-Tehelka Bureau Though well-meaning, the new Land Acquisition Act is far from being a perfect legislation. But the urgency to amend a law even before a real field test signals a larger agenda. By all counts, this was expected. Long before he became the BJP and subsequently the nation's chosen one, Narendra Modi had made it clear that his model of development gains from the ease of doing business. Then, days ahead...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The government on Friday refused to yield to pressure from developed countries to accept easier customs rules without its food subsidy concerns being addressed, putting at risk a likely deal at the World Trade Organization (WTO). Developed countries have stepped up the pressure on India saying failure to strike a deal on trade facilitation would stall global trade reforms and deal a massive blow to the...

-The Economic Times NEW DELHI: India is likely to push for an extension of the July 31 deadline for signing of trade facilitation protocol to get its food security concerns addressed in the meantime. The Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take the final call on India's stand on the Bali package on Thursday. India has said that it will not sign the protocol of the trade facilitation...

-The Hindu   The NDA's first budget has thrown a few sops in the direction of the environment and the millions dependent on it. But much like its predecessors, in painting the big picture it remains embarrassingly devoid of innovative ideas on how to move India towards ecological sustainability and justice "While 2015 will be a landmark year for sustainable development and climate change policy, 2014 is the last chance for all stakeholders...

-The Hindu Business Line China, Cuba also support India India, China and Cuba have joined hands at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to demand inclusion of subsidies for food procurement and food-aid programmes in the list of permissible incentives. New Delhi has refused to give its consent to a trade facilitation protocol being pushed by several developed WTO members, such as the US, Australia and the EU, till there is a permanent solution...