THE coordinated terror attacks in Brussels, the capital of Belgium is yet another sign that committed jihadists holding European citizenship can strike almost at will on the continent. The headquarters of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic treaty Organisation (NATO) are located in Brussels. In the attacks on the busy Zavantem international airport terminal and the Maelbeek Metro station located in the city center on March 22, more than 31 people were killed and 300 wounded.

HUNDREDS of peasants and agricultural workers under the red flag and banners of Himachal Kisan Sabha and Himachal Apple Growers' Association marched to the Himachal Pradesh Secretariat demanding protection of land rights. They sat on dharna braving heavy rain and hailstorm on May 3-4. It was inaugurated by Rakesh Singha, former general secretary of CPI(M) HP state committee and leader of trade union movement as well as of Apple Growers' Association.

IF we leave aside the problem of deficiency of aggregate demand, ie, of generalised over-production, then the only demand-supply mismatch that can arise in an economy is when too much of some commodity is produced relative to demand, and correspondingly too little of some other commodity is produced relative to demand. When such a mismatch arises, the market gives a clear signal about it through the actual level of inventories of commodities being either too much or too little relative to the “normal” level.

A MEETING of Left Parties of Jharkhand held on May 7,  decided to observe a statewide bandh on May 14, to protest against series of communal incidents throughout the state, anti-workers amendments to the labour laws, amendment to the Chota Nagpur Tenancy Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act, anti-people local residential policies, forcible acquisition of land, attack on trade union and democratic rights and deteriorating law and order situation in the state.The meeting was presided by GK Bakshi, state secretary of CPI(M) and attended by K D Singh, state secretary of CPI, Prakash Viplav, stat

THE elections for Tamilnadu Assembly are scheduled on May 16 along with Kerala. In Tamilnadu for the first time an alternative front has been formed against both DMK and AIADMK. This front consists of CPI(M), CPI, MDMDK (headed by Vaiko), VCK (a strong dalit party) which together had formed Peoples Welfare Front. Later on, DMDK of Vijaykanth and TMC of GK Vasan (son of Karuppiaih Moopanar and former central minister) also joined and a six party alliance emerged. This six party alliance has been giving many sleepless nights to both the dominant parties of the state.