Britain's Eco City Vehicles launches electric London taxi
8 February 2010 - Britain's Eco City Vehicles has launched an electric prototype of the Mercedes Vito taxi, which will it trial later this year to test its suitability for use as part of London's taxi fleet. 'The eVito is the first all-electric wheelchair accessible taxi with a 25-foot turning circle to be launched in the world and a major step toward our goal to become a leading supplier of niche eco-friendly vehicles,' said CEO Peter DaCosta. (more)

Chad's President Deby visits Khartoum for talks to end proxy wars
8 February 2010 - Chadian President Idriss Deby on Monday began a rare visit to Sudan, part of a rapprochement aimed at ending a proxy war between the two African neighbours. Sudan analysts say Darfur peace talks cannot succeed without a solution to the tense relations between Chad and Sudan. 'There will be serious discussions aimed at achieving a lasting solution to (these) issues,' Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor told reporters on Deby's arrival in Khartoum. (more)

Chinese envoy in North Korea; two Koreas meet at border
8 February 2010 - A senior Chinese envoy was in North Korea on Monday on a mission to persuade North Korea to rejoin nuclear disarmament talks, reports said, while officials from the two Koreas met in the North to discuss restarting joint tour programmes. (more)

India's economy picking up
8 February 2010 - The government said on Monday India's economy would grow 7.2 per cent this fiscal year, picking up from a six-year low the previous year. It also backed the market view that the government could announce steps to unwind its stimulus measures in the annual 2010/11 budget presentation on 26 February as a recovery in Asia's third-biggest economy shows a more solid footing. (more)

India: Services growth fastest in 16 months in January - HSBC
8 February 2010 - Business activity among Indian services companies expanded at its fastest pace in 16 months in January, rising for a second straight month on sharp increase in new work orders, a survey showed. The HSBC Markit Business Activity Index, based on a survey of 400 firms, rose to 58.96 in January, its highest since September 2008, after rising to 57.41 in December. (more)

Morgan Stanley raises India FY11 growth forecast to 8.5 per cent
8 February 2010 - Morgan Stanley raised its forecast for India's economic growth to 8.5 per cent in 2010/11 from 8 per cent earlier, citing a pick-up in domestic consumption. 'The key driver for this higher growth will be domestic demand, particularly investments,' the investment bank said on 4 February. Morgan Stanley also revised its gross domestic product growth forecast for 2009/10 to 7.1 per cent from 6.7 per cent earlier. (more)

Northern Ireland peace process - timeline
8 February 2010 - The Irish National Liberation Army, one of Northern Ireland's deadliest paramilitary groups, has dumped all its weapons in front of independent witnesses, the commission overseeing the province's disarmament process said on Monday. The following is a timeline since a 1998 peace deal. (more)

Northern Ireland: Irish National Liberation Army dumps weapons
8 February 2010 - One of Northern Ireland's deadliest paramilitary groups has dumped all of its weapons in front of independent witnesses, the militants and the commission overseeing the province's disarmament process said on Monday. The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) said it had got rid of all its weapons and ammunition, four months after announcing an end to its armed struggle. (more)

Official think-tank sees China 2010 GDP up 10 per cent
8 February 2010 - An official think tank has forecast China's gross domestic product (GDP) will expand around 10 per cent in 2010, driven by investment and domestic consumption, the official Xinhua agency reported on Sunday. China's GDP last year grew 8.7 per cent. The median 2010 GDP forecast of economist polled by Reuters late last month was 9.5 per cent. (more)

Poland seen adding 200-300 MW of wind power in 2010
8 February 2010 - Poland will add 200-300 megawatts of wind power in 2010, roughly the same as 275 megawatts added last year, the Polish wind-energy lobby told Reuters on Monday. Poland's economy ministry estimates renewable energy sources will generate 9.1 per cent of the country's usage by end-2010. (more)