China

With the US hit by the global economic crisis and the Eurozone still fighting to save the common currency, Zimbabwe's Reserve Bank Governor has decided to turn to the East and considers using the Chinese Yuan as the country's main currency.

News has recently broken out that the Katla volcano in Iceland could be about to erupt, with the potential to cause global damage.

The city of Recife in Brazil is believed to be the highest consumer of whiskey in the world in terms of per capita consumption.

Europe is taking a hardline stance on global warming at the UN climate talks.

China expects the number of people infected with infected with the AIDS virus will reach 780,000 by the end of the year, with most having contracted it through heterosexual sex.

A major Chinese city has plans for a "Good Samaritan" law after a toddler died in a hit-and-run ordeal.

Chancellor George Osborne announced on Tuesday that £100 million will be spent by the government to boost broadband coverage in London, Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff.

Rare earths have been in use in the chemical and steel industries since the 1950s - not to mention the military - and started moving into the domestic sphere when the likes of yttrium found its way into colour TVs and cerium into glass and ceramics. Now cameras, computers, lasers, laptops, arc lighting and a host of everyday uses that we take for granted are made better and easier and sometimes possible by their use.

According to reports, hospitals across Britain are serving foods imported from China and Thailand instead of making patients' meals from local produce. This means that millions of pounds are wasted in the process, says a study by food campaigners, The Soil Association.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference commences in South Africa, where it is hoped a new collective global agreement on climate change will be made.

Two separate units of the Defence Cyber Operations Group are involved in developing a computer programme that could disable the conventional or nuclear capabilities of hostile nations.

The ongoing disagreements are likely to a create deadlock during the summit.

Online criminals and cyber bullies are to be banned from using the internet.

The British government could face legal action if the amount is not paid within two months.

The Labour Party has asked 10,000 activists to campaign for its new "plan for jobs".

Nicolas Anelka has moved to quash reports that he is planning on leaving Chelsea at the end of the season, with the striker insisting that quotes attributed to him are false.

Egyptian-American journalist Mona Eltahawy is said to have been arrested and detained by Egyptian police.

The retailer has returned to Paris after previously having pulled out of Europe's fashion capital in 2001.

Spearmint Rhino’s UK Vice President, John Specht, has told the IBTimes that it is not rare for bankers and other senior executives to spend tens of thousands of pounds enjoying a night of excess with its lap dancers.

The horrifying video of what is believed to be a Buddhist nun engulfed in flames on a city street was smuggled out of the country and given to Students for a Free Tibet, which has released it to the media and posted it on YouTube.

A dog has held watch of its owner's grave in a small village south of Beijing for more than a week and refuses to leave.

Fans of Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei have taken to the web and posted nude pictures in protest against the authorities' accusations of pornography over pictures in which Ai poses nude along with four naked women.

Last week,China's National Bureau of Statistics released the welcome news that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) year-on-year rate of inflation to October 2011 had fallen to 5.5 per cent, markedly down from September's 6.1 per cent. The CPI had peaked at 6.5 per cent in July 2011.

Chinese authorities have arrested the head of the kindergarten that operated a severely overcrowded bus which crashed and killed 19 children and two adults.

A resolution has urged Iran to intensify dialogue with the U.N's nuclear watchdog.

William Hague is scheduled to meet Syrian opposition leaders in London next week to discuss the current situation in the Arab nation.

In the UK, "Guinness" success was garnered by artist Joe Hill who broke the record for the longest and largest surface area 3D painting which measures 1160.45m2.

Hard drive chip maker Marvell gave a cautious revenue forecast, as widespread flooding in Thailand continues to damage the computer industry, severely limiting production.

The issue of Financial Transaction Tax, also known as Tobin Tax, is likely to dominate the talks.

During his visit to Australia US President Barak Obama reiterated the country's intention to increase US cooperation and presence in the Asian-Pacific region.