The cost of maintaining the Queen rose by £2 million to £40 million last year. The 5.3% rise - twice the rate of inflation - was blamed by palace officials on increased maintenance costs on royal residences and higher travel costs, up £400,000 to £6.4 million.
Last month's earthquake in Sichuan, China, has caused some 6 billion US dollars in damage to the province's agricultural sector, severely affecting over 30 million people in rural communities, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Monday.
The global food crisis and strengthening the regional social agenda are the two main issues which Brazilian president Lula da Silva will address during the next six months when his country holds the rotating chair of Mercosur.