MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Myanmar have agreed on a new Interim Country Partnership Strategy that sets the stage for ADB’s re-engagement in the country.

“ADB will work with the government to create jobs and lay the foundation for long-term economic growth that benefits the country as a whole,” said Stephen Groff, ADB’s Vice President for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. “This strategy will guide our re-engagement with Myanmar to make sure that the country is set on a path of sustainable and inclusive growth.”

La version actualisée de la Stratégie humanitaire pour le Sahel met l’accent sur les besoins et la réponse à la crise alimentaire et nutritionnelle dans la région

(Dakar, Sénégal – 10 février 2012). – Une version actualisée du document stratégique pour faire face à la crise alimentaire et nutritionnelle émergente au Sahel a été publiée.

Malaria deaths are down but progress remains fragile

Geneva, 13 December 2011 – Malaria mortality rates have fallen by more than 25% globally since 2000, and by 33% in the WHO African Region, according to the World Malaria Report 2011, issued today by the World Health Organization. This progress is the result of a significant scaling-up of malaria prevention and control measures in the last decade, including the widespread use of bed nets, better diagnostics and a wider availability of effective medicines to treat malaria.

GENEVA, December 8 (UNHCR) – UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres on Thursday wrapped up the largest ministerial meeting of its kind after hailing participating states for making a "quantum leap" forward at the Geneva gathering on the issue of statelessness.

"Where I believe there was a real breakthrough, a quantum leap, was in relation to the protection of stateless people," he said in a closing address to representatives from almost 150 states, including more than 70 at ministerial level.

EBRD confirms active support to further market economy reform and ensure recovery

The EBRD’s Board of Directors has approved a new country strategy for the Kyrgyz Republic, which is designed to ensure continued EBRD support for the recovery of the country’s economy and sustainable growth after a period of social and political unrest in the recent past.

In the next three-year period covered by the new strategy, the Bank will continue helping various sectors of the Kyrgyz economy by promoting the private sector and stabilising the business operations in the country.

Côte d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara says he will move into the palace vacated by his now arrested predecessor Laurent Gbagbo "in the coming days".

Ouattara's government announced that Gbagbo is under house arrest and has been moved to an unspecified location in Côte d'Ivoire.

In a statement Justice Minister Jeannot Ahoussou-Kouadio recalled how the former strongman had been arrested after fighting between government forces and pro-Gbagbo troops assisted by Liberian and Angolan mercenaries plus militias.

1832 hrs Thursday 24 February 2011

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake occurred 10km south-east of Christchurch at 12:51, February 22, 2011. Depth (focal depth): 5km. The National Crisis Management Centre has been activated and a National State of Emergency has been declared (www.beehive.govt.nz).

The Christchurch CBD and Lyttelton have suffered considerable damage with a number of collapsed or seriously damaged buildings. Aftershocks could lead to further building damage or collapse.

FAO NEWS RELEASE (11/14 en)

FAO helps governments prepare as rising waters threaten food security

Rome, 7 February 2011 - Thousands of hectares of agricultural land and crops have been damaged by floods and heavy rains in parts of southern Africa, and more damage may occur in the coming weeks if above normal rains persist.

This is raising concern about the food security of the affected population in the poorer parts of the sub-region over the coming months.

With the rainy season still only half way through, and with the cyclone season due to peak in February, several

MAN, Côte d'Ivoire, 26 Jan. (Patrick Slavin/UNICEF) - Life became a lot more normal for 143 children here on Monday when they set about on a busy day of going to school, learning life skills, and playing games, singing, and dancing, all in a well-organized, supportive, and spirited environment - which UNICEF and its partners call a child-friendly space.

It had been more than two weeks since these children had enjoyed any of these organized activities, since their families fled for their lives when three-days of frightening violence erupted