The Year's Top Searches
Do you remember everything that happened in 2008? Find out this year's biggest news stories, blunders, gossip and so much more... click one of the links to the right to start reading.
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Saturday, 21 November 2009
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Climate change
Almost guaranteed to appear in top news search lists for the conceivable future, this was the year in which climate change went mainstream despite the continuing blinkered position of George W Bush and friends. Shocking images of the plight of polar bears dependent on Arctic pack ice brought the whole situation home.
Northern Rock
The first and therefore the most high profile of the British banks to get into trouble through over-exposure to the sub-prime market in the States. A run on the bank saw the Government step in and nationalise the failing institution.
Labour in-fighting
Gordon Brown must go to bed each evening thanking his lucky stars for the ravages of the credit crunch. Before the fall-out from the sub-prime loans investments kicked in, there were plenty of Labour hopefuls jostling to take his place as leader.
Brigend suicides
From late February 2007 to August 2008, 23 young people from the Bridgend area committed suicide. Whilst police and coroners have continued to deny links between the deaths the UK media was full of scare stories about teenage online death pacts.
Russia-Georgia conflict
After several days of heavy exchanges with South Ossetian seperatist fighters, the Georgian side called a ceasefire, which broke again almost immediately. Once Georgian troops had headed into Ossetia and Russian troops had taken up 'peace enforcement' duties, the world was facing a potentially disasterous international conflict.
Petrol prices
In November, fuel prices fell by their biggest amount ever over a month, forced down by supermarket price wars. For most of the year, however, the trend was an upwards one, sparking protests from UK hauliers facing competition from the Continent.
Euro 2008
The triumph of youth over experience and an education for British fans on how far their teams have yet to go to challenge on the world stage. Spain emerged as worthy victors, with the repeated skin-of-their-teeth heroics of the Turkish team deserving of a mention.
US presidential election
The build-up seemed never-ending, but eventually both the Clintons and the Republicans had to bow to the forces of change, personified by Barack Obama. A fascinating contest and some fascinating personalities made politics seem cool once more.
Olympics
Pre-Olympics the world was waiting for Beijing to turn into one huge protest zone. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, events went off smoothly in and around the Bird's Nest, with the GB team posting a wholly unexpected 19 golds and fourth place overall.
Credit crunch
The turmoil caused by some hugely over-confident, dare we say arrogant, investment of UK banking funds into worthless sub-prime loan markets has thrown up the curious term 'credit crunch' - just like a very fibrous breakfast cereal: dull, dry and painful to swallow.