International

• 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.

• Friday, April 16th 2010 - 04:02 UTC

  Iceland volcano ashes cause massive flights disruption across Europe

  

  Flights across much of Europe are being cancelled on a second day of massive disruption caused by drifting ash ejected from a volcano in Iceland. Hundreds of thousands of passengers are affected and severe disruption could extend into the weekend, including on flights to North America and Asia.

• Friday, April 16th 2010 - 03:38 UTC

  Researchers discover a huge North Atlantic Garbage Patch

  

  A vast patch of floating plastics garbage extending for thousands of square kilometres in a remote area of the North Atlantic has been documented by two different groups of scientists sailing from Bermuda to the Azores islands.

• Friday, April 16th 2010 - 00:10 UTC

  China agrees to invest heavily in Brazilian infrastructure

  

  China and Brazil bolstered their growing ties with trade and investment agreements on Thursday in Brasilia before a summit of the world's top four emerging markets that was cut back after China's leader decided to return home to deal with a major earthquake.

• Thursday, April 15th 2010 - 19:31 UTC

  Spanish dictator atrocities case presented before Argentine federal court

  

  Argentine human rights groups turned the tables on Spain Wednesday, asking for a local judicial probe of killings and disappearances as well as suspected genocide during the Spanish Civil War and Gen. Francisco Franco's long dictatorship.

• Thursday, April 15th 2010 - 17:28 UTC

  Lower sunspot activity anticipates chillier winters for northern Europe

  

  Periods of low sunspot activity are associated with changes in the winds that tear though the upper atmosphere bringing unusually cold winters to northern Europe, according to the new study Environmental Research Letters