Search Results for: World Trade Organisation

BY KEITH NUTHALL
AN ADVOCATE General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has recommended that bans imposed by France on the broadcast of alcoholic drinks advertising, especially those on hoardings at foreign international sports events, are legal under European law.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
UNITED Arab Emirates (UAE) knitted clothing exports to the United States are expected to be boosted in the future by a new Trade and Investment Framework Agreement signed by the two countries. The US imported US$1.1 billion million in UAE goods in 2003, with knitted apparel a key component of this commerce, (along with woven clothes and oil).…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE WORLD’S increasing reliance on cars is threatening efforts to combat climate change, according to a report published by the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA). Although its report ‘Oil Crises and Climate Challenges’ found that oil consumption has been declining since 1973 in every other industrial and service sector, soaring transport demands meant overall levels have not declined.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) is concerned that countries hit by the recent bird-flu outbreak are preparing to restock flocks before proving the virus has been eradicated by tests. The FAO said without these precautions, the disease might “flare up again”, noting that some Asian countries were already preparing to declare flu-free zones.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL, in Paris
THE WORLD’S premier anti-money laundering operation has released a detailed report detailing how corrupt accountants are increasingly using their expertise to help criminals clean dirty money. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says that accountants are not only advising criminals on money laundering, but arranging paperwork and even conducting illicit transactions themselves.…

BY MARK WILSON
AWASH with recently-passed legislation and newly-established Financial Investigation Units, the small nations of the Caribbean have transformed their money laundering controls since the mid-1990s. In 2000, five Caribbean island jurisdictions made up one-third of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) list of fifteen non-cooperative countries and territories, each of them with ‘serious systemic problems,’ in the words of a FATF review published on June 22 of that year.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
A EUROPEAN coastguard service should be established to tighten protection of European Union (EU) shores, the European Parliament’s temporary committee on improving safety at sea has recommended following its Prestige disaster inquiry. The organisation would have the authority to assign emergency moorings and ports in the even t of a maritime accident, strictly monitor the following of ships to correct routes and prosecute the illegal entry of vessels.…

BY ALAN OSBORN
FOLLOWING the terror attacks in Madrid the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has urged member countries to speed up implementation of agreed new measures for promoting safety at sea. The new maritime security regime is due to enter into force on July 1, but a number of members, mostly developing countries, have admitted they cannot meet the deadline because of lack of resources and training.…

BY KEITH NUTHALL
THE INTERNATIONAL Labour Organisation (ILO) is developing a comparative database of member countries’ policies and practices regarding wages, working time, work organisation, accommodating life outside work and workplace conditions. The Conditions of Work and Employment Programme (TRAVAIL) is creating analytical tools and technical advice to help improve standards in each of these areas.…

BY JONATHAN THOMSON
WHY do we change our cars so often? Most drivers spend between two to three years with their car before trading in for a new model, long before the average mechanical lifespan. Perhaps it is because every year car manufacturers claim to improve on vehicle performance, reliability, efficiency, safety and handling?…