This paper presents a status report of the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) on two crucial development parameters—inequality and poverty—that have a significant bearing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs; especially SDG-1 and SDG-10). The paper tracks the origins and movements of absolute and relative poverty, …
When the worst drought in 60 years hit America’s corn belt this summer, many people wondered if it was caused by climate change. It is too early to say much about such a recent episode but various studies have attributed earlier individual heatwaves or drought to global warming, notably those …
Urbanization and urban growth are intricately intertwined with economic growth — and the BRICS are no exception. The BRICS’ vastly different individual experiences of ‘urban transition’ offer inspiring examples of how to seize urbanization’s opportunities, but also lessons on the pitfalls and problems~inappropriate policies can bring. This discussion paper is …
Despite mounting alarm about climate change, almost 200 nations meeting in Doha from Monday are likely to pay little more than lip service to the need to rein in rising greenhouse gas emissions. A likely failure to agree a meaningful extension of the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol, a legally binding plan …
The United States resisted pledging steeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 on Monday despite calls by poor nations at the start of a U.N conference for tougher action to avert storms, droughts and rising seas. About 200 nations met for annual U.N. talks on global warming with little …
Talks on a new climate change treaty in Qatar next week will not advance unless rich countries promise more ambitious cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, four major developing nations said. The four nations, Brazil, China, India and South Africa -known in climate talks as the BASIC bloc - released a …
According to a new UN report, incidence of new HIV infections has fallen by half across 25 countries The rate of new HIV infections in India has dropped by an encouraging 57% over the last decade thanks to increased domestic spending towards the AIDS response. According to a new UN …
- All nations will suffer the effects of a warmer world, but it is the world's poorest countries that will be hit hardest by food shortages, rising sea levels, cyclones and drought, the World Bank said in a report on climate change. Under new World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, …
After the setback over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s abrupt decision to postpone his India visit, the two countries are looking to undo some of the recent strife by commissioning the first Kudankulam reactor during his visit in late December. While foreign ministry officials confirmed that India was looking at commissioning …
The debate over nuclear energy will go on, but the issue with the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) is one of the several illegalities on which it is founded. In 1988, India inked the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant deal with the former Soviet Union. Two key elements in it were: …
Nordmann's Greenshank, a beautiful Russian shorebird which migrates annually to many south Asian countries, including India, is listed as 'endangered' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The key threat to the bird is the rapid rate of reclamation and development of coastal wetlands throughout Asia for industry, infrastructure …
As the mood in Japan, Germany, Italy and even France hardens, China is restarting a £170bn reactor programme and India is looking to atomic power to shore up its creaking grid A nuclear fuel pellet the size of your little finger provides more energy than 800 kilograms of coal or …
Natural gas consumption in China, the world's top energy user, is expected to be 230 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2015, while supply of gas, including imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) and unconventional gas, is expected to exceed 260 bcm, the National Development and Reform Commission said on Friday. The …
Impasse over nuclear liability provisions, other civil issues India and Russia have put off their high-level engagement planned for November 1 by almost two months in order to reach an agreement on some contentious military and civil issues. The announcement about the meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian …
Second Asian Ministerial Conference: “This is not a pledge to save tigers, but a pledge to save humanity itself,” agriculture minister (Dr) Pema Gyamtsho said yesterday, at a follow up meet on the commitment that 13 tiger range countries made two years ago. The commitment then was to double the …
‘It was a policy decision taken at a time when no other country came forward to sustain India’s nuclear capabilities’ The Centre on Thursday justified in the Supreme Court waiver of the nuclear liability agreement with Russia for the Kudankulam plant in Tamil Nadu and said it was a policy …
Russia on Monday expressed its displeasure over the civil nuclear liability law that seeks to cover Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) 3 and 4 and problems faced by its telecom company Sistema saying that the rules of the game should not be changed mid-way. Unit 1 of KKNPP is due …
NEW DELHI, 15 OCT: Russia today made very clear to India its unhappiness over two key bilateral issues ~ the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP) units 3 and 4 and investments by its telecom company Sistema in the country, saying that the rules of the game should never be reconsidered …
Delhi Ready To Renegotiate Reactors’ Cost If Moscow Wants New Delhi: India on Monday conveyed to Russia that the third and fourth units of Kudankulam reactors will have to be brought under the purview of its nuclear liability law and that it was willing to renegotiate the price issue, if …
Ahead of a bilateral meeting here Monday, Russia said Sunday the cost of the next phase of the Kood-ankulam atomic project will rise if it has to bear extra liabilities in case of a possible nuclear accident. Russian deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin, who has come for the Inter-Governmental Commission …
