Environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan landed in Durban on Sunday ahead of the high-level climate talks to hammer out a decision that only the political heads of 195 countries can take - a compromise that would ensure Kyoto Protocol remains alive and that the world signals readiness to discuss a new legally binding deal for all in future. This political decision would be the master key to a success at Durban. India...
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Durban climate talks: India gives guarded response to draft negotiating text by Urmi A Goswami
A 73-page draft negotiating text was issued at the end of the first week of climate talks in the South African city of Durban. The text, issued by the chair of the Bali track of the negotiations, is an "amalgamation" of draft texts and will provide the basis for the final document that will be considered by the Conference of Parties or the general assembly of the 193 countries and...
More »FDI decision a miscalculation:Yashwant Sinha
-The Times of India Terming the government's attempt to allow foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail as a miscalculation that lacked political consensus, BJP leader Yashwant Sinha has warned that a looming slowdown needs urgent measures to remove supply side blockages. The former Finance minister, who heads Parliament's standing committee on Finance, said unlike in 2008, the government has no room to increase the fiscal deficit that is already above 5% while...
More »Unparliamentary flip flops mar FDI debate
-CNN-IBN "Many said that Kentucky (KFC) will drive the dhabas out of the market. The dhabas have driven out Kentucky. The Indian sherbet is still there despite Coca Cola and Pepsi. Don't underestimate India." That was former NDA Finance minister Jaswant Singh in 2004 when he supported FDI in retail. "Fifty per cent of our population, comprising of small traders, street-vendors and the self-employed, sustain themselves through retail businesses. The UPA government...
More »Cong’s big chance and threat by Manini Chatterjee
The Congress today appears besieged and beleaguered with key allies and even members from its own ranks lining up behind the combined Opposition in vehemently opposing the Manmohan Singh government’s decision to allow FDI in multi-brand retail. But, paradoxically, this state of siege — reflected by the prolonged deadlock in Parliament with a quasi no-confidence motion hanging over it — also gives the Grand Old Party a great opportunity not just...
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