Stories for October 12th 2009

Monday, October 12th 2009 - 10:47 UTC
General Motors record sales in China’s booming car market

General Motors and affiliate companies in China sold almost 1.3 million cars in the first nine months of 2009, with September a record month, according to a release from the main offices in Detroit.
Monday, October 12th 2009 - 10:40 UTC
Major missile systems upgrade for Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll

The Royal Navy warship HMS Argyll is to have her missile system upgraded in a major £19m refit in Fife. The Type 23 frigate has just arrived in Rosyth, Scotland for a year-long overhaul by 120 Babcock staff who will provide her with new electronic guns.
Monday, October 12th 2009 - 08:37 UTC
Markets’ expecting more signals in support of the dollar from US officials

Following a week when the US dollar plunged to record lows forcing some Asian banks to support the greenback, money markets are looking for new signals that the US government is committed to a strong US dollar as was implicitly anticipated by the Federal Reserve.
Monday, October 12th 2009 - 08:28 UTC
Punta Arenas anticipates a weaker 2009/2010 cruise season

Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile is anticipating a weaker cruise season for this 2009/2010 summer because of the global crisis. The number of calls is expected to drop 12.3% (17 less) totalling 79.950 passengers and 38.357 crew members, according to Punta Arenas Austral Port Authority, EPA.
Monday, October 12th 2009 - 08:22 UTC
ALBA summit in Bolivia to speed economic integration

The ALBA, Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, meets this week in Bolivia with economic integration as the main issue of the agenda.
Monday, October 12th 2009 - 08:03 UTC
Chilean safeguard 15% tariff on dairy imports does not apply in Punta Arenas

The 15% safeguard tariff imposed by the Chilean government on imports of powder milk (whole and skimmed) and certain types of cheese from Argentina and Uruguay, does not apply to Punta Arenas in the extreme south of the country.
Monday, October 12th 2009 - 07:58 UTC
Gorbachev says the world was a safer place during the Cold War

Mijail Gorbachev, the last leader of the defunct Soviet Union said that the “world was a safer place during the Cold War” and warned that the major current risk to the world is the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Monday, October 12th 2009 - 07:48 UTC
A founder of Colombia’s FARC dies of heart attack in the jungle

One of the historic founders of the Colombian guerrilla movement FARC (Colombian Rebel Armed Forces) died in the jungle, close to the Venezuelan border, three months ago of a heart attack, according to FARC sources quoted in the Bogotá Sunday press.
Monday, October 12th 2009 - 07:47 UTC
British government to sell assets to help balance public finances

The British Government is to sell off £16 billion of assets as part of moves to restore stability to the public finances, Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to announce. Details of an initial round of sales that could raise £3 billion - including the Tote, the Dartford crossing, the Channel Tunnel rail link, and the Student Loan book.