-The United Nations   The active participation of women in public protests witnessed in many parts of the world recently reflect their strong desire to promote social change, including a yearning for the rule of law and human rights, the United Nations independent expert on violence against women said today. “Moments of political transition provide a unique opportunity to ensure that women participate equally in public life and that their rights in legal...

-The Hindu   The Director-General (Expenditure) of the Election Commission of India, P.K. Dash, said on Thursday that an elected legislator could face disqualification as well as criminal proceedings — which could lead to a prison term of six months as well as a fine — if he/she resorts to “paid news” in any form of media during the coming elections to the Punjab Assembly. Mr. Dash, who was chairing a workshop with...

The Bihar Government on Thursday approved the draft of the State Lokayukta Bill, 2011 after a Cabinet meeting took the decision to this effect. The Bill is expected to be passed during the State Legislature's Winter session, which commences on Friday. However, the Bill's provisions and amendments would be clear only after it had met with approval from the Governor's office and discussed threadbare by all parties in the Legislature, said Cabinet...

Northern Assam's Lakhimpur district administration on Thursday halted the movement of an Over Dimensional Consignment (ODC) trailer carrying equipment for the 2000 mega watt lower Subonsiri hydro-electric power project under construction at Gerukamukh in Arunachal Pradesh after 4000 anti-big dam protesters blocked National Highway 52 to prevent the trailer from proceeding to the site. The protesters under the banner of the All-Assam Students Union (AASU), the All Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra...

The commerce & industry ministry has decided to make fresh efforts to get state governments on board on the issue of allowing foreign direct investment ( FDI) in retail trading. In addition, commerce & industry minister Anand Sharma is also expected to meet trade and farmer bodies over the next few days in a bid to garner their support for the controversial move.  Officials said industry secretary P K Chaudhery is...