Stories for October 22nd 2011
Germany sets aside 130bn dollars for renewable energy to replace 28% nuke power
German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on 30 May that Germany, the world's fourth-largest economy and Europe's biggest, would shutter all of its 17 nuclear power plants between 2015 and 2022, an extraordinary commitment, given that they currently produce about 28% of the country's electricity.
The modern lords of finance are losing their immunity, says Paul Krugman
As the Occupy Wall Street movement continues to grow, the response from the movement’s targets has gradually changed: contemptuous dismissal has been replaced by whining. (A reader of my blog suggests that we start calling our ruling class the “kvetchocracy.”) The modern lords of finance look at the protesters and ask: Don’t they understand what we’ve done for the U.S. economy?
HMS Illustrious helicopter carrier begins intensive training following major refit
Fresh from a £40m refit the Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious has begun two months of intensive training off the south coast of Britain. Once the training is completed, the Portsmouth-based warship will be the UK’s on-call helicopter carrier, ready for global missions.
Ozone hole over Antarctica reached its ninth largest on record in September
The Antarctic ozone hole, which yawns wide every Southern Hemisphere spring, reached its annual peak on September 12, stretching 10.05 million square miles, the ninth largest on record and equivalent to three times the area of Brazil: 3.3m.
After seven years of negotiations Obama signs US/Colombia trade agreement
President Barack Obama signed into law the free trade agreement with Colombia Friday, marking the end of seven years of legislative effort. Obama also signed similar trade agreements with Panama and South Korea. The US Congress sent the trade bills to Obama after ratifying the agreements October 12.
Hague calls on Tories not to vote for a referendum on UK remaining in the EU
Foreign Secretary William Hague has urged Tory MPs not to vote for a referendum on the UK remaining in the EU, saying it would be a distraction.
“Closer political links with Brazil” can be expected if CFK is re-elected
The most certain re-election of Cristina Fernandez as Argentina president on Sunday 23 October is expected to signal more intense and closer relations with Brazil, expanding to other foreign affairs issues and working on a shared international agenda according to analysts from both countries .
Protestors march in Manhattan and camp before London’s St Paul cathedral
Occupy Wall Street inspired protestors were on the move on Friday in two emblematic places of both New York and in London: in the financial heart of Manhattan and before St Paul’s Cathedral.
Unasur receives United Nations Observer Status
The Union of South American Nations (Unasur) received the observer status in the UN General Assembly after the committee of judicial affairs of the organization unanimously approved its request.
CFK poised for landslide victory and control of the congress on Sunday
Argentine president Cristina Fernandez (CFK) should be comfortably re-elected Sunday with a landslide victory which according to the latest public opinion polls indicate a support ranging from 52% to 55%
