Full Coverage: Asia and the Pacific

30.11.2005 The role of women as producers and providers of food is often overshadowed by their role as care givers. However, in most of the developing countries, including India, large numbers of women are engaged in agriculture- primarily in the production and processing of food.

30.11.2005 We are approaching a decisive phase in the negotiations, with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial meeting in Hong Kong just six weeks away. The outcome hangs in the balance. South Asian countries have a unique opportunity to tilt that balance in favour of making the Doha Round a success. India, in particular, has an opportunity, along with Brazil and China, to play a leadership role in the developing-country grouping called the G-20. Since it undertook far-reaching trade reforms in the 1990s and more recently, India has grown rapidly and is now a major competitor worldwide.

30.11.2005 Upbeat with the success of the technology mission in enchancing the cotton production, the Indian Society for Cotton Improvement (ISCI) has now expressed concerns over farmers not getting enough remunerative returns to cover the cost of cultivation.

30.11.2005 THIMPHU: The National Assembly members on Friday raised issues concerning the rural urban migration. They submitted that these could affect government's policy of food self-sufficiency. The Trashigang Chimi said the phenomenon was hampering the implementation of development activities in the Gewog. There were only few people in the village to offer Zhapto Woola, he said.

30.11.2005 THIMPHU: Hundreds of people from in and around Thimphu streamed into the swimming pool as the first ever Information and Communications Technology (ICT) fair opened on Saturday 26th November 2005 . The event at the swimming pool sports complex features demonstration on video conferencing to telemedicine and e-post services.

30.11.2005 Barbershops in Jaipur city are doing something more than just haircut. Guess what? They are giving tips to their customers as to how they can prevent themselves from getting the infection.

30.11.2005 An alliance between Nepal’s mainstream political parties and Maoist rebels brings hope of resolution to a crisis, brought on by King Gyanendra’s Feb. 1 assumption of direct rule, citing the failure of democratically-elected governments to deal with a bloody, decade-old communist uprising.

30.11.2005 The absence of information technology is not limited to rural schools alone. The analysis, presented in the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), said that overall, the percentage of computers at primary schools is as low as 3.95.

29.11.2005 Campaigners welcomed Total Oil's "humiliating climbdown" on Tuesday ­in a case in which the company was being sued in French courts over its involvement in forced labour in Burma. In an out of court settlement, the company agreed to set up a £3.5 million humanitarian fund.

29.11.2005 Nepal's oldest community radio station was shut down by government officials Sunday, and many other stations have switched to broadcasting "soft news." The move is making it difficult for the country's illiterate population to get news about last week's key agreement between Maoist rebels and the country's political parties, to which the king has not yet responded.

29.11.2005 Dozens of Indian civil society organizations have formed a People’s Caravan to lobby with the Indian government against the proposed World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements. The People’s Caravan, which is holding a mass awareness campaign all over the country, has already reached millions of Indians through rallies, public meetings and street plays. Rahul Kumar attends a press conference by ActionAid and its allies in New Delhi.

29.11.2005
Food security, as defined at the World Food Summit in 1996, means access by all people at all times to the food needed for an active and healthy life. But unfortunately, food security has remained an unachieved goal in most of poor countries including Bangladesh.

29.11.2005 Food security, as defined at the World Food Summit in 1996, means access by all people at all times to the food needed for an active and healthy life. But unfortunately, food security has remained an unachieved goal in most of poor countries including Bangladesh.

29.11.2005 As a part of its ongoing campaign to impart sex education to the adolescents, the Population Education Cell (PEC) of SCERT has taken up interaction session with parents and other professionals of all walks of life.

29.11.2005 In the last 50 years India’s forests have decreased from 22 to eight per cent while our population has jumped to 1,000 million. The proposed Scheduled Tribes (Recognition of Land Rights) Bill 2005 could sound the death-knell of forests as well as the tribals. Professor Vikram Soni takes a close look at the bill and the plight of both - forests and tribals.

29.11.2005 The first women's university of south Punjab formally has started functioning, initially with four disciplines, at the Government College for Women in Multan. In a ceremony held at the girl's college, the university formally launched its post-graduate academic activities for women.

29.11.2005 India is just not about its cities. The real India lives beyond the cities and urban landscapes. We must ask ourselves whether we have even been able to provide roti, kapda aur makan to the teeming millions living in our villages? Why do we ignore the little children in dusty clothes begging at traffic signals in our cities? To that extent, isn’t this slogan of the 70’s still valid in 2005? If India lives in its villages, then it is the responsibility of all of us to make that real India—empowered. Mr. And it needs will power, vision and commitment to achieve that.

29.11.2005 India is just not about its cities. The real India lives beyond the cities and urban landscapes. We must ask ourselves whether we have even been able to provide roti, kapda aur makan to the teeming millions living in our villages? Why do we ignore the little children in dusty clothes begging at traffic signals in our cities? To that extent, isn’t this slogan of the 70’s still valid in 2005? If India lives in its villages, then it is the responsibility of all of us to make that real India—empowered. Mr. Brijmohan Lall Munjall, Chairman, Hero Honda motors Ltd.,challenges to have will power, vision and commitment to achieve that.

29.11.2005 When was it last that you went to a beach in Mumbai and marvelled at the beautiful seafront? Think hard. If the dead fish washing up on the city's beaches are any indication, this might have been a long time back! With effluents from the industries going further and further into the sea, more dead fish are being washed ashore by the day.

29.11.2005 Empowerment basically means to be able to do things on your own. Education is the basic pre-requisite of doing things on your own terms.An educated country has the best chance of thriving. If people are aware of their rights and duties, they can help in nation-building. Education is actually a way of living. India should provide free education to each and every child. Mr Shammi Kapoor addresses these issue in The Indian Express.