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A lot has changed in the US perception of its domestic concerns, present and future, since 9/11. On top of these concerns are internal security and energy security. The USA, the world's second largest energy consumer after China and the largest petroleum importer, is determined to replace its overwhelming dependence on imported petroleum and coal and has launched a nation-wide programme to tap alternate energy resources such as wind energy, solar energy, bio-fuel, methane gas, hydrogen gas, etc. Those domestic champions of clean energy also want the country pushes a fresh nuclear energy programme to reduce consumption of both oil and coal.

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh Assembly created a history of sorts when, last week, it unanimously passed a Government-sponsored bill. The bill provides that government officials and employees who fail to execute an official work of Public interest within a stipulated time frame will be liable to be fined. The “Madhya Pradesh Public Services bill 2010” says that a fine up to Rs. 5000 may be imposed on errant government functionaries.

New York: Standing shoulder to shoulder with survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima, a deeply moved UN Secretary-General on Friday paid respect to all those who perished there 65 years ago and stressed that the time has come to realize the dream of a world free of nuclear weapons.

Executive Directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have welcomed the rapid recovery of the Brazilian economy over the past year, reflecting brisk growth in domestic investment, resilient consumption, and stronger-than-expected demand for commodity exports. This remarkable performance has been underpinned by the authorities' robust policy framework, based on fiscal responsibility, exchange rate flexibility, and a credible inflation target. Directors noted that, with output converging to its potential and the unemployment rate declining to its lowest level in a decade, pressure on resources has built up and monetary policy has become more complicated in the wake of strong capital inflows. This calls for a carefully calibrated policy mix to preserve macroeconomic and financial stability. Promoting balanced growth and more equitable income distribution remains an important medium-term objective.

The Executive Directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have noted that the global downturn has adversely affected St. Vincent and the Grenadines' economy, resulting in a further real GDP decline in 2009. The fiscal position worsened, reflecting in part increased spending needed to help mitigate the impact of the crisis on the poor and vulnerable groups.

Staff teams from the European Commission (EC), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) visited Athens during July 26-August 5 for the first quarterly review of the Greek government's economic program, which is being supported by a EUR 80 billion loan from Euro area countries and a EUR 30 billion Stand-By Arrangement with the Fund. The strategy and key policies remain as described in the May 2010 Letter of Intent and Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies.

All is not well for the Congress in Andhra Pradesh after the recent Assembly bye polls in Telengana. As a senior Congress leader pointed out the party is facing two monsters - one created by the revolt of Jagan Mohan Reddy, son of the late Dr. Rajashekhara Reddy and second, strengthening of the Telengana movement after the recent resounding victory of the Telengana Rashtra Samithi in the last week's bye polls. The tragedy is that those handling the affairs are clueless.

New York: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has cut its global wheat production forecast for 2010 due to the impact of poor weather on crops in recent weeks, but allayed fears of a new food crisis, noting that current stocks should be adequate.

A mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), joined by representatives from the European Commission and the World Bank, visited Bucharest from July 26 to August 4.

KOLKATA: The North-East continues to be ridden by armed clashes. In Assam it is the ULFA organising terror attacks on security forces. In Manipur it is two groups of Kuki militants engaging in gun battles and killing one another. In the Karbi Anglong district of Assam it is the Dima Halom Daoga (Jewel faction) that is killing “outsiders” or targeting the railway track. Or the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) carrying out terror attacks. There is no respite from violence and bloodshed even as New Delhi pursues its informal overtures to the jailed ULFA leaders to bring them to the negotiation table for a formal dialogue.