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The leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, has been arrested, according to media reports quoting the country’s defence ministry. for more click here

Later today (at noon, to be precise) the Bank of England will announce its latest decision on interest rates.

So what’s it going to do? The question is a lot harder to answer this month than we’ve been used to for the last few years. Recent economic data on the UK has been nothing short of dreadful.

But, at the same time, inflation is above target and it’s likely that governor Mervyn King will have to get his biro out more than once this year as CPI overshoots the upper limit of 3%, forcing him to write a letter to the Treasury explaining why.

So it’s hard to say whether rates will stay put or fall. But more to the point, whatever the Bank does, will it make much difference to anything?
Read the rest of this entry »

Millions of current account customers face an increase of up to 20 per cent in monthly fees as banks seek to boost revenues before a ruling by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) that could cap overdraft charges.

An estimated seven million consumers, already squeezed by soaring food, fuel and utility costs, will see the monthly charge for their current accounts jump as banks look for new ways of raising profits. for more click here

Foreign workers who work airside at UK airports do not have to undergo full mandatory criminal records checks, the BBC’s Newsnight has discovered.

Since 2003, staff have been checked against UK criminal records, but offences abroad are not covered. for more click here

US consumer borrowing jumped more than double the amount economists forecast in March, indicating a slowing economy is forcing Americans to accumulate credit-card and other forms of debt.

Consumer credit increased by $US15.3 billion for the month to $US2.56 trillion, the biggest monthly rise since November, the Federal Reserve said today in Washington. In February, credit rose by $US6.5 billion, previously reported as an increase of $US5.2 billion. The Fed’s report doesn’t cover borrowing secured by real estate, such as home-equity loans. for more click here

More than 100,000 people may have been killed in the cyclone in Burma, a US diplomat said, citing information diplomats were receiving from the devastated Irrawaddy delta region of the Southeast Asian country. for more click here

EDINBURGH MP WELCOMES GOVERNMENT MOVE ON OVERSEAS PERFORMERS AT EDINBURGH FRINGE

Mark Lazarowicz MP, Member of Parliament for Edinburgh North & Leith, has welcomed UK Government moves to ensure new immigration rules will not stop overseas entertainers performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Changes to the immigration rules, and the introduction later this year of a points-based system (PBS), had led to concerns that international performers would face thousands of pounds in charges to come to the event.

But following meetings between Scottish Secretary Des Browne and the Home Office, the UK Government has moved to ease these fears, announcing that temporary foreign workers attending festivals would be treated as visitors and will remain outside the PBS.

Mark said: “I warmly welcome this development which will ensure the Fringe can continue as the largest open access international arts festival in the world. I’m glad that the Home Office has responded to the concerns raised by Scottish MPs, including myself, and that the many visitors to the Fringe will continue to enjoy the performances of entertainers from around the world”.

For further comment and information please contact the office of Mark Lazarowicz MP on 020 7219 8222.

Website: www.marklazarowicz.org.uk

Constituency Office: 5 Croall Place, Edinburgh EH7 5HU
Tel: 0131-557-0577 Fax: 0131-557-5759

Experts have developed a breakthrough test for ectopic pregnancies which could help thousands of women. The condition occurs when a foetus develops outside the womb.

The special blood test can check for abnormalities when a women is just a few weeks pregnant. for more click here

FM Livni is making political preparations to replace PM Olmert and the coalition partners may accept her. Livni is said to be “turning rightward.” for more click here

Mikhail Gorbachev has accused the United States of mounting an imperialist conspiracy against Russia that could push the world into a new Cold War. for more click here