When social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter have become an essential part of everyday life of many, can the Bollywood industry be far behind in using them to reach out to people?

The social networks has become a promotional tool for films, are the most happening places these days and the stars in the Hindi film industry have started using them.

India is lagging far behind in environmental performance as indicated in 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI). In spite of taking all out efforts, India is ranking at 123rd position.

The report on 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) has been produced by a team of experts from Yale University and Columbia University and was released on 28.1.2010. A total of 163 countries have been ranked as per EPI and India figures at 123rd position.

Noise pollution levels in most cities is beyond the permissible levels Sporadic noise monitoring in urban areas, mainly during festivals such as Deepawali by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) reveals this fact. A few SPCBs and PCCs have initiated regular noise monitoring since 2008-09. As per available data, the laid down noise norms for respective zones (Industrial, Commercial, Residential or Silence) are exceeded at many locations. However, a definite trend can not be ascertained since data is available only for a limited period.

It speaks volumes for the nature of capitalism that a slim little book first written more than half a century ago can still seem so fresh and relevant. John Kenneth Galbraith’s wise and delightfully written tract ”A Short History of Financial Euphoria” has just been reissued by Penguin Books, but one variant of it has been almost continuously in print since it was first published to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Great Depression.

Statistics of the UN and other agencies show that 70% of the 1.2 billion people living in poverty the world over, are female. According to the UN, women do more than 67% of the hours of work done in the world, earn only 10% of the world’s income and own only 1% of the world’s property. The value of unremunerated work was estimated at about $16 billion, from which $11 billion represents the invisible contribution of women. Women are paid 30-40% less than men for comparable work, on an average.

The Union Cabinet has approved the much- delayed Women’s Reservation Bill providing 33 per cent reservation to women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies. The Bill is being introduced in the Parliament. The controversial Bill has been delayed for past 12 years as some of the opposition parties like the Samajwadi Party and Janata Dal (United) had been demanding a sub-quota for OBC women.

During the visit of Prime Minister HE Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh, the three agreements/MOUs relating to security issues signed were –

(i) Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance on Criminal Matters;

(ii) Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons; and

(iii)Agreement on Combating International Terrorism, Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking.