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Workers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains. Punjab's political elite seems to have taken a cue from this call of the 1948 Communist Manifesto for unanimously supporting its move in the State Assembly seeking withdrawal of cases of “political vendetta” against prominent politicians.

After a year-long Congressional battle, overcoming Republican blockade, Democrats voted to give America a reformed health care system and President Barack Obama, the victory he desperately needed for his highest domestic priority. The outcome had turned crucial for his credibility in office. Yet, it was a narrow win - 219 to 212 - those against including 38 Democrats along with 178 Republicans.

New York: The situation faced by those uprooted by violence in Darfur region cannot be sustained, a senior United Nations official has said, calling for a two-track transition to promote development in the war-wracked Sudanese region.

New York: Marking the 50th anniversary of the massacre of protesters taking a peaceful stand against apartheid in South Africa, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that there is 'no room for racist and xenophobic acts' at this summer's soccer World Cup in the country, the first time the event will ever be held in Africa.

New York: Visiting Ramallah, where he witnessed the challenges Palestinians face first-hand, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated his commitment to help the Israeli and Palestinian sides reach a settlement in the next two years.

How swiftly is the power equation changing in Delhi. It was only a few weeks back that the Congress establishment seemed asserting its authority to rein in the UPA government on issues like Sharm-el-Sheikh joint statement and uncontrolled price rise. The government side was clearly on the defensive and squirming. A deliberate silence by the party spokesman or a vague hint by Sonia Gandhi at the Parliamentary Party meeting was enough to send shockwaves in South and North Blocs. This was the position even until last month.

NEW DELHI: Budget 2010-11, now before Parliament, has almost ignored the most serious problems of inflation and unemployment. By doing so, it has dismissed as of little consequence the urgent concerns of the country's three-fourth population. They include all those working in the industry, SEZs, SMEs. Agriculture besides vast mass of unorganised workforces who have no means to reach their voice to the policy-makers.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has completed the fifth review of Georgia's economic performance under an 18-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) for an amount equivalent to SDR 477.1 million (about US$ 729.2 million) approved on September 15, 2008. On August 6, 2009, the Executive Board approved an augmentation of access under the SBA to an amount equivalent to SDR 747.1 million (about US$1,141.8 million) and an extension of the SBA until June 14, 2011. The completion of the fifth review allows for the immediate purchase of an amount equivalent to SDR 97.3 million (about US$148.7 million).

New York: Even the world's most homogeneous country faces the challenge of constructively managing diversity, the United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide has said, calling on States to recognize the need to end discrimination and inequalities between different ethnic, racial and religious groups before they result in deadly violence.

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund granted additional interim assistance under the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative in an amount equivalent to SDR 4.2 million (about US$6.4 million) for the period March 18, 2010 through March 17, 2011 on a lapse of time basis.