The report forecasts global economic growth to 2.6% in 2024, barely above the 2.5% threshold commonly associated with a recessionary phase. The report says the prevailing focus on inflation overshadows urgent issues like trade disruptions, climate change and rising inequalities. It advocates for structural reforms and coordinated global efforts, proposing …
A recent study by the us-based Wildlife Conservation Society reveals that the quantity of shark fins in Asian markets could be double the previous estimates. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, which monitors and manages the world's fish populations, says that lack of accurate data has resulted in conservation …
the recent discussions on world trade-related issues in Tokyo progressed along expected lines: they came a cropper. Ministers from Australia, Canada, Brazil, India, Kenya, South Korea, the us and the uk could not reconcile their differences over contentious agricultural trade issues during the three-day informal talks in February. The immediate …
the Jammu and Kashmir (j&k;) High Court (hc) has asked the state government to regulate the trade of shahtoosh shawl-making and shearing of Tibetan antelopes in such a way that the art and livelihood of artisans is protected. Earlier, the hc had passed an order directing the j&k; government to …
two incidents of illegal handling of waste oil have come to light recently, underscoring the fact that trade in the hazardous product continues unabated in India. That this is being done in utter disregard of Supreme Court (sc) directives
• India has 16,000 recorded plant species. About 3,000 of these yield minor forest produce (MFP). • Nearly 500 million people living in and around forests in India depend on MFP for sustenance and as a supplement to their income • Studies in Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar …
the two-day Global Investors Meet (gim) in Kochi on January 18 has sparked the development debate afresh in Kerala. gim was the first ever attempt by the state government to attract investors from the world for "project specific, one-to-one negotiations'. Though it succeeded in evolving a consensus on the need …
The European court of first instance in Luxembourg recently refused to shield three of the world's largest tobacco companies from legal action linked to cigarette smuggling. The move was initiated by the European Commission and backed by a majority of eu member states. Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds and Japan Tobacco …
dispute settlement under the World Trade Organisation (wto) rules has been fraught with disagreements. The us has now put forth a proposal to grant countries that are parties to the dispute more control over such proceedings. The plan was announced at the three-day meeting of the wto dispute settlement body …
manufacturers of air-conditioners (acs) and producers of refrigerant gas are at loggerhead. With the Union government denying the former the licence to import refrigerant gas hydro-chlorofluorocarbon (hcfc-22 or r22), they allege that they are being forced to buy it at higher rates from domestic producers. Gas producers, in turn, contend …
widespread public protest and media debate has forced the Kerala government to shelve its ambitious project to sell the waters of two major rivers to multinational companies. The project sought to attract global corporate investment in two industrial water supply programmes. It envisaged extraction of 240 million litres of water …
The Jamiatul Quresh Meat Welfare Association (JQMWA) in Pakistan has threatened a countrywide strike by butchers unless the government does something soon about the acute scarcity of meat and livestock in the country. Large amounts of meat are exported to West Asia and other Islamic countries at the cost of …
RIGHTS ISSUE: A patent on atta chakkis (flour mills). It sure was unexpected. But it's been granted. The latest victim of the patent rights regime is the Asian traditional knowledge of producing atta. The US patent office has given patent rights to Nebraska-based ConAgra Inc for the "method for producing …
jumbo fighters: Tiny bugs would no longer trouble jumbo jets. If undetected, microbes in aviation fuel harm the planes' instruments and even eat through the wings. They also produce misleading readings in fuel gauges. Now, Cardiff-based ECHA Microbiology has developed an industry-standard test for the pests, which lets non-microbiologists check …
this was a public hearing with a difference. For, the people succeeded in preventing the establishment of a clinker grinding and cement packing plant in Kerala. The experts panel unanimously recommended at the October 24 meeting that environmental clearance should not be granted for the plant. The unit was to …
This Act aims to provide for better protection of the interests of consumers and for that purpose to make provision for the establishment of consumer councils and other authorities for the settlement of consumers' disputes and for matters connected therewith.
It is five o'clock in the morning. I am inside Jharkhand's Khellari forest, on assignment. In the first light of morning, the forest looks lush and dark green. Suddenly, a frail frame
The din over individual species nearly drowned the debate on the sustainable use of natural resources at the recently concluded 12th Conference of Parties (cop-12) of the Convention on Illegal Trade in Endangered Species (cites). The latter issue
What if Phulmai did not exist. You can meet her in the forest; follow her for a day; listen to what she says and so complete half an assignment. The other half lies in accounting for her, and all those like her who spend their lives headloading. Step out of …
