After predictions of a world shortage of uranium at the Prospectors and Developers Assosciation of Canada's annual convention (PDAC) in Toronto last week, the global mining community must suddenly be reeling.

If there were ever a sure bet, uranium was it—before the earthquake in Japan and the subsequent problems unfolding in its “earthquake proof” nuclear reactors.

Not-for-profit oil and gas technology facilitator ITF has announced it is to open a new office in the Middle East.

The organisation hopes that the new Abu Dhabi base, set to open in April, will attract new members and increase awareness of its global technology funding programme.

The office is being set up as part of ITF's international growth strategy that will also see new bases opening in the US, Australia and Asia-Pacific.

The annual convention of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) has concluded this week in Toronto, and the consensus of opinion seems to be that 2011 is going to be a sensational year for the mining industry.

The PDAC convention is the biggest event of its kind in the mining calendar, and attracted record crowds this year—no surprise considering that the price of gold, silver, coal and almost every other mined commodity you can think of is at an all time high.

Turkey is close to commencing talks with Ethiopia over signing a free trade agreement (FTA), according to Turkish foreign trade minister Zafer Ça─ƒlayan.

Ça─ƒlayan, who is currently in Ethiopia to participate in talks with the Ethiopian government, said that both countries have already agreed on signing a FTA to ease custom difficulties, according to Turkish newspaper Today’s Zaman.

Turkey currently has FTAs with 13 countries, as well as with members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which consists of four non-EU member states.

Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto has made another increased bid for Riversdale Mining in an effort to convince shareholders to accept its acquisition proposal.

The new bid values the Australian owned coal miner at $4 billion. Rio first offered $3.5 billion last December, before improving the offer slightly later the same month.

The new bid represents an increase from $16 a share to $16.50, but Rio wants more than 50 per cent of shareholders to accept the bid by 23 March.

The New European Economy Awards has named the Eurail Group the best Sustainable Travel Provider 2010, it has been announced.

The awards recognise excellence, achievements and best practice in the international finance and commerce arenas.

Utrecht, Netherlands-based Eurail Group manages and markets the Eurail Pass on behalf of its stakeholders, and aims to educate business and leisure travellers about the advantages of travelling by train in Europe.

The new Miami Rental Car Center (RCC) has become a little safer now that the Miami-Dade Fire Department has taken delivery of a Rosenbauer Airwolf Quick Response Vehicle (QRV), designed to fight fires in structures with parking ramps and garages which traditional fire trucks cannot access because of their size and weight.

Rosenbauer is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of fire fighting vehicles; the high-tech QRV, mounted on a Ford F450 crew cab, is able to maneuver inside tight areas of the RCC.

A new study from business services firm PwC finds that private companies in the United States are making talent management a top priority after identifying a shortage of skills in their workforce.

The largest skill gaps identified were in middle management (53 percent) and skilled labor (48 percent).

"Over the past two years, CEOs were focused on cost containment, making deep workforce cuts in anticipation of a protracted recession," says Ken Esch, a partner in PwC's Private Company Services practice.

Det norske has entered into an agreement with Talisman Energy to acquire 10 per cent of the PL438 in the Barents Sea.

The licence contains the Skalle prospect, operated by Lundin Petroleum. Lundin will drill Skalle in June this year, using the Transocean Leader drilling rig.

The deal is set to strengthen Det norske's existing position in the Barents Sea.