Stories for April 14th 2009
Political agreement in Bolivia ends Morales hunger-strike
President Evo Morales has ended a five days long hunger strike after Bolivia's congress approved a new electoral law that grants more voting power to his electoral turf and allows him to run for a second term five-year term next December.
“Too few, too far” a vivid account of the Battle of South Georgia
The story of how 22 British Royal Marines held off an entire Argentine invasion force on the eve of the 1982 Falkland Islands War has finally been told for the first time, according to a Books Review article from the Daily Mail published on Tuesday.
British PM Brown furious over smear e-mails; Tories insist in inquiry
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was “furious” when he found out about the smear emails written by a key aide about top Tories, his spokesman has said, amid renewed Tory pressure for an inquiry into the scandal.
Study reveals UK cities most hit by recession unemployment
Job losses during the current British recession have impacted most on large cities, mainly Birmingham, outside London, according to research. The biggest jump in total numbers of people claiming unemployment benefit were found in the North, West Midlands, Scotland, and areas linked with traditional manufacturing and heavy industry, a study by The Work Foundation found.
Vatican rejects (pro-abortion) Caroline Kennedy as US ambassador
The Vatican has rejected at least three possible candidates proposed by President Barack Obama to serve as US ambassador to the Holy See, say reliable sources in Rome.
French fishermen block Channel ports to protests EU quotas
French fishing boats have mounted a blockade of three Channel ports, interrupting ferry and freight traffic in a dispute over fishing quotas. At Calais, Boulogne and Dunkirk fishing fleets are preventing ships entering or leaving the harbour.
Germany bans GM maize; “scientific and not political” decision
Germany is to ban the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) maize - the only GM crop widely grown in Europe. The decision, announced on Tuesday by German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner, is a blow to the US biotech firm Monsanto, which markets the maize.
“Aurora” round-the-world cruise ends short and with compensation demand
The stricken cruise ship Aurora has arrived back in Britain amid the threat of legal action from passengers, reports The Daily Telegraph. Engine trouble forced the ship to miss out three ports in New Zealand and two in the Pacific Islands on the £16,000 per passenger round-the-world trip.
Lula da Silva says Obama must not be embarrassed on the Cuban issue
Brazilian president Lula da Silva anticipated he will address the Cuban issue in the coming Americas Summit next Friday in Trinidad Tobago, but Brazilian diplomacy is also working to ensure it does not become an irritating discussion, according to Sao Paulo press.
Japanese whaling fleet limps back home with lower catch
Japan’s Fisheries Agency said on Monday ships from the country’s whaling fleet returned to port from the Antarctic Ocean with a lower catch than planned after being harassed by anti-whaling campaigners. The agency also indicated that several ships report some damage from clashes with the conservationists.
