The global anti-corruption organisation Transparency International (IT), warns that the failure by governments to address corruption is threatening the fulfilment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It calls on governments, donors and non-governmental organisations to adopt anti-corruption measures in all their MDG action plans in order to reach the goals in the next five years and sustain progress beyond the 2015 timeline.
The gold price surged to a new all-time high on Wednesday driven by a weaker dollar and its safe haven appeal. The precious metal was up almost 2% at $1,274.75 per ounce, surpassing the previous record of $1,265.30 struck on June 21.
The number of hungry people in the world remains unacceptably high despite recent gains that have pushed the figure below the one billion, FAO and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced Tuesday.
Concern for the survival of albatrosses, penguins, and other marine birds gathered scientists from 40 countries to the first World Seabird Conference in Victoria, western Canada. The five-day event was sponsored by 26 professional seabird groups and societies from around the world.
Prime Minister David Cameron offered Tuesday a very warm welcome to Pope Benedict XVI ahead of his visit to Britain. The first state visit by a Pope to Britain, starting on Thursday, will take in trips to Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Birmingham, and includes a meeting with PM Cameron on Saturday.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced Tuesday the appointment of Chilean former president Michelle Bachelet as the Under-Secretary-General for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).
The controversy over a Spanish town Mayor proposal for a toll on traffic to neighbouring Gibraltar has reached the European Union. Ashley Fox, Gibraltar’s Tory MEP, has asked the European Commission to state whether the proposal would breach EU rules on freedom of movement.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries turns 50 years old Tuesday having survived a tumultuous history of wars, embargoes and in-fighting. The world’s oldest and largest energy producer group is now enjoying prices close to the 75 USD a barrel level that its largest member Saudi Arabia considers “ideal.”
The global recession has created a “wasteland of unemployment” that is likely to leave scars on society for years to come, unless action is taken to address the jobs crisis, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned.
A new law on returning illicit dictator funds that are deposited in Swiss banks has been approved by the Swiss parliament.