New York: The United Nations has forecast the world economy to shrink 2.6% in 2009, downgrading the already pessimistic estimate made five months ago. "The world economy is expected to shrink by 2.6% in 2009, according to the pessimistic scenario of the forecast presented in January," the world body said in a mid-year report by UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

The UN climate change negotiating text leaves no one fully satisfied, especially given the yawning gap between positions of rich and poor countries

Swine flu cases world-wide climbed past 10,000 on Wednesday as health chiefs from around the world continued discussions in Geneva on how best to fight the disease.
There are now 10,243 people who have been infected with the A/H1N1 flu virus as confirmed by laboratories, said Fadela Chaib, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization. She said there have been 80 deaths, mostly in Mexico.

A pair of new studies say that more people than ever lie in harm