India
Rajasthan seeks additional fund for rural schemes – The Hindu – 2 Feb 09
The state has requested an additional Rs.600 crore towards the National rural employment Guarantee Scheme reporting that it expects expenditures for this fiscal year to reach Rs.5,700 crore.

Internet kiosks soon in rural post offices: Scindia – The Hindu- 2 Feb 09
India’s Department of Posts is continuing its efforts to modernize post offices across the country, mostly in rural areas. Projects include upgrading infrastructure of post offices and providing internet services at all head post offices as well as some other important rural and urban offices.

Nepal
Nepalese Maoists warn army leader: BBC – 28 Jan 09
Maoist defense minister has issued a new warning to army chief to stop recruiting people to the military. This latest disagreement is about General Rukmangad Katuwal’s insistence that the military has the right to recruit new people to fill vacancies created by retirements.

The Big Deluge – Part 1 (Nepal/India): Aljazeera.com- 31 Jan 09
Documentary about the flooding caused in August 2008 when the Koshi river between India and Nepal burst, arguments that the disaster could have been prevented and whether the manmade embankments should be rebuilt. Part 2.

Zimbabwe
Cosatu wants Neutrals for Harare Polls – allAfrica.com – 30 Jan 09
The trade union federations of South Africa and Zimbabwe called on African Union leaders to establish a neutral transition body to arrange free and fair elections under international supervision in Zimbabwe.

The Darkness before the Dawn? – allAfrica.com- 30 Jan 09
President Mugabe and Tsvangirai have now agreed to form an all-party government on February 13.

MDC (Movement of Democratic Change Party) Bites the Bullet – IPS- 30 Jan 09
The spirits of a nation were lifted when Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the main section of the Movement for Democratic Change declared that his party would enter a unity government under terms negotiated at a special regional summit.

UN to Cut Aid as cash dries up – allAfrica.com – 30 Jan 09
The UN World Food Program will cut it’s maize rations to Zimbabwe by about half reportedly due to growing concerns of donors to put money into the country given current political and social circumstances.

South Africa
Africa to help rebuild Zimbabwe: Reuters- 30 Jan 09
South African president Kgalema Motlanthe said on Tuesday that once a unity government is formed in Zimbabwe in February, the two countries could work together towards economic recovery.

Research Inputs Needed to Improve People’s Lives – allAfrica.com – 30 Jan 09
At the unveiling of the new Center for Social Policy and Local Government Studies at the University of Fort Hare, Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya highlighted the important connections between academic research and policy-making, delivering quality social services and socioeconomic conditions.

Bangladesh
Women move forward but challenges remain – IRIN – 27 Jan 09
Once all the legislative ministers take there seats, 62 out of 345 will be female representatives, breaking new ground towards gender equality in Bangladesh. Supporters are cautiously optimistic of the progress made and future possibilities.

Bangladesh launches sign language for handicapped – The Earth Times- 1 Feb 09
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed reported that the government would introduce the use of sign language at the state level in state-run television news and other programs.

Mexico
Mexico wages less than food costs - Prensa Latina- 31 Jan 09
According to research from the Faculty of Economy of the Mexican National Autonomous University (UNANM), over 48.82 percent of the working population in Mexico receives a salary that is not enough to buy essential food.

Mexico City reduces water service as reserves dip – AP – 1 Feb 09
Mexico City shut down a main water pipeline on Sunday, cutting service to more than 2 million residents. The conservation plan will interrupt service for three days each month until May when the rainy season begins.

Guatemala
Important International Forum on Migration in Guatemala – The Guatemala Times – 30 Jan 09
The First International Forum on Migration and Peace was held January 29 and 30th in Antigua. The forum gathered a variety of groups to discuss the need of promoting a culture of peaceful coexistence between migrants and local communities.

Guatemala forms Task force to enforce environmental laws – Guatemala Times- 27 Jan 09
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has established a new task force that will be charged with, among other things, helping to improve the prevention of deterioration and misuse of natural resources. Eleven ministries will be taking part in carrying out the work of the council in various ways.

IDEX has recruited a volunteer, Teresa Shellmon to compile weekly news items for our target countries. These aim to provide a range of news, information, and resources both from within the countries where we work and also the development community.

More in depth news ca be found on many of the sites we link to below.

Guatemala
NAM Women’s Event in Guatemala – Prensa Latina- 23 Jan 09
The Second Ministerial Conference on the Non-Aligned Movement on the Advancement of Women began Friday with representatives from 80 countries from around the globe. Subjects under discussion include poverty and development, education and political participation.

UN Secretary Generals message to the conference.

Mexico
Obama Reaffirms Promise to Renegotiate NAFTA – Oneworld.net- 26 Jan 09
Discussion of what is at stake if Obama commits to a renegotiation of NAFTA.

Bangladesh
Bangladesh PM tightens grip through rural polls – Reuters- 23 Jan 09
Candidates of the Awami League won a majority in local elections held on Thursday. There have been charges of voter rigging.

Gender gap, dropout rate a challenge for schools – IRIN- 26 Jan 09
Statistics show that although gender parity has been achieved at the primary and lower secondary levels, enrollment of girl in levels beyond that remain disproportionate.

India
Free treatment for BPL families – Times of India- 26 Jan 09
The state of Rajasthan has extended free health services for families living below the poverty line to include free hospital treatment.

Cairn India gets approval to develop more finds – Reuters- 19 Jan 09
Government has approved Cairn India to develop more oil and gas discoveries in Rajasthan.

Nepal
Nepal steps up culling in first bird flu outbreak – Reuters- 16 Jan 09
Bird flu was detected in chickens and ducks in some areas of Nepal, veterinary workers are working to prevent the spread of the sickness.

Nepal launches drive to fight illiteracy – Reuters- 14 Jan 09
Government has launched a program with a goal to make more than a million people literate in three months.

South Africa
MPs Warned of Looming Funding Crisis for Aids Drugs – allAfrica.com – 23 Jan 09
Deputy Chairman of the South African National AIDS Council alerted Parliament that the government’s AIDS program is heading for a funding crisis.

Farmers, Millers Warn of Threat to Food Security – allAfrica.com – 23 Jan 09
Reports that food security is being jeopardized due to failing rural road networks, making transport of harvests difficult.

For richer or for poorer – IRIN- 21 Jan 09
New study shows the growing unequal gap between rich and poor in South Africa.

Zimbabwe
“Dollarization” of Economy Hitting Poor Hard – IPS- 24 Jan 09
With world record inflation, some workers are being paid with fuel coupons while trade in U.S dollars and South African rands has become commonplace. Ninety percent of workers are still being paid in Zimbabwean dollars yet purchasing basic necessities with this currency is next to impossible.

Cholera moves to rural Zimbabwe – BBC- 22 Jan 09
Doctors Without Borders report that incidents of cholera are increasing in the remote areas of the country.

Fighting Cholera on a Shoestring – IPS- 23 Jan 09
Interview with Farid Abdulkadir, Zimbabwe head of operations International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent.

Mugabe Seeks SADC Mandate to Form Government – allAfrica.com- 22 Jan 09
On Monday, President Mugabe will be asking the SADC (Southern African Development Community) Summit for approval in forming a new government excluding Morgan Tsvangirai.