International

• Friday, June 5th 2009 - 13:13 UTC

  ECB anticipates steep GDP fall and “stabilization phase” in 2010

  

  In a move which was widely expected, the European Central Bank (ECB) elected to keep interest rates for the euro zone on hold at 1% and announced that the planned purchase of 60 billion Euros in company bonds will commence in July.

• Friday, June 5th 2009 - 13:11 UTC

  Bank of England keep rates and quantitative easing unchanged

  

  The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee voted Thursday to maintain the official rate unchanged at 0.5% for the third month in a row, but no fresh measures to stimulate the economy were announced.

• Friday, June 5th 2009 - 08:21 UTC

  The noose tightens: another ministerial shove for PM Brown to step down

  

  British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been put under further pressure to step down as Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell dramatically announced he was quitting the Cabinet as polls closed in crunch elections.

• Thursday, June 4th 2009 - 16:46 UTC

  Air France crash: Brazil navy arrives in ocean zone

  

  Search crews flying over the Atlantic have found debris from the crashed Air France jet spread over more than 90km of ocean. Brazilian Defence Minister Nelson Jobim said the existence of large fuel stains in the water could rule out an explosion.

• Thursday, June 4th 2009 - 16:07 UTC

  Calls for a “Global Jobs Pact” to combat employment recovery lag

  

  Warning of a possible six to eight year employment and social protection crisis due to the economic downturn, International Labour Organization (ILO) Director- General Juan Somavia called Wednesday on delegates to the 98th International Labour Conference to adopt a “Global Jobs Pact.”

• Thursday, June 4th 2009 - 16:03 UTC

  Growing pressure on PM Brown to step down; Labour in turmoil

  

  Britain’s Gordon Brown's authority as Prime Minister has been dealt a severe blow as Communities Secretary Hazel Blears quit the Cabinet on the eve of Thursday crucial European and local elections.

• Thursday, June 4th 2009 - 15:47 UTC

  Inflation in leading economies slows down in April

  

  Inflation in the world's leading economies slowed in April and in the previous 12 months as energy prices plunged. Consumer prices in the 30 states of the OECD rose by 0.6% in the 12 months to April, compared with 0.9% in the year to March.

• Thursday, June 4th 2009 - 15:30 UTC

  FAO suggests climate change talks should include fisheries

  

  Sixteen international organisations asked that the protection and optimisation of marine ecosystems, fisheries and aquaculture be included in the discussions leading up to the sequel to the Kyoto Protocol.

• Wednesday, June 3rd 2009 - 10:51 UTC

  Brazil confirms Air France jet crashed into the Atlantic

  

  Brazil's military has found wreckage from the Air France passenger jet that disappeared with 228 people on board, the country's defence minister says.

• Wednesday, June 3rd 2009 - 08:33 UTC

  House crisis contagion expands world wide: prices keep falling

  

  House prices dropped further around the world during the year to end March 2009, as personal consumption expenditure decreased, consumer confidence remained low, credit remained tight and the unemployment rate worsened, property researchers the Global Property Guide said.