-Outlook Porbandar (Gujarat): Gangs and musclemen could play a dominant role in elections in some assembly constituencies of Bhavnagar, Porbandar, the birthplace of apostle of non-violence Mahatma Gandhi, and Rajkot districts of Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Porbandar has been a hotbed of criminal activities in recent times where late Santokben Jadeja had emerged as 'Godmother'. Ganglords of Porbandar are once again are in electoral fray. Another constituency where political power has been shaped...

-The Hindu It has managed to retain stabilisation of its HIV/AidS epidemic, holding on to prevalence rate of 0.25 % With the UNAidS report putting India among the nations with a 50 per cent or over drop in HIV incidence rate (new infections), this is clearly good news for the country. Down south, Tamil Nadu, once considered a high-prevalence State, also has good news. The State has managed to retain stabilisation of its...

-The Hindu FDI is a debt inflow or liability foreign exchange because the profits or returns it generates will have to be repatriated. Will FDI in retail, single brand, banking or insurance enhance our foreign exchange earning capacity? Do they bring technology to the economy? There is so much of talk going around in all circles regarding FDI. Politicians, for obvious reasons, speak a language of their own, driven by ulterior motives....

-The Hindu With the HIV/AidS epidemic showing signs of reversal globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and countries are now working towards zero new HIV infections, zero deaths from AidS-related illnesses and zero discrimination against people living with HIV/AidS. To achieve this goal, the WHO has emphasised the need for people to learn about their HIV status, and for greater effort to reach and support young people and men who have sex...

-One World South Asia Reducing incomes, stagnating yields, increasing costs of cultivation, fragmenting of land-holdings and reducing of institutions credit facilities plot the graph of farmers' suicides in India. A national consultation and public hearing on framers' suicides being organised by Action Aid in the capital brought together experts and policy critics to evaluate the progress of government initiatives to respond to the ongoing agrarian crisis. Suicides are only one extreme symptom of...