London, Oct. 7: Britain’s first black cop has rubbished a move by the National Black Police Association to prevent the recruitment of ethnic minorities in the Metropolitan police force via a boycott.

Norwell Roberts warned the NBPA that such a “drastic” decision may “bite them in the bum”.

The ex-detective sergeant who spent 30 years in the Met after joining in 1967, said: “Taking such drastic action will be counter-productive.

London, Oct. 7: British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has announced that the Gordon Brown Government will undertake a nationwide assessment of how ethnic minorities are treated by the police during recruitment drives as the race row surrounding the Metropolitan force continues.

According to The Mirror, Smith said that Police Minister Vernon Coaker would carry out a rapid, two-week examination of the recruitment and promotion prospects of minorities.

London - Britain is already in a "worsening recession" and is facing the dual threat of slowing growth and rising unemployment, a survey of 5,000 companies by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said Tuesday.

The report said sales and profits had plummeted over the summer amid a worsening economic outlook and the prospect of rising unemployment as confidence had "collapsed" across all sectors of the industry.

London, October 7 : A leading British genetics expert says that humans will not evolve anymore.

Professor Steve Jones of University College London argues that, at least in the developed world, humans are as close to utopia as they are ever likely to be.

At a UCL Lunch Hour Lecture in London, he highlighted three components of evolution, namely natural selection, mutation and random change.

UK based BPO major; Xchanging Plc would acquire about 75 percent stakes in Cambridge Solutions at 83 million pounds. Cambridge Solutions is a Bangalore-based firm which provides IT and ITES services. Xchanging would pay Rs 3.71 million in cash and issue shares for remaining amount. 

Xchanging Plc is currently acquiring the stake of the majority shareholders in Cambridge. The Economic Times had already disclosed the deal in its July 1, 2008 edition.

Brussels - Baroness Catherine Ashton on Monday formerly assumed her duties as the European Union's new trade commissioner following Peter Mandelson's return to British politics.

"I am delighted and very proud to have been asked to serve as commissioner, to be a part of the European response to the global challenges we face," Ashton said shortly after her appointment.

An economics graduate, the 52-year-old British Labour politician will represent the EU in negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO).