Green signal for Whistle Blowers' Bill

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

Predictably, the top headlines in all major newspapers of the day are
on the Lokpal Bill. 'Lok Sabha passes Lokpal Bill with changes, but
without constitutional status', reports the Times of India. The Indian
Express remarks, 'Lokpal: UPA wins one, loses one.' The Mail Today
comments, "Half way to History".

The Pioneer in a front page story reports that the Government has
assured that India will not sign any legally-binding agreement to
reduce emissions that could hurt the growth scenario and development.

The Tribune highlights the passage of another important Bill - The
Whistle blowers' Protection Bill - under the headline, 'Green signal
for Whistle Blowers' Bill".

In significant international news, Hindustan Times reports that a
defiant Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari used the fourth
anniversary of the death of his wife Benazir Bhutto to say he would
not resign in face of numerous crises building around him.

In a related story, the Statesman reports that India and Pakistan have
decided to move forward on proposals to extend two key agreements -
one on pre-notification of ballistic missile tests and the other on
reducing the risk from accidents related to nuclear weapons.

The Asian Age reports that the cyclonic storm 'Thane', which lashed
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has left hundreds of tourists
stranded there, most of them from West Bengal.

And finally, the Times of India reports that doctors in a domed
laboratory in Canada are designing a virtual world where they hope to
one-day treat traumatised children with colourful Avatars using toy
like medical gadgets.