World leaders at the G20 summit in Canada have backed the UK’s “tough but fair” Budget, David Cameron has said. The prime minister said his measures to slash spending and rein in Britain’s deficit were endorsed in a communique. Leaders of the world’s major economies ended the meeting in Toronto by reaffirming an earlier commitment [...]
David Cameron has arrived in Canada for his first international summit as prime minister, calling for them to be “more than just grand talking shops”. Mr Cameron said they should be tightly focused on key priorities. Political leaders from the G8 are meeting in Muskoka, Ontario on Friday to discuss trade, aid and maternal health [...]
Waiting lists for sex offenders to get treatment in England and Wales are unacceptably long, a report has said. The inspectorates of probation and constabulary added some staff were over-stretched and under-trained. But protection teams were getting better at restricting and rehabilitating offenders living on licence in the community, they found. A government spokeswoman said [...]
Ministers are asking nurses, police officers and other public sector workers to suggest ideas for “fair and responsible” savings as it launches a consultation on cuts. Most government departments face average spending cuts of 25%, the coalition revealed in its first Budget. David Cameron is writing to six million public sector workers to ask them [...]
The toughest package of tax increases and spending cuts in a generation is expected to be unveiled by Chancellor George Osborne in his first Budget. He will say the measures – designed to tackle Britain’s record deficit of £155bn – will be based on fairness, with the better-off paying more. Middle class benefits and public [...]
The top US commander in Afghanistan has apologised for a magazine article that mocks senior Obama administration officials and diplomats. Gen Stanley McChrystal said the article in Rolling Stone showed “poor judgement” and a lack of integrity. In the article Gen McChrystal said he felt betrayed by US ambassador to Kabul, Karl Eikenberry. The general’s [...]
The US state of Utah is preparing to put convicted murderer Ronnie Lee Gardner to death by firing squad, the first such execution in 14 years. The US Supreme Court rejected a final appeal, meaning Gardner – who has spent 25 years on death row – will die at 0005 local time (0605GMT) on Friday. [...]
WASHINGTON: U.S. sanctions on Iran expanded Wednesday to hit more than three dozen additional companies and individuals with penalties meant to curb Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. In announcing the move, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the new U.S. penalties were aimed at those helping Iran develop its nuclear and missile programs and evade international [...]
WASHINGTON: A four-star US general said on Wednesday that the United States wants Pakistan to act against the Haqqani group which Washington blames for attacks on its troops in Afghanistan. General David Petraeus, who oversees the Afghan war as head of US Central Command, said Washington had shown evidence to Islamabad that the Haqqani group [...]
A review of the drink-drive limit being published later is expected to recommend that it be nearly halved. It is expected to say that more than 150 lives a year could be saved by cutting the current limit of 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood to 50mg. Changing the limit, which has been in [...]
