France's economy minister Tuesday urged IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn to stay at the global lender, as French conservatives sought to impede his potential bid for the French presidency next year.
Rising food prices have driven an estimated 44 million people into poverty in developing countries since last June as food costs continue to rise to near 2008 levels, according to new World Bank Group numbers released ahead of the G20 Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in Paris.
IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said the currencies of China and other emerging economies such as Brazil should play a greater role in global finance, as part of a bid to promote monetary stability
Japan's finance minister made it clear Tuesday that Tokyo is particularly interested in discussing ways to deal with the problem of strong capital inflows into emerging economies when he meets with officials from the Group of 20 industrial and developing nations in Paris later this week.
At least 44 journalists were killed worldwide because of their jobs last year, with Pakistan the deadliest country to work in, a rights group said Tuesday.
China said on Tuesday consumer prices rose 4.9% in January, a lower-than-expected figure. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the main gauge of inflation, was 0.3 percentage points higher than in December but still lower than November’s 28-month-high of 5.1%.
The Spanish media revealed that Spain’s Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez will be in London this coming Thursday to meet with her UK counterpart William Hague for a bilateral meeting on various international issues including Gibraltar.
France warned Tuesday that it is following closely European Union/Mercosur trade talks to ensure that farmers from both blocks are strictly subjected to the same rules.
Countries anxious to avoid a repeat of the 2007-2008 global food crisis when they were caught short of grain supplies, have stepped up their buying programs and are driving prices to new highs.
A leading farmer form South West England has called for new measures to stop another outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in the UK. Anthony Gibson, former regional director of the National Farmers Union, wants disinfectant footbaths for travellers arriving from problem areas.