Spain pledges economic reforms

The move comes amid fresh concerns that Portugal may request a bail-out

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The Spanish prime minister has announced that his government will adopt new economic measures in order to reassure markets that the country's deficit is under control.

Speaking at a summit on the eurozone debt crisis Jose Rodriguez Zapatero said he would enact legislation that would limit government spending.

He also pledged to crack down on tax evasion.

Some analysts think Spain may require a bail-out from Europe and the IMF.

Spain has already cut government spending and introduced pension and labour market reforms.

However the economy is struggling with an unemployment rate of 20%.

"Spain will adopt new measures to reinforce its response to the economic crisis and strengthen the foundation of our economy," Mr Zapatero told reporters.

The move comes in the wake of fresh concerns over Portugal and whether it will be forced to request a bail-out.

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/business-12867626

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VIDEO: McGuinness offer 'a vote tactic'

Peter Robinson dismisses as an "electoral tactic" Martin McGuinness's offer to consider a joint first ministry if Sinn Fein tops the assembly poll.

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-12832009

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Assembly to dissolve for election

Democracy Live coverage of Stormont proceedings

The speaker of the assembly has been reflecting on its work over the past four years as it is set to be dissolved ahead of an election in May.

Several of the 108 assembly members will not be seeking re-election, including former First Minister, Ian Paisley.

Willie Hay thanked all the MLAs who are standing down and said some of them had given a lifetime of service.

The assembly will be dissolved at 0001 GMT on Friday ahead of the election.

MLAs are meeting at Stormont for a final sitting to try and push through last minute legislation.

BBC political editor Mark Devenport said history would view this mandate as "an achievement".

He said it had been "in contrast to what went before".

"There were so many interruptions in the previous mandate, such as rows over decommissioning and rows over alleged republican spy rings at Stormont."

He said the MLAs themselves would point to various achievements including: "free prescriptions, a freezing of the rates and finally overcoming that hurdle over the devolution of justice".

"Also standing together at the time of the dissident republican murders which were seen as the greatest challenge on the security front."

He also said the recent "budget discussions have to some extent thrown up once again this whole business of having an opposition within".

"Those very heated debates will have left a sour taste for some voters where they saw the DUP and Sinn Fein on one side with Alliance backing them, and the SDLP and the UUP on the other, all arguing about this."

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-northern-ireland-12828605

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Leaders debate

Your chance to take part in BBC Scotland's debate on 1 May

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Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-scotland-12784490

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VIDEO: Pakistan children act out suicide blast

An amateur video posted on YouTube that shows young boys acting out a suicide attack has been condemned by UNICEF and by children's charities in Pakistan.

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-south-asia-12846841

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Housing benefit overpaid by �235k

Flintshire council is due to discuss "serious weaknesses" in its housing benefit system which led to over-payments of more than �235,000.

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-12838241

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Senators hit at drink-drive apps

The senators cited apps that offer a real-time updated database of drink-driving checkpoints

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A group of US senators has asked smart phone firms to cease distributing apps said to enable drivers who have been drinking to avoid police checkpoints.

Four Democrats wrote to the executives at Apple, Google and Research in Motion, which makes Blackberry devices.

The applications are said to enable users to alert one another to locations where police are stopping motorists.

The senators said the apps put innocent people at risk and asked the companies to remove them from online stores.

In cities and towns across the US, police set up checkpoints at which they aim to catch motorists who have been drinking.

Those suspected of driving while drunk are required to submit to an alcohol test if requested.

"Giving drunk drivers a free tool to evade checkpoints, putting innocent families and children at risk, is a matter of public concern," Senators Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Harry Reid of Nevada, Charles Schumer of New York and Tom Udall of New Mexico wrote.

The letter was addressed to Google chief executive Eric Schmidt, Research in Motion's James Balsillie and Michael Lazaridis, and Scott Forstall, an Apple executive in charge of iPhone software.

Google makes the open-source Android software used in several devices that compete with the Apple iPhone.

The letter cited apps with as many as 10 million users which purport to offer a database of police checkpoints that is updated in real-time.

More than 10,000 people are killed on US roads every year in accidents involving a drunk driver, according to the US department of transportation.

A Google spokesman noted that the letter did not name specific apps but said, based on the senators' descriptions, that they did not appear to violate the company's content policies.

Apple and Research in Motion did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-us-canada-12835846

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