-Press release by Centre for Science and Environment, dated 17 December, 2019 Levels of salt, fat in junk foods way higher than proposed thresholds, says new CSE lab study Points out that industry is opposing notification of draft regulation because then we will know how bad their food is Expert group made recommendations six years ago, but the draft regulation that has emerged is severely diluted -- even this much-diluted draft...

-Livemint.com * A ground report reveals the rural landless poor are struggling to find work, and cutting down on staple food items * The govt needs to urgently expand the food Safety net as it is sitting on surplus foodgrain stocks. The rural jobs scheme needs more funding and prompt payments CHITRAKOOT/ PANNA: It is well past 2 in the afternoon, but the wall clock hanging in Seema’s bare room is stuck at...

-The Hindu Ministry issues advisory to States and UTs, asking them to take all steps to check violence and ensure the Safety of life and properties New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday said no migrant from the six non-Muslim communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh “will become Indian citizen automatically.” A migrant should apply online and the competent authority would see whether he or she fulfiled all the...

-Hindustan Times The better performing states and UTs are Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh. Nearly 4% of the one lakh food and beverage samples analysed by the states and Union Territories last year were unsafe, about 16% were sub-standard and 9% were mislabelled, shows data released by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). This is the first time that...

-Livemint.com * At a time when rural incomes are sliding, the only existing Safety net for the farmer is failing * High costs of reinsurance due to erratic weather, a spike in claims, political interference in crop loss estimation are reasons that forced some insurers to leave the business NEW DELHI: Santosh Kumar’s first brush with insurance left a bitter aftertaste. A farmer’s son, 26-year-old Kumar from Bihar’s Araria district felt betrayed when...