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SOFIA ― World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick and Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Boyko Borissov signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to step up cooperation in the development of Bulgaria's infrastructure, including accelerating maintenance and investment in roads and railways. The signing ceremony was attended by EC Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva.

US economy, the world's largest, is failing to sustain a firm recovery in 2010 igniting fears of a double-dip recession, given weak growth, persisting unemployment at 9.5 per cent, and lacklustre consumer spending. A strong job-creating revival is not on the horizon nor the woes of the housing market, which triggered the financial meltdown in 2008 with disastrous spill-overs globally, have diminished.

The state of the nation, besieged by problems of continuing inequity and uneven development, and challenged by new threats to internal security, makes for little cheer as India crosses its 63rd independence day. August 15 has been an occasion for self-introspection and reaffirmation of our fundamental goals, reinforcing commitments to achieving our socio-economic objectives. But every year, the record of performance remains dismal showing up the breach between promise and performance.

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - Indonesia needs to tackle its infrastructure, governance, and education deficiencies in order to propel the economy into a higher, more inclusive, and sustainable growth path, a new Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Labour Organization (ILO), and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) report said.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is extending a $150 million multitranche financing facility to help India's National Capital Region (NCR) accelerate plans to build urban infrastructure.

New York: An estimated 1.68 million Zimbabweans still require agricultural assistance and food aid despite an improvement in the country's food production thanks to Government efforts and a $70 million international assistance programme for farmers in the Southern African nation, United Nations agencies have said.

New York: The start of the trial of Omar Khadr - arrested in Afghanistan in 2002 for crimes he allegedly committed as a child - before the United States Military Commission in Guantánamo Bay today could set a precedent jeopardizing the status of child soldiers around the world, a United Nations envoy cautioned.

New York: The United Nations has proposed strengthening the capacities of the Central African Republic (CAR) to enable it to effectively tackle security and humanitarian challenges when the world body's peacekeepers withdraw from the country at the end of this year.

New York: United Nations-backed talks aimed at reunifying the Mediterranean island of Cyprus continued in Nicosia before the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities adjourned the discussions until 31 August when they will continue to try to resolve the property issue.

New York: The United Nations and its aid partners have voiced concern that immediate humanitarian needs in Kyrgyzstan will go unmet since they have only received 30 per cent of the $96 million requested to provide life-saving assistance to civilians affected by recent violence.