Monday, 20 October 2008

News

Slump ‘sets in for three years’

The economy is already in recession and will not recover from the financial turmoil until 2011, according to the influential economic thinktank, the Ernst & Young Item Club. Its report due out this week will predict that consumer spending will collapse by the end of the year while another 500,000... [continued]

Powell backs ‘inspirational’ Obama

Colin Powell, President Bush's former Secretary of State, dealt a major blow to the Republican campaign yesterday by backing the Democratic candidate Barack Obama, endorsing him as a "transformational figure" who is ready to be the next Commander-in-Chief. Powell, who was once tipped to become America's first black President,... [continued]



Hutton hints at Iraq withdrawal

The new Defence Secretary John Hutton has said that Britain's role in Iraq is likely to undergo a "fundamental change" early next year, hinting that the start of 2009 could see more British troops leave the country. Speaking after talks with the Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad,... [continued]

Mandelson wants to privatise post

Peter Mandelson has revealed that he is in favour of partially privatising Royal Mail. The new Business Secretary said in an interview yesterday that he had wanted Royal Mail "to be progressively private, even if if initially part of the company stayed in the Government's hands" when he was first... [continued]

China growth rates fall

China's growth rates have fallen to single digits for the first time in five years, shattering hopes that the country's growth would keep the world economy moving despite the financial crisis in the West. The National Bureau of Statistics said the economy had grown at a rate of nine... [continued]

Alert stokes Kim Jong-il rumours

Reports that North Korea has ordered its diplomats to remain on standby for "an important message" has renewed speculation over the health of the nation's leader Kim Jong-il. Yesterday the highly respected Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper in Toyko reported that North Korea had issued an order that embassy staff... [continued]