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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Is there more to Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy’s ‘Kerala Mochana Yatra’ (Kerala Liberation March) than meets the eye? The answer to this question is an emphatic yes if a few significant straws in the wind are anything to go by.

New Delhi : A report of the United Nations called for repealing of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and the Public Safety Act, particularly in reference to troubled regions of Jammu and Kashmir and north-east India. It also called for reviewing the application of other security laws that adversely affect the work and safety of human rights defenders.

New York: The authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have arrested the commander of national army soldiers who allegedly went on a rape and looting spree on New Year’s Day in the eastern part of the country, the United Nations peacekeeping mission said today.

New York: Africa’s rapid acquisition of industrial technologies is an indication that the continent is joining other developing regions in building a sound manufacturing base likely to support the production of value-added goods and services, including high-tech products, according to a study released today by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

New York: The United Nations today rebuffed efforts by forces loyal to Côte d’Ivoire’s former president, who refuses to step down despite his electoral defeat, to stop and search UN vehicles.

New York: Ireland’s economic and financial crisis poses a disproportionate threat to vulnerable groups in the European country who did not benefit much even when the economy was booming, the United Nations independent expert on human rights and extreme poverty said today.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the second review of the Union of the Comoros’ economic performance under a program supported by the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). The Board’s decision enables the immediate disbursement of an amount of SDR 1.56 million (about US$2.42 million), bringing total disbursements under the ECF to the Comoros to SDR 7.34 million (about US$11.41 million). The Executive Board also approved a modification of the end-2010 performance criterion on net domestic credit to the government.

New York: An independent United Nations human rights expert today called on Indian authorities to do much more to ensure a safe and conducive environment for human rights defenders working in the country.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission visited Cotonou during January 13–21, 2011 to continue discussions on the first review of a program supported by the Extended Credit Facility, which was approved by the IMF Executive Board on June 14, 2010. The mission followed an earlier mission in September-October 2010 and discussions in Washington in October and December.

The Executive Directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have noted that the ECCU region has been hit hard by the global economic downturn and faces a protracted recovery. The global financial and economic crisis has also exposed areas of significant weaknesses, notwithstanding reforms implemented by a number of member countries. The growing fiscal deficits, unsustainable debt levels, and stress in the financial sector need to be addressed forcefully to maintain confidence in the currency union and the currency board. Directors were encouraged by the authorities’ commitment to implement comprehensive measures to stabilize the fiscal and financial sectors and put the ECCU economies on a more sustainable growth path.