Stories for December 2009

Monday, December 21st 2009 - 17:32 UTC
British MoD row over Ascension Islands reached the London press

The military outpost of Ascension Island “vital to the protection of the Falkland Islands” is at the centre of a row over tax bills unpaid by the Ministry of Defence, according to an article on Sunday’s edition of the Daily Express.
Monday, December 21st 2009 - 17:19 UTC
Brazilean industry to manufacture 2.044 armoured vehicles for the Army

The Brazilian Army and Fiat Iveco signed an agreement for the manufacturing or 2.044 armoured vehicles involving 3.5 billion US dollars as part of the new National Defence Strategy launched by the administration of President Lula da Silva.
Monday, December 21st 2009 - 15:22 UTC
Renovation year for Bolivian Armed Forces

Bolivia’s Armed forces expect next year to renew their military hardware and “store away all the junk”, but also called on neighbouring countries “not to fear” Bolivian plans.
Monday, December 21st 2009 - 13:09 UTC
Mercosur: Chavez sends “peace” message to Paraguayan Senate

President Hugo Chavez said he was hopeful the Paraguayan congress would vote for Venezuela to join Mercosur since Paraguay is one of the countires to “most benefit” from such an incorporation.
Monday, December 21st 2009 - 13:05 UTC
Greece on its own: no bail out from the European central bank

Two leading Greek banks, Eurobank and Alphabank, have had their credit ratings downgraded by ratings agency Standard and Poor's while the European Central Bank said there will be no bail out for debt-stricken member states.
Monday, December 21st 2009 - 12:59 UTC
Beijing has over 4 million cars registered (2 million in 2003)

China’s capital Beijing registry has reached 4,001,426 vehicles and 5,679,000 drivers, according to a release from the municipal government. The number of vehicles and drivers jumped 497,000 and 536,000 respectively in the last twelve months.
Sunday, December 20th 2009 - 09:09 UTC
New York Times praises the quality of Uruguayan beef from grass-fed cattle

The New York Times dedicated a long piece to the quality and rising pre-eminence of Uruguayan beef in world markets, contrary to what is happening in neighbouring Argentina, still considered “king of the best beef in the world”
Sunday, December 20th 2009 - 09:06 UTC
Sejong Soloists, one of the top ensembles nowadays, plans Latinamerican tour

Sejong Soloists, named after the 15th-century arts advocate Korean Emperor Sejong the Great, and hailed by CNN as one of the top ensembles of today, and having previously performed in New York City's venues at The Julliard School and Carnegie Hall, premiered their Tenth Annual Gala in New York's newly renovated Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center.
Sunday, December 20th 2009 - 09:03 UTC
Argentina increases common hake TAC by 27% to 338.000 tons

Argentina’s Federal Fisheries Council, CFP, has fixed the total allowable catch (TAC) of common hake (Merluccius hubbsi) for 2010 at 338,000 tons. This is 72.000 tons or 27% higher than this year’s TAC.
Sunday, December 20th 2009 - 09:00 UTC
NZ intercepts pirate tooth-fish long-liner “Carmela” in the Ross Sea

An Illegal fishing vessel was detected by a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P3K Orion in the Ross Sea on Wednesday during a routine fisheries patrol.