China has raised fuel prices by almost 10% in an effort to ease the country's worsening supply crisis. Officials hope the extra revenue will make refiners increase production, easing the long queues and rationing at filling stations.
The Canadian dollar jumped more than two U.S. cents Friday to a record 107.18 US cents on strong employment data and a rise in oil prices, while the green back resumed its weakness against most major currencies. So far this year the Canadian dollar has appreciated 24% against the US dollar.
The International Monetary Fund's new managing director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Friday said the U.S. dollar remains overvalued --repeating the IMF forecast for the greenback--. However he discarded a recession in the US and said it's no surprise to see the price of oil at such a level
The United Nations announced Friday that it will repatriate more than 100 Sri Lankan peacekeepers serving with the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti on disciplinary grounds.
With a growing perception that US interests rates will be cut this week while UK interest rates will remain unchanged next week, the pound sterling hit its highest level against the US dollar in 26 years.
Continuing his efforts to spotlight the issue of climate change, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel to Latin America, Antarctica and Europe next week where in addition to making diplomatic contacts, he will see first-hand deforestation and other environmental problems caused by the phenomenon.
Russia is decisively opposed to any splitting of Antarctica based on unilateral territorial claims, although was cautious about UK's seabed claims in that region, announced a release from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
A United Nations expert has condemned the growing use of crops to produce bio-fuels as a replacement for gasoline as a crime against humanity. The UN special rapporteur on the right to food, Jean Ziegler, said he feared bio-fuels would bring more hunger.
Tourism can play a key role in advancing understanding among cultures, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Tuesday.
Australian wool broker Lanoc Wool has recently initiated a 'transition to organics' course with the help of TM Organics and a group of ten woolgrowers who collectively produce around 3000 bales per annum.