‘$65-bn investments on hold due to poor policy framework’

October 13th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change met here Tuesday to discuss the setting up of a network of institutions for mutual exchange of knowledge on climate change, a member of the council said. Called "strategic knowledge on climate change", the "networked institutional framework" would help coordinate all research work on the topic going on in universities and other institutions, including modelling the outcome of various scenarios in a warmer world and putting together a database, said the member, speaking on condition of anonymity.

September 11th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The World Bank Friday approved two projects totaling $300 million to help Pakistan strengthen its social safety nets and improve higher education. Of the total, $200 million has been allocated for the Pakistan social safety nets development policy credit that is designed to establish an institutional and operational framework for an efficient national safety net system, Online news agency reported.

September 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Union Cabinet today approved the proposal of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry for the formation of a company 'Invest India' under Section 25 of the companies Act, 1956, for promotion of foreign investments during the XI Five Year Plan. The proposed company which will be a joint venture between the Government of India, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the State Governments will be responsible for promoting Foreign investments into the country in a more focussed, comprehensive and structured manner.

September 3rd, 2009 Administration unveils bank capital proposalWASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Thursday proposed stronger international standards for the capital reserves that banks are required to hold. The goal is to avoid a repeat of last year's severe financial crisis.

August 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The first meeting of the Prime Minister's Council of UID Authority of India took place at 7 Race Course Road under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

July 20th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor Monday embarked on a five-day visit to the US, where he will hold discussions about the Af-Pak policy and regional security situation. Underscoring India's role in the strife-torn Afghanistan-Pakistan region, Kapoor will hold parleys on the issue with senior US military and defence officials.

July 16th, 2009 NEW DELHI - With India-US bilateral relations growing strategically in the light of the civil nuclear deal, Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor will visit the US and hold discussions about the Af-Pak policy and regional security situation. Underscoring India's role in the strife-torn Afghanistan-Pakistan region, Kapoor will hold parleys on the issue with senior US military and defence officials.

July 2nd, 2009 'Genocide-free' proposal rejected at VanguardBOSTON — Shareholders of Vanguard Group have rejected an activist proposal that would have required stronger screening of investments that may be linked to genocide. A proposal backed by the group Investors Against Genocide fell far short of majority support at a shareholders meeting the mutual fund company held Thursday in Scottsdale, Ariz.

July 1st, 2009 NEW DELHI - Union Minister for Tourism and Housing Kumari Selja on Wednesday said that the Government has sanctioned over 1.5 million houses for the poor people across the country. Kumari Selja, releasing her ministry's 100-day agenda, announced that the Government is likely to develop a model legal framework to consider property rights to the urban slum dwellers.

April 25th, 2009 World Bank to aid poor countries with public worksWASHINGTON — The World Bank said Saturday it would provide poor countries with more than $55 billion for public work projects left in limbo when the recession dried up capital investment. The goal is to create jobs and lay the foundation for future economic growth and poverty reduction.

April 8th, 2009 HYDERABAD - Rahul Gandhi, scion of India's most powerful political dynasty and touted as a future Prime Minister, on Wednesday said that his Congress party is pro-poor. Addressing an election meeting in Hyderabad, Gandhi lashed at the opposition parties, accusing accused them of being anti-poor.

March 31st, 2009 WARDHA - Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Monday asserted that the common man had always been his party's focus and accused the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of ignoring the poor. Addressing an election rally here ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Gandhi promised that the Congress would work to alleviate poverty.

March 31st, 2009 WARDHA - Young Congress MP Rahul Gandhi Tuesday said his party always works for the common man unlike the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which 'does not see the world from the eyes of the poor'. 'We see India from the common man's eyes.

March 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - The telecom tribunal Tuesday upheld the government's dual spectrum allocation policy, allowing companies to offer mobile services under CDMA as well as GSM domain. Hearing a petition filed by GSM operators challenging the government's decision, the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) said: 'We do not find any ground to level malafide intention on the part of the Department of Telecom (DoT) and accordingly hold that the issue of early completion of formalities is not a matter that would require intervention at our level.' This settlement will enable CDMA players like Reliance Communications and Tata Telecommunications to offer both CDMA and GSM services to its customers.

January 4th, 2009 NEW DELHI - In order to make housing affordable for the weaker sections of society, the government is thinking of reserving 20 percent of space in housing projects for them. Minister for Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Kumari Selja, Monday said her ministry will ask state governments to reserve developed land for the economically weaker sections in various housing projects.