Arms control talks top the US-Russian agenda
2 July 2009 - Arms control is at the top of the agenda for President Barack Obama's 2 1/2-day visit to Moscow starting Monday. Officials and experts on both sides say ongoing talks about a new arms control treaty might form the foundation of a new, less rancorous relationship between Washington and Moscow. Cuts in nuclear arsenals could also give the US and Russia added credibility as they try to persuade Iran and North Korea to abandon their nuclear programmes. (more)

EU health chief proposes stricter laws on smoking
2 July 2009 - The European Union's health chief proposed on Tuesday that uniform laws be drafted for all 27 countries in the bloc to regulate smoking more strictly in public areas and workplaces. 'Each and every European should be entitled to full protection from tobacco smoke,' EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said. Many EU countries have laws limiting exposure to second-hand, or passive, smoking. The rules are strictest in Britain and Ireland. (more)

India says growth could revive to 7.5 per cent
2 July 2009 - The Indian government proposed sweeping economic reforms Thursday and said growth could revive to as much as 7.5 per cent this year if the US economy bottoms out by September and the monsoon rains return to normal. Despite citing concerns about falling private consumption, the Finance Ministry was generally positive on India's economic prospects. India's sound banks, adequate foreign exchange reserves, falling inflation, robust rural demand, and strong agricultural production serve as 'shock absorbers' that could help spur growth, the report said. (more)

Irregular produce once again acceptable in European Union
2 July 2009 - All those strange-looking fruit and curiously sized vegetables will be back on EU supermarket shelves from 1 July after the European Union scrapped longstanding rules that control minimum size and shape standards for household fruit and vegetables. The Commission has sliced through the red tape to get rid of what it calls 'unnecessary marketing standards'. EU rules defining minimum shapes and sizes will be repealed for 26 fruits and vegetables. (more)

Northern Ireland disarmament chief confirms UVF arms moves
2 July 2009 - Northern Ireland's disarmament chief announced Monday he has witnessed a major weapons handover by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), an outlawed group that terrorized Irish Catholics for decades. In his statement, de Chastelain said he and his US and Finnish deputies 'witnessed a major decommissioning event involving arms, ammunition, explosives, and explosive devices belonging to the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Red Hand Commando.' The latter organization is a small splinter group of the UVF. (more)

Russia bans all gambling and shuts casinos
2 July 2009 - Russia closed down its casinos overnight as gambling was banned nationwide. Vladimir Putin, now Prime Minister, came up with the idea in 2006 when he was President after the Interior Ministry linked several gaming operations in Moscow to Georgian organized crime. Though gaming establishments knew the shutdown date for at least a year, few thought the government would go through with it, but officials moved in overnight to close them down. Some addicted gamblers thought the ban might help them. 'Maybe this is all a good thing. I'm a family man and I come here every day and lose all my money. I'll be happy to see them go,' said a 40-year-old Muscovite. (more)

The good news report from Canada, 28 - 29 June 2009
2 July 2009 - Canada's top benchmark exchange continued marching higher. A new Master of Education degree offered through the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), is designed to begin filling principal's offices throughout the territory with educators who are members of the same community that they serve. This will help promote the teaching of traditional languages and culture. For details on these and other Canada news stories: (more)

UK: Queen to participate in annual swan count
2 July 2009 - Buckingham Palace has announced that the annual Swan Upping, a tradition dating back to the 12th century which involves a census of the swan population on the River Thames, will be conducted by the Queen's official Swan Marker from 20-24 July. The Queen has decided to join her team of Swan Uppers for part of the census. She will follow them up the river and visit a local school project on the whole subject of swans, cygnets (young swans), and the Thames. 'Education and conservation are essential to the role of Swan Upping and the involvement of school children is always a rewarding experience,' Buckingham Palace said. (more)

US cuts Indonesian debt for forest protection
2 July 2009 - Indonesia committed to the conservation of its dwindling tropical forests in a multimillion dollar debt-swap deal signed Tuesday with the American government, the US Embassy said. Jakarta's payments to Washington will be reduced by $30 million over the next eight years under the US Tropical Forest Conservation Act, the embassy said in a statement. The Indonesian government will donate the money it saves to the charities Conservation International and the Indonesian Biodiversity Foundation, which will deposit the money into a local forest conservation fund. (more)

US stocks: Market leaps into third quarter on recovery bets
2 July 2009 - US stocks rose on Wednesday, the first day of the third quarter, as investors took reassuring manufacturing data from China, Europe, and the United States as signalling the world's economy is on the road to recovery. A day after the S and P 500 wrapped up its best quarter in a decade, investors plowed new money into stocks, boosting growth-sensitive sectors like energy, industrials, technology, materials, and consumer discretionaries. (more)

US, Russia hold talks before Obama visit
2 July 2009 - US lawmakers and their Russian counterparts have met to discuss arms control, North Korea, and other international issues, setting the stage for President Barack Obama's visit to Moscow next week. US House Foreign Relations Committee chief Howard Berman says he 'goes back to Washington energized' to improve bilateral relations. Russian officials called the talks constructive. Obama visits Russia 6-8 July. (more)

US: It is 'reasonable to be optimistic for 2010' says Google CEO
2 July 2009 - A US recovery is likely to begin this autumn, the worst of the crisis has passed and it is 'reasonable to be optimistic for 2010', internet search giant Google's chief executive Eric Schmidt said on Friday. Speaking at the Cannes Lions advertising festival in southern France, Schmidt said US jobless claims indicated 'the beginning of the bottom'. (more)