World Food Prices Remain Steady, But High

Global food prices were unchanged in the August U.N. index, following a sharp rise in the previous month.   

A summer of drought in the United States and the Russian Federation has reduced anticipated global corn and wheat supplies. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization’s index of globally-traded food commodities rose six percent in July as a result.

Earthquake in China , 50 people lost their life

At least 50 people were killed and more than 550 were injured after several earthquakes, the largest measuring magnitude 5.7, struck southwestern China Friday, according to local authorities and state media.

The earthquake's damage was heaviest in rural Yiliang county, in a mountainous northeastern part of Yunnan province, near the border with neighboring Guizhou province.

Asia-Pacific CEOs are much worried.

ONLY a third of chief executive officers across the Asia-Pacific region are confident their businesses will grow over the next 12 months.

A PricewaterhouseCoopers survey of 376 of the region's top business bosses show there's concerns about the prospects of oil price spikes, another US recession, slowing growth in China and more turbulence in the eurozone.

Urbanization Grows Worldwide

The World Urban Forum (9/1-7) gets underway Saturday in Naples, Italy to address the growing trend toward urbanization. About 3-thousand participants from 114 countries are expected to attend the conference. This year’s theme is The Urban Future.

The 6th World Urban Forum will address social, economic and environmental issues. These include quality of life, equity and prosperity, job creation and energy and transportation.