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New York: Haitian President René Préval has set 28 November as the date for the people of the earthquake-devastated nation to vote for his successor. The move was also welcomed by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed its first review of the Democratic Republic of Congo's economic performance under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. Completion of the review enables the Democratic Republic of Congo to draw SDR 49.493 million (about US$73.20 million) immediately, bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 98.986 million (US$146.39 million).

New York: From peacekeepers in Darfur escorting women and girls to prevent “firewood rapes” to blue helmets in Kosovo setting up an emergency hotline for at-risk communities and lone women, the United Nations has launched its first compilation of the best practices of its staff to prevent, deter and respond to the use of rape as a war tactic.

Government support to Israeli farmers has fallen over recent years but a number of market distorting policies are still in place, according to a new OECD report. More efficient water resource management remains a critical challenge, the report adds.

In all OECD countries total spending on healthcare is rising faster than economic growth, pushing the average ratio of health spending to GDP from 7.8% in 2000 to 9.0% in 2008. Factors pushing health spending up - technological change, population expectations and population ageing - will continue to drive cost higher in the future.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed the first review of the Seychelles' economic performance under the three-year Extended Fund Facility Arrangement (EFF). The completion of the review makes available a disbursement of SDR 2.2 million (about US$3.3 million dollars), bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 5.28 million (about US$7.8 million). The Board's decision was taken on a lapse of time basis. The EFF for Seychelles became effective on December 23, 2009 in the amount of SDR 19.8 million (about US$29.3 million, or 225 percent of Seychelles' quota in the Fund.

New York: The United Nations war crimes tribunal for former Yugoslavia has terminated appellate proceedings against the former head of Bosnian Muslim forces during the Balkan wars of the 1990s, who had died in April.

New York: Security will be a major challenge in what is gearing up as a critical period for Afghanistan, which will be hosting a major international conference in the capital next month and holding parliamentary elections in September, the top United Nations envoy there said.

New Delhi: Shri Justice S.H.Kapadia, Chief Justice of India released the Shree Ramayana Mahanveshanam, the great quest of Ramayana authored by Dr. M.Veerappa Moily, Minister of Law and Justice here today. The stories from the Ramayana have been passed on across generations; the values attached to it are very intricately connected to our culture. Dr.M.Veerappa Moily's shree Ramayana Mahaveshanam is a highly laudable work which, though rooted in the contemporary Indian context, addresses universal concerns and presents a unique vision of the past, present and future, Shri Kapadia said.

New Delhi: The Ministry of Environment and Forests constituted a 4 member Committee with immediate effect to consider and make recommendations on the proposal submitted by the Orissa Mining Corporation Limited, under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.The proposal is for diversion of 660.749 ha of forest land in Lanjigarh Bauxite Mines, in Kalahandi and Rayagada Districts in the State of Orissa.