-The Times of India The government's probe against Walmart over its lobbying-related disclosure is expected to include identification of alleged beneficiaries of the payments, a move that is aimed at blunting any opposition to foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail. Sources familiar with the development told TOI that the basic mandate given to the retired judge, who will investigate the issue is to ascertain if any portion of the lobbying expenses have...

-The World Bank It is generally thought that two groups are the big winners of the past two decades of globalization: the very rich, and the middle classes of emerging market economies. The statistical Evidence for this has been cobbled together from a number of disparate sources. The Evidence includes high GDP growth in emerging market economies, strong income gains recorded for those at the top of the income pyramid in the...

-DNA Social networking sites are abuzz with the cry of death penalty for the accused of the Delhi gang rape case. However, the major sections applied in the case, which include 376 (2) (G) (gang rape), 377 (unnatural sex), 307 (attempt to murder) and 201 (destruction of Evidence) read with 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, will attract a maximum punishment of life imprisonment for the accused. The sessions court,...

-The Indian Express The 18th Conference of the Parties (CoP 18) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took place in Doha over two weeks, ending on December 7. There was a range of expectations expressed before the meeting. To resolve competing claims for hosting the conference, it was decided that Korea would host a pre-CoP meeting to help prepare for the CoP itself. The 17th CoP had been...

-Reuters New York: WalMart Stores Inc’s Mexican affiliate routinely used bribes to open stores in desirable locations, according to a New York Times investigation published Monday, which cites 19 instances of the retail giant paying off local officials. The Times first reported in April that Walmart had intentionally stifled an internal probe into bribery at its Mexican affiliate Walmex. Late last month, Mexico’s anti-corruption body said it found no irregularities in the...