-PTI   The South Korean based Posco wants to exchange high alumina content iron ore with low alumina content mineral within the country Though Posco had agreed not to insist on the Import clause in the lapsed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Orissa government, it wanted swapping of iron ore within the country. “Posco-India has given its consent to delete Import clause from the lapsed MoU. However, it wants swapping of iron ore within...

-The Deccan Herald   Applicants can seek info on more subjects In a landmark decision that would enthuse RTI applicants and activists across the country, the Central Information Commission has said it is not necessary for information seekers to limit RTI applications ''to only one subject matter''. Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi, in a sharp departure from the Commission’s earlier decisions, observed: “There is no legal requirement on an applicant’s part to restrict the scope...

The Lokpal Bill was introduced in Parliament for the eighth time in the 15th Lok Sabha as Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj mentioned on Saturday. But surprisingly, each time the Lokpal Bill was introduced, events took such a turn that the legislation remained elusive. Will the Bill be through after the hype it got following Anna Hazare's movement? Here's a lowdown of what happened each time the Bill was introduced through the...

In covering Anna, TV seems to have shed its critical faculties “Corruption,” I remarked the other day on a television channel, “takes more than one form.” We were talking about—what else?—the latest incremental progression in the Anna Hazare saga. “Everyone talks of money corruption, but what about the other kind—‘Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely’? And who has any kind of power now? Only two entities: Anna Hazare and television.” That’s...

NGOs differ on Jan Lokpal, pick on Team Anna’s shortcomings Conflict Amongst NGOs?     * Great response to Anna seen as success of civil society     * NGOs agree on wiping off corruption in government, not on solutions     * They celebrate the middle class finding voice; but mourn lack of reach among villagers     * Divergence in views seen as healthy for debate; onus on govt to take final call *** First the good news:...