International

• Wednesday, July 2nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  FAO warns about impact of increasing land degradation

  

  Land degradation is on the rise in many parts of the world, with direct consequences for an estimated 1.5 billion people – or a quarter of the world's population – the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO said on Wednesday, calling for renewed attention to tackle the issue.

• Wednesday, July 2nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Typhoon becomes RAF most advanced multi-role aircraft

  

  The Royal Air Force's Typhoon aircraft marked another milestone in its capability this week when it was declared operational in the air-to-ground role, becoming the Service's most advanced multi-role aircraft. The multi-role capability means that RAF Typhoons can now carry out precision Ground Attack as well as Air Defence tasks

• 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

  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.

• Monday, June 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile: Whale meet ends with peace agenda

  

  The annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has ended with member governments agreeing to try and resolve their differences.

• Monday, June 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Maintaining the Queen costs 66 pence per person in the UK

  

  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.

• Monday, June 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Chinese agriculture seriously affected by Sichuan earthquake

  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.