Free Republic

People protectionism Rich countries respond to the economic downturn by trying to limit the flow of migrants IN THE boom years, migrants picked fruit in southern California's orange groves, worked on construction sites in Spain and Ireland, designed software in Silicon Valley and toiled in factories all over the rich world. Many will continue to do so, despite the economic downturn. But as unemployment rises in most rich countries, attitudes towards migrants are hardening. Attacks on Romanians in Northern Ireland and on Indian students in Australia are the most visible and disturbing manifestations of growing xenophobia. In response, many governments...

The UK has been accused of failing its children, as it comes bottom of a league table for child well-being across 21 industrialised countries. Unicef looked at 40 indicators from the years 2000-2003 including poverty, peer and family relationships, and health. One of the report's authors told the BBC that under-investment and a "dog eat dog" attitude in society were to blame for Britain's poor performance. The government says its policies have helped to improve child welfare. Unicef - the United Nations children's organisation - says the report, titled Child Poverty in Perspective: An Overview of Child Well-being in Rich...

The United States plans to double aid-for-trade grants to devleloping countries to $2.7 billion per year by 2010, a U.S. government spokeswoman said on Wednesday. She said U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman (news, bio, voting record) would announce the proposed increase in a speech on Wednesday to the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Hong Kong. The U.S. offer to increase the grants its provides developing countries to boost their exports is part of a proposed trade deal to open up agriculture, goods and services markets around the world. The United States provided $1.34 billion in aid-for-trade grants in 2005,...