Stories for October 2009
ICANN Approves Non-Latin Domain Name Characters
The Internet's governing body has approved a new domain name process that will allow for non-Latin characters.
Argentina and Uruguay again clash over the Botnia pulp mill
The Argentine government strongly repudiated on Friday a report from the Environmental Board of Uruguay saying Argentina had “adulterated” information referred to the pulp mill dispute submitted to the International Court at The Hague.
“Oasis of the Seas” with its 2.700 cabins on maiden voyage to Florida
The world's largest cruise liner began Friday its maiden voyage to Florida, gliding out from a shipyard in Finland with an amphitheatre, basketball courts and an ice rink on board. The 16-deck Oasis of the Seas spans 360 metres from bow to stern. Its 2,700 cabins can accommodate 6,300 passengers and 2,100 crew.
Venezuela/Brazil agree terms of refinery to be built in Pernambuco
Brazil's government managed oil company Petrobras said on Friday that it had concluded a deal with Venezuela's PDVSA to construct and operate a refinery in northeast Brazil.
EU unemployment soars to 9.2%: 22 million out of work
Figures from the Europe Union's statistics office show that consumer prices in the Euro zone fell for the fifth month in a row in October while the unemployment rate for September rose again.
British government sacks chief drugs’ advisor
The British government's chief drugs adviser has been forced to resign in the wake of the row over the dangers of class A drugs. Home Secretary Alan Johnson asked Professor David Nutt to resign as chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), saying he had “lost confidence” in his ability to give impartial advice.
Colombia and US sign bases’ agreement in closed doors ceremony
Colombia and the United States signed Friday in Bogotá the controversial agreement that allows US military personnel to be stationed at seven (land, air, sea) military bases in Washington’s closest ally in the region.
Methane gas more of a villain on climate change than estimated
The impacts of methane on climate change have been significantly underestimated, say scientists at Columbia University and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre. This effect is now thought to be one third higher than previous estimates.
Chilean Central bank could begin hiking interest rate next second quarter
The Chilean central bank will likely begin hiking the benchmark interest rate, currently at a record low 0.5%, in the second quarter of next year, according to the minutes of its October monetary policy meeting released Wednesday.
Spectacular take off for Shenzhen’s ChiNext market for small companies
The price of shares for all 28 firms on China's new Nasdaq-style stock market more than doubled when it opened for trading for the first time on Friday. The ChiNext stock market is designed to attract financing for small to medium sized enterprises.
