The State Bank of India on Friday said it was looking at strategic acquisitions in Asia, Africa and New Zealand and Australia to expand its overseas presence.

The US government is threatening to obstruct low-income countries from accessing generic HIV/AIDS drugs approved by the World Health Organization, a human rights group charged on Friday.

In the Global Corruption Index, a survey of 133 nations conducted by Transparency International (an anti-graft watchdog), India stood 83rd, recording a score of 2.8 out of 10.

World Bank is optimistic that the Indian economy can grow by 6-8 per cent in the coming years but has asked the government to improve social services like education and health.

India have been drawn in along with Japan, Oman and Singapore in the Asian qualifying group for the 2006 World Cup football finals.\n\n

Upbeat about the success of Focus Africa programme which led to a 36 per cent rise in exports to $24.52 billion in 2002-03, Commerce and Industry Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday sought more efforts to tap the region's potential.

Bank of Baroda will complete 50 years of operations in African nations, Kenya and Uganda, in December, even as it plans to foray into China and Malaysia.

The body is mainly involved with promoting and monitoring youth activity in the Commonwealth region.