The economist and political commentator who was appointed to a four-member team of the UN to recommend reforms to the global financial system critiques Budget 2010 Economist and political commentator Prabhat Patnaik, currently vice-chair of the Kerala Planning Board, is a strong critic of the government’s economic policies. In 2008, Patnaik, who has taught at JNU since the 1970s, was appointed to a four-member team of the UN to recommend...

Firm asks farmers to switch to its second-generation product to delay resistance further  Pink bollworm resistant to pest-killing protein of Bt cotton in four districts Monsanto's advice ridiculous, say scientists For the first time anywhere in the world, biotech agriculture giant Monsanto has admitted that insects have developed resistance to its Bt cotton crop. Field monitoring in parts of Gujarat has discovered that the Bt crop is no longer effective against the...

Though people oppose refinery expansion, officials record their statements as favourable for project  The official record of the public hearing on the Vedanta Aluminium’s plan to expand its refinery in the foothills of Orissa’s Niyamgiri Hills seems to contradict itself. While the people said “no” to the project, the officials recording their statements concluded with a “yes”. The public hearing, held on April 25, 2009, contributed to the decision of several...

Two unique languages disappear with death of last speakers When Boro died on Strait Island last November, Boa lost a friend. The world lost a language. Last week, Boa also died. Another language died with her. The death of these last surviving speakers of two Great Andamanese languages, Khora and Bo, has resulted in the extermination of their unique tribes on the islands. “There are just 50 Great Andamanese left,” says...

Points to plight of city journalists and small-town stringers  City journalists employed on contract basis as well as small-town stringers working for small sums are both victims of the lack of effective trade unionism in the news industry, Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said here on Tuesday. Speaking at the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Press Trust of India organised by the news agency’s employees unions,...