International

• Thursday, October 15th 2009 - 02:59 UTC

  Access to broadband connection becomes a right of citizens

  

  As of next July 2010, access to a 1 Megabit-per-second broadband connection becomes a right for all Finnish citizens according to a decree from the Ministry of Transport and Communications.

• Wednesday, October 14th 2009 - 09:39 UTC

  OPEC optimistic about global recovery anticipates stronger demand for oil

  

  The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has predicted for next year an increase in global demand for oil driven by a global economic recovery. The 12-nation cartel said in its latest monthly report that 2010 world demand for crude would be 84.93 million barrels per day for an increase of 0.83%.

• Wednesday, October 14th 2009 - 09:36 UTC

  “Naked” images scanner pilot test at Manchester airport

  

  A trial of a scanner that produces “naked” images of passengers has begun at Manchester Airport, Britain. The authorities say it will speed up security checks by quickly revealing any concealed weapons or explosives.

• Wednesday, October 14th 2009 - 06:59 UTC

  Britain has the worst quality of life in Europe says uSwitch.com

  

  Despite having the highest incomes, people in Britain have the worst quality of life in Europe, a study shows. According to the uSwitch.com European Quality of Life Index, Britons have longer working hours, lower holiday entitlement and a higher cost of living than their counterparts in other European countries, placing them at the bottom of the list in survey.

• Wednesday, October 14th 2009 - 06:54 UTC

  Brazilian diplomacy looks to a post G7 multilateral world

  

  The naming of Antonio Patriota, former Brazilian ambassador in United States as his Deputy, further strengthens the influence of Foreign Affairs minister Celso Amorim in the country’s foreign policy elaboration, according to reports in the Sao Paulo press.

• Wednesday, October 14th 2009 - 06:19 UTC

  UK rates to remain low for years amid tax rises and spending cuts

  

  UK interest rates will stay low for years amid tax rises and spending cuts, according to an economic forecast. The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) believes the rate will remain at its current 0.5% level until 2011 and not reach 2% until 2014.

• Wednesday, October 14th 2009 - 03:54 UTC

  British MPs repayments expenses conflict: a political or legal question?

  

  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron are battling to contain the growing anger among MPs across Parliament faced with demands to repay thousands of pounds in expenses.

• Wednesday, October 14th 2009 - 03:49 UTC

  UK September’s weaker inflation surprises and triggers doubts about recovery

  

  Inflation in Britain has sunk faster than expected to hit a five-year low last month, official figures showed. The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) for September stood at 1.1% - down from August's 1.6% - as hikes in household energy bills in 2008 compared with unchanged bills for the same month this year.

• Wednesday, October 14th 2009 - 03:47 UTC

  Mini-reshuffle in Foreign Office cabinet

  

  A mini-reshuffle in the British cabinet or simply “housekeeping”, according to PM Brown’s spokesperson, has switched Baroness Kinnock from her post as Europe Minister, --just four months into the job--, to be replaced by Welsh MP Chris Bryant, who nevertheless remains as a junior member in the department.

• Tuesday, October 13th 2009 - 11:10 UTC

  Abu Dhabi one of many buyers of Santander Brazil IPO

  

  Publicly listed Abu Dhabi fund Aabar Investments PJSC which is the biggest shareholder in Daimler AG, invested 328 million US dollars in Banco Santander (Brasil) SA by buying shares in its initial public offering.