Stories for 2009

Saturday, November 14th 2009 - 13:19 UTC
NASA announces discovery of “significant amount” of water in the moon

It's official: There's water on the moon—and a “significant amount” of it, too, members of NASA's recent moon-crash mission, LCROSS, announced Friday. In October, NASA crashed a two-ton rocket and the SUV-size LCROSS (Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite) into the permanently shadowed crater Cabeus on the moon's South Pole.
Saturday, November 14th 2009 - 13:15 UTC
Chilean presidential candidate triggers controversy over human rights trials

Conservative presidential candidate Sebastían Piñera on Thursday defended comments he made Tuesday to a meeting of retired, Pinochet-era military and police officials. Piñera pledged his government would put an end to human rights cases that “never end” if he succeeds in his bid for office.
Saturday, November 14th 2009 - 13:11 UTC
Brazil wants a Colombia/Venezuela border commission to ease tensions

Brazil will be proposing to Colombia and Venezuela the creation of border vigilance commission as the first step to cool tensions between the two neighbouring countries, reported the government’s official news agency.
Saturday, November 14th 2009 - 13:05 UTC
Chile ready to begin pumping natural gas into Argentina

The Chilean government set up the legal framework allowing the export of re-gasified natural gas to Argentina over existing gas pipelines, as well as to other countries of the region following the inauguration of facilities in central Chile, reports Santiago’s La Tercera.
Saturday, November 14th 2009 - 05:53 UTC
Canadian cat sparks rumours of Mrs. Thatcher’s death

A misconstrued text message announcing the passing of a beloved pet has sparked a flurry of diplomatic activity in Canada. Transport Minister John Baird sent a message reading: “Thatcher has died”.
Saturday, November 14th 2009 - 05:49 UTC
Labour by-election victory gives PM Brown breathing space

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has survived his latest by-election test as Labour comfortably cruised to victory in the Glasgow North East by-election. The party's Willie Bain won the seat made vacant by the resignation of former Commons Speaker Michael Martin with a majority of 8,111 over the SNP.
Saturday, November 14th 2009 - 05:47 UTC
Euro zone “technically” emerges from recession in third quarter

The 16-strong group of nations in the Euro-zone has “technically” emerged from recession, official figures show. European countries using the single currency grew their collective economy 0.4% in the third quarter.
Saturday, November 14th 2009 - 05:41 UTC
“Spiderman” caught red-handed in Rio do Janeiro airport

Spiderman exists and he was caught at the Brazilian city of Rio do Janeiro. A British tourist was detained in the city’s international airport when he was discovered trying to carry overseas a thousand live spiders in his luggage, according to the local police.
Saturday, November 14th 2009 - 05:31 UTC
Chilean Congress votes to create an Environmental Ministry

Chile’s Senate voted early this week to create an Environmental Ministry, a milestone in Chilean environmental policy. The bill, first introduced in 2008, has been subject to considerable controversy from both supporters and opponents.
Friday, November 13th 2009 - 15:27 UTC
Frei and Piñera expected to face-off in Chilean presidential run off

With only a month remaining before Chileans cast their votes Dec. 13 to elect their next president, one of the nation’s most important polls showed the race tightening, but with the two front-runners -rightist billionaire Sebastian Piñera and centrist Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei - holding on to their leads.