-The Hindu Exports rose 15.5% in May while imports surged 56.1% to stay above $60 bn for third month India’s Merchandise trade deficit widened to a monthly record of $23.33 billion in May, as exports grew 15.5% to $37.3 billion while imports jumped 56.1% to $60.62 billion, as per preliminary data from the ComMerce and Industry Ministry. The previous highest monthly trade deficit was last November’s $22.91 billion. Goods exports shrank 7.2% from...

-PTI/ The Telegraph Hailing the apex court's decision, CID officer Shanti Das says every adult woman should have the right to choose her profession Winding by-lanes and the narrow streets of Calcutta's Sonagachi, one of the largest red-light districts in Asia, came alive amid music and Merry-making on Friday as sex workers rejoiced over the recent Supreme Court verdict that recognised prostitution as a profession. Coloured powder was smeared on faces and sweets...

-The Hindu Health workers need better remuneration and safety guarantee, not just awards Recognition very often goes to those at the top of the pecking order, and stays there. Credit seldom trickles down to the worker at the bottom. The World Health Organization’s act of recognising India’s ASHA (accredited social health activists) and the polio workers of Afghanistan is an attempt to right that wrong. It is a rare, and commendable doffing...

-The Hindu Business Line Pesticide residues in India’s agri exports calls for a multi-pronged policy response As reported recently by this newspaper, India’s cumin exports have suffered a setback in recent months, with China claiming that pesticide residues exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) spelt out by it about six months back. Chinese authorities have said that consignments must be accompanied by a pesticide residue report. India has been through all this...

-The Tribune The prices of essential food items have increased by 50% in seven years, whereas the real wage rate has risen by 22%. These figures show that inflation has outsmarted the real income of the poor, making their lives miserable as the food basket constitutes a substantial proportion of the total expenditure on the poor. The net effect is that the poor earn less and take loans to maintain the...