Stories for October 22nd 2011

Saturday, October 22nd 2011 - 11:14 UTC
Germany sets aside 130bn dollars for renewable energy to replace 28% nuke power

German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on 30 May that Germany, the world's fourth-largest economy and Europe's biggest, would shutter all of its 17 nuclear power plants between 2015 and 2022, an extraordinary commitment, given that they currently produce about 28% of the country's electricity.
Saturday, October 22nd 2011 - 11:02 UTC
The modern lords of finance are losing their immunity, says Paul Krugman

As the Occupy Wall Street movement continues to grow, the response from the movement’s targets has gradually changed: contemptuous dismissal has been replaced by whining. (A reader of my blog suggests that we start calling our ruling class the “kvetchocracy.”) The modern lords of finance look at the protesters and ask: Don’t they understand what we’ve done for the U.S. economy?
Saturday, October 22nd 2011 - 10:58 UTC
HMS Illustrious helicopter carrier begins intensive training following major refit

Fresh from a £40m refit the Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious has begun two months of intensive training off the south coast of Britain. Once the training is completed, the Portsmouth-based warship will be the UK’s on-call helicopter carrier, ready for global missions.
Saturday, October 22nd 2011 - 10:49 UTC
Ozone hole over Antarctica reached its ninth largest on record in September

The Antarctic ozone hole, which yawns wide every Southern Hemisphere spring, reached its annual peak on September 12, stretching 10.05 million square miles, the ninth largest on record and equivalent to three times the area of Brazil: 3.3m.
Saturday, October 22nd 2011 - 10:45 UTC
After seven years of negotiations Obama signs US/Colombia trade agreement

President Barack Obama signed into law the free trade agreement with Colombia Friday, marking the end of seven years of legislative effort. Obama also signed similar trade agreements with Panama and South Korea. The US Congress sent the trade bills to Obama after ratifying the agreements October 12.
Saturday, October 22nd 2011 - 10:37 UTC
Hague calls on Tories not to vote for a referendum on UK remaining in the EU

Foreign Secretary William Hague has urged Tory MPs not to vote for a referendum on the UK remaining in the EU, saying it would be a distraction.
Saturday, October 22nd 2011 - 04:29 UTC
“Closer political links with Brazil” can be expected if CFK is re-elected

The most certain re-election of Cristina Fernandez as Argentina president on Sunday 23 October is expected to signal more intense and closer relations with Brazil, expanding to other foreign affairs issues and working on a shared international agenda according to analysts from both countries .
Saturday, October 22nd 2011 - 04:28 UTC
Protestors march in Manhattan and camp before London’s St Paul cathedral

Occupy Wall Street inspired protestors were on the move on Friday in two emblematic places of both New York and in London: in the financial heart of Manhattan and before St Paul’s Cathedral.
Saturday, October 22nd 2011 - 04:27 UTC
Unasur receives United Nations Observer Status

The Union of South American Nations (Unasur) received the observer status in the UN General Assembly after the committee of judicial affairs of the organization unanimously approved its request.
Saturday, October 22nd 2011 - 04:26 UTC
CFK poised for landslide victory and control of the congress on Sunday

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez (CFK) should be comfortably re-elected Sunday with a landslide victory which according to the latest public opinion polls indicate a support ranging from 52% to 55%