
More than 100 people are believed to be trapped in rubble after a deadly 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked the southern New Zealand city of Christchurch on Tuesday, killing at least 65 people.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi appeared Monday on state television signalling his defiance in the face of a mounting revolt against his 41-year rule.

Rescuers dug frantically for bodies and people trapped after a major 6.3 earthquake caused “multiple” deaths in New Zealand's second city of Christchurch Tuesday, crushing buildings and vehicles.

China has raised fuel prices for the second time in three months as it looks to offset a jump in global crude costs. However, the move has raised questions over government attempts to slow inflation.

European Central Bank policymaker Axel Weber said that debt-strained Euro zone countries must make the most of the breathing space bought by aid measures and warned them the hardest part of the reform process was still ahead.

Gold climbed above 1,400 US dollars an ounce to the highest price in almost seven weeks in London as unrest in the Middle East and North Africa spreads. Silver reached a 30-year high and palladium advanced.

A pod of 107 pilot whales stranded on New Zealand’s south island have died, including 48 killed by authorities, reports said Monday.

Despite the continuing global economic recession in 2009, the total arms sales of the SIPRI Top 100 of the world’s largest arms-producing companies increased by 14.8 billion USD from 2008 to reach 401 billion USD, a real increase of 8%, according to new data on international arms production released by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Oil reached its highest price in more than two years in London as violence escalated in Libya given growing concerns supplies could be disrupted as turmoil spreads through the Middle East and North Africa.

The G20 have reached a deal on indicators to detect economic imbalances, the French presidency said, after the meeting ended in Paris. The world's leading economies agreed on a compromise after frank, sometimes tense negotiations, French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said.