International

Thursday, May 14th 2009 - 07:44 UTC
British police accuse MPs of “Third World dictatorship” expenses

United Kingdom frontline police officers have accused Members of Parliament of enjoying expenses that would not look out of place in a “Third World dictatorship”. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was hauled over the coals by members of the Police Federation of England and Wales.
Wednesday, May 13th 2009 - 15:50 UTC
China’s exports down 22.6% in April, sixth month running

China's exports in April were down 22.6% from a year ago, the sixth successive month of decline. April's fall in exports was also bigger than the 17.1% annual decline recorded in March
Wednesday, May 13th 2009 - 15:36 UTC
Restored iconic RAF Vulcan bomber set to soar at Air Tattoo show

One of the stars of this summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo in the Cotswolds, England has been unveiled by organisers. Visitors to RAF Fairford on July 18-19 will have a rare opportunity to see a display by one of the most iconic war-birds of the Cold War era.
Wednesday, May 13th 2009 - 02:01 UTC
UK adult minimum wage £ 5.80 an hour from next October

The United Kingdom announced that the national minimum wage is to increase by 7p to £5.80 an hour. The new adult rate for workers aged 22 and over will come into effect in October.
Wednesday, May 13th 2009 - 01:50 UTC
Senior Tory MPs agree to repay “excessive” expenses

Britain’s opposition leader David Cameron says he will lead senior Conservatives in repaying “excessive” expenses - warning that he will boot any MPs who refuse out of the party.
Wednesday, May 13th 2009 - 01:48 UTC
Record unemployment in UK, totals 2.2 million

United Kingdom’s unemployment has jumped by almost a quarter of a million to take the total to 2.2 million, official figures have revealed. Data showed a quarterly rise of 244,000 - the biggest increase in the number of people looking for a job since 1981.
Tuesday, May 12th 2009 - 10:39 UTC
Nobel laureates warn about risks of a “lost decade”

Nobel Economics laureate Edgard Prescott and Joseph Stiglitz warned Monday of a “lost decade” and a worsening of the global financial crisis in the short term during a forum in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The “lost decade” reference is to the stagnation of the economy as happened with Japan during the nineties.
Tuesday, May 12th 2009 - 10:03 UTC
Global economy close to “inflection point” says leading central bankers

The global economy has stopped its steep slide and is on the verge of making the long, slow climb back toward stability, said European Central Bank President Jean Claude Trichet who chaired on Monday a meeting of the world's leading central bankers.
Tuesday, May 12th 2009 - 04:43 UTC
No peace between pro and anti-whaling countries, anticipates BBC

Moves to make a peace deal between pro and anti-whaling nations have stalled, with no chance of agreement. Countries have been talking for nearly a year in an attempt to hammer out an accord by this year's International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting. But a draft report seen by BBC News admits the process has “fallen short”.
Tuesday, May 12th 2009 - 04:40 UTC
Brown apologizes for “wrongs” on behalf of politicians from all parties

Britain’s House of Commons authorities are to try to bring forward the publication of MPs' expenses receipts from the planned date of mid-July. The Commons Commission, which oversees MPs' affairs, rejected calls for immediate release of the details but said they would be published as quickly as possible.