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Executive Directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have commended the authorities in Belize for their macroeconomic management, which enabled Belize to weather the financial crisis relatively well. While the near-term outlook is positive, challenges arise from the uncertain global environment, vulnerabilities in the banking system, rising gross financing needs of the public sector, and the weak investment climate. The recent rise in poverty is also a cause for concern. Against this backdrop, Directors encouraged the authorities to strengthen the policy framework and advance the reform agenda.

New York: The United Nations war crimes tribunal for the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s today sentenced the leader of the Serb Radical Party – already facing trial on charges of crimes against humanity – to 18 months in jail after finding him guilty of contempt of court for a second time.

New Delhi: The World's population has crossed the 7-billion mark today. India is the final contributor to this 7-billion mark. The 7th billion child was born in the country’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh.

New York: A United Nations expert urged world leaders today to put the right to food before industry interests when committing to a food security plan later this week at the G-20 summit in Cannes, France, warning of the negative impacts that biofuels and financial speculation have on this basic human right.

New Delhi: The Union Home minister P Chidambaram today justified the Congress party demand to hold more consultations on revoking the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir.

New York: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today voted to admit Palestine as a full member of the Paris-based agency.

New Delhi: The Union Government, concerned over the worsening situation in Manipur, has decided to move 1,100 truck load of food items every week to the affected state under tight security cover in a fresh attempt to break the economic blockade.

Discarding its traditional image India Post is emerging as a socially committed, technology driven and forward looking organization. The huge network of 1, 55,015 Post Offices across India of which 1, 39,144 are in rural areas is the largest postal network in the world. India Post has so far introduced 850 franchised outlets to cater to the demand where it is not possible to open departmental post offices.

In this era of coalition politics when dynasty politics and corruption go hand in hand, it is rare to find a senior leader of a national party asking his own party leaders to do some self-introspection. The credit for being such a leader goes to BJP’s national Vice-President and former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Shanta Kumar. He has been carrying on a campaign against corruption and the increasing trend of dynasty politics in his party.

Leaders of world’s major economies – G-20 – at their Sixth Summit in Cannes, France, on November 3-4, face the grim challenge of forging another co-ordinated response, as in 2009, to lift the threat of a second recession, strengthen global recovery for growth and jobs, and restore stability in a fragile global financial system.