Acid comment touches minister on the raw
British environment minister John Gummer is smarting from being called a shitbag by his Norwegian counterpart.
Job chances decline for factory workers
With technology advancing at a tremendous pace, companies are retrenching unskilled employees. The effect is being felt most in Europe
China bans trade in rhino horns, tiger bones
The Chinese people may resent the restrictions, but the government has to crack down on trafficking in products from rhinos and tigers or else …
US firm uses new software to woo Japanese market
Microsoft Corp of USA has launched a Japanese version of the Windows 3.1 software package, which is expected to grab for it control of Japan's …
Clinton steers to safety on N-plant issue
The US President has moved deftly to avoid irritating either US congresspersons or the British government on the issue of the controversial …
Gruelling days ahead at WHO for Nakajima
Allegations of financial irregularities are likely to be highlighted at a crucial session scheduled shortly in Geneva.
Use of dispersants worries environmentalists
The hue and cry over the "ecological tragedy" following the oil spill off Shetland Islands is dying a natural death, and even environmentalists …
No taking cheap Colombian coal to Newcastle
John Major's Conservative government is learning the hard way that a free market economy alway works better anywhere but at home.
Genetic theft by Kew botanists
An ongoing debate in the UK questions the ethics behind the acquisition by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew of acquiring tropical plants through …
The skyway to disaster
The proposed elevated roadway along the Lyari river bed is expected to worsen the already polluted inner city.
Famines force revival of forgotten crop varieties
The drawbacks of modern, high-yield crops are prompting farmers and researchers to go back to traditional, well-adapted varieties.
Monks battle to save forest
Villagers in Thailand find an unlikely ally in the Buddhist clergy to help their conservation efforts
SAARC gene bank yet to open an account
SAARC's proposal to set up a gene bank is still hanging fire though Northern countries have already started to privatise their genetic resources
No milking the super-cows
The European Community has opposed injecting cows with the controversial hormone bovine somatrophin to boost milk production
In the red with green measures
European companies fear that the plethora of environmental protection laws may blunt their competitive edge
Cyborg controversy
There's gaiety on the greens as the European Parliament drops a directive on patenting genetically-engineered life-forms
Vertigo at the summit
The forthcoming World Summit for Social Development has already polarised North-South social imperatives
White rhinos and black deals
A controversial CITES decision allowing South Africa to sell live rhinos may be based on fudged figures
To ban or not to ban
A recent interim court order on toxic trade throws open a Pandora's box: environment, industry, employment, international commitments... the lot
Fringe benefits
Twilight zones between two habitats could lead to divergence of species and even originate new ones
Giga-hit or mega-flop?
Will the fastest supercomputer developed by India help the country realise its potential? Or will it flop?
The plastic brain
The human brain's 'plasticity' means that it may be learning and adapting even as you read this
Wake-up time
The government of India finally includes environmental assessment in the national economic survey
Right to know
The Rajasthan Assembly recently passed the Right to Information Bill. But will it make state records more accessible to the public?
Artificially real
Researchers develop artificial human eggs that will enable infertile women to have children with their genetic features