-The Hindu Business Line   The Millet Network of India (MINI), a group of associations that is promoting consumption of millets, has expressed concern about non-inclusion of local procurement provision in the latest version of the National Food Security Bill. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh and Ms Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of United Progressive Alliance, MINI has demanded that this clause should be included again in the draft bill....

Idea to keep promise made in ‘sense of the House' resolution   The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, which in recent days indicated that it was not keen on including the lower bureaucracy within the ambit of the Lokpal Bill, as it was billed as an instrument to deal with corruption in high places, is now veering round to the view that the Group C employees could be included in the Bill...

A fresh wave of farmer suicides has been reported in several states, pushing families deeper into poverty. A coalition of farm-sector organisations said it had identified over 700 cases this year, but state government officials said they were still verifying the incidents. “Vidarbha in Maharashtra has emerged as the epicentre of farmer suicides again. There have been 680 suicides in just 6 districts in 2011,” said Kishor Tiwari of Vidarbha Jan...

Environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan said she had come with an “open mind” as India showed signs of flexibility on accepting legally binding emission curbs, but wanted more assurances from developed countries before making further commitments. The comments, at the UN climate change summit in this South African city, came days after China for the first time indicated its willingness to accept legally binding cuts after 2020. The hint of a flexible stand...

-IANS The deadlock in Parliament over the government's decision to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail ended on Wednesday after an all-party meeting passed a resolution to suspend the move till a consensus was reached. Both houses of Parliament functioned normally and took the crucial Question Hour for the first time since the winter session began on November 22. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee who chaired the meeting made a brief statement in...