India, Nepal agree to ensure South Asian connectivity

By : Ashok B Sharma | Thu, 18-Feb-2010

New Delhi:  After the recent agreement with Bangladesh to ensure connectivity in South Asia on the eastern side, India took another such initiative with Nepal. During the visit of the President of Nepal, Dr Ram Baran Yadav to India a new air ser... Full Story

India extends US$ 10 m grant to Palestine, reassures support for an independent Palestine State

By : ASHOK B SHARMA | Fri, 12-Feb-2010

New Delhi: India has announced a grant of US$10 million as budgetary support to the Palestinian National Authority and reassured the visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of support to their efforts aimed at economic and social development.&nb... Full Story

Turkey pushing for an early FTA with India

By : Ashok B Sharma | Tue, 09-Feb-2010

New Delhi: Turkey is eager to conclude a free trade agreement (FTA) with India as early as possible. At a delegation level talks between two countries, in the presence of the Turkish President, Abdullah Gul and the Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan... Full Story

India hopes to double two way trade with Arab world by 2014, Arab nations seek investment

By : ASHOK B SHARMA | Mon, 08-Feb-2010

New Delhi: India has expressed the hope that the two-way trade between India and the Arab countries may strengthen fast to double to US$ 230 billion by 2014 from the current level of US$ 114 billion. A study done by the apex Indian industry bod... Full Story

India would insist on equity norms if asked to make legally binding GHG cut

By : Ashok B Sharma | Sun, 07-Feb-2010

New Delhi: India today said that if in the negotiation process the developing countries are brought into the ambit of making legally binding global agreement for emission cuts, it would ask for a formula for equity in carbon spaceUnder international ... Full Story

Core negotiating should be representative for the success of climate talks

By : Ashok B Sharma | Thu, 04-Feb-2010

New Delhi: The Copenhagen Accord, which is not a legally binding one and cannot be the basis for future negotiations, has reflected a political consensus on the long-term global response to climate change. Consensus among parties is necessary for the... Full Story

German President visit only ceremonial sans any bilateral agreement

By : Ashok B Sharma | Wed, 03-Feb-2010

New Delhi: The President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Horst Kohler concludes his official visit to India on Wednesday without signing of any MoU or agreement between the two countries. The reasons cited by the German side is that agreements on... Full Story

Taking advantage of its growing connectivity Laos invites Indian investment

By : ASHOK B SHARMA | Tue, 02-Feb-2010

New Delhi: The landlocked Laos has invited Indian investments in food processing, mining, hydropower, consumer items and tourism industry citing its growing connectivity in the Greater Mekong Sub-regional Economic Zone, through the East-West Economic... Full Story

Rising prices, wage deflation, joblessness burn the poor, Govt and RBI fail

By : Ashok B Sharma | Mon, 01-Feb-2010

New Delhi: Rising prices of essential commodities coupled with wage deflation and increasing joblessness are pushing the poor households in India to a point of distress. Cosmetic measures of the government are unable to address the situation.The gove... Full Story

UN report castgates World Bank's poverty estimate, blames economic liberalisation

By : Ashok B Sharma | Thu, 28-Jan-2010

The United Nations has noted that economic liberalization across the world since 1980s has slowed down growth and poverty reduction and increased inequality and vulnerability in most countries. The growth slowdown was market in all the years except t... Full Story