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For the first time in over 13 years of talks, WTO intellectual property negotiators have started work on producing a single draft text for setting up a multilateral geographical indications register for wines and spirits. A draft on notification — the first of six broad topics of the system to be discussed — was circulated by chairperson Darlington Mwape at an informal meeting of the full membership on 13 January 2011.

After two years of contraction, the economy is struggling to recover from recession. The financial sector is adjusting to the effects of Italy’s tax amnesty, which led to a significant decline in the size of banks’ balance sheets. A long period of fiscal surpluses has ended, as revenues fell sharply in 2009-10, mainly due to the cyclical downturn and lower revenues from the financial sector. San Marino has strengthened financial regulation, diluted bank secrecy, and tightened anti money-laundering defenses.

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Mr. Paulo Drummond visited Bissau January 10–14, 2011. The mission met with President Malam Bacaí Sanhá, Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior, Minister of Finance José Mario Vaz, Minister of Economy Helena Embaló, BCEAO National Director João Fadía, other government ministers and representatives of civil society, the private sector and the donor community.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - With its rapidly growing electricity demand, ample land availability and strong government commitment to sustainable economic growth, India can play a leading role in generating solar energy in the Asia and Pacific region, the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Director General for South Asia said today.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a technical assistance grant for a feasibility study for the upgrading and modernization of border crossing points in Central Asia.

New Delhi: The Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Mukul Wasnik has said that a new Legislation will be brought very soon to replace Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (PwD Act), which would be suitably aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).

New Delhi: The Education sector in India is expanding rapidly to meet the increasing demand resulting from rise in Gross Enrolment Ratios. Human Resource Development processes have gained high significance in India during the last few years. There is a need for expansion while ensuring excellence and equity. The challenge ahead is large.

New Delhi: An FIR in Crime No. 257/2008 dated 19.06.2008 was registered at Mundakayam PS, Kottayam District, Kerala under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 against 30 Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) activists on the basis of a complaint that a secret training camp was organised by them at Thangalpara, Wagamon during Dec, 2007. The case was initially investigated by the local Police and later Crime Branch Kottayam conducted the investigation.

New Delhi: The Vice President Shri M. Hamid Ansari released the “Annual Status of Education Report (ASER)- 2010 at a function here today. Addressing on the occasion, he has said that ASER’s simple, reliable and scientific methods of sampling and assessment on a nation-wide scale are important for highlighting the “quality agenda” in education. This is more glaring in the context of our public policy because we neither have an inbuilt evaluation culture nor adequate trained human resources with both technical knowledge and field experience to check and monitor outcomes.

New Delhi: Qatar has agreed to increase supply of LNG to meet India’s requirements. It also agreed to facilitate participation of Indian companies in the oil and gas sector.