International

• Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 07:08 UTC

  British Parliament clean up bill has received Royal Assent

  

  A bill aimed at cleaning up Parliament after the MPs' expenses scandal has become law after getting Royal Assent. Just weeks after the Parliamentary Standards Bill was introduced, it is now on the statute book after a series of concessions by the government.

• Tuesday, July 21st 2009 - 22:42 UTC

  UK government borrowing soars and is equivalent to 56% of GDP

  

  The United Kingdom government borrowing swelled by £13 billion in June to take overall net debt to its highest proportion of UK output since records began, official figures showed.

• Tuesday, July 21st 2009 - 22:40 UTC

  First Spanish minister visit to Gibraltar in 300 years

  

  Spain's foreign minister arrived Tuesday in Gibraltar for talks with his United Kingdom counterpart - the first visit by a Spanish minister for 300 years. Miguel Angel Moratinos and David Miliband will seek greater maritime, financial and judicial co-operation.

• Tuesday, July 21st 2009 - 22:36 UTC

  Top Israeli official Latinamerican tour: trade and “Iran influence” in the agenda

  

  Israel's foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman left on Monday on a ten day trip to Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Argentina to increase trade and strengthen ties with several countries as well as stemming growing Iranian influence in the region, said Deputy minister Danny Avalon.

• Tuesday, July 21st 2009 - 12:01 UTC

  IMF implements plan to inject 250 billion SDR in liquidity boost

  

  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is planning to inject 250 billion US dollars in Special Drawing Righst, SDR, into the global economy to bolster countries’ reserves as part of measures to combat the world economic crisis.

• Monday, July 20th 2009 - 12:47 UTC

  UK by election, anticipation of next year’s main scenario

  

  British Labour and Conservatives are shaping up for a battle to the finish in this week's crunch Norwich North by-election, with each hoping to seize the momentum which will see them through to the general election.

• Saturday, July 18th 2009 - 15:23 UTC

  Gibraltar, UK, Spain ministerial tripartite meeting next Tuesday

  

  United Kingdom, Spain and Gibraltar announced Friday in an official release that “following resolution of all relevant matters”, have agreed to meet in Gibraltar next Tuesday to continue talks on the Trilateral Forum of Dialogue on Gibraltar.

• Saturday, July 18th 2009 - 15:06 UTC

  Major celebration for SS Great Britain’s 40th anniversary return to Bristol

  

  A small army of volunteers will be collecting and sifting through thousands of memories over the next year in the run up to the 40th anniversary celebrations of the SS Great Britain’s return to Bristol from the Falkland Islands.

• Saturday, July 18th 2009 - 14:19 UTC

  Falklands’ war Chinook involved in the Afghanistan choppers controversy

  

  The British Ministry of Defence has admitted one of its helicopters used in Afghanistan was a “cut and shut” – a combination of two aircraft, reported the London press on Friday.

• Friday, July 17th 2009 - 05:37 UTC

  Developed countries trade falls but at a more moderate rate

  

  Trade in developed countries continued to fall in the first three months of this year but the rate of decline moderated, the OECD said this week.