The IMF’s April 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa presents a clear warning: regional growth is slowing, debt pressures are mounting, and donor assistance is declining. Yet the report outlines critical opportunities particularly in domestic revenue mobilization, structural reform, and private sector activation that can shape a more resilient …
A young British Architectural designer Mattew Parkes is developing a building that could collect enough water for its needs in some of the driest places on earth. The principle of the 'fogcatcher' was inspired by an extraordinary insect, living in one of the most parched environments in the world, that …
the cracking edifice of the Indian scientific establishment has taken yet another blow. A recent report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (cag) has come down heavily on the functioning of government scientific departments and research organisations for their ineptitude
The Cabinet committee on WTO matters has decided to frame a 'fall-back" strategy for the Doha ministerial meeting so that the Indian delegation could respond to emerging situations where the current stand of the government may not bring in the desired results.
Bench mark survey in twenty villages each of 14 districts, covered under project area of Indira Gandhi Garibi Hatao Yojana (District Poverty Initiative Project) is under way. Besides details about economic condition of the people of villages coming under the project area are being collected.
Karnataka is taking a hard look at the impact of the WTO regime units key SME sectors and plans to come out with a strategy to turn the odds into advantages. Two premier institutes have been entrusted with a comprehensive study over the next six months of the WTO implications …
China plans speedily to ratify the agreement it concluded last month to become a member of the World Trade Organisation and may join the body before the end of this year, the country's chief WTO negotiator said.
The dispute settlement body of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has received a total of 236 requests for consultations from members between January 1, 1995 and August 31 this year, of which 13 cases have been filed by India and an equal number filed against the country.
like the notorious sandalwood smuggler, Veerappan, the Karnataka government's promised reforms in sandalwood trade also remain elusive. On August 4, 2001, the Karnataka legislative assembly passed amendments to its forest act, supposedly deregularising the sandalwood trade. The state government ostensibly claims to have lifted government monopoly over sandalwood trade and …
The transport department of Delhi Government has impounded over 1,000 vehicles in the city during the past one week because they were not following the emission norms as directed by the Supreme Court on September 28. The Court has directed the department that the vehicles which were not complying with …
Commerce minister Murasoli Maran acknowledged that WTO' s draft ministerial declaration (DMD) prepared ahead of the Doha conference of trade ministers was a setback to India's interests, but insisted that 'we are not isolated'. Presiding over an emergency meeting of the National Advisory Committee on International Trade called to discuss …
In total disregard of India's position, the WTO Draft Ministerial Declaration (DMD) submitted to member-countries barely six weeks before their trade ministers are to meet in Doha sends out the green signals for the launch of a comprehensive new round of world trade negotiations. At the same time it soft …
With two days of the 18-day relaxation on the CNG deadline given by Supreme Court already gone,e Delhi government has started surprise checks on buses as part of a special drive to ensure that adulteration of low sulphur diesel does not take place in the city.Sources in the Delhi government …
The former launch of the Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana, the new Rs. 10,000-crore food-for-programme, sets at arrest all speculation that this was going to be yet another scheme that was announced with much fanfare but would not see the light of the day. In fact, it must be record of …
Vaccines and tight controls on livestock movement would be used by Zimbabwe to combat an outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease. "Instead of slaughtering the cattle, we will set up a taskforce consisting of government and industry officials. The taskforce would ensure that there is no movement of cattle, and vaccines …
methyl tertiary butyl ether (mtbe) has been found in the Midwest region of the us even though it is not used there, shows a recent research. mtbe, which is a gasoline additive, is said to be carcinogenic and has been known to contaminate groundwater. It was found in 70 per …
A supposedly scientific expedition into the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (ndbr) has stirred the minds of people in Lata village of district Chamoli, in Uttaranchal. They say the expedition was a farce. They claim it was a surreptitious attempt to open the region to high-end tourism with tour operators and …
Amid environmental concerns, a Venezuelan power line was inaugurated in Brazil recently. The us $400 million high-voltage line runs through Venezuela's ecologically sensitive southeast corner, including the Canaima National Park, which is the site of the Angel Falls
australia has rejected a proposal to introduce carbon tax for curbing the emissions of greenhouse gases. The proposal was made by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Develop ment (oecd), whose officials felt that Australia could use economic measures to prevent environmental degradation. But the suggestion met with severe opposition …
What are your development plans for Mizoram, which has one of the richest natural resources in India? Mizoram has plenty of cultivable land and the government is thinking of developing the region with more and more cash crops. It also plans for a project that would improve bamboo cultivation, which …
the Indian system of medicines can take a leaf out of the French experience when it comes to marketing their products. Geographically labelling the medicinal plants used in various preparations, which shows their source of origin, would translate into better business. Not only would it put a seal of genuineness …
