KARACHI, Sep 17 (IPS) - Political opposition against President Asif Ali Zardari --fuelled by the recent U.S. military incursions into Pakistani territory and rising food prices -- appears to be tempered by the realisation that the only alternative to the current democratically elected dispensation is military rule. For the first time in Pakistan’s chequered 61-year history as a nation-state, the army which has carried out numerous coups in the past has taken a neutral political position.

An more...

The Congress supports and takes an active part in the Cities for Children Network which has just launched the 1st European Award of Excellence ''City for Children'', to honour European cities for outstanding child-friendly projects. The objective is to illustrate successful, innovative and cost-efficient projects and encourage their use in other municipalities. Categories for 2009 are outdoor activities, mobility and traffic safety for children and young people.

The invitation is open to Euro more...

'A joint team of officials from the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, the United Nations, and the World Bank Group begins a Joint Needs Assessment mission in Georgia today.

This assessment, led by the World Bank and carried out from September 8-21, responds to a request from the Georgian government to identify priority areas and financial requirements needed for post-conflict recovery and recons more...

'The World Bank Board of Directors endorsed today the new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Costa Rica, which envisages a lending program of up to US$258 million between August 2008 and December 2010.'

'Ghana’s position as a trade and investment hub in West Africa was greatly strengthened Thursday with the unveiling by Vice President Alhaji Alui Mahama and visiting World Bank President Robert Zoellick of a new refrigerated terminal for fruit and vegetable exports at the port of Tema.'

The ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize has been launched to recognise artists who use their talents to promote creative freedom, empathy, understanding and to confront discrimination and oppression. This unique and significant creative award carries a US$ 100,000 prize divided between three categories. 1. The ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize is open to artists who promote human rights, empathy, equality and understanding and carries a US$ 50,000 award.2. The ArtVenture Freedom to Create Youth more...

Three months into his reign as London mayor, Boris Johnson is to face a formal investigation by the London Assembly into his mayoral appointments following several recent embarrassing resignations. The probe, which will be handled by the assembly's business management and administration committee, will examine if proper procedures were observed by the mayor and the advice he received by officials.

The inquiry, chaired by Green Party member Darren Johnson, will concentrate on the mayor's post- more...

London, 19 July 2008: England's elected mayors will be given control of policing towns and cities under sweeping reforms announced by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. The proposals will see elected mayors given direct control of policing while other areas will see directly elected police boards introduced as a means to both give communities more say over fighting crime and encourage more local councils to opt for having an elected mayor. The proposals follow an earlier white paper to make it easier more...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) called on the world to help Asian cities cope with unprecedented growth. Over the next decade, a spokesman explained, the regions urban areas would be growing by more than 100,000 people a day. “Half of Asia's population will be living in cities by 2020, as some 1.1 billion people move to urban environments over the next 20 years,” added ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda.

'For most major cities in Asia, growth rates are too rapid for their own infrastructure t more...

Sydney, 31 July 2008: According to Australian Property Monitors (APM) house prices in the country’s state capitals are set to fall by 10 per cent over the next year. The value of homes across Australia has already fallen to its lowest level since 2004. APM general manager Michael McNamara believes that due to rising interest rates worse is still to come. 'But it's unlikely that Australians are going to see the same sort of widespread abandoning of the family home as it is happening in some par more...