News Headlines - 02 July 2013

▽BBC News - Russia spy couple jailed in Germany

A married couple have been sent to jail in Germany after being found guilty of spying for Russia for some 20 years.

▽Russian Proton-M Rocket Explodes On Take-Off

A Russian booster rocket carrying three satellites has crashed at a cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Spectacular footage showed the Proton-M rocket veering off course seconds after its launch in the early hours, before erupting into a ball of flames and unleashing clouds of noxious black smoke.

▽BBC News - Egypt's Morsi rejects army's 48-hour ultimatum

Egypt's president has rejected an army ultimatum that the country's crisis be resolved by Wednesday, amid deadly protests across the capital.

▽French minister sacked for criticising spending cuts | euronews, world news

France’s environment minister, Delphine Batho, is out of a job after slating government budget cuts on national television. She criticised the 7 percent reduction to the environment ministry budget, the largest of any department and questioned the government’s green credentials.

▽Kate Middleton given CONDOMS from Finnish government to mark royal baby - Mirror Online

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have received an unusual baby gift from the Finnish government - condoms. The bizarre present features in a box of goodies sent to the expectant parents to congratulate them on their impending arrival - but perhaps encourage them to have a break before planning a second child.