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The price of milk is rising.

“Consumers face price increases of 3p on a pint… because of a shortage caused by the wet weather,” says Valerie Elliott in this morning’s Times.

Now it’s not exactly a headline-making crisis of Peak Oil proportions, but make no mistake – this is a structural change that you’re going to be hearing a lot more about in years to come.

Milk – and plenty of other foodstuffs – are all getting more expensive. And unfortunately, this problem won’t just disappear with the flood waters…
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A COLLECTION of newly discovered medals is providing a fascinating insight into the life of an Edinburgh war hero.

They chart the rise of William Aitken from private to officer during more than 20 years in the Cameron Highlanders and the Queen’s Own Highlanders. for more click here

SHANDWICK Place and Constitution Street would be closed to cars under plans being considered by city leaders and trams firm TIE.

Transport planners are drawing up a blueprint of how the Capital’s roads will fit around the new £594 million tram line.

The Evening News understands the favoured plan is for Shandwick Place to be open to trams, taxis and buses only, while Constitution Street would be used only by trams. for more click here

Pope’s Secretary says Catholics desire a dialogue with Muslims, but “there is no denying the attempts to Islamicize the West.” for more click here

Gordon Brown invoked the words of Winston Churchill yesterday by reaffirming his belief in the “joint inheritance” that binds Britain and the United States.

As the Prime Minister prepared to stay at Camp David as the guest of President Bush, he tried to damp down speculation about emerging transatlantic tensions and to quash claims that he is considering withdrawing British troops from Iraq. for more click here

The only certainty confirmed through the political ides of July is that Sir Menzies Campbell will lead the Liberal Democrats into the next election. Gordon Brown has to choose when to hold it; the Conservative party, chuntering over David Cameron, has to decide whether to commit suicide now or later. But, whenever it comes, featuring whoever’s still left at whichever helm, Ming will be there. The latest ICM polls may say that 41% of his own supporters aren’t keen on him, but those unexciting second places in Ealing and Sedgefield have made him unshiftable. No new faces, no new ideas. He’s staying. for more click here

In the Rhine Valley city of Mannheim, the glittering minaret of Germany’s biggest mosque overshadows what was once the region’s most vibrant church, testifying to Muslims’ new confidence as Christian churches are closing down.

Years ago, 180 sisters of the Catholic order of the Sisters of the Divine Savior were the pulse of the city. Today, eight remain. Every weekend, roughly 150 Roman Catholics attend Mass at the Liebfrauen Church, while up to 3,000 Muslims throng the Yavuz-Sultan-Selim mosque. Since the mosque was opened in 1995, Muslim shops and youth centers have become a magnet for the Muslim community. for more click here

Like most political hacks, I tend to be a bit of a professional pessimist, if not a borderline depressive. The world of public affairs is not a sunny one, and the reward for optimism about politicians is generally ridicule. So this is one column I will probably regret writing.

For, at the close of this political year, I feel compelled to say that I feel more positive about our political culture and leadership now than I can recall in almost three decades of observing the political game. And it is all down to personalities. for more click here

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah told a mass rally in the southern town of Bint Jbail late Saturday that the Second Lebanon War left the U.S. vision of a ‘new Middle East’ in shambles, and that his group is ‘ready to strike Israel at any time’.

“We will not wait for anyone to defend us. We will defend ourselves and our country,” the guerrilla group’s leader said. for more click here

SUBSTANTIAL new powers could be transferred to Holyrood as part of a plan dubbed “devolution max” which has attracted cross-party support, it emerged yesterday.

The call for a “constitutional convention” came from Alex Neil, the veteran SNP MSP. for more click here