-CNN-IBN   "Many said that Kentucky (KFC) will drive the dhabas out of the market. The dhabas have driven out Kentucky. The Indian sherbet is still there despite Coca Cola and Pepsi. Don't underestimate India." That was former NDA finance minister Jaswant Singh in 2004 when he supported FDI in retail. "Fifty per cent of our population, comprising of small traders, street-vendors and the self-employed, sustain themselves through retail businesses. The UPA government...

Srilakshmi, the first woman IAS officer held on graft charges, wanted to continue as the CBI’s guest at a heritage mansion but was packed off to prison. The 52-year-old, whose three-day CBI remand had ended today, pleaded with the court to let her stay on at the CBI camp office in the palatial, Nizam-era Dilkhusha guesthouse. The court refused and the 1988 IAS topper was almost in tears as she arrived...

-The Economic Times   After agreeing to inclusion of Group C government employees within the ambit of Lokpal, the standing committee on law and justice examining the bill recommended its exclusion from the proposed ombudsman's jurisdiction.  The standing committee, which completed its work on Wednesday after deliberating on various points contained in the draft Lokpal bill, had asked BJP, Left and other members to submit their dissenting notes to the panel.  Members, therefore, were...

-The Times of India   Use of red light beacons atop cars and an upgrade in the warrant of precedence to serial number 17 from 21 at par with chief justices of high courts outside their jurisdictions and chairpersons of statutory bodies are part Lok Sabha's privileges committee's latest recommendations. In its report tabled on Wednesday, the committee suggested that the highways ministry be asked to issue a notification under the Central Motor...

-The Telegraph   Trinamul Congress members today carried placards inside Parliament denouncing the decision to let foreign players enter the multi-brand retail market, snubbing the government’s efforts to get ally Mamata Banerjee’s party on board. It was the first time since the FDI row erupted last week that party MPs waved placards that read “FDI hai hai” as they stormed the well of the House demanding that the government roll back its decision. According...