September 14, 2007 (LPAC)--South Korea is to become one of the world's top five countries developing nuclear fusion, President Roh Moo-hyun said today, at the dedication ceremony for the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) facility at the National Fusion Research Institute. The reactor, which uses advanced superconducting magnets, was developed over 12 years. "South Korea has to overcome its weakness as a resources-poor nation, with advanced technologies," Roh told the 400 fusion scientists, diplomats, and guests at the dedication.
Sep. 10, 2007 (LPAC) - Japan's Hitachi Ltd, that nation's largest industrial electronics firm, announced Sept. 10 that it will invest 30 billion yen ($265 million), to expand capacity at its nuclear equipment factory in Japan, over the next three years, in expectation of increased nuclear power plant orders, according to Reuters.
6 de septiembre del 2007 (LPAC).— La especulación internacional con bienes alimenticios se deja sentir ya en el aumento del precio en Chile y Argentina. Las autoridades chilenas fueron sorprendidas con el aumento de 1.1% en el Indice del Precio al Consumidor de agosto, el alza más alta desde 1995. Estos incrementos en el precio de los productos básicos están golpeando al consumidor, en especial al millón de trabajadores que apenas consiguen con dificultad un salario mínimo.
September 8, 2007 (LPAC)--South Korea has completed building an experimental fusion energy testbed that will be unveiled next week, South Korea's National Fusion Research Institute said Thursday. The state-run laboratory in Daejeon told YonHap News that the construction work on the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) took nearly 12 years and cost the country 309 billion won (US$328.7 million). They said if all goes well, plasma is to be created for sustained operations in the second half of 2008.
Sept. 6, 2007 (LPAC)--The Chinese and Russian governments' programs for development of NE Asia are under discussion at the third Asian development fair being held in Changchun, Jilin province, Xinhua and the Vladivostok Times report today. The Chinese policy for "rebirth of north-east China" and the Russian program for "Social-economic development of the Far East and TransBaikal to 2013" will increase cooperation between the two nations and overall regional development of NE Asia.
Sept. 6, 2007 (LPAC)--German manufacturing orders dropped the most in at least 16 years in July, led by a decline in demand for goods such as ships, trains and airplanes. Orders, adjusted for seasonal swings and inflation, fell 7.1 percent from June, when they gained 5.1 percent, the Economy and Technology Ministry in Berlin said in a press release, today. That's the biggest drop since September 1991, Bloomberg assessed. Economists expected a decline of 2.5 percent, according to the median of 37 estimates in a Bloomberg News survey.
September 4, 2007 (LPAC) - Thailand's Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont told the press Monday: "It will take us 10 to 15 years to have the first nuclear power plant, and we need 200 nuclear experts to help us." The experts are to be sought around the world. Thailand's state energy company, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), plans to invest six billion dollars to build the 4 GW plant, which is expected to be operational in 2020. Thailand currently relies on natural gas for 70 percent of its electricity, with a third of that imported.
September 4, 2007 (LPAC)--British baking firm Premier Foods, maker of "Hovis"--one of the most common brands of packaged bread in Britain--announced this week a price increase of 8 pence a loaf. The company cited a doubling of wheat prices in the last 12 months, and also announced a 50% drop in its profits. The price hike means that a 800 gram loaf of Hovis white bread could cost over 1 pound, up from 88 pence last year.
