Stories for September 2nd 2009

Thursday, September 3rd 2009 - 03:40 UTC
H1N1 virus out-competes seasonal flu but not likely to mix into “super-bug”

The new H1N1 virus appears to out-compete seasonal flu, making it less likely to mix with other circulating flu viruses into a “super-bug” as some had feared United States researchers said this week.
Thursday, September 3rd 2009 - 03:34 UTC
Strong lobbying from UK’s defence industry fearful of budget cuts

Budget cuts could damage Britain’s armed forces and investing in the defence industry could help lead Britain out of recession, leading figures from the UK’s armaments sector said this week.
Thursday, September 3rd 2009 - 03:26 UTC
BP announces giant deep oil discovery in the Gulf of Mexico

British Petroleum announced Wednesday a giant oil discovery at its Tiber Prospect in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The well, located in Keathley Canyon block 102, approximately 400 kilometres south east of Houston, is in 1,259 metres of water.
Thursday, September 3rd 2009 - 03:21 UTC
Falklands on route map for 2010 Games in India Queen’s Baton relay

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is to launch a baton relay – one of the longest in history – in the presence of Indian President Pratibha Patil to lift the curtain on the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, organizers announced this week.
Thursday, September 3rd 2009 - 03:13 UTC
Brazil claims Amazon deforestation is down, but satellites say otherwise

Brazil's Environment minister claims increased policing have brought a sharp drop in Amazon deforestation over the past year, despite July's jump in logging. Predicting 2009 will witness a significant decline in clearing, Carlos Minc said there had been a 46% fall in the jungle's destruction since July 2008, with just 4375sq km cleared.
Thursday, September 3rd 2009 - 03:10 UTC
Dead sea lions toll in north Chile rises to 1.067, mostly pups

The official Chilean government count of dead sea lions that washed up on the shores of Chile's northern coast in the past two weeks has risen to 1,067, reported the National Fishing Service (SERNAPESCA).
Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 - 13:48 UTC
Colombian lawmakers pass Uribe re-election bill

Colombian lawmakers passed a bill on Tuesday aimed at allowing President Alvaro Uribe to seek a third consecutive term if the conservative U.S. ally chooses to run for re-election next May.
Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 - 13:30 UTC
Cristina and Nestor become Argentina’s most rejected political couple

The image of Argentina president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and her predecessor and husband Nestor Kirchner have plunged to an all time record low since they took office: 23% and 21% respectively, according to the latest public opinion poll published in the site of the Buenos Aires newspaper Critica.
Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 - 13:23 UTC
Amnesty International calls for an end to the US embargo against Cuba

President Barack Obama should take the first step towards dismantling the US embargo against Cuba by not renewing sanctions against the island under the Trading with the Enemy Act, said Amnesty International in an official Tuesday release.
Wednesday, September 2nd 2009 - 13:16 UTC
Unemployment in Punta Arenas remains the lowest in Chile: 4.6%

Magallanes in the extreme south of Chile remains as the region with the lowest unemployment in the country, 4.4% according to the latest release from the regional branch of the Statistics Office.