Manila - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday the worsening financial crisis could seriously impact on the world body's vital goals and programmes.

Ban expressed concern that the implementation of key programmes such as the Millennium Development Goals might be hampered as developed and developing countries battle the global crisis.

"I'm deeply concerned about the possible impact (of) this financial crisis (on) the overall United Nations goals and agenda," Ban told a press briefing after addressing the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development in Manila.

London, Oct 29 : New British Defence Secretary John Hutton has said that the Iraq war would be over by 2010 when all of UK’s forces would be substantially withdrawn from Basra. A rapid drop in troop numbers is also expected during early 2009.

Hutton stressed that withdrawal of troops would remain subject to conditions on the ground, but added he was “optimistic”.

Even as more than five years after the invasion, there are still around 4000 British soldiers stationed on the outskirts of the southern Iraqi city.

Hong Kong - Hong Kong stocks continued their rebound Wednesday after a volatile two days which saw the Hang Seng's Index record its biggest loss and biggest gain in more than 10 years.

The blue-chip index ended the morning's trading 171 points, or 1.4 per cent higher, rising to 12,767 points.

The increase continued the rebound which began Tuesday when bargain hunters pushed the index up by 14.35 per cent, its biggest rally in more than 10 years.

Washington, Oct 29: Intake of foods rich in polyphenols, a family of antioxidative compounds found in high concentrations in grapes and red wine, helps reduce the risk of heart disease, according to a review article in the November issue of Nutrition Research.

Manila - Philippine share prices rose 4.47 per cent on Wednesday as investors snapped up bargain stocks following overnight gains in Wall Street.

The 30-share composite index of the Philippine Stock Exchange added 76.23 points to close at 1,780.64 from Tuesday's finish of 1,704.41.

A total of 1.158 billion shares worth 2.319 billion pesos (47.32 million dollars) were traded.

Gainers led losers 87 to 27, while 41 issues were unchanged.

Manila - Countries affected by the global financial crisis should remain open to migrant workers who can help boost their ailing economies amid the economic slowdown, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday.

Ban said he was "deeply concerned" that more than 200 million migrant workers around the world were adversely affected by the economic slowdown, as labourers in badly hit sectors such as construction and tourism start to lose their jobs.

"Today, we face a cascade of national financial crises throughout the world," he told the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Manila. "Almost none of our economies is insulated."