Africa/International

Banks across Egypt have reopened after an almost weeklong closure triggered by massive strikes and protests in public sector financial institutions. Egyptian lined up early Sunday morning, waiting for their first chance to conduct their…

The SDLP has branded the draft budget lazy and unimaginative - heightening fears of a Stormont split on the crucial legislation. The Ulster Unionist Party is considering voting against the four-year spending plan. Now the SDLP has accused…

Almost 2,000 guests have been invited to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Their names have not been released but the Westminster Abbey congregation is expected to feature celebrities, leading politicians, heads of state…

Barclays has revealed it paid just £113m in corporation tax in 2009, the same year as it made pre-tax profits of £11.6bn. The details were released in a letter from chief executive Bob Diamond to Chuka Umunna MP, a member of the Treasury…

Anglo-Russian oil joint venture TNK-BP is pondering a possible role in its UK parent's Arctic exploration deal with state-owned Rosneft. The news comes after TNK-BP's Russian shareholders won a London court injunction to block the Arctic…

Germany held out hope on Saturday for a G20 deal on measuring global economic imbalances despite stiff Chinese opposition to some of the indicators proposed. China rejected plans on Friday to use real exchange rates and currency reserves…

Jolted to action by deficit-conscious newcomers, the Republican-controlled House passed sweeping legislation early Saturday to cut $61 billion from hundreds of federal programs and shelter coal companies, oil refiners and farmers from new…

China has raised the reserve requirement for banks by 0.5% in its latest attempt to curb inflation. By insisting the banks hold more cash, the central bank hopes to restrict lending, thereby reducing spending. The bank has already raised…

Former Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali is seriously ill in a Saudi hospital, reports say. Mr Ben Ali, who was deposed in a popular uprising last month, has suffered a stroke, a family friend told AFP news agency. The…

The Government has been forced into a humiliating U-turn as it scrapped controversial plans to privatise England's public forests. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman told MPs "I am sorry, we got this one wrong" as she abandoned plans…