Stories for July 1st 2008

Tuesday, July 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
What's wrong with a stringy carrot or wobbly melon?

The EU farm chief called for the comeback of the curvy cucumber and other odd-shaped produce sold in shops as part of proposals to ease market restrictions on fruit and vegetables amid rising food prices.
Tuesday, July 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Record EU inflation in June, 4%; ECB ready to hike rate

Annual inflation in the Euro zone hit a record 4% in June, the EU statistics agency Eurostat said Monday, adding pressure on the European Central Bank to raise borrowing costs even as the economy slows.
Tuesday, July 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentine economy “is doing fine and prospects are good”

Argentine Economy minister Carlos Fernandez denied on Monday a slowdown of activity and insisted that the “economy of Argentina is doing fine”, adding that “prospects are good”.
Tuesday, July 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Microsoft scraps Windows XP and clears way for Vista

Monday June 30 marks the day Microsoft has stopped selling its Windows XP operating system to retailers and major computer makers, clearing the way for the system and successor, Vista.
Tuesday, July 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Sarkozy: “Something isn't right” with the European Union

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Monday “something isn't right” with the European Union, as France took over the rotating presidency of the bloc. Speaking on national French TV, Mr Sarkozy warned that Europe's citizens were losing faith in the project.
Tuesday, July 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
EU resumes beef imports from Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay

The European Union will allow imports of fresh meat from more areas of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay after EU food experts said the bloc's health regulations had been met
Tuesday, July 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Oil corporations blame high prices on taxes and restrictions

The chief executives of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, BP Plc and Spain's Repsol YPF told the oil industry's biggest gathering in three years, in Spain that restrictions on where they can invest and high taxes meant they could not help boost supplies as much as they might.
Tuesday, July 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Colombian leader defies Court with plans for referendum

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe deepened his clash with the Judiciary branch by going ahead with plans for a referendum aimed at re-running the 2006 election in which he won a second term.
Tuesday, July 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Unemployment in Magallanes Region stable at 2.6%

Unemployment in Chile's extreme south region of Magallanes remained unchanged at 2.6% during the March-May 2008 measurement, according to the latest release from the local branch of the Chilean Statistics Institute.
Tuesday, July 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Five Lan Argentina flights to Comodoro Rivadavia

Lan Argentina announced that beginning July 8th and in response to the growing demand, the airline will increase the number of flights to Comodoro Rivadavia in Patagonia, by three totaling five in the week.