An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Albert Jaeger, visited Serbia during August 19-31, 2010, to conduct discussions on the fifth review of Serbia’s economic program supported by a Stand-By? Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF.

The budget of the government in a developing country such as India has to play a vital role in the mobilisation of resources for promoting economic and social welfare. Failing that, there is bound to be economic distortions and social tensions.

Is the Indian Union Muslim League(IUML)-sponsored conference against terrorism, which was held at Kottakkal, a town in Malappuram district, last month, a mere flash in the pan? Lack of follow-up action has created serious doubts about the sincerity of purpose of the IUML in holding the conference.

KOLKATA: About 80% of the rural population of West Bengal will face hard times economically from November onwards, unless there is a miraculous revival of monsoon.

New York: The United Nations today launched a global action plan to combat human trafficking, with senior UN officials urging that governments worldwide take coordinated and consistent measures to try to defeat the scourge.

New York: The occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) recorded marginal economic growth last year, but unemployment remained high, with Israel’s closure policy in the West bank and the blockade of the Gaza Strip continuing to inhibit the territory’s potential for rapid economic expansion, the United Nations reported today.

New Delhi: The Ministry of Environment and Forests will declare elephant as a National Heritage Animal. The Ministry will also set up National Elephant Conservation Authority to give same degree of visibility, importance and criticality as much as given to National Tiger Conservation Authority. After releasing the Report of the Elephant Task Force here today, Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests (I/c) said we will bring a science based exercise in protecting and census of this animal. Shri Ramesh appreciated the way the Task Force has addressed the main concerns of the issue. They include elephant corridors in context of mining, power and irrigation projects, of protection of elephant corridors, elephant in captivity, institutional changes in order to put elephant conservation on high, sound footing and give same degree of visibility as Project Tiger gets.

New Delhi: The Committee on Piracy set up in pursuance of the decision arrived at in the 27th State Information Ministers’ Conference held in December, 2009; today submitted its report to Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Smt. Ambika Soni. The report was submitted by Shri Uday Kumar Varma, Special Secretary and Chairperson of the Committee on Piracy.

Anand Sharma Union Minister of Commerce & Industry during his interaction with Mr. Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry, Government of the Republic of South Africa yesterday in Johannesburg, South Africa, stated that, officials from India & SACU will be meeting in the 1st week of October 2010 to discuss pending issues relating to finalization of India-SACU Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).

New Delhi: India announced an additional USD 20 million assistance to Pakistan for flood relief as the neighbouring country is grappling with the worst floods in recent times. The announcement by External Affairs Minister Shri S. M. Krishna in the Parliament comes in the wake of Pakistan's readiness to accept India's initial aid offer of 5 million US dollars which is to be routed through the United Nations.