-The Times of India COIMBATORE: Coming down heavily on the Coimbatore Corporation, the State Information Commission has levied a penalty of Rs 25,000 on a Public Information Officer of assistant commissioner rank, in connection with the delay and inconsistency in a reply furnished to an RTI query filed by a city resident. The assistant commissioner of the corporation's east zone has also been asked to furnish the details sought in the...

-The Business Standard A cursory analysis of news channels shows that roughly one-third are just political vehicles or peddle influence for Builders Last month the ministry of information and broadcasting decided to extend the June 30 deadline to digitise TV homes in the four metros. The new deadline is October 31. There are various reasons for the delay (“Digitisation delay is not a good sign”, June 22). The biggest, however, is cable...

-CNN-IBN Passing through Bulandshahar, a rapidly urbanising district in Uttar Pradesh known for its rustic politics and dairying, this reporter chanced upon a group of farmers sitting in protest outside a newly constructed apartment. The farmers occupied a tent that was erected outside the apartment complex. Their complaint was that they were being coerced to sell land for cheap by private players. "We will get only a measly Rs 20 lakh per...

-The Guardian  The counter conference is designed to foster alternative ideas and provide an outlet for discontent They come with speeches, placards, power point presentations and drums. Some with body paint and bows and arrows. Others with suits and business plans. Almost all driven by a desire for radical change. "Come re-invent the world" is the call to the People's summit, which has opened in Rio de Janeiro to counter what many participants...

In a bid to meet burgeoning housing requirements in cities and towns, the Union housing ministry is expected to set up a high-level committee to recommend policy interventions to facilitate creation of rental housing stocks to cater to those who cannot afford to buy houses.  Now, the housing shortage stands at around 27 million units, and estimates suggest that at least 50% is ascribed to people who cannot afford to own...