Stories for March 1st 2009

Sunday, March 1st 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Republicans welcome Obama's plan to withdraw from Iraq

United States Republicans have broadly welcomed President Barack Obama's plan to withdraw most troops from Iraq by 2010. However, they suggested he should give credit to his predecessor for stability brought by the “surge” strategy of pouring extra troops into Iraq.
Sunday, March 1st 2009 - 23:00 UTC
UK care of veterans “disgraceful”, says VC decorated soldier

The British Army's most decorated serving war hero has claimed the UK Government is failing to care for soldiers with mental trauma caused by combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Sunday, March 1st 2009 - 23:00 UTC
UK taken by surprise reaffirms sovereignty over Gibraltar waters

The British Government reaffirmed Friday its sovereignty over Gibraltar waters and said it would urgently investigate how they came to be designated as a European protected site under Spanish responsibility, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.
Sunday, March 1st 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Portrait of Margaret Thatcher unveiled in 10 Downing Street

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher returned to 10 Downing Street earlier this week. A portrait of Thatcher, painted by British artist Richard Stone, was unveiled on Wednesday. The artist said he had chosen as a historic portrait that of Mrs. Thatcher after the Falklands war.
Sunday, March 1st 2009 - 23:00 UTC
US economy recorded lowest growth in '08 since '01: 1.1%

The US economy shrank by 6.2% in the last three months of 2008, official figures have shown, a far sharper fall than had previously been reported. Plunging exports and the biggest fall in consumer spending in 28 years dragged the annualised figure down from an earlier estimate of 3.8%.
Sunday, March 1st 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Venezuela's Chavez sends soldiers to take over rice mills

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez sent troops on Saturday to temporarily take over rice processing plants. Chavez accused some firms of overcharging by refusing to produce rice at prices set by the government and warned some companies could be nationalised if they tried to interfere with supplies of the grain.
Sunday, March 1st 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Plant closures cause turmoil in Brazilian cattle industry

Brazil's fourth largest Brazilian exporter of beef has halted slaughtering operations at all 11 of its plants and sent workers home, local Brazilian media reports. In addition, Independencia has not paid cattle suppliers for several days and has returned most cattle to suppliers.
Sunday, March 1st 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Euro-zone: record high jobless: record low inflation

Euro-zone unemployment rose more than economists expected in January and inflation slowed. The jobless rate in the Euro zone increased to 8.2%, the highest in more than two years, from 8.1% in December, the European Union statistics office in Luxembourg said Friday.
Sunday, March 1st 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Unemployment (social unrest), main threat admits China

The biggest challenge facing China is not slowing growth but unemployment, which could trigger social unrest, a Chinese government minister has said. Commerce Minister Chen Deming told the BBC that when economic growth slowed “the chances of possible social unrest increase as well”.
Sunday, March 1st 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Tenth anniversary of Mines Ban treaty entry into force

Ten years after the historic treaty banning antipersonnel mines became binding international law campaigners in some 60 countries around the globe are taking action this week to once again draw the world's attention to the horrific consequences of landmines and to call for renewed efforts toward a mine-free world.