International

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 09:25 UTC

  Royal Navy commissions first Type-45 air defence destroyer

  

  The Royal Navy’s newest and most advanced warship HMS Daring was formally commissioned into the fleet in front of the ship's sponsor. The Countess of Wessex, who launched the Type 45 destroyer in Scotland in 2006, was principal guest at the colourful 'Christening' ceremony at Victory Jetty, Portsmouth Naval Base, Thursday 23 July 09.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 07:19 UTC

  UK fifth successive quarter of recession in April-June

  

  Hopes of a swift end to the United Kingdom recession were shaken after figures showed a far worse than expected decline of 0.8% in the economy between April and June. The UK's fifth successive quarter of recession was much deeper than the 0.3% forecast, stunning experts and business leaders.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 07:17 UTC

  Falklands’ combat tested Harrier celebrates 40th birthday

  

  The British designed and manufactured vertical take off Harrier which saw its first combat operations during the Falkland Islands campaign in 1982 this week, Thursday 23 July celebrated its fortieth birthday.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 07:13 UTC

  Tories smash Labour in Norwich North by election

  

  Britain’s Conservative leader David Cameron hailed his party's victory in Norwich North as “historic” and branded Labour's campaign as “despicable”. Cameron said by-election winner Chloe Smith, 27, was a credit to the party and the kind of MP he wanted.

• Friday, July 24th 2009 - 14:20 UTC

  Brazil to complain UK “dumping” of 1.000 tons of hazardous waste

  

  The Brazilian government said it will lodge a formal complaint with the World Trade Organisation over shipments of more than 1,000 tons of hazardous waste which arrived from Britain

• Friday, July 24th 2009 - 14:15 UTC

  Spain’s Moratinos defends “the photo of shame” in Gibraltar

  

  Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos defended his visit to Gibraltar on Spain’s Radio Nacional amidst severe criticism mainly from the right wing press. The front page of El Mundo was a banner headline declaring the picture of the three ministers at the top of the Rock as ‘The Photo of Shame’.

• Friday, July 24th 2009 - 14:00 UTC

  Major world campaign against Foot and Mouth Disease

  

  A major offensive aimed at bringing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) under global control has been launched by FAO and the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

• Friday, July 24th 2009 - 13:54 UTC

  Argentine scientists identified the complete genome of A/H1N1 virus

  

  Argentine health authorities announced this week they had identified the complete genome of the A/H1N1 flu virus which so far has caused almost 200 deaths according to official numbers.

• Thursday, July 23rd 2009 - 14:55 UTC

  Controversy as Israeli Foreign Minister begins South American tour

  

  Israel's foreign minister ran into controversy on the first day of a Latinamerican trip when an official of Brazil's ruling party reportedly called him a “fascist”. Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported that Valter Pomar, secretary of international relations for the Workers Party, described Avigdor Lieberman as “a racist and a fascist” during an interview

• Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 07:08 UTC

  British Parliament clean up bill has received Royal Assent

  

  A bill aimed at cleaning up Parliament after the MPs' expenses scandal has become law after getting Royal Assent. Just weeks after the Parliamentary Standards Bill was introduced, it is now on the statute book after a series of concessions by the government.