Europe

In the last 30 minutes

Czech firm plans giant wind farm   (BBC News)  Czech power firm CEZ is to build what it says will be Europe's largest onshore wind farm, in a £1.1bn-euro project.

In the last one hour

US economy surprises with 3.3% growth   (Ft.com)  The US economy grew at an annualised rate of 3.3 per cent in the second quarter - both faster than previously estimated by the government and a stronger upward revision compared with economists' forecasts UK hacker loses extradition appeal   (BBC News)  A Briton accused of hacking into secret Nasa military computers loses his appeal against extradition to the US.

In the last two hours

Oil nears $120 as Gustav heads for Gulf   (Ft.com)  Crude oil and US natural gas prices continued to find support from concerns that tropical storm Gustav will disrupt oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico this weekend Legislation paves way for Alitalia break-up   (Ft.com)  Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right government approved legislation to change Italy's bankruptcy proceedings in order to pave the way for the break-up of Alitalia and its partial rescue by a group of private Italian investors UK gun factory man gets life   (BBC News)  A man who turned replica guns into live weapons linked to more than 50 shootings, including eight murders, is jailed for life.

Previous

Italy police hunt monk attackers   (BBC News)  Police probe a hooded gang's brutal attack on monks at a monastery in northern Italy, which left one victim in a coma. Hague court charges ex-official   (BBC News)  A former spokeswoman for the UN war crimes court in The Hague is charged with revealing confidential information. EU considers sanctions on Russia   (BBC News)  EU leaders are considering imposing sanctions on Russia over the crisis in Georgia, the French foreign minister says. Spilling over   (BBC News)  Could Crimea become the new cold front? Swedish woman takes self-service check-in to a whole new level   (BBC News)  An elderly Swedish lady is whisked along a baggage belt in a mistaken attempt to check in for an international flight. Russia proposes NATO counterweight   (Ft.com)  Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, claiming support for Moscow's intervention in Georgia, has proposed expanding a loose security grouping with China and five Central Asian states as a counterweight to NATO and the West Crédit Agricole profits plunge   (Ft.com)  France's biggest retail bank, reported a 94 per cent fall in second-quarter profit with earnings hit by a widely expected loss at its Calyon investment banking division Arsenal 4-0 FC Twente (agg 6-0)   (BBC News)  Arsenal cruise into the Champions League group stage with an easy win against Steve McClaren's FC Twente. Late Kuyt goal puts Liverpool through against S Liege   (BBC News)  Liverpool scrape into the group stages of the Champions League after a 118th minute goal from Dirk Kuyt against Standard Liege. Leaking mushroom soup forces plane to make unplanned landing   (BBC News)  A Ryanair flight was forced to land after a passenger had an allergic reaction to mushroom soup, the airline confirms. Profits plunge at Credit Agricole   (BBC News)  Credit Agricole reports a 94% fall in second-quarter profits after the bank is hit by a loss at its investment banking division. Rome's battle of the bells   (BBC News)  Time takes its toll on Rome's bell-ringers Educating Roma   (BBC News)  Czech attitudes change following landmark ruling Oslo trial for Bosnia war suspect   (BBC News)  A Bosnian-born man pleads not guilty in Norway's first war crimes trial since the end of World War II. Russia faces fresh condemnation   (BBC News)  Seven of the world's top industrialised nations deplore Russia's decision to recognise Georgia's breakaway regions. SEC plans for global accounting standards   (Ft.com)  US companies are set to switch to international accounting rules so all the world's most important listed groups can report according to the same standards Latest Microsoft browser challenges Google   (Ft.com)  Microsoft released a web browser that includes a feature that could affect the advertising model of internet rivals such as Google Russian market soured by Georgian conflict   (Ft.com)  Investor sentiment towards Russia has soured sharply since the conflict in Georgia and triggered a steep stock market sell-off and chilling corporate efforts to raise funds Siemens in talks with Gulf and Russian SWFs   (Ft.com)  Siemens, Europe's biggest engineering group, has held talks with sovereign wealth funds from the Gulf, Russia and other regions in an attempt to expand its long-term investor base Obama nominated as Democrats unite   (Ft.com)  Barack Obama formally secured the Democratic nomination for president as former President Bill Clinton declared him "ready" to become America's commander in chief, and his running-mate, Joe Biden, praised his foreign policy judgment Mardell's Europe   (BBC News)  EU scrambles for united response to Russian muscle Sarkozy confirms Syria visit date   (BBC News)  French President Sarkozy says he will visit Damascus on 3-4 September as part of efforts to improve Franco-Syrian ties. Migrants feared drowned off Malta   (BBC News)  As many as 71 illegal migrants drown after their boat sinks in the Mediterranean Sea, their companions tell Maltese police. Inflation fears steer ECB away from rate cuts   (Ft.com)  European Central Bank policymakers signal fresh alarm over the outlook for eurozone inflation even as German data indicate that headline inflation rates have fallen from record highs Romania votes to investigate senators   (Ft.com)  Romania's senate has voted for the first time to investigate politicians after a sharp rebuke from the European Union on its failure to tackle corruption since joining the bloc last year Ghost town   (BBC News)  Boom turns to bust for Spain's property market Afghan blast kills German soldier   (BBC News)  A German soldier dies in an explosion targeting a military convoy in northern Afghanistan. UK warns Russia against starting new Cold War   (Ft.com)  David Miliband, Britain's foreign secretary, has warned that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has a "big responsibility" not to start a new Cold War following Moscow's handling of the Georgia crisis Venice view   (BBC News)  The galas, gossip and glamour of the Venice Film Festival Cold snap   (BBC News)  Why fears of a new Cold War focus on Ukraine Pavlyuchenko heads for Tottenham   (BBC News)  Spartak Moscow tell BBC Sport that striker Roman Pavlyuchenko is poised to join Tottenham. Euro gains as dollar rally stalls   (BBC News)  The dollar loses some ground against the euro, a day after hitting a six-month high against the single currency. E.ON to cut 1,800 jobs in Germany   (BBC News)  Energy group E.ON confirms it is cutting 1,800 sales jobs as it closes two-thirds of its German service centres. EU's ageing trend to rise sharply   (BBC News)  The EU predicts a big rise in pensioners, with only two working-age people for every person aged 65 or more by 2060. UK's Miliband seeks backing on Russia   (BBC News)  The UK foreign secretary is visiting Ukraine as he tries to build the "widest possible coalition against Russian aggression". Adecco set deadline for Michael Page bid   (Ft.com)  The Takeover Panel has given Adecco, the Swiss recruitment group, until the end of next month to make a bid for Michael Page or drop its interest in the professional services group Heineken warns of slower growth   (Ft.com)  The Dutch brewer passed on higher raw materials and transport costs to consumers during the first half of the year and would continue to do so as it forecast underlying net profit growth of at least 5 per cent for 2008 Maersk makes SKr3.6bn bid for Broström   (Ft.com)  Møller-Maersk is set to become the world's biggest oil product tanker operator after agreeing a SKr57 offer for Broström Black Sea tensions rise over naval fees   (Ft.com)  Ukraine says it wants to discuss charging Russia more for the lease of a Black Sea naval base, a move that could aggravate regional tensions already enflamed by Moscow's conflict with Georgia S&N purchase hits Heineken profit   (BBC News)  Heineken reports a slight fall in half-year profits as a result of the cost of buying UK brewer Scottish & Newcastle. Georgia fails to escape past   (BBC News)  A modern country dragged back into its own history RBS beefs up board with non-execs   (Ft.com)  The struggling bank that last year led the €71bn for Dutch bank ABN Amro has recruited three heavyweight bankers as non-executive directors to address boardroom weaknesses Clinton urges supporters to back Obama   (Ft.com)  Senator Hillary Clinton pronounced herself a "proud supporter" of Senator Barack Obama as she urged supporters at the Democratic convention to fall in line behind her erstwhile rival to reclaim a nation in peril BT mulls sale of Tech Mahindra stake   (Ft.com)  BT is considering the sale of its 31 per cent stake in Tech Mahindra, the India-listed software services firm, having decided that the holding does not fit its long-term strategy Pension funds seek leveraged loan deals   (Ft.com)  Pension funds are starting to move into the market for loans that fund indebted companies and buy-outs as they see opportunities for investment bargains Private equity groups in running for Lehman unit   (Ft.com)  Lehman Brothers has told three private equity firms – KKR, Hellman & Friedman, and Bain Capital – that they remain in the bidding for its asset management arm, even though the investment bank has yet to make a final decision on whether to sell the unit GfK to quit battle for TNS   (Ft.com)  GfK, the German market research group, is expected to announce on Wednesday that it is withdrawing its proposed bid for Taylor Nelson Sofres, a UK rival Temasek defends investment strategy   (Ft.com)  Temasek Holdings, the Singapore state investment agency, on Tuesday defended its strategy of investing in Merrill Lynch and Barclays, insisting that it saw value in US and UK financial stocks in spite of setbacks from the credit crunch West condemns Russia over Georgia   (BBC News)  Western leaders condemn Russia's decision to recognise the independence of two breakaway Georgian regions. No nuns on catwalk after priest cancels "beauty pageant"   (BBC News)  An Italian priest cancels his plans for the world's first beauty pageant for nuns after criticism from his superiors. Shevchenko completes Milan move   (BBC News)  Andriy Shevchenko returns to AC Milan after successfully completing a medical. Painting for Pisa   (BBC News)  The young Italian reviving Renaissance art Cold warrior?   (BBC News)  Meeting Russia's president amid a diplomatic storm Inside Europe   (BBC News)  An in-depth guide to EU news and institutions Blast demolishes landmark UK towers   (BBC News)  Two iconic concrete cooling towers in South Yorkshire are demolished in a controlled explosion. East German spy swap fixer dies   (BBC News)  East German lawyer Wolfgang Vogel, who oversaw some of the Cold War's biggest spy swaps in Berlin, dies at 82. The ultimate family tree   (BBC News)  Meet Manfred, who claims to have the ultimate family tree Eyewitness: Prague Spring crushed   (BBC News)  How one Czech journalist reported '68 Soviet invasion Missile deal frays US-Russia ties   (BBC News)  Polish missile deal heightens Russia and US tensions Will US-Poland missile deal help keep the peace?   (BBC News)  The Italian government has deployed thousands of soldiers in major cities in a new drive against crime. Do you support the move? Migrants die off Spanish coast   (BBC News)  At least 25 African migrants die off the Spanish coast after their boat drifts for days, according to survivors who reach land. Small but defiant   (BBC News)  Aland Islands give Finns a Lisbon Treaty headache Indian oil firm to buy Imperial   (BBC News)  India's biggest oil producer, ONGC, agrees to buy Imperial Energy for $2.6bn, but may face a bid battle. Russia recognises Georgian rebels   (BBC News)  President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia recognises the independence of Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. N Korea 'halts nuclear disablement'   (Ft.com)  North Korea has said it has suspended disablement of its nuclear facilities and is considering restoring the Yongbyon nuclear reactor, accusing the US of violating a disarmament deal Democrats paper over lingering divisions   (Ft.com)  It was a close call who got the warmest reception on the first night of the Democratic convention in Denver – Ted Kennedy, who broke away from cancer treatment to make a surprise appearance, or Michelle Obama, making her primetime audition for the role of first lady. Curtain raiser   (BBC News)  Will the Venice Film Festival identify Oscar contenders? Medvedev recognises Georgia rebel regions   (Ft.com)  Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, defying US pressure, says he has signed a decree recognising two rebel regions of Georgia as independent states Russia recognises Georgian rebels   (BBC News)  Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says the country has formally recognised the independence of Georgia's two breakaway regions. Doubts grow on Russia's WTO plans   (BBC News)  Russia's commitment to join the World Trade Organization comes under focus after it questions the value of membership. Berlusconi plans new album of love songs   (BBC News)  Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi writes seven songs for inclusion on a love album for release next month. German business confidence falls sharply