-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...

-PTI KOLKATA: Primary school teachers from across West Bengal would soon be given teaching tips on mobile phones to improve their English teaching skills. Very short versions of teaching tips in English would be available as video clips on mobile phones, as part of a project to make teacher education materials easily accessible. The project is funded and developed by the British Council in partnership with Pashchim Banga Sarva Shiksha Mission and the...

-The Business Standard India remained firm on its stance as World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations reached the third day in Bali. As Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma ruled out any possibility of a compromise, whispers were already being heard of a possible collapse of the talks. Edited excerpts from the minister's press conference, which invited admiration as well as sharp criticism: * India has exceeded the de minimis requirements of the...

-The Hindu Article 370 was and is about providing space, in matters of governance, to the people of a State who felt deeply vulnerable about their identity and insecure about the future. At the Bharatiya Janata Party's recent Lalkar rally in Jammu, its prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, called for a debate on Article 370. This is encouraging and suggests that the BJP may be willing to review its absolutist stance on...

-The Times of India BALI: The World Trade Organization (WTO) is making a fresh bid to break the deadlock with the multilateral body set to propose its own package to trade ministers from 159 countries amid clear signs that the meeting will go beyond its scheduled close. WTO director general Roberto Azevedo spent the night holding consultations with commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma and US trade representative Michael Froman stretching until...