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In the first quarter of 2009, CIOs experienced significant IT budget revisions as executives gained a greater understanding and solidified plans for addressing the global financial crisis, according to a worldwide survey of 900 CIOs by Gartner Executive Programs (EXP).

While some strides have been made, banks and other financial institutions may still have work ahead of them in their risk management efforts, according to a biennial global survey released by Deloitte - particularly when it comes to integrating risk responsibilities into compensation goals, establishing integrated risk management processes and systems and improving model validation.

Biotechnology has the power to improve human health, address environmental challenges, and change the way the world does business. A new OECD report, The Bioeconomy to 2030: Designing a Policy Agenda, examines the role of biotechnology in the global economy over the next two decades and outlines policies that could maximize its benefits.

While is still too early to assess whether it is a temporary or a more durable turning point, OECD composite leading indicators (CLIs) for April 2009 point to a reduced pace of deterioration in most of the OECD economies with stronger signals of a possible trough in Canada, France, Italy and the United Kingdom. The signals remain tentative but they are present in the majority of the CLI component series for these countries. Compared to last month, positive signals are also emerging in Germany, Japan and the United States. However, major non-OECD economies still face deteriorating conditions, with the exception of China and India, where tentative signs of a trough have also emerged.

Outsourcing firms handling call volumes from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) continue to remain competitive and profitable with successful initiatives to contain cost during the global economic downturn. Outsourcing providers also cite competitive pressures and regulatory factors that may affect future, short-term business growth. The complete effect of the global economic downturn that began at the end of 2007 is that the new business pipeline from existing customers and prospects for several vendors has been promising. Past perceptions of loss of control over customer interactions are diminishing, as providers in this market deploy successful implementations, offer advanced services, and publish customer success stories.

Consumer prices in the OECD area rose by 0.6 % in the year to April 2009, compared with 0.9 % in the year to March. Month-on-month, prices rose by 0.2% in April after 0.3% in March 2009.

Climate change-related disclosure continues to be weak or altogether nonexistent in SEC filings of global companies with the most at stake in preparing for a low-carbon global economy, according to two major studies released by Ceres, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the Center for Energy and Environmental Security (CEES). The reports' findings highlight the need for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to respond to repeated investor requests for formal guidance on climate-related disclosure companies should be providing in securities filings.

The World Bank warned that the impact of climate change in the Europe and Central Asia Region* will be more significant than expected due to a lingering post-Soviet legacy of environmental mismanagement and the poor state of much of the Region’s infrastructure, leaving the countries poorly prepared to adapt.

Nokia is the number one mobile phone brand according to 112,000 teenagers, across 30 markets, who took part in the Global Habbo Youth Survey Brand Update 2009 (GHYS).

In the next three months, 8 percent of chief information officers (CIOs) plan to add information technology (IT) staff and 6 percent plan personnel cutbacks, according to the third-quarter Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report. The net 2 percent hiring increase is unchanged from the second-quarter forecast. The majority of respondents, 85 percent, plan to maintain current staffing levels.