BEIJING, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- With the world's highest level of greenhouse gas emissions and the largest market in the world by floor space, building "green" is becoming the architectural trend in China.
SHADEGAN, Iran, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Iranian emergency responders are struggling to protect a massive wetland from fires and contamination from an oil well that exploded early this week.
MOSCOW, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Ukraine will raise the rate it charges for the transit of Russian natural gas to Europe by more than 58 percent in 2010, Russian gas monopoly Gazprom said.
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A court in the Netherlands said it would hear a case against supermajor Royal Dutch Shell brought by Nigerian farmers complaining of environmental damage.
MOSCOW, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The number of oil spills from pipelines operated by Russian-Anglo venture TNK-BP in 2009 dropped 70 percent compared with 2005 levels, the company said.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The government of Kazakhstan announced it became the largest uranium miner in the world amid nuclear trading concerns with Iran.
NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- World leaders embrace the idea that global climate change requires attention but differ on the best way forward, the U.N. secretary-general said in New York.
TEHRAN, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Ankara is considering investing at least $3.5 billion to help Iran develop its giant South Pars offshore gas field, the Iranian oil minister said in Tehran.
NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- New York City's landmark Tavern on the Green restaurant was set to serve its final meals on New Year's Eve at its famous Central Park address.
U.S. markets slow between holidays ... Treasury loans additional $3.8B to GMAC ... USITC agrees on duties on Chinese tubes ... Bi-partisan debt commission proposed ... News from United Press International.
PRUDHOE BAY, Alaska, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A spill in Alaska's North Slope region during the inspection of a production site operated by BP-Alaska is worse than expected, environmental regulators said.
OTTAWA, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A seven-member federal panel in Canada backed a long-awaited natural gas pipeline from the western arctic through the Mackenzie River valley.
MOSCOW, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Russian energy giant Gazprom will charge Belarus 12 percent more for natural gas starting in the first quarter of 2010, executives in Moscow said.
CANBERRA, Australia, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- BAE Systems has won a three-year contract to support the Australian army's Black Hawk helicopters for the remainder of their active service.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- An increasing number of U.S. legislators support creating a commission that could force a vote on budget cuts and tax hikes, a budget watchdog group said.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- First-time claims for U.S. unemployment insurance benefits dropped by 22,000 in the week ending Dec. 26, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The U.S. Treasury Department announced a new loan to struggling automotive financial firm GMAC, bringing federal ownership of the company to 56 percent.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The U.S. International Trade Commission agreed unanimously with the Commerce Department to impose duties on Chinese made tubes that are subsidized.
LONDON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A body-scanning device developed for airport, border and entrance security systems is a step ahead of controversial equipment currently being put in place and will not compromise privacy of individuals, the developer said.
ANKARA, Turkey, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Dogged by delays, a controversial contract for the provision of Israeli drones to Turkey will go ahead but under a fresh condition that the Israeli suppliers pay steep penalties.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The Obama administration is under increasing pressure from the security industry after the delays experienced in the appointment of Howard Schmidt as the president's cybersecurity coordinator.
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A Chinese admiral's proposal to build a naval base in the Gulf of Aden, ostensibly to supports Beijing's anti-piracy flotilla off Somalia, has alarm bells ringing in the region.
A contortionist performs on the red-carpeted steps of the Palais des Festivals before the screening of the film "Holy Motors" during the 65th annual Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes, France on May 23, 2012. UPI/David Silpa
