-The Hindustan Times The central government will provide financial assistance to states to fight Japanese Encephalitis, which has already claimed close to 1,000 lives, including 400 in western Uttar Pradesh alone. A cabinet committee on Thursday is expected to approve Rs. 4,000-crore assistance plan, which includes Rs. 2,000 crore for providing safe drinking water and sanitation and Rs. 1,300 crore to other ministries. The plan includes funding for expanding the encephalitis...

-The Telegraph   The New York Times has reported that Wal-Mart, the US-based retail giant, hushed up an internal investigation sometime after the company was told of a bribery campaign to obtain licences and facilitate rapid expansion in Mexico. Some of the alleged instances of bribery are certain to ring a bell in India where it is not too difficult to bend rules for a price. The New York Times said its “examination...

The filthy, moss-covered ponds that many rural people depend on could turn into limpid pools of fresh water if a central scheme that kicks off in June is a success. The government plans to list every water body in the country, assess the condition of each, and “revitalise” the most neglected ones through de-silting and prevention of pollution and encroachment. A sum of Rs 4,000 crore has been set aside for the...