-The Economic Times The information commissioner's order asking that stringent disclosure norms prevail on political parties is a welcome move. Transparency with regard to political parties, especially when it concerns funding, is extremely important in a democracy as this is where political corruption begins. In the past, there have been allegations of quid pro quo between big corporate houses, who fund parties in elections, and policy changes effected to suit them. Some...

-The United Nations The head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today called for greater efforts to combat malnutrition and hunger worldwide as the agency launched its flagship annual report, which this year focuses on improved food systems for better nutrition. In a message marking the launch of The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA), Director-General José Graziano da Silva said that although the world has registered some progress...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Tuesday cleared a legislation to set up a long-pending real estate regulator aiming to protect home buyers from unscrupulous developers and builders. A real estate regulator - to be set up in every state - will ensure that private developers get all their projects registered with it before sale and only after obtaining all necessary clearances. "It will be mandatory for developers under...

-The Times of India LONDON: Food wastage is monumental globally, with 30 and 50% of food produced in the world (1.2-2 billion tonnes) is wasted. British MPs on the International Development Committee placed the country's most exhaustive assessment of food security in parliament on Tuesday and has thrown up some seriously worrying findings. They fear that food wastage globally could be as high as 50%. Valuable resources of land, energy, fertiliser and water...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: An ordinance to implement the Food Security Act was held back from being placed before the Cabinet on Tuesday as the government deliberated if it should press ahead or still explore other options like a special session of Parliament. The government had veered around to adopting the ordinance route and the proposal was sent to the cabinet secretariat after law minister Kapil Sibal made a few...