Climate change behind Pakistan floods: Expert

By Zofeen Ebrahim KARACHI, Pakistan, Aug 16 (IPS) – ”If this is not God’s wrath, what is?” 40-year-old taxi driver Bakht Zada said of the massive floods in Pakistan that have swept away his life earnings. Speaking to IPS from Madyan...

Oil spill off Mumbai coast

MUMBAI: The Coast Guard on Sunday sounded an alert over the oil spill off the Mumbai coast as the slick covered a large area, up to five nautical miles, from the spot where two ships collided on Saturday morning. The spillage from MSC Chitra, after...

Tony Abbott’s scare campaign on debt

By Chris Bowen, Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation & Corporate Law, Minister for Human Services, Member for McMahon Melbourne: The only consistency from Tony Abbott’s shambolic economic team during this campaign, has been their deceptive...

Rich nations’ farm subsidies help big landlords,companies

By Julio Godoy PARIS, Aug 6, 2010 (IPS) – Subsidies for agriculture in the industrialised countries of the world grew again in 2009, benefiting the largest companies and land owners, such as Prince Albert of Monaco and Queen Elizabeth of Britain. The...

Trade talks with EU put Indian drug makers on edge

By Keya Acharya NEW DELHI, Aug 3 (IPS) – Their ongoing negotiations remain shrouded in secrecy, but there are already reports that India and the European Union (EU) will have a free-trade agreement ready by the end of August, and that they will...

Analysis: Kashmir cauldron boils again

By Sujoy Dhar NEW DELHI, Aug 2 (IPS) – The sight of armoured vehicles and soldiers in battle gear out in Kashmir’s streets in July is a grim warning of a storm gathering yet again over the restive valley. It heralded the return of turbulence...

Doo Not Quit Smouking

Buyline Ravi V.Chhabra Lakhs of smokers die of cancer in Mother India. Sad. Most people do not take the surgeon general’s caution seriously. Sadder. Smoking is banned in public places and bars, pubs, clubs, bistros et al. Ridiculous/farcical. Smoking...

SAT EXCLUSIVE: I am not a social activist: Aamir Khan

Video: Aamir Khan in Melbourne promoting \'Peepli Live\' By Neeraj Nanda Melbourne: Bollywood film star and producer, Aamir Khan, today said he was not a social activist. Aamir was addressing and later answering to media queries about his...

Brumby launches Westpac language program for India and China

By our business reporter Melbourne, 4 August: Victoria’s Premier John Brumby here today launched the Westpac Group’s new Cultural and language Learning Program for China and India. Mr. Brumby said the program was an exciting new way to help staff...

B’desh SC bans religious parties, upholds secularism – `Carrying out activities based on religion is punishable’

DHAKA: Islamist parties in Bangladesh face a ban from politics after the controversial 1979 Fifth Amendment was struck down by the Supreme Court in a landmark ruling that also paved the way for ensuring secularism as the “cornerstone” of the country’s...