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Free trade, climate change to top India-EU summit

New Delhi: India and the European Union will focus on pushing for a free trade pact and narrowing differences over climate change at their annual summit this week, a European diplomat said Wednesday.

The two sides have held seven rounds of talks since 2007, and Daniele Smadja, the EU’s ambassador to India, said the leaders must now ‘bring political momentum into the discussions.’

Among the hurdles faced by the planned pact are intellectual property rights disputes, high Indian taxes on wines and spirits from Europe, and EU concerns over child labour in India.

‘We have to get into exchange of concessions, and these are difficult and need time,’ Smadja said.

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden, which holds the rotating EU presidency, EU Commissioner for External  Read more...

Indian monsoon among risks from rapid climate change

Rising seas, a rapid weakening of the Indian monsoon and spiralling costs of adapting to a warmer, drier world are just some of the looming risks from rapid climate change, a report for the Australian government says.

The report, “Climate change 2009, faster change and more serious risks”, examines the rapid progress of climate  Read more...

Asia construction frenzy needs green injection

Powered by solar energy generated on its roof, Taipei 101, the world’s tallest completed building, is not only a leader for its breathtaking height but also for its eco-friendly features.

Finished in 2004, the skyscraper is a rare example of green design in Asia, a region with the world’s busiest construction sector yet one of the poorest records for eco-friendly building.  Read more...

The number of tiger attacks on people is growing in India's Sundarban

The number of tiger attacks on people is growing in India’s Sundarban islands as habitat loss and dwindling prey caused by climate change drives them to prowl into villages for food, experts said on Monday.

Wildlife experts say endangered tigers in the world’s largest reserve are turning on humans because rising sea levels and coastal erosion are steadily shrinking  Read more...

Cyclone may form off depressions at Bay this month

At least one cyclone may form off one or two depressions in the Bay of Bengal this month, the Met office said in its long-range forecast for October.

The forecast, issued after a meeting of experts from different disciplines at the met office, said the monsoon would  Read more...