
The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China -- the BRIC nations -- called for a more diversified currency system and a new global order after holding their first summit amid growing talk over the US dollar future as the global reserve unit.

Six Uruguayans and two Colombians were arrested this week in Spain in connection with an international organization that shipped cocaine from South America to Europe as well as managing a plant to print fake Euros.

United Kingdom annual inflation slowed again in May as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) fell to 2.2% from 2.3% in April, reported the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The less-than-expected decline means the figure remains above the Bank of England's target of 2%. However, the annual inflation reading was the lowest since January 2008.

Even when the Uruguayan ruling coalition is ahead in vote intention for next October’s general election, according to the latest tendency from public opinion polls the deterioration of the Uruguayan economy in coming months plays in favour of the opposition, said the latest report from The Economist Intelligence Unit.

Hundreds of British MPs could be forced to stop employing close relatives after Harriet Harman admitted the practice threatened public confidence in politics. The Commons Leader warned the public would no longer tolerate the suspicion that members were using allowances to line their families' pockets

The world's newest economic grouping, BRIC is to hold its first summit in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg beginning Tuesday. BRIC is named after its four member states - emerging giants Brazil, Russia, India and China; they account for 13% of global GDP and 40% of world population.

Peru withdrew on Monday its ambassador to Bolivia, Fernando Rojas, in protest against Bolivian President Evo Morales calling the June 5 deaths of indigenous people in north Peru genocide.

President Lula da Silva said that Brazil is overcoming the current global crisis and is in a position to teach other countries how to address the adverse economic situation.

The dollar has risen after Russian finance minister Alexei Kudrin said it would not be replaced as the world's reserve currency in the near future. Earlier in the week, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Chinese central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan had both questioned the dollar's status.

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in the midst of a tough battle to retain power in Congress in this month’s mid term election took the political debate to Switzerland where she addressed the annual meeting of the International Labour Organization, (ILO).