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 …
progressiveness, flexibility, neutrality and proportionality. These are the key words in a recent proposal floated by g-20, the developing country grouping in the World Trade Organization (wto), to enable wto members to fulfil their three-year-old commitment of reducing import duties on agricultural products. Since negotiators of wto members in Geneva, …
better chick-pea variety: Scientists from New Delhi-based Indian Agricultural Research Institute have developed a drought-resistant variety of chick-pea. The variety, Pusa-1053, has a yield of about 1,300 kilogrammes per hectare, which is significantly higher than the 700 kilogrammes produced per hectare by the traditional varieties of the seeds. more heat, …
The pharmaceutical industry in South Africa (sa) is threatening to shut up shop unless the country's government rethinks its new drug policy. The policy has been in place since January 2004. It controls the incremental rise in prices at different stages after a drug leaves the factory. The industry argues …
the standing committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (cites) has deferred the one-time sale of 60 tonnes of stockpiled ivory by South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. The decision was taken at the panel's meeting, which took place in Geneva from March 15-19. Earlier, in November 2002, …
South Africa's privately-owned game reserve sector is at the receiving end of a drought. Former cattle ranchers and other operators, who made hay while the US $137-million industry was at its prime, are today looking to sell the animals. The drought has forced reserve owners to supplement the natural diet …
Winning vote banks through land redistribution is South African President Thabo Mbeki's new election strategy. Similar to Robert Mugabe's land acquisition drive in Zimbabwe, Mbeki is winding his victory path around the lands of white farmers. The changes to Mbeki's land restitution law will be implemented in February. The amendments …
Wherever they exist India's urban elite splash on subsidies B Ashok a regime of pro-rich subsidies have ensured India's urban elites happilly benefit from organised water supply and sewage treatment services, wherever they exist. Water tariffs in India are among the lowest. Let us compare. In the us
This study and the workshops that lead up to the International Conference for Renewable Energy 2004 in Bonn are primarily focused on learning experiences between Southern nations. While there are several instances of transitional efforts in developed Northern countries, the Heinrich B
Illegal trade of ozone-depleting substances (ods) is rising despite the deadline for zero production and consumption of such chemicals drawing closer. These are the findings of a survey conducted by Environment Investigation Agency (eia), a uk-based lobby group. The eia survey particularly reports about the trends in the illegal trade …
ON NOVEMBER 6, 2003, the legal committee of the UN General Assembly decided that a vote to ban research on the reproductive cloning of human beings need not be taken up till the end of 2005. During deliberations, a little twist related to the research aspect of the issue generated …
here is the message of a recent piece of research: we are extracting too much water from rivers, streams and lakes. The implication is significant: unless there is enough water in the world's rivers to maintain freshwater ecosystems, many economies would collapse, affecting over 1.4 billion people who live in …
a year after the World Summit on Sustainable Development (wssd) that was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, the commission following up on its outcomes is preparing to meet for its 12th session. The meeting, to be held in April next year in New York, will see the Commission on Sustainable …
easy rabies cure: Tobacco plants have been genetically modified to produce proteins used to combat the rabies virus. Till now, the only way to fight the virus was to use antibodies derived from either horses or humans; but they are difficult to get. Researchers from the Thomas Jefferson University, USA, …
South Africa has seized 235 tonnes of the rare Patagonian toothfish in Cape Town. The illegal haul, estimated to be worth us $2.5 million, was probably headed for China, Hong Kong and Los Angeles. The environment and tourism ministry said that as a member state of the Convention for the …
South Africa's indigenous forests are severely threatened by gatherers of medicinal plants who pay scant attention to conservation practices. Michael Peter, director of the country's Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF), says that commercial harvesters
South African mineworkers have received about us $60.3 million as compensation for asbestos exposure. The deal marks the first time black mineworkers have won damages from a South African company. Gencor, a former mining finance house, brokered the agreement on behalf of its former units
india's Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (csir) has joined hands with eight similar organisations to form the Global Research Alliance (gra) in New Delhi on January 21. Its main objective is to establish itself in the research consultancy megamarket. gra signifies the culmination of an agreement reached in Pretoria …
