Politicians don't usually like being interrupted during interviews. But sometimes it's worth making an exception. During a sit-down conversation with TIME last week, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown happily broke off to read a faxed letter handed to him by an aide. As anticipated, the note, from the Swiss President, brought welcome news: Switzerland was finally relaxing its decades-old banking-secrecy laws. "That is a major step forward," Brown enthused, brandishing the fax between his fingers. "This," he said, marks "the ...

After surpassing Germany to become the world's third-largest economy behind the U.S. and Japan, hosting a successful Olympic Games and conducting its first space walk, you'd think China would be happy. Even the devastating Sichuan earthquake in May 2008 had positive aspects—Chinese volunteered en masse to help their stricken countrymen. Yet China is not pleased. That, at least, is the assertion of a new book written by a group of Chinese authors who list their grievances with how China is ...

The United States is moving to suspend all non-humanitarian aid to Madagascar because it considers this week's forced departure of its president "tantamount to a coup d'etat," State Department spokesman Robert Wood said Friday. Earlier in the day, the African Union announced it had suspended Madagascar's membership after its 15-member Peace and Security Council decided the transfer of government was unconstitutional, AU spokesman El Ghassim Wane told CNN. "We ask the de facto authorities to return the country to constitutional ...

David Beckham was upstaged on the day his AC Milan future was finally resolved as teammate Filippo Inzaghi fired a hat-trick in the 3-0 success over Atalanta at the San Siro on Sunday. Milan confirmed in a brief statement a deal had been reached with Los Angeles Galaxy over England international Beckham. "AC Milan announces that the player David Beckham will remain at the club until June 30, 2009," it read. The 33-year-old midfielder will then return to the ...

Muscovites have a new way of greeting each other these days: "How's the crisis?" It's a rare person who gives a positive reply. The global economic meltdown is flattening Russia. In the first week of February alone, some 72,000 jobs vanished, according to Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov. Some government agencies predict that the number of unemployed may reach 2.8 million by the end of this year, up from 1.5 million at the end of 2008. The ruble has ...

Brazil is no stranger to economic crises. In the 1970s and '80s, Latin America's economic giant turned financial mismanagement into an art form. The current global turmoil has not left Brazil unscathed: stock prices, exports and growth are all down. But something interesting is at work this time around, and the best place to see it is in one of Brazil's favelas, the vast urban slums that are desperate even in the best of times. Walk through São Paulo's sprawling ...

For days rumors have circulated that Michael Jackson was startin' somethin'. And Thursday afternoon, before a couple of thousand screaming fans at London's 02 arena, the King of Pop revealed what has been referred to as "the worst kept secret in the world". Namely, a 10-concert residency beginning July 8 — his first full tour in 12 years. "I love you so much," said Jackson, 50, barely audible over the whooping of his loyal supporters who crowded a shopping arcade outside of the arena. ...

Most fans picturing rapper 50 Cent operating a joystick would probably envision the hip-hop star blasting away opponents in his latest video game release, "Blood on the Sand." Those same fans might be surprised to learn the hardcore rapper also has a soft spot for old-school throwbacks like "Tetris," "Pac-Man" and the venerable "Super Mario Brothers." 50 Cent plays "Super Mario Brothers" Really "Yeah," said the rapper, as well known for surviving nine bullet wounds as he is for his ...

Meeting in Brussels for a long Sunday lunch, European Union leaders were supposed to clear the air after weeks of jibes, sneers and slurs over who is to blame for the economic crisis. But after a three-hour meal of goat cheese, beef stew and apple crumble, they emerged as ratty as ever, barely concealing their long-standing gripes and graphically revealing how far the E.U. is from any coordinated response to the downturn. The major split is over how much Europe's ...

In keeping with the democratic nature of user-generated media, Facebook is inviting its 150 million users to help decide how the online gathering place is run. A week after a policy-change blunder sparked widespread protests, the Web's most popular social-networking site announced a new approach Thursday to give users more control over future Facebook rules and practices. Site managers published the Facebook Principles, a set of 10 values they hope will make Facebook more transparent, along with a proposed statement ...