Kadapa bypoll: When the margins move to the Centre

Rarely has so much money been spent in an election just to reduce a candidate's winning margin. (Or to increase it, depending on whose side you are on). Seldom have two major political parties fought so hard, knowingly, for second place, as the Congress and the Telugu Desam Party have in the Kadapa parliamentary constituency bypoll (voting tomorrow). And while rival parties often claim the same leader's legacy, it isn't often that one of them first abuses that leader as corrupt and then seeks votes in his name. Which the Congress has done in Kadapa, in a massive effort to humble Jaganmohan Reddy of the YSR Congress (son of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy who died in 2009).

more at thehindu

Connection Between Corruption, Recent Revolutions

A study by Global Integrity, an international nonprofit organization, says corruption risks increased in Egypt, some Middle Eastern, North African and Eastern European nations before this year's popular uprisings that swept the region.

Global Integrity Managing Director Nathaniel Heller likened corruption to a black hole when he spoke to reporters at the release of a new report he said seeks to measure transparency and good governance measures that can counter corruption.   

Heller said anti-corruption data collected in 2010 for Yemen, Morocco, and the West Bank show they face challenges similar to those experienced in Egypt before that country's popular uprising in January. 

more at voanews

Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden killed in Pakistan, Obama confirms