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Assembly sessions in election years are the time to judge the state of political parties and their election strategies. Punjab Assembly’s on-going budget session, the last of the ruling Akali-BJP’s 2007-2012 tenure, also provides an opportunity to assess the state and election strategies of the Akali Dal and the main opposition Congress. Take the Congress first.

NEW DELHI: Sonia Gandhi’s much awaited AICC reshuffle on Friday turned out to be a damp squib In keeping with her cautious approach to politics the Congress President has failed to infuse fresh blood and execute her much promised generational change. The reshuffle is just old wine in new bottle.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has set up a new multidonor trust fund to support participation of developing countries at the next global forum on aid effectiveness.

The Union Finance Pranab Mukherjee by his jugglery of words has tried to confuse the aam aadmi (common man) that he has done enough to serve their interests. He somewhat lightened the burden for about 40 million taxpayers by raising the exemption limits for personal income tax under different categories.

New York: The top United Nations relief official on Sunday called for urgent humanitarian access to Misrata in western Libya following reports of violence and killing in the area.

BHOPAL: The Sangh Parivar is quite adept in the art of taking up such issues and programmes, which create a rift in the society and polarise it on religious lines.

NEW DELHI: Many of the drugs made in India will become costly if India gives in to the pressure of the European Union for introducing tougher norms in the healthcare sector as per the suggestions of the drug companies of Europe. EU wants Indian drug companies to be in tune with International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) standards though health ministry officials say a perfect alignment with ICH standards is not possible under Indian conditions.

New York: The United States must do more to eliminate discrimination in access to safe drinking water and sanitation, an independent United Nations expert reported today, citing wide disparities that adversely affect people of colour and Native Americans.

Directors of International Monetary Fund (IMF) have commended the authorities for macroeconomic policies that have supported resilience in the face of external and domestic shocks. They noted that the development of forestry-based environmental services, private sector plans for the exploitation of Guyana’s natural resources, and large infrastructure investments are supporting Guyana’s medium-term growth prospects.