Geneva - Nearly two months after Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe declared that the cholera outbreak in his country had been "arrested" the number of dead continues to climb, passing 3,000 this week, the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

As of Tuesday, 3,028 people had died and 57,702 become infected with the waterborne diarrhoeal disease.

That's 273 more dead and 9,079 more cases of infection than the last OCHA update six days ago.

Bangkok/Geneva - Global unemployment would increase by 18 million to 51 million people this year from 2007 figures, depending on the extent and length of the economic crisis, the International Labour Organization predicted Wednesday.

"We are now facing a global jobs crisis," the UN organization's director general Juan Somavia said in Geneva. "Progress in poverty reduction is unravelling, and middle classes worldwide are weakening. The political and security implications are daunting."

The organization has painted three scenarios for global unemployment in 2009, ranging from bad to worst.

Geneva - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has been slated to open the 39th Davos World Economic Forum this Wednesday as world politicians are expected to take centre stage in dealing with the ongoing financial and economic crisis.

Forty heads of state and government are expected to attend the annual event in the Swiss ski resort, more than double the number that attended last year.

Nairobi/Bamako  - Four Europe

Lausanne, Switzerland  - The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Thursday dismissed cyclist Michael Rasmussen's appeal against the two-year ban he received for doping from the Monegasque Cycling Federation (FMC) last June.

"Consequently, Michael Rasmussen is suspended for a period of two years, starting on 26 July 2007," said CAS in a statement.

Rasmussen was kicked out of the 2007 Tour while leading after lying about his whereabouts in connection with doping tests. He told the International Cycling Federation

Geneva - The spread of cholera continues unabated in Zimbabwe, where the death toll has risen to 2,755 since August, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Thursday.

The UN update issued in Geneva, which reflects the situation as of January 21, showed a total 48,623 people in the beleaguered southern African country, were infected with the waterborne disease.

On Wednesday alone, 36 deaths and 1,125 new infection cases were recorded, OCHA said.