Stories for 2009

Monday, March 2nd 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Rescued pilot whale returns to stranding point Tasmania

Rescuers on Tasmania's King Island in Australia have been trying to return a straggling pilot whale to the sea after 48 pilot whales and five dolphins were returned to sea on Sunday.
Monday, March 2nd 2009 - 19:50 UTC
Prince of Wales joins FC in London to revel in brighter future of the albatross

AT a formal reception at Clarence House in London on Monday, HRH the Prince of Wales, who has long been concerned about the dramatic decline of the albatross, heard that 18 of the world’s 22 species threatened with extinction have a brighter future thanks to the efforts of the Albatross Task Force (ATF).
Monday, March 2nd 2009 - 19:09 UTC
“Public opinion” court will not accept UK banker’s pension

Sir Fred Goodwin will not get his £650,000-plus pension even if he is legally entitled to it, Commons Leader Harriet Harman vowed in the strongest Government attack yet on the former banking chief.
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.