UN plays down world food crisis fearsJanuary 10, 2013 - 15:49 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A UN agency plays down fears of a looming world food crisis as international co-ordination and flagging demand have led to a drop in food prices for the third consecutive month in December, AP reported. The food price index of the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization edged down 1.1 per cent with drops in the international prices of major cereals, oils and fats. For 2012 as a whole it was down 7 per cent from 2011. Earlier this year the agency had warned that bad weather, including severe drought in North America, could trigger a repeat of the rioting and unrest that hit parts of the developing world in 2007-2008. The agency's announcement Thursday, January 10 said the results mark a reversal from July "when sharply rising prices prompted fears of a new food crisis." Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. |