Suicide, Not the Final Solution 03/05/2016 9:18 am Anand Pillai Drought is wreaking havoc in several Indian states. The worst situation is in eastern Maharashtra, especially around Latur where perhaps hundreds of farmers have committed suicide in the last year. Such human tragedies are not handled in a humane way, especially when they are exploited for political gains. Rains ultimately are not controlled by any government – States or Central. Of course, it is the job of the government of the locality to ensure that timely remedial steps are taken. There is so much available in terms of knowledge, technology and skill from the Israeli expertise of agriculture with maximum usage of scarce water resources along with more natural – organic inputs in terms of replenishing the earth instead of dumping fertilisers. Two experts from Israel are already in Latur to help local farmers with more scientific methods (Scrutator's page 12).
Labour leader in deep trouble over antisemitism row 03/05/2016 10:51 am Rupanjana Dutta Jeremy Corbyn is facing resignations from the Shadow Cabinet if his ally Ken Livingstone is not expelled from the Labour party, senior figures have warned. The threat came as after a major donor called for Mr Corbyn to step down over his handling of the antisemitism row. This has created the greatest challenge for the Labour leader since he took up the post. It has been further revealed that the Labour party has secretly suspended 50 of its members over anti-Semitic and racist comments as officials struggle to cope with the crisis engulfing the party.
Hospitals urged to indulge in 'creative accountancy' to hide NHS debts 03/05/2016 10:36 am Anand Pillai NHS hospitals are under pressure to paint a healthy picture of their accounts to hide the deficits, or they are under pressure to cook the books and underplay the scale of the deficits.
