Stories for 2009

Friday, November 13th 2009 - 15:22 UTC
British Airways/Iberia merger will create Europe’s third largest airline

British Airways and Spanish airline Iberia say they have reached a preliminary agreement for a merger expected to be completed in late 2010. The merger, which must be approved by the European Commission, would create Europe's third biggest airline.
Under its terms, Iberia would take a 45% stake and BA, which last week reported a six-month pre-tax loss of £292m, a 55% stake in the company.
Friday, November 13th 2009 - 15:16 UTC
Lula da Silva, next to Shimon Peres, justifies Iran’s leader visit to Brazil

Brazil's President justified the scheduled visit of Iran's president in two weeks time and offered to mediate in the Middle East conflict between Israel and Palestine. Lula da Silva rejected criticism over the upcoming visit of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, slated for November 23, standing next to visiting Israeli president Shimon Peres.
Friday, November 13th 2009 - 15:12 UTC
Brazil purchases Israeli drones to clean Rio of crime and drug gangs

Israel Aerospace Industries signed a 350 million US dollars contract this week to supply drones to the Brazilian police - the largest such deal ever between Israel and Brazil. The contract was signed during President Shimon Peres' state visit to Brazil, but negotiations began months ago
Friday, November 13th 2009 - 15:06 UTC
Greenland loosing mass faster than anticipated

The Greenland ice sheet is losing mass faster than first thought, contributing to an increasing rate of sea level rise, according to a Bristol University scientist.
Friday, November 13th 2009 - 15:01 UTC
Huge iceberg spotted floating towards New Zealand

A giant iceberg twice as long as a US Navy nuclear powered aircraft carrier has been spotted floating towards New Zealand.
Friday, November 13th 2009 - 09:26 UTC
Lavagna blasts Cristina Kirchner failed government: “stop looking for excuses”

Argentina’ former Economy minister Roberto Lavagna said on Thursday that when governments begin to fail, “they begin to look for all kind of excuses”. The administration of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner faced with mounting social unrest and financial problems claims a “destabilization plan” has been set in motion.
Friday, November 13th 2009 - 08:18 UTC
Buenos Aires “picket-city”: 340 street protests per month

Since September last year the government of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has faced 7.658 street protests and blocked routes, which is 68% more than the 4.451which took place during the four years mandate of her predecessor in the job and husband, Nestor Kirchner. This works out at an average 340 monthly street protests since Mrs. Kirchner took office in December 2007.
Friday, November 13th 2009 - 08:04 UTC
US and Japan record low interest rates funding global “carry trades”

The International Monetary Fund said that record low US interest rates are funding global “carry trades” and the dollar is still overvalued as concerns mount that new financial imbalances are forming.
Friday, November 13th 2009 - 04:55 UTC
Mexican tycoon and drug-lord make it to Forbes most powerful list

Mexico made it to the Forbes list of the 67 most powerful in the world with two names: one of them a legitimate businessman linked to telecommunication with an international reputation, the other a notorious drug lord with a reward on his head.
Friday, November 13th 2009 - 04:35 UTC
Colombia takes Chavez “war threats” to the UN Security Council

Colombia has taken its case with threats of war from neighbouring Venezuela to the United Nations Security Council after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told his army to get ready to fight.