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Doubts whether the global recovery will continue has become the central question following the events of the past 6 weeks. We have had terrible financial contagion type developments in the eurozone. There have been fears of a China slowdown consequent to the crack down on the housing market. Economic data in the US has hit a soft patch, especially with the pace of US job creation disappointing. There has been an overload of unusual events and headlines all undermining confidence. Political and social tensions are on the rise globally and there appears to be a leadership and a policy deficit in coping with them.

The national rural employment scheme and farm loan wavers have been among the positive factors that had immensely contributed to the Congress party's election victory in 2009. Began as part of the Left-mandated common minimum programme, these were subsequently appropriated by Sonia Gandhi as her welfare package. Since then the party establishment had resisted every attempt by the PM's reform camp to dilute the aam aadmi programmes like food security, right to information and right to education. The Congress establishment argues that such schemes alone had helped the Manmohan Singh government shed its elitist image and avert a 'Shine-India'-like disaster.

KOLKATA: Bangladesh is effectively utilising its regional location in South Asia to upgrade its strategic importance and connectivity with major neighbour India and ally, China.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress leaders in Kerala are back at what they are best at doing : indulging their passion for no-holds-barred infighting.

New York: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged the people and institutions of Guinea to play their part in ensuring that Sunday's presidential polls are conducted peacefully and result in the formation of a government fully reflecting the will of the public.

New York: As the people of the small African nation of Burundi get set to cast their votes in Monday's presidential election, an independent United Nations expert has warned of potential violence and human rights violations, citing a number of recent worrisome developments.

New York: A United Nations human rights working group has urged Member States to back a global pact aimed at protecting people from enforced disappearances that is just two ratifications shy of the number needed to bring it into force.

New York: Gender equality and the empowerment of women will be the main focus of attention when government ministers from across the world gather in New York for the annual high-level meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) next week.

New York: The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the global volunteer network Kiwanis International have announced a new partnership to eradicate tetanus in women and children worldwide.

New York: The United Nations Global Compact leaders' summit concluded in New York with a vow by the more than 1,200 corporate executives, government ministers and civil society representatives in attendance to strengthen their efforts to forge a more sustainable and inclusive world economy.