International
InternationalCall for leadership and partnership on United Nations Day
As the world contends with numerous crises, ranging from food insecurity and climate change to financial uncertainty and the development challenge, leadership and partnership are more important than ever to tackle today's most pressing issues, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a message marking United Nations Day.
Asbestos on watch list of hazardous substances says FAO
Ministers and officials will decide whether to add three hazardous chemicals – including the world's most widely used form of asbestos – to a trade “watch list” under a United Nations-backed treaty, aimed at helping developing countries more effectively manage potentially harmful imported substances.
Ban Ki-moon to discuss global crisis with economists
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will meet with a group of eminent economists tomorrow as part of his evaluation of the impact of the global financial crisis on United Nations efforts to achieve the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
Oil price at a 16-month low as energy demand contracts
Oil prices tumbled on Wednesday to a 16-month low amid more evidence that the economic downturn was drying up energy demand. Light, sweet crude on the New York Mercantile Exchange - the benchmark price - settled at 66.75 US dollars, around five dollars lower than the day's high.
PM Brown admits the “r-word” is round the corner
Prime Minister Gordon Brown finally admitted that Britain is likely to suffer a recession - hours after a similar warning from the Bank of England sent the value of the pound plunging to a five-year low.
Brazilian football super star Pelé joins the cruise industry
On June 28, 2009, the flagship of the Costa fleet will sail the first cruise dedicated to “O' Rey”, the King of world football Pelé. He will be joined by some of Europe's best footballers of the 20th century, presidents of football federations, confederations and clubs, plus great Brazilian performers like Toquinho and Alexandre Pires.
UN preparing map of underground fresh water resources
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO will publish the first-ever world map of underground aquifers, which account for some 96 per cent of global freshwater resources, the agency announced in a press release today.
Financial meltdown could increase jobless by 20 million
The global financial crisis could increase world unemployment by an estimated 20 million women and men, the Director-General of the International Labour Office (ILO) said on Monday.
Recession and job cuts hit China's toy industry province
The global economic slowdown is starting to impact on China, the world's biggest industrial production centre. As many as half of all toy manufacturers in the Pearl River Delta could go out of business within the next two years an industry expert said on Monday following the closure of the Smart Union toy factory.
Gibraltar opens new “shop window and face” in London
Chief Minister Peter Caruana proudly showed off Gibraltar's new plush modern London offices which will be known as “Gibraltar House”.
