LONDON, March 31, 2008 (AFP) - Greek sprinter Ekaterina Thanou, herself no stranger to doping controversy, has been awarded the 100 metres silver medal won by Marion Jones at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton after the disgraced American was stripped of her medals after admitting using the banned steroid THG.

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Hercegovina, March 26, 2008 (AFP) - Several hundred Bosnian Serb war veterans scuffled with police during a protest on Wednesday to seek better invalid pensioner allowances.

The former soldiers, who gathered in downtown Banja Luka, were seen trying to march towards the government building, but anti-riot police blocked their path some 200 metres (650 feet) away.

LONDON, Jan 31, 2008 (AFP) - The British government said Thursday it had awarded damages and apologised to military veterans who say they were tricked into being human guinea pigs for chemical weapons trials during the Cold War.

LONDON, Jan 15, 2008 (AFP) - The British government agreed Tuesday to increase compensation for the worst-injured soldiers after a row over the size of payout to a veteran who was horrifically wounded in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON, Nov 11, 2007 (AFP) - US Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday paid tribute to the country's 20 million military veterans, hailing their fight for freedom on Veterans Day, a holiday to mark the sacrifices of the armed services.

LONDON, Aug 15, 2007 (AFP) - The British government is failing in its historic duty of care towards members of the country's armed forces, a leading military veterans organisation said Wednesday.

The Royal British Legion claims that the military covenant guaranteeing fair treatment by the government in return for service personnel foregoing individual rights and risking serious injury or death is not being upheld.

LONDON, Aug 7, 2007 (AFP) - Britain's rural community is fearing a repeat of the foot and mouth epidemic six years ago, which devastated the countryside economy.

The epidemic battered the farming and tourism industries, costing Britain's economy an estimated eight billion pounds (16.3 billion dollars, 11.9 billion euros).

The grisly spectacle of cattle carcasses ablaze on giant pyres and dark smoke filling the air became a familiar distressing sight across the country as between 6.5 and 10 million animals were destroyed.

LONDON, Aug 5, 2007 (AFP) - Britain's rural community is fearing a repeat of the foot and mouth epidemic six years ago, which devastated the countryside economy.

As officials worked furiously Sunday to contain the disease outbreak in Surrey, south-west of London, farmers feared the return of the 2001 nightmare.

The epidemic battered the farming and tourism industries, costing Britain's economy an estimated eight billion pounds (16.3 billion dollars, 11.9 billion euros).

WASHINGTON, July 26, 2007 (AFP) - Military veterans are pressuring the US government to quickly overhaul health care for its wounded soldiers, months after revelations of dismal conditions at the forces' top hospital.

President George W. Bush has promised to implement the recommendations of a bi-partisan presidential panel that called for sweeping changes to the system.

The high-profile veterans group Votevets.org warned the White House not to drag its feet after Wednesday's recommendations.

WASHINGTON, July 25, 2007 (AFP) - A bi-partisan presidential panel called Wednesday for sweeping changes to the US military health care system months after revelations that war veterans faced dismal conditions in the country`s top military hospital.

President George W. Bush appointed the panel in March after news reports revealed that wounded war veterans seeking health benefits endured bureaucratic nightmares at Walter Reed, the top US army hospital.