Job seekers search for employment opportunities at a Graduate Recruitment Fair held at the ExCeL Centre in London on April 19, 2009. Britain will unveil a recession-fighting budget this week, seen as vital for Prime Minister Gordon Brown as he struggles to boost his flagging fortunes ahead of a likely election next year. Britain, in its first recession since 1991, has been hit hard and is battling soaring unemployment and public debt, plus a slumping property market and tax revenues. Getty Images logo Getty Images 9 months ago

Job seekers search for employment opportunities at a Graduate Recruitment Fair held at the ExCeL Centre in London on April 19, 2009. Britain will unveil a recession-fighting budget this week, seen as vital for Prime Minister Gordon Brown as he struggles to boost his flagging fortunes ahead of a likely election next year. Britain, in its first recession since 1991, has been hit hard and is battling soaring unemployment and public debt, plus a slumping property market and tax revenues.

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  1. A building is seen under construction in Madrid Friday Feb. 5, 2010. Spain's once-buoyant economy has wracked up six straight quarters of decline since third quarter of 2008 as a boom fueled by real estate construction and consumer spending collapsed. Unemployment now stands at nearly 20 percent. The government's ballooning deficit is an acute source of worry for investors and markets fretting over whether Spain could be in line for a debt crisis like the one in Greece.
  2. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 02: Afghan men and boys watch a monkey at the Kabul Zoo February 2, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 per cent with more than half the population lives below the poverty line. A man's life expectancy in Afghanistan is 44.04 years, while a woman's is 44.39 years.
  3. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 2: Afghan children spend time at the Kabul Zoo February 02, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 percent with more than half the population lives below the poverty line. A man's life expectancy in Afghanistan is 44.04 years, while a woman's is 44.39 years.
  4. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 2: Afghans look at a monkey at the Kabul Zoo February 02, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 percent with more than half the population lives below the poverty line. A man's life expectancy in Afghanistan is 44.04 years, while a woman's is 44.39 years.
  5. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 2: Afghan men watch an afternoon Indian film at a theater, that like all movie houses, was closed during the Taliban takeover, February 02, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 per cent with more than half the population lives below the poverty line. A man's life expectancy in Afghanistan is 44.04 years, while a woman's is 44.39 years.
  6. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 02: A man prepares to smoke heroin in the destroyed former Russian Cultural Center, a notorious drug den on February 02, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. As poppy production in Afghanistan is still high, opium and heroin are cheap and easily available. As a result, drug addiction is quickly becoming a growing problem in Afghanistan with a United Nations survey recently showing over 900,000 people in Afghanistan are considered drug addicts. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 per cent with more than half the population lives below the poverty line. A man's life expectancy in Afghanistan is 44.04 years, while a woman's is 44.39 years.
  7. Stephanie Buckley, of Boston, second from right, has her resume reviewed by Shelly Piper, of Cape Ann, Mass., right, at the BostonHires job fair in a hotel in Boston, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010. Unemployment rose in most cities and counties in December, signaling that companies remain reluctant to hire even as the economy recovers.
  8. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 01: Children run through a cemetery February 1, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 per cent with more than half the population living below the poverty line. A man's life expectancy in Afghanistan is 44.04 years, while a woman's is 44.39 years.
  9. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 01: Members of two recently displaced families from Wardak Province stand in the doorway of a home in which they are staying February 1, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Thousands of Afghans have fled to the relative safety of Kabul to avoid the fighting between coalition forces and the Taliban in their provinces. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 per cent with more than half the population living below the poverty line. A man's life expectancy in Afghanistan is 44.04 years, while a woman's is 44.39 years.
  10. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 01: Amin Haidary grieves at the grave of his son Hamid, 3, who he said recently died from an illness that was not brought to a doctor's attention quickly enough February 1, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 per cent with more than half the population living below the poverty line. A man's life expectancy in Afghanistan is 44.04 years, while a woman's is 44.39 years.
  11. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 01: Boys play on a swing recently set up in a cemetery February 1, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 per cent with more than half the population living below the poverty line. A man's life expectancy in Afghanistan is 44.04 years, while a woman's is 44.39 years.
  12. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 01: A minaret stands in front of mountains February 1, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 per cent with more than half the population living below the poverty line. A man's life expectancy in Afghanistan is 44.04 years, while a woman's is 44.39 years.
  13. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 01: A man passes a vendor displaying Indian videos for sale in the old city February 1, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 per cent with more than half the population living below the poverty line.
  14. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 01: Women in burqas wait to board a bus in the old city February 1, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 per cent with more than half the population living below the poverty line.
  15. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 01: A street vendor sells phone cards in the old city February 1, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 per cent with more than half the population living below the poverty line.
  16. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - FEBRUARY 01: A man sells scarves in a market in the old city February 1, 2010 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite years of foreign involvement and the money being committed to Afghanistan from both private and governmental donors, Afghanistan is still plagued by chronic unemployment and neglected public services. Unemployment in the country of some 25 million people is still 40 per cent with more than half the population living below the poverty line.

Explore Photos of Related Topics

  1. HILLSBOROUGH, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 05: Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown speaks during a press conference after a deal was announced concerning Northern Ireland's power-sharing government at Hillsborough Castle on February 5, 2010 in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Taoiseach Brian Cowen were today launching a deal to save Northern Ireland's power-sharing government, confirming it will take on policing and justice powers from April 12. The deal between the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein includes new plans on overseeing parades.
  2. LONDON - FEBRUARY 02: Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown delivers a speech on political reform at the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce (RSA) on February 2, 2010 in London, England. Brown proposed that a referendum should be held on whether existing first-past-the-post Westminster elections should be replaced with an alternative order of preference system.
  3. LONDON - FEBRUARY 02: Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown delivers a speech on political reform at the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce (RSA) on February 2, 2010 in London, England. Brown proposed that a referendum should be held on whether existing first-past-the-post Westminster elections should be replaced with an alternative order of preference system.
  4. LONDON - FEBRUARY 2: Prime Minister Gordon Brown answers questions after delivering a speech on political reform, at the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, (RSA), February 2, 2010 in central London, England.
  5. LONDON - FEBRUARY 2: Prime Minister Gordon Brown answers questions after delivering a speech on political reform, at the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, (RSA), February 2, 2010 in central London, England.
  6. LONDON - FEBRUARY 2: Prime Minister Gordon Brown answers questions after delivering a speech on political reform, at the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, (RSA), February 2, 2010 in central London, England.
  7. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, left, and rugby player Lawrence Dellaglio, right, rush to assist double amputee Derek Derenalagi as he falls on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street, London, Monday Feb. 1, 2010. The former soldier Derenalagi, who lost both legs in Afghanistan in 2007, was visiting the Prime Minister to promote a St George's Day Rugby Match to raise money for the Help For Heroes charity. Dellaglio is a former England rugby team captain.
  8. Britain's Prime Minister, Gordon Brown (L), embraces British Poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy, at the Poetry Live for Haiti event at Central Hall, in London January 30, 2010. Brown introduced the fundraising event, which featured twenty leading poets. The proceeds from the event will be donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee�s Haiti Earthquake Appeal.
  9. Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) and his wife Sarah listen to poetry at the Poetry Live for Haiti event at Central Hall, in London January 30, 2010. Brown introduced the fundraising event, which featured twenty leading poets. The proceeds from the event will be donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee�s Haiti Earthquake Appeal.
  10. LONDON - JANUARY 29: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) meets with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Number 10 Downing Street on January 29, 2010 in London, England. Abbas is visiting Europe where he will meet with the leaders of Britain, Germany and Russia, following his talks with US Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell over the stalled Middle East peace talks.
  11. LONDON - JANUARY 29: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (L) is welcomed by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Number 10 Downing Street on January 29, 2010 in London, England. Abbas is visiting Europe where he will meet with the leaders of Britain, Germany and Russia, following his talks with US Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell over the stalled Middle East peace talks.
  12. LONDON -JANUARY 29: In this handout image provided by the Palestinian Press Office (PPO) Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas meets with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Number 10 Downing Street on January 29, 2010 in London, England. Abbas is visiting Europe where he will meet with the leaders of Britain, Germany and Russia, following his talks with US Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell over the stalled Middle East peace talks.
  13. LONDON -JANUARY 29: In this handout image provided by the Palestinian Press Office (PPO) Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas meets with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Number 10 Downing Street on January 29, 2010 in London, England. Abbas is visiting Europe where he will meet with the leaders of Britain, Germany and Russia, following his talks with US Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell over the stalled Middle East peace talks.
  14. LONDON -JANUARY 29: In this handout image provided by the Palestinian Press Office (PPO) Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas meets with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Number 10 Downing Street on January 29, 2010 in London, England. Abbas is visiting Europe where he will meet with the leaders of Britain, Germany and Russia, following his talks with US Special Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell over the stalled Middle East peace talks.
  15. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, right, meets with U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top NATO commander in Afghanistan, inside 10 Downing Street, London, Friday, Jan. 29, 2010.
  16. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, right, meets with U.S. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top NATO commander in Afghanistan, inside 10 Downing Street, London, Friday, Jan. 29, 2010.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. A survivor of Haiti's earthquake walks along a destroyed area as she carries movables in downtown Port-au-Prince February 9, 2010. The 7.0 magnitude quake which struck Haiti on Jan. 12 is estimated to have killed up to 200,000 people. It has led to scenes of chaotic food handouts amid the ruins of the capital Port-au-Prince.
  2. A helicopter transports snow into the snowboard finish area on Cypress Mountain ahead of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics February 9, 2010.
  3. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il (C) poses during a visit to the February 8 Vinalon Complex in Hamheung, northeast of Pyongyang in this photo released by North Korea's KCNA news agency February 10, 2010. KCNA did not state when the picture was taken. The Korean characters read: "Improvement of people's lives".
  4. Elisa Huggins of Ottawa rakes the snow that was dropped by helicopter onto Cypress Mountain ahead of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics February 9, 2010.
  5. Stoke City's Tuncay Sunli celebrates after scoring a goal against Wigan during their English Premier League soccer match at DW Stadium, Wigan, England, Tuesday Feb. 9, 2010. 20 7864 9121 or EMAIL info@football-dataco.com FOR DETAILS.
  6. Hoffenheim's Carlos Eduardo looks dejected , left, while Bremen's Naldo, rear, and Bremen's Marko Marin celebrate after winning the German soccer cup, DFB Pokal quarterfinal match between Werder Bremen and 1899 Hoffenheim in Bremen, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010.
  7. Fulham's manager Roy Hodgson reacts as he watches his team play against Burnley during their English Premier League soccer match at Craven Cottage, London, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. 20 7864 9121 or EMAIL info@football-dataco.com FOR DETAILS.
  8. Portsmouth's Aruna Dindane, right, celebrates after scoring the equalizing goal against Sunderland during their English Premier League soccer match at the Fratton Park Stadium, Portsmouth, England, Tuesday Feb. 9, 2010. 20 7864 9121 or EMAIL info@football-dataco.com FOR DETAILS.
  9. Portsmouth's Aruna Dindane, right, celebrates after scoring the equalizing goal against Sunderland during their English Premier League soccer match at the Fratton Park Stadium, Portsmouth, England, Tuesday Feb. 9, 2010. 20 7864 9121 or EMAIL info@football-dataco.com FOR DETAILS.
  10. Portsmouth's Frederic Piquionne, left, fights for the ball with Sunderland's Kenwyne Jones, centre, and Matthew Kilgallon during their English Premier League soccer match at the Fratton Park Stadium, Portsmouth, England, Tuesday Feb. 9, 2010. 20 7864 9121 or EMAIL info@football-dataco.com FOR DETAILS.
  11. ROME - FEBRUARY 09: English rider Leon Camier attends the 2010 Aprilia Official Superbike Team at Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci Aiport on February 9, 2010 in Rome, Italy.
  12. WESTBURY, NY - FEBRUARY 09: Michael Lohan arrives at Nassau County Family Court for a child support hearing on February 9, 2010 in Westbury, New York.
  13. WESTBURY, NY - FEBRUARY 09: Michael Lohan arrives at Nassau County Family Court for a child support hearing on February 9, 2010 in Westbury, New York.
  14. WESTBURY, NY - FEBRUARY 09: Dina Lohan arrives at Nassau County Family Court for a child support hearing on February 9, 2010 in Westbury, New York.
  15. ROME - FEBRUARY 09: Italian rider Max Biaggi (L) and Leon Camier of England (2ndR) attend the 2010 Aprilia Official Superbike Team at Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci Aiport on February 9, 2010 in Rome, Italy.
  16. ROME - FEBRUARY 09: Italian rider Max Biaggi attends the 2010 Aprilia Official Superbike Team at Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci Aiport on February 9, 2010 in Rome, Italy.