Ever since its establishment, the World Trade Organization has been the most important entity managing international trade. While its capabilities must not be underestimated analysts believe that it has the potential to boost global market by hundreds of billions of USD and improve the living standards of millions of people many criticize the organization's slow methods of operation and inner disagreements that often over-shadow the progress. Experts claim that - if WTO is, indeed, able to incorporate all of the planet's largest economies and ensure that they work together towards...

As any religion, Islam has its fundamental, traditional and modernist groups. In no other matter do the differences between them stand out so sharply and observably as when dealing with the interpretation of the Sharia the sacred law of Islam. While those who support a strictly traditional approach believe that it should be implemented following the letter of the law, modernists claim that a more flexible, perhaps even contemporary method could be applied one that would eventually benefit the Muslim community and allow it to disperse some of the most common misconceptions regarding the...

From a garage to a multi-million dollar headquarter complex, from a simple search engine to a corporation valued in billions this has been the development path of the planet's top brand Google Inc. Used by billions of people in the world, Google.com is the most visited website on the Internet. Today the company has expanded its business activities, taking on fields like mail services, news, mapping and geography, translation and many more. Sealing acquisition deals worth millions, even billions of US dollars, the IT giant will not give up until it establishes its dominance in every region in...

With 187 member countries, the International Monetary Fund is among the planet's most influential financial organizations. Created after World War II, the institution has helped numerous states and loaned billions of US dollars in order for troubled economies to solve their balance of payment problems. Although being criticized for uneven distribution of power among its members, IMF has continued to work towards securing the global financial system, giving out advice to governments and central banks, fighting poverty in the developing world, as well as providing management assistance. In...

It must count for something if such music superstars like Usher and Justin Timberlake are competing for the chance to discover and represent you this is exactly what happened to the Canadian sensation Justin Bieber. After releasing several massively popular albums and singles, the young singer has cemented his status as today's most talked about personality in pop music. His fans are famous for their devotion and vivid forms of expressing their admiration, creating a frenzy known as ''Bieber Fever''. In order to find out more about this young superstar and his works read this book.

When the African Union was created, its members set rather bold goals achieving peace and stability, improving living standards of the African people, ensuring that all countries develop equally and so on. A few years later the AU is still battling inner frictions and disagreements, all while trying to keep the idea of a unified Africa alive. Nevertheless, experts point out that despite the fact that the Union still faces profound challenges, progress has been achieved, and if all member countries put in significant and earnest efforts the continent could achieve prosperity. In order to find...

Eradicating poverty, stopping the spread of diseases, protecting and educating children these are just some of the most challenging tasks the global community has decided to address. Setting the Millennium Development Goals was just the first step, achieving them will require huge amounts of financial aid and intellectual investment. The project's critics point out that the original date of completion is approaching, yet many countries have not achieved the desired progress. Others state that - when aiming at such bold objectives one cannot expect them to be attained in a rapid and easy...

The legislative power of one of the planet's biggest superpowers is in the hands of 535 men and women. Representing their voters in both the Senate and the House, these politicians decide on matters like foreign policy, taxes, economy, education, health care and so on. Congress elections along with the presidential race are probably among the most important milestones in United States politics. Obtaining the majority allows a party to exercise control, thus politicians are willing to spend millions of dollars for campaign tours, TV ads and every other imaginable method that would convince...

For decades the planet's main seaports were located in Europe and the United States, however recent years have shown that East-Asian ports like those of Singapore and Hong Kong have emerged as the dominating forces of international shipping. Handling countless containers and ships that make five floor buildings look like small boxes, these ports are among the most important traffic hubs in the world. Halting their action for just a few days results in losses worth billions of USD. In order to find out more about ship transportation and the busiest ports that connect numerous trade routes in...

Often described as one of the most addictive, adrenaline- filled, intense and brain-entangling games in the world, poker has become an important part of the worldwide sports calendar. Critics state that it resembles gambling more than competition, yet the players themselves claim that after hours spent at the poker table, one feels just as exhausted as after a basketball match or track and field practice. The chance to play the game on-line is used by millions of people around the world, and the trend will likely grow in the future. Professional poker tournaments that present seven digit...