-Outlook The state elections rolled out smoothly, but it's money power which ruled on the ground As we celebrate the smooth working of a massive electoral exercise-simplistically dubbed by many as the semi-final to the greatest show on earth, General Elections 2014-a realisation has dawned that the role of ‘money power' is reaching alarming proportions. Sure, elections are more fool-proof today than in the past, and most (rightly) salute the EC...

-The Hindustan Times As a teary-eyed World Trade Organisation (WTO) director-general Roberto Azevedo hailed the landmark trade deal at Bali, Indonesia, on Saturday after five days of gruelling negotiations, it was India, led by commerce minister Anand Sharma, who won plaudits for successfully piloting the grand-bargain for drawing up a permanent solution to food subsidies. The deal also makes it mandatory for member countries - as part of a trade facilitation agreement...

-The Hindustan Times Bali: After five days of hard negotiations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Saturday reached a historic deal designed to ease movement of goods across countries and allow developing nations more options to feed their poor - as India successfully lobbied in favour of state-funded welfare schemes. "For the first time in our history, the WTO has truly delivered," WTO director-general Roberto Azevedo broke down while announcing the deal...

-The Times of India CHENNAI: Thirteen-year-old Ramesh, a Class 8 student, ran away from his home in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram district after his mother died. "My father used to beat me often. Unable to bear the torture, I ran away and reached Chennai at midnight and stayed on pavements for a while," said Ramesh (name changed). Later, an activist took him to an orphanage in Chennai. But not many are as...

-Down to Earth CAG audit may be sought if states fail to disclose correct information, says secretary for drinking water and sanitation The secretary of Union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation (MDWS) has set up a high-level committee to look into the huge discrepancy between its data on toilets built under its sanitation programme and what exists on ground. The discrepancy came to light following the 2011 Census findings that...