Home // Monthly Archive for February, 2009
California Declares Drought Emergency February 28, 2009
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency yesterday because of three years of below-average rain and snowfall in California, a step that urges urban water agencies to reduce water use by 20 percent.
Ryanair Considers £1 Charge to use Toilet February 27, 2009
Mr O'Leary, famous for his uncompromising approach to cost-cutting, said he was considering attaching coin slots to the doors, similar to those used in train stations.
US Economy Shrinks 6.2% in Late 2008 February 27, 2009
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.
Kenyan Police Accused of Atrocities February 25, 2009
A U.N. investigator accused Kenyan police of widespread extrajudicial killings, and called Wednesday for the removal of the East African nation's police commissioner and its attorney general.
British Lord Jailed for Dangerous Driving February 25, 2009
The Labour life peer Lord Ahmed was today sentenced to 12 weeks in jail for dangerous driving after he admitted sending text messages from behind the wheel before a fatal road accident.
Pakistan Arming Village Militias February 22, 2009
A Pakistani border region struggling against Taliban and al-Qaida militants will distribute 30,000 rifles to villagers in hopes that local militias can help the provincial government regain control, a top official said Sunday.
China Mine Blast Kills Dozens February 22, 2009
Rescuers wearing headlamps and oxygen backpacks carried dozens of miners to safety Sunday after a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China killed at least 74.
Mexico Police Chief Resigns After Receiving Threats February 21, 2009
The mayor of Juarez announced Friday that the city's police chief is stepping down after receiving death threats from local drug cartels.
Iran has Enough Uranium for a Bomb February 20, 2009
Iran has built up a stockpile of enough enriched uranium for one nuclear bomb, United Nations officials acknowledged on Thursday.
Found: Sir Allen Stanford February 20, 2009
FBI agents in the US state of Virginia have served Texan billionaire Sir Allen Stanford with civil legal papers from the US financial watchdog, the SEC.
Hope for Peanut Allergy Cure February 20, 2009
A group of children with peanut allergies have had their condition effectively cured, doctors believe.
Politkovskaya Suspects Acquitted in Trial February 19, 2009
A Russian military court has acquitted three men accused of aiding the murder of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya in October 2006.
Abu Qatada Appeals to European Court February 18, 2009
The radical cleric Abu Qatada is to appeal against the law lords' ruling today that he can be deported from the UK in spite of fears that he may be tortured abroad, his legal team said.
Obama to Help 9 Million Homeowners Keep Homes February 18, 2009
Announcing a $75 billion (£52.7 billion) rescue package for between seven and nine million householders in danger of repossession...
Bank of England Ready to Print Money February 18, 2009
The Bank of England is set to begin "printing money" in a bid to boost the economy after its rate-setting committee unanimously agreed that its Governor must write to the Chancellor.
GM Warns Saab May Go Bust February 18, 2009
Saab, the Swedish carmaker owned by America's General Motors (GM), could go bust within ten days without an immediate injection of state aid, the US company warned last night.
Minister’s Husband Jailed for Four Years for ... February 17, 2009
David Mills, the estranged husband of Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, was today sentenced to four and a half years in jail for taking a bribe from Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to give false evidence in corruption trials.
Japanese Economy Shrinks by 12.7% Annual Rate February 16, 2009
The Japanese economy, the second largest in the world after the United States, is deteriorating at its fastest pace since the first oil crisis of the 1970s, hurt by rapidly shrinking exports and anemic spending at home in the global financial crisis.
Nuclear Submarine Collision in Atlantic February 16, 2009
A British Royal Navy nuclear submarine and its French equivalent collided while on operations in the Atlantic Ocean earlier this month, defense ministries in Paris and London confirmed Monday.
Saudi King Appoints First Woman to Council February 14, 2009
Saudi King Abdullah has appointed a woman to the council of ministers for the first time as part of a Cabinet reshuffle, networks including Saudi state-run Channel One reported Saturday.
Possible Gene Therapy Cure for HIV? February 12, 2009
Doctors have succeeded in ridding a man of the HIV virus by giving him a bone marrow transplant in what they claim is the closest treatment yet to a cure for the disease.
Dutch MP Geert Wilders Deported from UK February 12, 2009
Geert Wilders had been invited to Westminster to show his 17-minute film Fitna, which criticises the Koran as a "fascist book", by a member of the House of Lords.
Bank of England Governor: Britain in Deep Recession February 11, 2009
The Bank of England is prepared to cut interest rates below 1% and use "unconventional measures" to dig the economy out of the "deep recession" that it failed to spot six months ago, the governor of the Bank of England said today.
Tsvangirai Sworn in as Zimbabwe Prime Minister February 11, 2009
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as prime minister of Zimbabwe Wednesday as part of a new unity government that Zimbabweans hope will signal an end to the political and economic crises that have gripped the nation for months.
Promising New Prostate Cancer Test February 11, 2009
It may soon be possible to distinguish aggressive prostate tumors requiring immediate treatment from those that grow slowly and can be safely ignored, a problem that has vexed oncologists and patients for decades.
US Treasury Secretary Outlines Banking Rescue Overh ... February 10, 2009
Acknowledging that Americans have “lost faith” in the government’s effort thus far to rescue the banking system, the Treasury secretary, Timothy F. Geithner, outlined a sweeping overhaul and expansion of the program on Tuesday.
Israel Exit Polls Suggest Center Leaning February 10, 2009
Early exit polls showed a surprise, narrow lead for the centrist Kadima party as voting ended in Israel's elections Tuesday, Israeli television networks reported.
Australian Police Hunt Arsonists February 10, 2009
Police in Australia's wildfire-ravaged state of Victoria say they are confident of catching arsonists they suspect are behind some of the fires.
Taliban Stronghold Destroyed February 7, 2009
Hundred of insurgents were either killed or forced to flee from a stronghold in central Helmand which they had occupied for several months.
Queen Cancels State Visit to Abu Dhabi February 7, 2009
The Queen has cancelled her forthcoming spring tour of Dubai and Abu Dhabi because of an overburdened work schedule, Buckingham Palace said yesterday.
Bank of England Ready to Buy Assets February 7, 2009
The Bank of England will start pumping money into British businesses next week as the number of companies that have failed jumped by more than 50 per cent last year.
BBC Bans Carol Thatcher February 3, 2009
The daughter of former prime minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher made the remark during an off-camera conversation with The One Show presenter Adrian Chiles.
UK Strike Spreads February 3, 2009
Hundreds of workers at British power plants and refineries walked off the job in unofficial "wildcat" strikes Tuesday to show their support for another spontaneous strike now entering its second week.
Arshavin Completes Arsenal Deal February 3, 2009
Andrey Arshavin's protracted transfer from Zenit St. Petersburg to Arsenal for a reported £16.5 million ($23.59m) fee was finally confirmed on Tuesday by the Premier League club.
Iran Launches Home-Grown Satellite February 3, 2009
Iran says it has launched its first domestically made satellite into orbit.
MS Stem-Cell Treatment ‘Successful’ February 1, 2009
Stem-cell transplants may control and even reverse multiple sclerosis symptoms if done early enough, a small study has suggested.
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