International

Monday, February 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
WTO debate to assess protectionism and trade barriers

World Trade Organisation (WTO) members met on Monday to assess how far the financial crisis has encouraged protectionism. Diplomats representing rich and poor countries discussed WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy's January report showing countries had ignored the Group of 20 nations' plea in November against raising trade barriers.
Monday, February 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Russia temporarily bans beef imports from several suppliers

Russia announced it was temporarily suspending beef imports from United States, Canada, Uruguay, Byelorussia and Ukraine because “banned noxious substances” had been detected in some shipments.
Sunday, February 8th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
56-year-old becomes 1st woman to swim Atlantic

Jennifer Figge pressed her toes into the Caribbean sand, exhilarated and exhausted as she touched land this week for the first time in almost a month.
Sunday, February 8th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Tories deny any possibility of Scottish independence

United Kingdom Conservative leader David Cameron has said he would do everything in his power to prevent Scottish independence if he becomes Prime Minister. Mr Cameron's assertion comes days after his party backed the SNP's (Scottish National Party) budget north of the border.
Sunday, February 8th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
UK warning: another freezing night and icy Monday forecasted

Forecasters warned more snow is on the way to Great Britain and the Government widened the search for foreign road salt and one council started using table salt to grit its roads.
Sunday, February 8th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Warning to British “nationalized” banks on bonus rewards

British Chancellor Alistair Darling has told RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) failure should not be rewarded with huge bonuses, but says he cannot rule out pay-outs for some staff.
Saturday, February 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Snow storms and freezing temperatures shutdowns UK

Forecasters have warned of very low temperatures overnight, after snow brought a fifth day of chaos to the UK. Road, rail and air transport was again badly affected, while hundreds of schools were again closed.
Saturday, February 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
IMF calls on G20 for more action to combat corrosive crisis

The IMF has urged the Group of Twenty (G-20) industrialized and emerging market countries to take more decisive policy action to combat the corrosive global financial and economic crisis by bolstering demand and cleaning up the financial sector.
Saturday, February 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Reviving the damaged financial system

Restoring financial health will require a three-pronged approach, involving the continued provision of ample liquidity and term funding support from central banks, dealing promptly and aggressively with distressed assets, and recapitalizing viable institutions with public funds.
Saturday, February 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
UK manufacturing output declined 10% in twelve months

Manufacturing output declined at its fastest rate since 1981 in December, underscoring the fragile state of the UK economy, official figures show. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said it fell 10.2% from a year earlier as recession hit the sector.