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New York: Colombia, long buffeted by armed conflict and serious human rights violations, has made efforts to reduce extrajudicial killings, but the country's security forces have continued to be been implicated in many murders, a United Nations independent human rights expert said.

New York: Ahead of the kick-off of next month's soccer World Cup in South Africa, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is hoping to empower millions of young people to protect themselves from exploitation.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Albert Jaeger, visited Serbia during May 12-26, to conduct discussions on the fourth review of Serbia's economic program supported by a Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Mr. Jürgen Odenius, visited Pristina from May 19 to May 27, 2010, and reached agreement, subject to financing assurances from donors and approval by IMF Management and the Executive Board, on an economic program to be supported by a 18-month, SDR 92.7 million (about €106 million) Stand-By Arrangement. The Executive Board is expected to meet to discuss the program in July. Kosovo would be able to draw SDR 18.8 million (about €21.5 million) immediately after Board approval.

KOLKATA: Ignore the usual hype about west Bengal's enhanced political consciousness and look at the facts : bad manners and poor taste have dominated this year's political campaign for elections to 81 civic bodies, including the prestigious Kolkata Municipal Corporation scheduled on May 30. And much of the blame can be laid at Ms Mamata Banerjee's door.

The world economy is at a critical juncture in mid-2010 as while economic recovery is picking up in the hitherto recession-hit advanced economies, spread of volatile sovereign debt markets from Europe and overheating in emerging markets, leading to a boom-bust scenario, cannot be ruled out, according to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The mineral rich Jharkhand appears to be heading towards President's rule once again just five months after the Assembly polls. The blame, apart from the regional outfits, should also go to the two national parties - the Congress and the BJP - which have been indulging in opportunistic politics.

Brazil “has a key role to play in global economic governance. It is the largest economy in Latin America and is deeply integrated into the global trade and financial network. Brazil's future is inextricably linked to global economic prospects,” said International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn, as he was ending a two-day visit in Brazil.

Executive Directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have commended the authorities for their decisive policy response, which helped cushion the impact of the global crisis on the New Zealand economy and is supporting a gradual economic recovery. Directors noted that the fiscal and monetary policy frameworks, including the flexible exchange rate regime, have served New Zealand well during the crisis. Key policy challenges are to lift sustainable economic growth and reduce the vulnerabilities associated with a deteriorated fiscal position and high private external debt.

The Executive Directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have noted that despite the Italian economy's elements of strength such as high private savings, low private indebtedness, and a comparatively resilient financial system, the global crisis had a severe impact on it. Directors commended the authorities for their supportive response to the crisis. Fiscal policy was appropriately tight and timely measures were taken to support the financial sector. The economy is set for a gradual recovery but key weaknesses, including high public debt and low income growth, remain. The overarching policy goals now should be to maintain fiscal discipline, reduce the burden of public debt, and raise the economy's long-term growth rate.