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New York: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is seeking a 3 per cent cut in the next United Nations budget below the current two-year figure of $5.16 billion, in line with the sluggish global economy as the world struggles to emerge from the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Mr. Tarhan Feyzioglu visited Port Vila from March 2 to 10 to conduct the 2011 Article IV Consultations. The mission met with the Vanuatu authorities, private sector, and foreign aid providers to discuss macroeconomic developments and policies.

Executive Directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) commended the authorities for the progress made under the Fund-supported program that expired in March 2010. Under this program, Belarus avoided loss of output during the global recession, contained inflation, and increased gross reserves. Against this background, Directors regretted the recent relaxation of macroeconomic policies which has boosted domestic demand and has contributed to an unsustainable current account deficit. To restore external sustainability, they stressed the urgent need for policy adjustments and far-reaching structural reforms.

New York: The United Nations fund tasked with combating rural poverty has extended a $90 million loan to Tanzania to strengthen access to rural financial services and markets, and promote private sector development in the East African country, the agency announced today.

New York: Six high-ranking Kenyan officials, including a deputy prime minister, two ministers and a police chief, have been summoned to appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in connection with possible crimes against humanity committed in post-electoral violence three years ago.

New Delhi: The Minister for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises Shri Praful Patel today had a day- long interaction with the Chief Executives of the Maharatna, Navratna and Miniratna Central Public Sector Enterprises(CPSEs). The first of its kind meeting, the Minister heard out all the issues as highlighted by the CEOs of the CPSEs and said that in the globalised environment, the public sector has to be given more teeth and more support so that they are able to meet all challenges globally.

New Delhi: The newly constituted Hospitality Development and Promotion Board (HDPB) in its first meeting held in New Delhi has decided that various clearances/approvals for Hotel Projects would be given based on the statutory provisions of the concerned agencies. However, the Board will review and monitor whether the time limits stipulated for according such clearances are being adhered to or not.

New Delhi: The Election Commission of India held a session on 9th March 2011, for the representatives of all the National Parties and Recognized State Parties in Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Union Territory of Puducherry (where general elections to the legislative assemblies have already been announced by the Commission on 1st March, 2011).

New Delhi: As per information collected by Population Based Cancer Registry functioning under the National Cancer Registry Programme of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), it is estimated that at any given point of time, there are 28 lakh cancer patients in the country.

New Delhi: The Centralized Monitoring System (CMS) is proposed to be set up for Lawful Interception and Monitoring of communications to address the national security concerns. It will automise the present manual system of interception and monitoring, which will enhance the secrecy of intercepted numbers and will cut down the delay in provisioning.