As politicians continue to debate on how to tackle environmental issues at the ongoing United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Doha, some cities around the world have taken it upon themselves to implement measures that will reduce their environmental impact.
Turkey’s deputy prime minister Ali Babacan has admitted to giving Iran billions of dollars worth of gold in exchange for energy supplies, reported CNN on Thursday, though the Turkish government insists that there remains no conflict between Ankara and Washington over their actions.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has lowered its growth forecasts for 2013, warning that the world economy could easily slip into recession if the US and the eurozone’s fiscal problems are not resolved quickly.
In an unusually alarming report, the Paris-based OECD warned that the world economy is at risk of a “major” global recession if policymakers fail to restore market confidence and singled out the debt crisis in recession-hit eurozone as the largest threat to global markets.
A record number of US companies are paying out special dividends this year in an attempt to avoid any possible tax hikes due to kick in at the beginning of 2013 if Congress and the White House cannot agree on a plan to reduce the federal budget deficit.
With the fiscal cliff just a few weeks away and Congress still at odds, a record number of US companies have announced special dividends in recent months in order to escape potentially higher taxes on equity income payments.
The governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic have launched a joint project, backed by several international health groups, to eradicate cholera from their countries within the next ten years, reported the Associated Press on Thursday, after more than 8,000 people were killed by the disease ever since it surfaced in October 2010.
India’s ruling Congress party on Tuesday announced plans to begin transferring cash directly to its poorest citizens starting from January next year, reported the Wall Street Journal, in lieu of current subsidies for food, fuel and fertilisers, which the government believes have failed to reach its intended recipients due to widespread corruption.
The Obama administration has ruled that China is not a currency manipulator, but nevertheless said that the renminbi remains “significantly undervalued”.
In its semi-annual report, the US Treasury said yesterday that China did not meet the definition of a currency manipulator. While the label is largely symbolic, the findings rule out any US trade sanctions against China.
Technology is not only a critical part of learning, it is also an essential tool for communication and enhances student-teacher engagement. Check out the following infographic which examines which technology is most important to students and how technology impacts academic experience and achievement.
Some have argued that students can learn without technology in the classroom. After all, students born before the digital era were able to graduate from college without multi-million dollar investments in technology.
The pace of deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest slowed dramatically last year thanks to increased government efforts against illegal farming and logging, touted Brazilian officials on Tuesday, as almost 200 nations prepare to meet in Doha to negotiate an extension to the expiring Kyoto climate treaty and work on a new agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
UK financial regulation is currently the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority. However, from April, 2013, the Financial Services Bill will create two industry regulators: the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Provincial Regulatory Authority (PRA). The FCA will regulate market practice and consumer protection, while the PRA will regulate banks and insurance companies. While financial scandals have necessitated need for increased regulation, the proposed changes may not be effective in preventing future abuse.
