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New York: From blankets to emergency communications equipment to technological expertise, United Nations agencies are rushing assistance to Japan to help cope with the multi-front disaster caused by last week’s devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant breakdown.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Jean Le Dem visited Victoria during March 4-17, 2011 to conduct discussions for the third program review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement with Seychelles. The mission met with His Excellency President James Michel, Vice President Danny Faure, Governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles Pierre Laporte, Principal Secretary of Finance Ahmed Afif, and other senior government officials as well as representatives of the private sector and parliamentarians.

New Delhi: The RBI’s rate hikes, which began in March 2010 have clearly had an impact on industrial growth which has slowed down considerably in the current year. They have also not had much impact on the inflation rate which continues to remain high. “With lending rates also rising in tandem, we are concerned about the prospects for industrial growth in 2011-12,” said CII DG Mr Chandrajit Banerjee in a statement today.

New Delhi: Even as Government and industry maintain keen focus on increasing the manufacturing share of GDP from 15-16% now to 25-26% in the coming years, the efforts will be guided by two imperatives – economic and social. On the economic side, the focus will be on the adoption of eco-friendly, energy efficient technologies. And, on the social front, the accent will be on employment generation and poverty alleviation.

New Delhi: An agreement for ensuring supply of additional gas to the power projects in Andhra Pradesh was signed today in New Delhi. The agreement was signed between GAIL, RIL, RGTIL and power plants in Andhra Pradesh. This would enable additional power production of almost 600 MW in Andhra Pradesh (12 million units per day), which is critical for the State in summer months.

New Delhi: The Government of India, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) today signed an agreement for a first tranche loan of $78 million under the $150 million National Capital Region Urban Infrastructure Financing Facility which seeks to improve living conditions for the region’s fast growing population.

New Delhi: The Government of India, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the State Govt of Rajasthan today signed an agreement for a third tranche loan of $63 million for the ongoing Rajasthan Urban Sector Development Investment Program (RUSDIP) which is helping to improve infrastructure and living conditions in the fast growing state.

New Delhi: The Government of India, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd. (IIFCL) today signed a $250 million loan agreement for Tranche 2 of the ongoing Second India Infrastructure Project Financing Facility which aims to stimulate infrastructure development through public-private-partnership investments.

New Delhi: Nigeria has supported India’s candidature for a permanent member of the UN Security Council by the virtue of it being the largest democracy in the world. It has also claimed that as the largest democracy in Africa it too deserves to be a permanent member of the UNSC.

New Delhi: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram expressed concern over drug menace having reached homes today. He said that sale of drugs near schools and colleges, rave parties across big and small cities and towns of India was on the rise. The Minister felt that drug problem in our country is as big a problem as any other internal security threat. He praised NCB for its remarkable efforts despite severe shortage of manpower. He said that efforts will be made to increase the manpower of NCB four fold in next four years. Shri Chidambaram also urged all the officers of NCB to continue to work hard to face the grave challenge of increased drug problem.