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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda reaffirmed ADB's strong partnership with Australia during an official three-day visit aimed at further strengthening cooperation between Australia and ADB in joint efforts to fight poverty and promote development in the Asia and Pacific region.

There was a time when chief ministers were very powerful, having mass base of their own. They ruled their respective states with firm hands, almost like their fiefdom, did not tolerate interference by the central leadership. In their states there was no one to challenge their authority. Stalwarts like Dr. B C Roy ruled West Bengal, Govind Ballabh Pant headed the government in most populous state of Uttar Pradesh and, K. Kamaraj governed Tamil Nadu for nine years, and even defied Jawaharlal Nehru.

As the dust is settling after the financial storm following US downgrading and global financial market melt-down, some fundamental rethinking is happening in policy discourse. These developments have also demonstrated that many of the models followed by influential countries or group of countries are blatantly unworkable. Three main strands are noticeable just now. These are: firstly, China has gone into deep re-assessment of the economic strategy it followed so far. Secondly, Europe is ruminating whether it can carry on as usual within the current framework or it will have to introduce major changes in it the European Union. Thirdly, the United States is wondering what to do to avoid another recession.

Sustained efforts of the Defence Forces has transformed the cold desert area of Ladhak in the extreme northern part of India into a patch of greenery growing fruits and vegetables. This area also have a wide range of agro-animal technologies suitable for high altitude regions.

New York: The five countries bordering the Caspian Sea are to introduce an emergency response system to tackle oil pollution in the world’s largest enclosed body of water as well as enhanced monitoring measures under new protocols to a United-Nations backed treaty.

India’s polity and economy are far from reassuring for uninterrupted stability and robust growth as the nation enters its 65th year of independence. An extraordinary turn of events over the year has clouded the short-term outlook – issues of corruption in high places and governance failures thrown up like never before while continuing high inflation and structural weaknesses have slowed down the economy, off its high growth trajectory.

Pre-election times usually see political changes. During the run-up to the 2012 Assembly elections, Punjab politics has also witnessed three important changes. One is Akali Dal’s decision not to solely depend, unlike in the past, on its alliance partner BJP, for winning the polls.

For all the rousing rhetoric of Anna Hazare and Co. and theatrics like sitting in silent meditation in Rajghat, the chances of their movement acquiring greater momentum are minimal. The reason is not only the absence of any organizational support for the campaign, but also the fact that it is basically a middle class phenomenon, as the television visuals of the well-dressed cheerleaders at the various protest venues across the country show. As is known, even if the middle class generally provides leadership and ideological direction, the foot soldiers are almost always from sections lower down in the social and economic scale. In their absence, a movement cannot be sustained for a long period.

New York: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon went back to his roots today, visiting his hometown of Eumseong county in the Republic of Korea's countryside, where he urged local residents to concern themselves with the world at large.

New Delhi : India has decided to strengthen is coastal security in view of possible terrorist attack.