02.11.2006

• Treatment of animals in R&D
• The first national conference on “Rational use of animals in research” was conducted at Hyderabad 1^st of November.
• Mr. R.M. Kharb – Chairman of the Animal Welfare Board of India
• Lowest forms of organisms in phylogenetic scale such as rats and mice, micro organisms, amphibians and invertebrates are more capable of experiencing pain than vertebrates and warm blooded animals like dogs and monkeys.
• Industry estimates put the market for clinical trials at about $2 bn by 2010.
• AP’s economic performance
• Economic growth in respect of GSDP growth was less than 2% in the 1960’s, 3.3% in the 1970’s and has increased to 5% in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
• The official poverty ratio declined from 49% in 1973-74 to 15.8% in 1999-00.
• Literacy increased from 13% in 1951 to 61% in 2001. Nearly 50% of the women are still illiterate.
• Infant mortality declined from 91 per 1000 in 1961 to 66 per 1000 in 2001.
• Rural unemployment rate is at 10.9% against the nation’s figure of 8.2% in 2004-05.
• Pending court cases – number
• Supreme court – from about 1 lakh in 1991, the number has come down to 34,000 in 2005.
• All high courts – 34,24,518 cases as on June 30, 2005.
• All subordinate courts – over 24 mln cases.
• Brazilian Presidential election
• Luiz Inacio da Silva is re-elected as President.
• China’s African policy
• Increased trade from about $4 bn in 1995 to $40 bn in 2005.
• In the 1950’s much of the support for African nationalisms was driven by ideological considerations – a combination of third world solidarity and the desire to promote communist ideals
• China’s contemporary interest in the continent is of a different nature – wooing Africa today is to access oil, metals, and timber that China needs to keep its economy growing at 9-10% levels.
• Africa is moreover a substantial importer of China’s cheap products.
• Increased support or acceptance by other countries of the one-China principle (China never accepted the independence of Taiwan from the mainland).
• Threats of coup in Fiji
• Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarese dismissed the military commander Voreqe Bainimarama. The military commander along with other top commanders rejected the Government’s decision.
• The PM refused to quit in the face of threats from the military commander.
• World’s oldest known bee
• A 100 mln year old specimen preserved in amber was found. Its scientific name is Milittosphex burmensis
• Insurance industry growth
• The life insurance segment is growing at 35% while the non-life segment is growing at about 15%.
• Apple production in India
• Himachal Pradesh and J&K – main states producing apple.
• Season commences in August and ends by October.
• HP produces over 4 lk tonnes of apple per annum in a normal year. But this year’s produce is expected to be about 2.5 lk tonnes – almost a 40% decline.