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New York: While noting the significant steps that have been taken in Mauritania to tackle slavery, an independent United Nations human rights expert today called for a comprehensive strategy to put an end to this scourge, warning of its impact on the country's future.

Since the previous review in 2003, SACU members (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland), have collectively expanded at an average annual rate of about 4% in real terms, although this GDP growth has been somewhat erratic mainly reflecting infrastructure and other constraints, according to a WTO Secretariat report on the trade policies and practices of SACU.

New York: In an era where people are crossing borders in greater numbers seeking better opportunities, it is more vital than ever that States safeguard the rights of migrants, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a high-level gathering in Athens today.

At the end of eight years, the Doha Development Round of multilateral trade negotiations is yet to emerge out of the tunnel with successive breakdowns, notwithstanding ritualistic political declarations of major trading nations of commitment to “ambitious yet balanced and successful conclusion” of the Round. The new deadline is to clinch the Round before the end of 2010.

KOLKATA: With insurgency levels declining sharply and social welfare schemes working well at the grassroots level, Tripura in the Northeast has stolen a march over the other “sister” states in the region.

NEW DELHI: Talks have started with France, Russia and USA for the setting up of advanced light water nuclear plants in India. Areva, the French nuclear technology leader, has offered its top of the line reactor, called European Pressurized Reactor (EPR), each of 1600 MW, costing Euro 3.5 billion per piece.

New York: Greater scientific research is essential to better understand the potential impact of activities on marine biodiversity beyond the coastal areas that fall under national jurisdiction as the more remote areas are just as vulnerable, says a new United Nations report.

New York: Real wages appear to be stagnating worldwide for the second consecutive year, underlining the fragility of any potential recovery from the global economic crisis, the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) reported today.

A vicious catfight has broken out in the Bharatiya Janata Party over blame-sharing for its second consecutive defeat in the national elections. The infighting has acquired great ferocity with former finance minister Yashwant Sinha joining former foreign minister Jaswant Singh in raising the banner of revolt by attacking the LK Advani camp for the failure of its election strategy and for rewarding those who devised it.

It is almost as if the BJP is seized by a death wish. The reverses it suffered in the parliamentary polls have been followed by a setback in Maharashtra and internal tussles in Rajasthan and Karnataka.