International

Tuesday, January 27th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Tourism industry expected to contract up to 2% this year

International tourist arrivals in 2008 increased 2% over the previous year but with the advance of the global crisis the rate of growth in the second half came to a stand still and turned negative, a tendency which is expected to continue in 2009, --possibly between 0 and minus 2%--, according to the latest report form the World Tourism Organizations.
Monday, January 26th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
UK recession “predictor” warns of 3 m unemployment

The economist whose recession warnings and calls for interest rate cuts were snubbed by Bank of England colleagues warned in an interview he feared UK unemployment could hit three million in a year's time.
Monday, January 26th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
UN Human Rights Commissioner warns of genocide threat

Cautioning that the threat of genocide still remains over half a century after millions of lives were brutally cut short by the Holocaust, the United Nations human rights chief said the memory of its victims should serve as a reminder of the need to act quickly and decisively at the first signs of such crimes.
Monday, January 26th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Four Lords involved in alleged cash-for-influence row

Britain's Leader of the Lords has pledged to toughen up anti-sleaze rules after four peers were engulfed in a cash-for-influence row. Baroness Royall launched two parliamentary inquiries in the wake of “deeply shocking” allegations that Labour members were ready to change legislation in return for money.
Monday, January 26th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Pfizer-Wyeth defy stress and merge into pharmaceutical giant

A pharmaceutical giant was created Monday after US drug maker Pfizer announced it would be acquiring Wyeth in a 68 billion US dollars merger deal that could spark hopes of further consolidation across the industry.
Sunday, January 25th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Low-oxygen areas in oceans linked to global warming

Unchecked global warming would leave ocean dwellers gasping for breath according to an article in the latest edition of Nature Geoscience. Dead zones are low-oxygen areas in the ocean where higher life forms such as fish, crabs and clams are not able to live. In shallow coastal regions, these zones can be caused by runoff of excess fertilizers from farming.
Sunday, January 25th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
UN prepares to remember Victims of Holocaust Day

The Holocaust provides important lessons for the present, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday, stressing the necessity to bolster the forces of harmony and dialogue.
Saturday, January 24th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Unemployment in Spain reaches 13.9%, highest in 9 years

Unemployment in Spain during 2008 increased by 1.2 million, a 66.4% jump over 2007 taking the official rate to 13.9% which is the highest in 9 years according to the latest figures released by the country's Statistics Institute, INE.
Friday, January 23rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
UN Human Rights Commissioner hails Guantánamo decision

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has welcomed Thursday's decision by the new United States administration to close the detention facility in Guantánamo Bay, as well as the decision to ban methods of interrogation that contravene international law.
Friday, January 23rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
FAO launches International Year of Natural Fibres

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched on Thursday the International Year of Natural Fibres 2009, aiming to raise awareness of the importance of familiar natural resources such as cotton, flax, wool, alpaca and even cashmere, which are often taken for granted in the face of rising competition from synthetic materials.