The slowdown in the world economy is hitting the shipping industry

We have been asking you to send us your photos of the weather wherever you are in the world.

We asked you to send in your otter sightings.

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin "pardons" a turkey for Thanksgiving - with birds being slaughtered in the background.

A look at Alaska's Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican US senator.

The Senate's longest-serving Republican Ted Stevens loses a knife-edge race against Democratic rival Mark Begich.

A giant Saudi oil tanker seized by pirates in the Indian Ocean is nearing the coast of Somalia, the US Navy says.

Somali pirates seize a giant Saudi oil tanker off the Kenyan coast and are steering it towards Somalia, the US Navy says.

The Royal Navy this week shot dead two Somali pirates after intercepting a boat in the mouth of the Red Sea, but Britain's battle against international piracy goes back a long, long way.

Scotland's wartime defences should now be considered as archaeology, says expert

Three races in the US Senate are still hanging in the balance, after the Democrats made big gains in both houses of Congress.

Republicans lose ground in the race for Congress, projections indicate, with Democrats taking five Senate seats.

Alaska governor Sarah Palin, who helped unite conservatives around Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

A detailed study is to be done of the Pentland Firth and sea around the Orkney islands.

Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin is cleared of abuse of power as Alaska governor by an investigator.

The top newspaper in Sarah Palin's home state of Alaska says she is "too risky" to be one step from the US presidency.

The BBC's Max Deveson looks ahead to the US Senate elections, due to be held on the same day as the presidential election.

A profile of six Joes, from Joe the Plumber to Shoeless Joe Jackson, who have been mentioned in the US election campaign.

His name is largely unknown in Britain and the United States, but the recipient of the most feted prize in literature has much he could tell them about their lives today.

John McCain unveils an economic plan in response to yesterday's Obama plan