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New York: Iron ore production fell last year for the first time in seven years but continuing demand for the raw material from the Chinese steel industry ensured that the volume of trade increased again, a United Nations report says.

New York: The Horn of Africa is once again free of polio, with Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda having reported no wild poliovirus cases for more than a year, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and its partners have announced.

Executive Directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have noted that the necessary adjustment of the economy is underway as imbalances accumulated during the long boom years have begun to unwind, and that output has stabilized. The growth outlook, however, remains uncertain owing to unstable financial market conditions and weak domestic demand.

New York: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his delight at entry into force of the international convention banning the manufacture, use and stockpiling of cluster munitions from today, calling it a “major advance for the global disarmament and humanitarian agendas.”

Executive Directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have noted that the French economy weathered the global crisis better than most of its peers. The timely government intervention succeeded in stabilizing the financial system and cushioning the downturn. Directors noted that the outlook is challenging and that growth is expected to pick up only gradually. Unemployment and public debt are relatively high; the imminent fiscal consolidation in France and most European countries will weigh on demand; and lingering concerns about sovereign risks call for continued vigilance. A vigorous implementation of the authorities' reform agenda will be needed to support the recovery.

That it is tough to change the American system President Barack Obama is learning in a hard way. In 2008, after Democrat Obama had won the presidential election riding high on a promise to provide a new deal to the common man by changing the ways the US deals with the world and its own high street money sharks, speculators and the big business, he had no clue how difficult it would be to change the system and a near bankrupt economy left by his predecessor, George W Bush, for him to inherit.

BHOPAL: The Bharatiya Janata Party government of Madhya Pradesh rarely misses an opportunity to “Hinduise” the administration and governance. One of the ways it has been doing so is by naming government schemes and programmes after the names of Hindu Gods and rituals. Thus, the State's water conservation scheme is called “Jalabhishek” and a scheme for the welfare of the Girl child is called “Ladli Laxmi”. A rural development scheme has been named “Gokul Gram”. Another welfare scheme, meant to provide financial help to poor families to marry off their daughters is called “Kanyadaan”.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Asian judges proposed creation of an Asian Judges Network on the Environment to improve the quality of court rulings on environment and natural resource cases in the region at a seminar held at the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

What is the politics behind the price rise agitation? While the opposition makes noise every now and then, there are no concrete results on the ground. The public outcry against the spiraling price rise is increasing because it is impossible for the common man to buy dal at Rs 120 or tomatoes at Rs 60 or edible oil in exorbitant prices. The normal “dal roti” has become beyond the common man's reach now with alarming double- digit food inflation. The Parliament should naturally reflect the agony of the “aam admi” and it is only right that the people's representatives should raise their voice over this. However, the ruling Congress is not keen to risk any motion, which will require voting, as the government is fragile.

NEW DELHI: Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's recent request to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reduce his burden of three ministerial portfolios has revealed another dimension to the nationwide tension over across-the-board fuel price hikes, in the midst of unprecedented rising prices of foodgrains and other essential commodities of mass consumption.