Stories for November 2nd 2009

Tuesday, November 3rd 2009 - 07:39 UTC
US 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.
Tuesday, November 3rd 2009 - 07:37 UTC
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.
Monday, November 2nd 2009 - 14:14 UTC
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.
Monday, November 2nd 2009 - 14:09 UTC
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
Monday, November 2nd 2009 - 12:06 UTC
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.
Monday, November 2nd 2009 - 12:01 UTC
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.
Monday, November 2nd 2009 - 11:59 UTC
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.
Monday, November 2nd 2009 - 11:55 UTC
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.
Monday, November 2nd 2009 - 11:44 UTC
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.
Monday, November 2nd 2009 - 11:38 UTC
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.