arbitrary
and capricious" and a move that would
adversely
affect the local economy. The ruling is a blow to the White House after it imposed the moratorium following the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig in April. The ban put a halt to all deepwater drilling until at least November, but the judge called that decision "invalid". The Obama administration says it will immediately appeal the decision.
The coalition government in Britain has presented tough austerity measures to try to
bring down
a massive budget deficit. The Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne told parliament that they were vital to tackle the deficit, one of the largests in the developed world.
"This emergency budget deals decisively with our country's record debts. It pays for the past and it plans for the future. It supports a strong enterprise-led recovery. It rewards work and it protects the most vulnerable in our society. Yes, it is tough, but it is also fair."
Among the measures announced are a 2.5% increase in the VAT sales tax, cuts in welfare spending, a freeze on public sector pay and a levy on banks.
The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has set up a panel to look into alleged human rights violations during the final stages of the civil war in Sri Lanka last year. Mr Ban's spokesman said the panel would offer advice on how to deal with the alleged perpetrators of abuses. Human rights groups have accused both the army and the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels of war crimes, allegations which have been denied.