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Safety of journalists and the danger of impunity for crime against journalists has been highlighted in the UNESCO’s Director Generals report that mentions 39 killings of journalists in India since 2006, 22 of them occurred since 2014, no case was resolved, and no information was sent to them regarding the ‘status of judicial enquiries on the killing of journalists’ on their request to the Government of India. Globally, 13 per cent of cases involving crimes against journalists were reported “as resolved”, in comparison to 12 per cent in 2019, and 11 per cent in 2018. India’s dismal performance on safety of journalists is obvious.

The past few years have witnessed the growth of Indian judicial decisions towards a more liberal and open mindset of a changing society. Such decisions show how the country is moving away from the shackles of a medieval India to a society where everyone’s rights are protected.

On October 31, 2020, the AITUC turned 100. Barely a month later, the workers all over India have decided to stop working on November 26, 2020 for a day. This decision was taken at a National Convention of Workers — online for the first time — on October 2, 2020, the Gandhi Jayanti Day. The convention was organised jointly by AITUC, INTUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, TUCC, LPF, SEWA. This itself is a strong message of unity. That the convention was held online, shows that the pandemic restrictions are not going to hold the trade unions back. Choosing the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti was also deliberate to show that we value the Mahatma's message of social harmony.

Central Labor Councils in Rochester, New York, Seattle, and Western Massachusetts have issued calls for a general strike should Republican White House occupant Donald Trump steal the November 3 election by dubious means including judicial intervention by rightwing Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court of India had recognised speedy trial as a fundamental right as far back as 1986. We know how that has worked out in reality over the three decades since. Cases continue to languish, pendency continues to worsen and an ever larger proportion of Indians continue to be deprived of the benefits of a well-functioning judicial system, dispensing timely justice.

BHOPAL: After witnessing and also tolerating most stinking, ugly and also hectic election campaign, voters of 28 Vidhan Sabha constituencies of Madhya Pradesh will exercise their franchise on November 3.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen about delivering COVID-19 vaccine free of cost to the people of India. At the state-level, Governments of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu promised delivery of free vaccines. Noble promise but is it doable?

What a paradox, the person who till yesterday was the public face of the NDA in Bihar to woe the voters and ensure the victory of the alliance at the polls, was looking towards the prime minister, Narendra Modi with the hope that he would carry him along.

The BJP will not be too pleased with the way the election scene has been panning out in recent times. After losing Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Delhi and suffering a jolt in Haryana, it is facing the prospect of yet another jolt in Bihar.

China’s latest objection to India’s proposed bi-lateral trade pact with Taiwan, the world’s 17th largest exporter and importer, on the ground that it is against the ‘One-China Principle’ is illogical and unacceptable. India’s trade volume with Taiwan increased by a whopping 20 percent, last year, amounting to over $7 billions. Major Taiwanese exports to India include integrated circuits, machinery and other electronic products. India is keen to attract Taiwanese investment particularly in hi-tech and labour-intensive industries. Lately, the government gave approval to a number of Taiwanese firms, including Foxconn Technology Group, Wistron Corp. and Pegatron Corp., to invest in India as it looks to attract investment worth $143 million for smartphone production over the next five years.