India: A corrupt dynasty or democracy?

  India: A corrupt dynasty or democracy? India's former finance minister says "dynasticism" played a leading role in fostering culture of political corruption.  Is corruption crippling India? At first glance, such a question seems absurd. After all, India has had a functioning democratic order since before 1947, and its economy weathered the recent global economic...

A Simple Protest against Tution Fee Hike becomes one of the biggest social discord in Quebec

  A mass student strike in Quebec over rising university tuition fees is quickly turning into a major social movement and a real challenge to the provincial Liberal government. Despite growing international attention and constant protest, including demonstrations among the largest in Canada's history, Liberal politicians continue to hold firm on a decision to hike...

Syria crisis worsens

  Pessimism at UN as Syria crisis worsens Fears voiced as opposition Free Syrian Army says it will stop adhering to truce by Friday if Assad forces ignore it.  UN Security Council members have voiced fears about the direction of violence-wracked Syria as the rebel Free Syrian Army gave the government of President Bashar al-Assad...

Mining boom threatens Tasmania’s forests

  Conservationists say mineral-rich areas in Australia under threat as resources companies continue operations. The ancient forests of the Tarkine in northwestern Tasmania were protected by the Australian government as a site of "national heritage". However, that listing has lapsed, and the government seems in no hurry to re-impose it. At the same time, resources companies...

Arrests reported after Tibet self-immolations

  Hundreds detained in Lhasa after two monks set themselves on fire in protest against Chinese rule, radio station says. Hundreds of Tibetans have been reportedly detained by Chinese security officers in Lhasa, Tibet's capital, after two Buddhist monks set themselves on fire in protest against China's rule over the Himalayan region last week. Late on...

Freeze on plan approval as land acquisition begins for Western Bypass

With the administration commencing the land acquisition process for the Western Bypass Road in the Local Planning Authority (LPA) jurisdiction, a freeze has been imposed on granting approval for all constructions in the survey numbers of lands coming in the proposed alignment of the road. A release from the Chairman of LPA and District Collector...

Many Challenges of Land Acquisition

 ‘There are many challenges, including land acquisition' V. RISHI KUMAR,   VINAY KAMATH The Head of the diversified Hyderabad-based infrastructure company is charting out plans for the $10-billion coal-mine project and related infrastructure, which is by far their biggest. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article3473800.ece

Airport concessionaire squeezed millions from poor Delhi farmers

Farmers whose land was acquired at a meagre Rs. 4 per square yard in South West Delhi way back in 1955 in the name of undertaking planned development have now seized upon the opportunity raised by the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India — on the loss caused to the exchequer by...

High Court cancels land acquisition in Greater Noida

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday cancelled another land acquisition carried out by the Greater Noida Authority on the grounds of wrong use of the urgency clause. The land, measuring a little over 68 hectares, was acquired in Chhaprola village of Greater Noida in 2009 for “planned industrial development”. Cancelling the acquisition, a division bench of...