Stories for 2009

Monday, March 16th 2009 - 14:57 UTC
UK: Air passengers fall amid downturn

Passenger numbers at UK airports fell last year for the first time since 1991. And the decline was particularly sharp in the final part of 2008 as the credit crunch started to bite, the figures from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) show.
Monday, March 16th 2009 - 11:25 UTC
Chavez orders military takeover of ports and airports under opposition rule

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday ordered the military takeover of ports and airports, boosting the power of the central government after his allies lost key states in a 2008 regional vote.
Monday, March 16th 2009 - 11:21 UTC
Prince Charles in Galapagos to honour Darwin’s theory on evolution

The Prince of Wales has visited Ecuador over the weekend ahead of a tour of the world-famous Galapagos Islands. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall had their plane disinfected in Quito to prevent harmful organisms and germs being brought into Galapagos.
Monday, March 16th 2009 - 11:08 UTC
Colombian presidential hopeful says time is ready to end US aid

Colombia’s Vice-President Francisco Santos said the country does not need any longer United States funds to combat the narcotics trade and guerrillas movements because time is up “and we don’t need them”.
Monday, March 16th 2009 - 08:58 UTC
Repsol accepts Ecuador new contract rules for oil sharing

Ecuador’ government owned Petroecuador signed a transitional contract with Repsol-YPF, giving the Ecuadorian government a bigger share of the Spanish oil company’s profits for one year and paving the way for new fee-for-service deal.
Monday, March 16th 2009 - 08:56 UTC
OPEC: no further measures until full compliance of agreed oil cuts

Oil ministers from the 12 OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) meeting in the Austrian capital Vienna over the weekend decided to keep oil production at current levels.
Monday, March 16th 2009 - 08:52 UTC
Uruguay adopts low profile approach to Argentina’s trade hurdles

Uruguay has no plans to appeal before Mercosur against Argentina’s decision to expand the list of products which no longer have access to automatic import licences which is significantly slowing bilateral trade, said Uruguay’s director of the Mercosur Economic Affairs and Integration Office, Walter Cancela.
Monday, March 16th 2009 - 08:49 UTC
Medieval document questions the “good” Robin Hood legend

Scottish expert has uncovered a medieval document suggesting negative attitudes towards Robin Hood. The story of how Robin and his men stole from the rich to give to the poor has long been part of English folklore.
Sunday, March 15th 2009 - 19:11 UTC
The gaucho club: Uruguay provides good turf to saddle up and release your inner cowgirl

Fernando tacked up the horses – with sheepskin saddles. So much for the tough gaucho life. The heat of the day had started to dissipate and we were heading out from El Charabon, a 2,000-acre estancia – or ranch – in the department of Rocha, southern Uruguay.
Sunday, March 15th 2009 - 17:47 UTC
Chavez offers bases for Russian long-range bombers

A Russian general said on Saturday Venezuela has offered the use of its La Orchila island airfield for Russian strategic bombers on long-range flights.