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New York: Poppy cultivation in Afghanistan is expected to decline slightly this year despite the current high prices of opium, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said today, basing the information on a qualitative assessment of farmers’ intentions in the Asian country.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today approved a three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility for Kenya in an amount equivalent to SDR 325.68 million (about US$508.7 million). The program is aimed at protecting Kenya’s external position, while allowing a gradual fiscal adjustment. The Executive Board’s approval will immediately enable an initial disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR 65.1 million (about US$101.7 million).

New York: As UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon kept up his diplomatic push for a speedy solution to the post-electoral crisis in Côte d’Ivoire, United Nations agencies called for urgent funding today, warning that refugees fleeing to neighbouring Liberia could top 100,000 by the end of April.

In concluding the 2010 Article IV consultation with Lao P.D.R., Executive Directors of the IMF endorsed staff’s appraisal and said that Lao P.D.R.’s economy held up remarkably well, despite the global recession. The crisis had an impact on exports, non-regional tourism and capital inflows. However, supported by ongoing projects in the mining and hydropower sector as well as expansionary fiscal and monetary policies, growth has remained higher than the average for low-income countries in Asia. At the same time, the authorities managed to contain inflation below the average for low-income countries in Asia. As a result, important gains continue to be made in improving living standards and reducing poverty. The authorities deserve credit for that.

New York: Only when rape in armed conflict becomes a liability for armed groups rather than a tool in the struggle for power – a war crime that will bring inevitable punishment – will progress be made in eliminating the scourge, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today.

New York: Senior United Nations officials today called for urgent steps to rein in the rising prices for basic farm produce, petroleum and raw industrial materials whose volatility hits the world’s poorest people the hardest.

New York: The United Nations today voiced concern at reported Ukrainian Government-led investigations of HIV/AIDS programmes run by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) while at the same time praising a new law promoting a human rights-based approach to the disease.

New York: Fish consumption has reached an all-time high and more people than ever are employed in or depend on the fisheries sector, according to a new United Nations report, which also warns that global fish stocks have not improved.

New Delhi: The Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released the Quick estimates of national income, consumption expenditure, saving and capital formation for the financial year 2009-10.

During the bilateral meeting with Mr. Paolo Romani, Italian Minister for Economic Development in the first day of his visit to Italy, Shri Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, has emphasised that there is a need for closer cooperation in the field of infrastructure. He highlighted 10 areas for furthering the cooperation viz., infrastructure, manufacturing, design & innovation, ICT, leather, textile, agro-processing, pharma, tourism, training and automobiles.