A roundup of today's other world news in brief
Vale de Almeida for EU posting to United States
BRUSSELS – Portugal’s Joao Vale de Almeida (53) is expected to be appointed the new European Union ambassador to Washington under the blocs revamped foreign service.
Mr Vale de Almeida is director-general for external relations in the European Commission, and will replace former taoiseach John Bruton. – (Reuters)
Apology over 1p court action threat
LONDON – A woman who was threatened with court action over an unpaid debt of 1p will receive an apology.
Mary Gibson (50) was given until Thursday to pay the remainder of a crisis loan from the Department for Work and Pensions she took out eight years ago. Mrs Gibson, from Nottingham, thought she had paid off the loan, but received a letter saying she still owed 1p to the Social Fund. – (PA)
McQueen was in line for top award
LONDON – The late fashion designer Alexander McQueen has been nominated for a top British award.
McQueen, who was found dead at his London home last week in an apparent suicide, is shortlisted for his spring and summer 2010 fashion collection. The collection was streamed from a fashion show in Paris live to 40 million viewers. – (Reuters)