-Business Standard Both the minimum and maximum will remain below normal in Southern Peninsular and Central India in these winter months. Brace for some warmth this winter as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its December-February forecast on Thursday said that the minimum and maximum temperatures could remain ‘normal’ to ‘above normal’ over most parts of Northwest and Northeast India. Both the minimum and maximum will remain below normal in Southern Peninsular and...

-The Tribune Centre says the opposition by activists, experts and scientists to GM crops was ‘ideological’ rather than based on scientific rationale New Delhi: As activists express concern over possible environmental contamination due to genetically modified (GM) crops, the Supreme Court on Thursday sought to know from the Centre if there was any compelling reason for the environmental release of GM Mustard. “What we want to know is whether in Indian conditions is...

-The Telegraph The farmer groups and activists campaigning against GM crops also said government scientists had violated the Centre’s undertaking to the court by planting GM mustard in Bharatpur, Kanpur, Jhansi, Ludhiana, Sriganganagar, and Varanasi earlier this month New Delhi: Sections of farmers, activists, and scientists on Monday accused the Centre of misleading the Supreme Court by claiming that genetically-modified mustard is not herbicide-tolerant and that it will help reduce the country’s...

-The Tribune US spearheading move to force developing countries to open up to imports The US filed a fresh complaint against India at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) last week. In its submission, the US sought withdrawal of India’s import restrictions on genetically modified (GM) foods, including rice and apples. It said the demand for a non-GM certificate was disrupting American agricultural exports. This comes at a time when for no apparent...

-Millennium Post New Delhi: Despite a strong opposition of environmental clearance to GM mustard by Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, which is an affiliate of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and other activists, the government has 'decided' to go ahead with the field trial of the transgenic crop and make India self-reliant in oilseed production.  According to a senior official in the Environment Ministry, the government has decided to provide all the needed support to the...