Chanting loudly, thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets to the venue of the 17th United Nations Climate Change Conference to demand that their voices be heard for "immediate and drastic" carbon emission reductions to save the planet. Dubbing Saturday the "Global Day of Action", demonstrators from international and national non- governmental groups as well as labour, women, youth, academic, religious and environmental organisations came together to highlight civil society’s demands...

Information comes at a price, but Thane resident Omprakash Sharma learnt that the cost could be prohibitive when the information concerns public issues and is to be given by a public body like the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).  The state-run agency has told Sharma to pay Rs 50,000 for copies of a study report on transportation strategies in Thane and Raigad districts.  The Right to Information (RTI) Act Activist had...

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has asked the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to ask the Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry to raise the controversial matter of Dow Chemical sponsorship for the London Olympics 2012 with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This should be done through the National Olympic Committee in view of the strong public opinion within India. The sponsorship issued has led to outrage among the Bhopal tragedy victims...

-The Times of India   The frustration of Vidarbha farmers was brought to the state government's notice in a bizarre incident on Sunday. A distressed farmer drank poison in front of the chief minister and thousands of agriculturists at a public meeting in Amravati district on Sunday. Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan was addressing a municipal poll campaign meeting in Dhamangaon Railway taluka of Amravati. Soon after he began his speech, farmer Arun Sabhane...

-The Times of India   A government forensic lab's report on a CD allegedly containing conversation between SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Rajya Sabha member Amar Singh and Team Anna member Shanti Bhushan has said the CD was doctored, contradicting two previous reports. Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), Chandigarh's report has been made public for the first time in response to an RTI query. The conclusion of the report was that the CD...