-The Hindu     They say Supreme Court-appointed panel's recommendations reasonable Even as the final report of the Supreme Court-appointed Technical Expert Committee (TEC) on open field trials of genetically modified crops is awaited, 51 independent international scientists with expertise in genetic engineering and biosafety protocols have approved the panel's Interim Report. The report has called for a 10-year moratorium on open field trials of Bt food crops until adequate regulatory mechanisms and safety...

-The Hindu   We'll have to make ‘some compromises,' to pass the Bills: govt. sources The UPA government had hoped to push its social welfare agenda through in Parliament by legislating on food security and land acquisition. Instead, just five days into the second half of the ongoing budget session, it is engaged in damage control, trying to put out three fires simultaneously - the coal blocks' allocation issue, the 2G JPC imbroglio...

-The Hindu Nellore: Revenue officials headed by Gudur Sub-Collector J. Niwas conducted raids on BRIck kilns in Nayudupeta area and released about 53 Odisha bonded labourers from the clutches of the BRIck kiln operators. The raids were conducted following complaints filed by the International Justice Mission (IJM). Among the rescued labourers were 21 children and all of them were escorted back to their native villages in Odisha with the help of officials. In...

-The Times of India Rains could BRIng some relief to the UPA in the pre-election year with the meteorological department on Friday projecting a countrywide normal monsoon for 2013. The forecast should allay government's fears of food inflation jumping again over the 10% mark after being only partially tamed in the last quarter of the financial year. The weather office said that rainfall would be within the normal range - 98% of...

-The Times of India The National Advisory Council (NAC) on Friday approved mandatory public consultation on new laws and rules before they are brought to Parliament. This will for the first time provide an institutional structure for civil society representatives to express their views. The "pre-legislative process'' was brought in the wake of increasing dissatisfaction over legislations piloted by the government, especially the Lokpal Bill. The move was initiated by NAC...