Finance : US and Major ICs "sleep-walking" towards war, unsustainability (PRIV)
(D. Ravi Kanth, Geneva)
Major developed countries led by the Unit ed States are "sleep walking towards war" by implementing unsustainable fiscal and monetary policies since the 2008 financial crisis, with the destructive consequences to be borne by the developing countries, two former senior off icials of the Bank for International Settlements warned on Friday (13 April).

UN : Cracks down on peacekeeping troops over human rights abuses (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
The United Nations, whose peacekeeper s have come under increased scrutiny because of widespread charges of sexual abuse and human rights violations, claims it is now committed to ensuring t hat all personnel serving with the UN meet the "highest standards of conduct, competence and integrity, including respect for and commitment to human rig hts."

UN : Situation in Middle East a threat to world peace & security (PRIV)
(IPS, New York)
The situation in the Middle Eas t is in chaos - to such an extent it has become a threat to international peace and security.

Central Europe : Getting away with murder in Slovakia (PRIV)
(IPS, Bratislava)
Sitting in a cafe in the Slovak capita l, Bratislava, Zuzana Petkova admits that like many other investigative journa lists in the country today, she is scared.