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New Delhi: The Government approved an Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for 60 Selected Tribal and Backward Districts on 25th November, 2010 and Rs. 1500 crore was released under the Scheme in December, 2010. The implementation of the Scheme has commenced recently and the works taken up by the Districts under IAP are at different stages of implementation. As on 3rd March, 2011, Rs. 132.60 crore was utilized.

New Delhi: On an average, between 7,500 to 9,000 orders for interception of telephones are issued by the Central Government per month. Normally, the duration does not exceed six months.

New York: Ordinary Afghans continue to bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict in the country, says a United Nations report released today that points to a 15 per cent rise in the death toll last year and urges greater efforts by all parties to protect civilians.

Executive Directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have commended the authorities of Qatar for the prudent policies during the global economic crisis which, coupled with an increase in gas production, have contributed to maintaining strong economic growth while safeguarding financial stability. Directors considered that the economic outlook is favorable, despite vulnerabilities to gyrations in hydrocarbon prices and global financial shocks. They stressed the need, however, to carefully monitor aggregate demand to prevent the resurgence of inflationary pressures. In the medium term, increasing productivity in the nonhydrocarbon sector will be key to promoting economic diversification.

New Delhi: The delay in modernization of the Indian Armed Forces among other things is the issue of Intellectual Property Right (IPR) issues, according to the Director General of Defence Intelligence Agency, Lt General DS Chauhan.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the allies pitching it too high, the Congress, which is leading the opposition United Democratic Front(UDF) in Kerala, is finding the going tough in the seat-sharing talks for the state assembly elections, scheduled to take place on April 13.

There are no clear pointers of the mood of the electorate, four weeks before voting takes place for the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, though overhanging the poll scene is the 2G spectrum scam with the DMK leader A Raja, former Telecommunications Minister, facing court proceedings for corruption charges. Other DMK notables are also under CBI scan including the DMK supreme leader Mr Karunanidhi’s daughter, Ms. Kanimozhi, MP (Rajya Sabha). Chief Minister Karunanidhi expects his welfare schemes alone would help his party to return to power on April 13.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The recovery in the global economy will help the Pacific economies improve in 2011. The strongest gains are expected in the resource-rich countries that are benefiting from both major new resource projects and better world commodity prices, says the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Pacific Economic Monitor.

In less than two months, a drafting group of negotiators has produced a complete text on the proposed multilateral register for geographical indications for wines and spirits. But because all the present divergent positions are included, the 9-page document — presented to a formal negotiation meeting on 3 March 2011 — contains around 208 pieces of rival text, marked by square brackets.

WTO ambassadors told an informal meeting of the Trade Negotiations Committee on 8 March 2011 that they share Director General Pascal Lamy’s concern that recent progress on substance in the Doha Round is not fast enough to meet late April targets.