London, Dec 6 : The UN Environment Programme has released a new atlas that shows how conservation efforts can most efficiently make use of limited resources by laying out which forests store large amounts of carbon and are also home to a great diversity of animals and plants.

According to a report in New Scientist, the UN Environment Programme, which released the maps at the ongoing UN climate summit in Poznan, Poland, believes they could guide investments in forest conservation.

“At a time of scarce financial resources and economic concerns, every dollar, euro or rupee needs to deliver double, even triple dividends,” said Achim Steiner, executive director of UNEP.

Lahore, Dec. 6 : The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Saleem Altaf has said that Pakistan is preparing for next month’s series against India despite doubts being raised about it being held in the wake of last week’s terror attacks in Mumbai.

Altaf said that cricket officials are making all possible arrangements to ensure a successful series.

From giving a comprehensive facelift to the venues involved to getting solid assurances from the authorities over security arrangements for the visitors, Pakistan are trying to ensure that they are fully ready for the series, reports The News.

Indian economy would marginally be impacted by the global slowdown and government would do its best to mitigate the impact. The impact of the global slowdown may increase with time but country has not felt the indirect knock-on effect of the global crisis so far. It is said by the chairman of RBI who was speaking in the sidelines of a seminar on "Mitigating spill-overs and contagion — lessons from the global financial crisis." on Thursday.

Istanbul, Dec. 6 : Visiting Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has said that Islamabad is yet to be provided with concrete evidence on its role in the Mumbai terror attacks.

Addressing a joint press conference here, along with Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai and Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Zardari said Pakistan too was a victim of terrorism.

According to The News, Zardari replied in negative when asked whether Pakistan’s direction in the war against terror will change following the tense situation between Pakistan and India.

New York, Dec 6 : Looks like George Clooney has a soft corner for cocktail waitresses, for after ending a year-long romance with Sarah Larson, the actor is now fancying another waitress at a London bar.

According to reports, the 47-year-old actor, after dining with pal Matt Damon at Nobu, went to the London’s trendy Whiskey Mist especially to see the petite brunette working behind the bar.

The actor, who is still sporting an ill-advised moustache for his role in ‘Men Who Stare At Goats’, reportedly met the bartender the last time he was in London.

"George arrived at the bar at midnight and went straight to talk [to her]," The New York Daily News quoted an insider as telling the Sun.

The largest iron ore producer of the country, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) is all set to slash the prices of iron ore by 40 percent. The step is aimed to increase the demand of iron ore for the manufacture and automobile sector. The board of NMDC would meet on December 4-5 to discuss the impact of the global slowdown on steel makers and iron industry.