EU inflation rises

BRUSSELS:

Higher gas prices lifted inflation for all 25 European Union countries to 2.2 per cent in August, the European Union’s statistic agency said on Friday. Eurostat said inflation rose from 2.1 per cent in July. The rate for the 12 countries that use the euro stayed stable at 2.2 per cent. It said fuels for transport were the main factor pushing up price increases last month. — AP

EU loan for China

BEIJING: The European Union will give China 500 million euros ($625 million) in funding to expand the Beijing Airport ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games, the government said on Friday. An agreement between China and the European Investment Bank regarding the loan was inked earlier this month during a visit to China by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.— AP