Fifth of Britons below poverty line
A charity has warned that 13 million of the UK
population of 62 million live below the poverty line, as more
Britons find themselves struggling to make ends meet due to the
government's benefit cuts. According to the Trussell Trust, the
number of people in need of emergency aid is predicted to increase,
with 500,000 Britons expected to need food parcels just to survive
by 2015.
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Suu kyi refuses to take a seat in parliament
Myanmar's parliament reopened with Aung San Suu
Kyi refusing to take a seat on Monday, while the nation's president
vowed "no U-turn" on reforms as the EU prepares to suspend
sanctions. Suu Kyi's party has refused to swear to "safeguard" an
army-created constitution in the first sign of tension with the
government since a landmark by-election this month saw the democracy
icon win a parliamentary seat.
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Hollande edges Sarkozy in French vote, Le Pen surges
Far-rightist Marine Le Pen threw France’s
presidential race wide open on Sunday by polling nearly 19 percent
in the first round - votes that may tip a runoff between Socialist
favorite Francois Hollande and conservative President Nicolas
Sarkozy. Hollande led Sarkozy by 28.2 percent to 27.0 percent with
more than four fifths of votes counted, the Interior Ministry said,
meaning the two will meet head-to-head in a decider on May 6 that
may be closer than pundits had been expected.
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China opposes any US arms sales to Taiwan
China yesterday repeated its opposition to arms
sales to Taiwan, following a media report that Taipei plans to buy
four warships from the United States to modernise its aging fleet.
Taiwan’s United Daily News said Sunday that the island was
considering buying four Perry-class frigates built in the 1980s
which are to be retired by the US navy.
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