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Broadband : Commission consults on regulatory strategy to promote very high speed Internet

T he European Commission has launched a public consultation on its revised proposals for the regulation of Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband networks, in the form of a draft Commission Recommendation. A previous public consultation held during the last quarter of 2008 confirmed general support for the objective of the Commission to achieve a common regulatory framework for NGA in order to foster timely investment in very high speed networks while ensuring that the competitive structure of the market is maintained. In the light of comments from stakeholders, the revised draft Recommendation includes mechanisms to allocate the investment risk between investors and operators seeking access to NGA networks. The draft Recommendation forms part of the European Broadband Strategy that the March European Council invited the Commission to develop by the end of 2009. The public consultation will be open until 24 July 2009. The Commission plans to adopt the Recommendation, taking account of comments received, before the end of 2009.

Commission welcomes Council and Parliament approval of new Spirit Drinks regulation

European Union agriculture ministers today reached political agreement on the new Spirit Drinks regulation, thereby sealing a first reading agreement between the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. The new regulation enhances the clarity of EU legislation on spirit drinks, combines two previous regulations into one and adapts the rules to take account of technical changes, WTO requirements and the EU's system of geographical indications. The new regulation sets out clear definitions for all spirit drinks, and should help producers market their products while providing new clarity for consumers. One of the main points of discussion since the proposal was tabled by the Commission in December 2005 has been the definition of vodka. The new regulation leaves the current definition unchanged, but changes slightly the labelling requirements. In future, vodka made from cereals or potatoes will be labelled simply as vodka. Vodka based on other raw materials will bear the indication "produced from" supplemented by the name of the raw material used. This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

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Nasa launches universe probe

A $2bn space observatory that can study the early history of the Universe has been launched by Nasa.

UK ambush victims named

British troops hunting the killers of three Royal Military Police who died in an ambush in the southern Iraqi city of Basra are said to be pursuing a number of leads.