German unemployment falls by more than expected in March

The number of people registered as unemployed fell by 12,000 to 2.901 million, after accounting for the impact of seasonal variations, the Federal Labour Office said. Analysts had pencilled in a smaller fall of around 7,500. The improvement takes the unemployment rate to 6.7%.

The German government's panel of independent economic advisers last month raised its 2014 growth forecast to 1.9% from 1.6%, following weak growth of 0.4% last year.

MANILA, Philippines - The government has imposed a price freeze on basic commodities in areas placed under a state of calamity following the devastation wrought by Typhoon Yolanda.c

The price freeze will be in effect for a maximum of 60 days, unless lifted by President Aquino.

The price freeze covers rice, corn, bread, and fresh, dried and canned fish, as well as other marine products, fresh pork, beef and poultry, eggs, fresh and processed vegetables, root crops, coffee, sugar, cooking oil, salt, laundry soap, detergents, fire wood, charcoal, candles and medicine classified as essential by the Department of Health.

The conflict in Syria has more than halved the amount of oil the Middle Eastern country can supply, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said on Tuesday.

The influential oil exporters' group also said that demand for oil had risen this year as the picture for the global economy improves. OPEC revised its demand forecasts up by 25,000 barrels a day in 2013.

A subdued improvement in developed world economies, such as the U.S. and Europe, has offset a slowdown in emerging and developing economies, according to OPEC.