The 19th annual World Report documents ongoing human rights abuses by states and non-state armed groups across the globe, including attacks on civilians in conflicts in Afghanistan, Colombia, the DRC, Georgia, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Somalia, Sri Lanka, and Sudan, and political repression in other countries (Burma, China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe). Abuses in the ‘war on terror’ featured in France, the U.K, and the U.S. The report also addresses abuses against women, children, refugees, workers, gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people, among others.
DI - 23/1/2009
This year’s report looks at the risks, economic and other, that could emerge as the global financial crisis continues to unfold. It also focuses on the effects of this crisis and its implications for those risks that came to the fore of the Global Risk Network assessment for 2009. The report was published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in January 2009.
DI - 22/01/2009
The WESP 2009 provides an overview of recent global economic performance and short-term prospects for the world economy, which is involved in the severest financial crisis since the Great Depression. The report analyses in detail the evolution of the global financial crisis during 2008 and the more fundamental factors that led to its build-up.
DI - 21/1/2009
This report presents the first results of the Standard Eurobarometer wave 70, which was carried out from 6 October to 6 November 2008. It analyses how Europeans perceive the role of the European Union with regard to globalisation, and explores four additional themes: the conflict in Georgia; the enlargement of the EU; the European Union budget, and the objectives for the building of Europe.
DI - 20/1/2009
This is the text of Barack Obama inaugural address at the 56th swearing in of a U.S. president since 1789, when George Washington took the same oath. Obama became the first African American president of the United States.
DI - 19/1/2009
The World Oil Outlook aims to highlight and further understand many of the possible future challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the oil industry. According to the organisation, ‘the publication is also a channel to encourage dialogue, cooperation and transparency between OPEC and others within the industry’.
DI - 19/1/2009
The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution strongly condemning the ongoing Israeli military operation in Gaza, and decided to dispatch a fact-finding mission to investigate human rights violations committed in the territory.
DI - 16/1/2009
The latest edition of Freedom in the World – the annual survey of global political rights and civil liberties which was published by Freedom House on January 12 2009- states that 2008 marked the third consecutive year in which global freedom suffered a decline.
DI - 15/1/2008
The extraordinary Council meeting on Transport, Telecommunications and Energy was held on 12 January in Brussels to discuss the current interruption of gas supplies from Russia via Ukraine to the European Union. The Council urged both parties to resume gas deliveries to the EU immediately, and agreed on the urgent need to develop and strengthen medium and long-term measures in gas flows, regional and bilateral solidarity measures, improvement of storage and connections and diversification of transport routes and sources.
DI - 14/1/2009
The Resolution adopted by the UN Security Council –at its 6050th meeting on 19 December 2008- called for enhanced monitoring of the arms embargo in Somalia, declaring that strict enforcement would improve security in a country that has been torn by factional fighting and has no functioning central government since 1991.
DI - 12/1/2009
The Resolution adopted by the UN Security Council –at its 6063rd meeting on 8 January- calls for an immediate ceasefire and for unimpeded humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza. Adopted by a vote of 14 in favour with the United States abstaining, the Council's resolution also calls for intensified international arrangements to prevent arms and ammunition smuggling.
DI - 8/1/2009
According to this report –published by the World Bank in January 2009-, ‘if a growth surge is to evolve into a virtuous spiral that stimulates even higher and sustained growth rates in a substantial number of African countries, a significant increase in investment in physical and human capital is needed over an extended period’.
DI - 7/1/2009
The work programme of the Czech Presidency of the European Union –presented on 6 January- is focused on three priorities, named the three ‘E's’: economy, energy and European Union in the world. The Czech Republic chose ‘Europe without Barriers’ as the symbolic motto of its Presidency, which will run from 1 January to 30 June 2009.
DI - 2/1/2009
Published in December 2008, the report examines the impact of the financial crisis on GDP growth across the world, predicting the slowdown from 2.5 percent in 2008 to 0.9 percent in 2009. It also finds that future demand and supply of key commodities like oil and food can be balanced given the right policies in the energy and agriculture sectors.
