International

• Tuesday, July 28th 2009 - 14:35 UTC

  British Chancellor warns banks about interest rates

  

  Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling has told bank chiefs that businesses should be given the lowest possible interest rates on borrowing.

• Tuesday, July 28th 2009 - 14:22 UTC

  Pope Benedict XVI names Catholic Bishop of British Forces

  

  Pope Benedict XVI has announced that Monsignor Richard Moth, currently Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Southwark, England, will be the next Catholic Bishop of the British Forces.

• Tuesday, July 28th 2009 - 14:18 UTC

  Swedish made weapons sold to Venezuela turn up in Colombian guerrilla camp

  

  Sweden has asked Venezuela to explain how Swedish-made weapons ended up in the hands of Colombia's Farc rebels. Swedish officials said the anti-tank rocket launchers had been sold to Venezuela in the 1980s.

• Monday, July 27th 2009 - 12:15 UTC

  Fin whale wedged to the bow of cruise ship in Canada

  

  A rare whale was discovered wedged on to the bow of a cruise ship when it docked in a Canadian port Saturday morning. The 21 metres fin whale, a threatened species in Canada, was found when the Sapphire Princess docked at the Port of Vancouver, the cruise company said.

• Monday, July 27th 2009 - 12:05 UTC

  India launches first home built nuclear submarine

  

  India formally launched its first home-built nuclear submarine on Sunday, joining a select band of five nations that have the capability to build the sophisticated weapons system. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stressed that New Delhi had no aggressive designs nor meant to threaten anyone.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 09:27 UTC

  Third of Europeans “very concerned” with potential loss of jobs

  

  A third of European workers are “very concerned” that they could lose their jobs as result of the financial crisis, an EU survey suggests. EU said six in 10 Europeans felt the worst of the economic crisis was to come, and only 28% said it had passed.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 09:25 UTC

  Royal Navy commissions first Type-45 air defence destroyer

  

  The Royal Navy’s newest and most advanced warship HMS Daring was formally commissioned into the fleet in front of the ship's sponsor. The Countess of Wessex, who launched the Type 45 destroyer in Scotland in 2006, was principal guest at the colourful 'Christening' ceremony at Victory Jetty, Portsmouth Naval Base, Thursday 23 July 09.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 07:19 UTC

  UK fifth successive quarter of recession in April-June

  

  Hopes of a swift end to the United Kingdom recession were shaken after figures showed a far worse than expected decline of 0.8% in the economy between April and June. The UK's fifth successive quarter of recession was much deeper than the 0.3% forecast, stunning experts and business leaders.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 07:17 UTC

  Falklands’ combat tested Harrier celebrates 40th birthday

  

  The British designed and manufactured vertical take off Harrier which saw its first combat operations during the Falkland Islands campaign in 1982 this week, Thursday 23 July celebrated its fortieth birthday.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 07:13 UTC

  Tories smash Labour in Norwich North by election

  

  Britain’s Conservative leader David Cameron hailed his party's victory in Norwich North as “historic” and branded Labour's campaign as “despicable”. Cameron said by-election winner Chloe Smith, 27, was a credit to the party and the kind of MP he wanted.