Stories for January 2009

Thursday, January 8th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Obama urges “drastic action” from Congress on stimulus plan

US President-elect Barack Obama has called for “drastic action” to prevent the US economic situation worsening. In his first major policy speech since being elected, Mr Obama urged Congress to act quickly to pass his 800 billion US dollars stimulus plan.
Thursday, January 8th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil expects lower corn and soy crop because of drought

Brazil's crops of corn and soybean has been downgraded from previous forecasts because of the persistent drought in the southern states, said on Thursday the country's Ministry of Agriculture.
Wednesday, January 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Venezuela expels Israeli ambassador over Gaza bombing

Venezuela expelled on Tuesday the Israeli ambassador to protest against the country's assault on Gaza, after the Venezuelan president described it as a “holocaust”.
Wednesday, January 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Bush's Presidential medals for Uribe, Blair and Howard

United Status outgoing president George W. Bush will be presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe and to the former prime ministers of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair and John Howard from Australia.
Wednesday, January 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Monaco's Prince begins month long visit to Antarctica

Monaco's Prince Albert II spent the first two days of his month-long global warming awareness expedition to Antarctica visiting different country bases in King George Island. On Wednesday he's scheduled to fly over the area and return to Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile.
Wednesday, January 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Inquiry into Ice Patrol HMS Endurance accident

The Portsmouth press carried a piece on the odyssey of Ice patrol HMS Endurance, now resting safely in the Falkland Islands, while a team of naval and civilian personnel is completing a full survey of the damage suffered.
Wednesday, January 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
“Ponzi” Madoff inquiry targets SEC and regulators

The US Congress has launched an inquiry into a suspected 50 billion US dollars fraud allegedly run by the US hedge fund manager, Bernard Madoff. The House Financial Services Committee is to question regulators and investors to try to determine why the authorities failed to uncover the scandal.
Wednesday, January 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Capsized yachtsman rescued by fellow competitor in C. Horn

The French navigator whose yacht capsized in the extreme South Pacific during the Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race was rescued Tuesday night by his friend, a fellow competitor, after he was trapped inside the hull of his upturned boat in heavy seas for 16 hours
Wednesday, January 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Dakar rally in Argentina claims motorcyclist life

French motorcyclist Pascal Terry has been found dead after being reported missing on Sunday during the second stage of the Dakar Rally which was relocated to Argentina and Chile for its 31st edition.
Wednesday, January 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Women's clothing icon Viyella goes into administration

Britain's women's clothing firm Viyella, which dates back to 1784, has become the latest well-established retail firm to call in administrators. There has been speculation for days that the future of the company, one of the UK's longest established clothing manufacturers, was uncertain.