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 …
The Supreme Court recently ruled that forest authorities are entitled to confiscate not only illegally felled timber but also implements and tools used for illegal activities. Allowing the appeal of the West Bengal government against the judgement of the Calcutta High Court, the apex court clarified that the power to …
The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on a petition requiring the Central and state governments to define and improve standards of NOx level for generator sets above 19 KVA. Earlier, the United Communist Party of India , a non-governmental organisation, filed a …
a national-level permanent board to monitor the promotion of organic farming in the country has been mooted by a task force on organic farming. According to the recommendations of the task force, the government ought to highlight the sustainability of the concept. Tax incentives for ventures in vermicompost, compost, press …
californian energy crisis is not simply a result of indiscreet state policy. The crisis stems from the combination of high regional natural gas prices, a large drop in hydroelectric power from dry weather conditions, and a demand shock due to the unseasonably warm summer of 2000. Moreover, air pollution regulations …
a dam project proposed in 1966 has again been delayed, thanks to the fishermen in Kumamoto Prefecture. Claiming that the dam would affect their fishing areas, they recently rejected a compensation offer from the Japanese government. Although the Kuma River Fishermen's Cooperative voted 802-620 in favour of taking the package …
the picturesque Digha coast near Kolkata has been dogged by rapid erosion in recent years. Taking serious note of the steady deterioration of the coast, the West Bengal government recently sent an SOS to the Union government requesting it to protect the coast and its population from further environmental degradation. …
even as the Malana Power Company has paid Rs 63 lakh to the Himachal Forest Department for illegally felling 1,400 trees at the Malana hydro project site in Kullu district, the Himachal Pradesh (hp) High Court has issued notices to the state government and the offending company to file their …
it was an experiment waiting to happen ever since Dolly the sheep was born. Yet, when us-based biotechnology firm Advanced Cell Technology (act) cloned a human embryo, the breakthrough rekindled the debate on human cloning. This even as the objective of the test was not creating a human being, but …
Quite frankly our friends in government would be right in saying that they are damned if they don't and even more damned if they do. But what can we say. It is truly amazing how our government agencies learn so little about how programmes can be made to work. Every …
it is a paradox of sorts. Even as the Orissa farmers reel under recurring spells of droughts and floods, the state government has decided to raise the water tax for irrigation. The raised tax, to be imposed from the next kharif season, is substantial. The farmers will now have to …
It's perhaps a lesson for India's Disinvestment Ministry. It is now forced to look at the environment liabilities that would be part of the baggage during a hiving-off process. True, the entire sticky business of selling off the gargantuan public sector undertakings has not been a cake-walk, though it started …
If it was Lucknow which mourned its dead children a few weeks ago, it is Guwahati which is a mute witness to its children literally dropping dead. And no one seems to care. Does life really have no value for us, especially those of our young. In Lucknow, several new-born …
Though India is one of the worst governed countries in the world, cracking at its seams in just about every area, from social welfare, food distribution, to environment and riddled with rampant shameless corruption, it is clear that the Indian media does not take the issue of governance seriously. We …
Take a look around, if the roadside sign "stop pollution' is too hazy to read, it's because the government, indusry and the public are to blame. The government will not tax the polluting vehicles, the industry won't innovate and the public will not ask for its right to clean air. …
the Kenyan government has drawn flak from environmental groups for its decision to cut down more than 68,796 hectares of forest. The groups are calling the decision a politically motivated step that would damage the country's environment and economy. Last February, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources expressed its …
water sharing has always been a bone of contention for the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Now, Tamil Nadu's Adavinainar Kovil dam being constructed in Merkkara, Tirunelveli district has aggravated the ongoing strife. Merkkara is on the eastern side of the mountain ridge that separates the two states. On …
the state appraisal committee in Vietnam has approved a controversial routing plan for the new Ho Chi Highway which cuts through the country's oldest national park, Cuc Phuong, housing many rare and endangered plant and animal species. The approved plan has been submitted to the Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, …
the uk government is promoting solar energy in a big way. It has offered energy companies three million pounds to help develop solar power systems for public buildings like schools, churches and hospitals. Energy Minister Brian Wilson said the money could lead to the construction of 12 to 15 large-scale …
