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An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission visited Ouagadougou during March 24–April 7, 2011 to conduct discussions for the second review of performance under the program supported by the IMF under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The mission met with Mr. Lucien Bembamba, Minister of Economy and Finance; Mr. Francois Zoundi, Deputy Minister in charge of Budget; Mr. Bolo Sanou, the National Director of the Central Bank of West African States; and other senior officials. The team also met with representatives of the private sector, and the donor community.

New York: The United Nations cultural agency announced today that it is awarding its annual Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture to Sudanese actor and theatre director Ali Mahdi Nouri and French professor Cherif Khaznadar.

New York: An Iranian journalist who has been in jail since his country’s disputed presidential elections in mid-2009 and has campaigned for greater civil rights has won a prestigious United Nations prize dedicated to promoting press freedom.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Norbert Funke, visited Senegal during March 24–April 6, 2011 to conduct the first review under the new three-year Policy Support Instrument (PSI) approved in December 2010. The mission met with the ministers in charge of economy and finance, international cooperation, infrastructure and energy, the National Director of the BCEAO, other government officials, and representatives of the private sector and development partners.

New York: Food prices have dropped for the first time after eight months of continuous rise, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported today, pointing out, however, that the prices are still 37 per cent higher than they were in March of last year.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had completed the second review of Moldova's economic performance under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangements. The blended financing arrangements under the ECF and the EFF for an amount equivalent to SDR 369.6 million (about US$587 million) were approved on January 29, 2010.

New York: A growing number of infections are becoming increasingly difficult to cure as a result of worsening drug resistance, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said today, warning that the problem is forcing health professionals to resort to prolonged and expensive treatments and greater risk of death.

Following the record-breaking 14.5% surge in the volume of exports in 2010 world trade growth should settle to a more modest 6.5% expansion in 2011. The sharp rise in trade volumes last year enabled world trade to recover to its pre-crisis level but not its long-term trend and WTO economists believe the recent series of important events around the world lend a greater degree of uncertainty to any forecast.

In concluding the 2010 Article IV consultation with the Czech Republic, Executive Directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that the Czech Republic had rebounded from the downturn, but faced a number of policy challenges. Large structural deficits together with demographic trends are creating fiscal pressures and, under unchanged policies, would imply a rising public debt burden. Climbing world commodity prices complicate monetary policy in a situation of still nascent recovery and low core inflation. Sustaining robust productivity and GDP growth will require significant policy efforts. The authorities have prepared an ambitious policy agenda to tackle the challenges, but implementation of the necessary reforms may not be easy.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Japan are providing assistance to develop new livelihood opportunities and improve income in some of Nepal's poorest and most disadvantaged communities.