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Republicans have regained control of US House of Representatives, inflicting a crushing defeat on Democrats, and imperiling President Barack Obama's agenda of rescuing and rebuilding a new American economy, in the November 2 Congressional midterm elections 2010. Democrats just managed to hold on to their majority in the 100-member Senate though losing heavily to Republicans in the key chamber. Democrats also suffered losses in the race for Governorships.

There is need to review the policy on the development of the petroleum sector, indeed the entire energy sector of the Indian economy. It is totally misleading and really mischievous to suggest, as is done by some in the UPA-II government and the media that marginal additions to the oil and gas resources of India by the relatively small foreign oil companies working in collaboration arrangements with Oil and Natural Gas Commission of India or domestic private oil exploration companies justifies the opening of the oil - gas sector in India for international oil companies. On the contrary, indigenous enterprise, public and private, separately and in collaboration can be the only dependable basis for progress in this strategic sector.

The Reserve Bank of India, in its Second Quarter Review of monetary Policy in 2010-11 sees more risks ahead, both from persistent food price inflation with its likely spread across other prices as well as from any “quantitative easing” in advanced economies to stimulate demand, which could lead to rise in global commodity prices and intensification of capital flows into fast-growing emerging economies.

New Delhi: The ruling Congress party at the Centre vowed to respect the concerns for environment and the tribals while advancing its development agenda.

After months of deliberation, the National Advisory Council (NAC) has recommended a National Food Security Bill, which scales down the public's legal entitlements to basic foodgrains to levels lower than envisaged earlier. The NAC has thus missed a historic opportunity to launch a concerted effort to abolish hunger through a universal public distribution system (PDS)—which creates equal entitlements for all citizens to reasonably subsidised foodgrains.

Every politician has a weak spot. Rajiv Gandhi's was Bofors. Narendra Modi's the Gujarat riots. Whatever may be their ultimate achievements, their vulnerability on account of such fateful missteps continue to haunt them throughout their life - and even after death. In Manmohan Singh's case, it will probably be his failure to act against his scam-tainted telecom minister A. Raja, which will mar his otherwise nearly impeccable record.

The forthcoming visit of the US President is unlikely to provide any relief to India in the area of outsourcing of jobs, feels former Campaign Chief of Staff of Barack Obama.

India launched its first National South Pole Expedition this year, coinciding with the international centenary celebration of man's reaching South Pole in 1911.

A time has come for New Delhi to have a second look at its Kashmir policy. This is imperative for three reasons. One. China's not so subtle moves to become a stakeholder in the Kashmir imbroglio. Two. Revival by Pakistan of its aggressive postures on Kashmir. Three, The conflicting stands the Kashmiri separatists as also some Indian political parties have adopted for resolving the Kashmir problem.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tinkering won't do. Bold and imaginative steps to arrest the rapid down-the-hill slide are the need of the hour. That is the clear message thumped out by the voters of Kerala to the Left Democratic Front Government (LDF), which has suffered a stunning defeat in the local bodies elections held on October 23 and 25, 2010.