-The Hindu On the face of it, paid news may seem no more than advertising camouflaged as reports or editorials. Naveen Jindal’s shocking ‘reverse sting’ — aimed at exposing how two editors of the Zee network attempted to cut a shady deal with his company — shows that it can be much worse than this. It is a reminder of how easily the culture of paid news can lead, ineluctably, towards...
More »SEARCH RESULT
‘Beautiful and fair’ preferred among surrogate mothers too -Aarti Dhar
-The Hindu Caste and religion are also key factors while renting wombs: study Beautiful and fair — words traditionally synonymous with brides — are being used for renting a womb. For, not only are “healthy, beautiful, fair and higher caste or Brahmin’’ surrogates in great demand, they also receive good payment in cash and kind from the commissioning parents after delivery. Doctors and agents have confirmed — in a study by Sama, a...
More »NHRC still awaiting States’ report on pre-natal sex selection
-The Hindu Recognising pre-natal sex selection as an unacceptable form of gender discrimination, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had asked key States across the country to submit a report on implementation of the Pre-conception & Pre-natal Diagnostics Techniques (PCPNDT) Regulations and Prevention of Misuse Act (Amendments in 2004) based on a set of recommendations issued by the NHRC. A reporting format was also sent to all stakeholders. But over a year...
More »Questions swirl around source of funding of Gadkari's firm -Josy Joseph, Anjaya Anparthi, Abhishek Choudhari & Shishir Arya
-The Times of India NEW DELHI/ NAGPUR: Grave questions have surfaced over the source of funds for Purti Power and Sugar Ltd, controlled by BJP president Nitin Gadkari. Investigations reveal significant investments and large loans to Purti by a construction firm, Ideal Road Builders (IRB) Group, which had won contracts between 1995 and 1999, when Gadkari was the PWD minister in Maharashtra. Besides IRB Group, the other significant shareholders in Purti are...
More »Excessive surveillance, content blocking key concerns before UN meet on net Regulation -Shalini Singh
-The Hindu Telecom Department having discussions with stakeholders and within Ministries Content Regulation, surveillance, filtering and cost of the Internet access have emerged as top concerns for advocates of online freedom and civil society worldwide, ahead of a key inter-governmental meet on International Telecom Regulations (ITRs). The government of India is preparing its final position on these issues. This discussion among 193 national governments will be held under the aegis of a United...
More »