International

• Wednesday, April 21st 2010 - 17:08 UTC

  UK unemployed reach 2.5 million in February, highest since 1994

  

  The number of people unemployed in the UK rose by 43,000 to 2.5 million during the three months to February, official figures have shown. The jobless total is now at its highest since 1994.

• Wednesday, April 21st 2010 - 16:48 UTC

  Ash-cloud cost airlines 1.7 billion; IATA calls for government compensation

  

  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated that the Icelandic volcano crisis cost airlines more than 1.7 billion US dollars in lost revenue through Tuesday—six days after the initial eruption. For a three-day period (17-19 April), when disruptions were greatest, lost revenues reached 400 million USD per day.

• Wednesday, April 21st 2010 - 02:55 UTC

  Goldman Sachs earnings double; UK launches formal probe into fraud allegations

  

  Goldman Sachs Group Inc said first-quarter earnings nearly doubled, while in London Britain's financial regulator launched a formal probe related to civil fraud allegations against the Wall Street bank.

• Tuesday, April 20th 2010 - 16:21 UTC

  Bolivia organizes grassroots alternative to UN climate change

  

  Delegates are gathering in the Bolivian city of Cochabamba for a grassroots alternative to last year's UN climate change summit in Copenhagen. The meeting will also celebrate the rights of Mother Earth on 22 April.

• Tuesday, April 20th 2010 - 14:59 UTC

  Argentina hosts FAO summit on fish and seafood trade

  

  The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) are convening an international meeting on trade in fish and seafood to be hosted by in the Argentine government Buenos Aires 26-30 April.

• Tuesday, April 20th 2010 - 14:42 UTC

  UK economy recovery forecasted towards the end of 2011

  

  Prospects for the UK's economic recovery remain poor this year with output growth of 1% or less predicted in 2010, a leading forecaster has warned. It also suggested that although consumer spending is on the rise, it will remain too weak to sustain a recovery this year as consumers try to pay off debts as quickly as possible.

• Tuesday, April 20th 2010 - 14:33 UTC

  IATA criticizes Europe’s management of airports’ ash cloud-closure

  

  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) sharply criticized Monday Euroepan governments for their lack of leadership in handling airspace restrictions in light of the Icelandic volcano eruption and urged a re-think of the decision-making process.

• Saturday, April 17th 2010 - 06:36 UTC

  As markets begin to normalize controversy over capital inflow controls resurfaces

  

  The International Monetary Fund has warned that an over reliance on capital controls could derail the current global recovery. Although admitting that it may be a good idea for one country to apply controls on capital inflow, as the levy imposed by Brazil, “it could encourage too many others in the region to follow suit”.

• Saturday, April 17th 2010 - 01:37 UTC

  Ash cloud over Europe cancels 17.000 flights, costs carriers 200 million daily

  

  Millions of passengers have been stranded in Europe as air traffic controllers cancelled 16.000 flights Friday after a huge ash cloud spread from an Icelandic volcano covering much of the northern continent.

• Friday, April 16th 2010 - 09:38 UTC

  Outsider Clegg judged winner in first UK TV debate

  

  Nick Clegg, a rank outsider to become Britain's next prime minister, upstaged the two main candidates in an unprecedented televised debate on Thursday, according to snap polls of viewers.