-The Hindu NAGAPATTINAM: When PMK launched its tirade against inter-caste marriages involving Dalit men, political parties came on board to criticize the statements by Ramadoss. Activists and feminist intellectuals say that what was lost in the melee was the voice of Dalit and Vanniyar women, rendered silent by the confines of caste. “Cast in caste, they have become prized trophies to be owned, regulated and guarded by the menfolk of the respective...

-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...

-Outlook Jaipur: The Rajasthan government today accepted the state OBC commission report, paving way for five per cent reservation in government jobs and educational institutes to five communities, including Gujjars, under Specially Backward Category. The commission, led by justice (retd) I S Israni, had handed over the report to the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on November 22. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting today. The reservation in the state is set to...

-The United Nations A reduction of more than 50 per cent in the rate of new HIV infections has been achieved across 25 low- and middle-income countries – more than half in Africa, the region most affected by HIV – according to a new United Nations report, which shows that unprecedented acceleration in the AIDS response is producing results. “The pace of progress is quickening – what used to take a decade...

-Outlook Chennai: As political parties in Tamil Nadu strongly protested the "wrong" depiction of Nadar community in a CBSE textbook, the Centre today assured it would look into the issue and do the needful. The assurance was given by HRD Minister M M Pallam Raju to his party colleague and Shipping Minister G K Vasan when the latter met him to discuss the issue. Raju said he was holding discussions with officials to...