freezes liquidity and sends global markets tumbling
Global shares have fallen amid concerns that China's plans to reduce lending by its banks will hurt the worldwide economy. The falls came after Chinese state media said authorities had ordered commercial banks to stop lending for the rest of January.
“The best place to mine in South America (Chile) just got better”
International mining groups this week were effusive in their support of Chile’s newly elected president Sebastian Piñera, a billionaire businessman with substantial holdings in Lan Airline, Chilevision (a TV station) and Colo Colo (a popular soccer team).
Brazil inaugurates first commercial ethanol-fuelled power plant
Brazil inaugurated this week the world’s first ethanol-fuelled power plant in the state of Minas Gerais. The flex-fuel turbine, which was converted from running solely on natural gas, began operating on December 31 and is currently in its optimization and testing phase.
Seismologists’ call to prepare for a “great earthquake” in Western Sumatra
The earthquake which rocked Padang, western Sumatra in September last year killing more than 1000 people was not the 'great earthquake' which earth scientists are waiting for. In fact, it may have made the next massive earthquake more likely.
Oil executives check preparations for rig arrival in Falklands
DRILLING chemicals, pipe casing and logging equipment are just part of the mass of physical supplies being offloaded in Stanley in preparation for the arrival of the oil rig in Falkland Islands waters next month.
Haiti government emerges from the rubble; US begins airdrops of food and water
Haiti's government has regrouped after last week's devastating earthquake and is working to find food, shelter and medicine for survivors, Prime Minister Jean Max Bellerive said Tuesday.
Argentine depositors look for security and discretion in Uruguay’s banks
Argentines disenchanted with their current government are taking their savings to refuge in neighbouring Uruguay where deposits of non residents have soared 20% during 2009, according to primary estimates from the Central Bank.
