Tampa | Reuters — Much of the U.S. South can expect a cooler and wetter winter, while warmer-than-usual temperatures are likely across many northern and western states, as a strong El Nino weather pattern shaped a government weather outlook issued Thursday. More rain and snow are likely across the nation’s southern regions, extending from central […] Read more
U.S. winter weather to see El Nino’s influence
Villagers in India kill Muslim accused of smuggling cows
Dharamsala, India | Reuters –– Villagers in northern India have killed a Muslim man for allegedly smuggling cattle, police said Saturday, in violence critics say is fuelled by the Hindu nationalist government seeking a nationwide ban of cow slaughter and beef trade. India is the world’s largest exporter of beef and its fifth biggest consumer, […] Read more
Treasury Wine to buy Diageo U.K., U.S. wine assets
Sydney | Reuters –– Australia’s Treasury Wine Estates, the world’s biggest standalone wine maker, said Wednesday it had agreed to buy most of Diageo Plc’s U.S. and British wine operations for US$552 million (C$716 million). Treasury also announced a fully underwritten rights issue to raise around A$486 million (C$460 million) to fund the acquisition. The […] Read more
EU lawmakers reject bill allowing opt-out from GM crop imports
Brussels | Reuters –– European lawmakers rejected a proposal Tuesday that would have allowed countries to restrict or ban the use of imported GM crops that have secured EU approval. The environment committee of the European Parliament rejected the draft law by 47 votes to three, many arguing that the proposal was unworkable and would […] Read more
Gene editing could pave way for pig organ transplants
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. researchers have used a new gene editing technique to trim away potentially harmful virus genes that have impeded the use of pig organs for transplants in humans. The study, published in the journal Science, expands on capabilities of the genome editing tool known as CRISPR-Cas9, which works as a type […] Read more
U.S. hopes to release TPP text in 30 days
Reuters — The U.S. administration hopes to release the full text of a Pacific trade deal within the next 30 days, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said in an interview with CNN. The U.S. sealed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with 11 trading partners this week, after more than five years of negotiations. “The lawyers are […] Read more
Clariant sees biofuels boost from VW diesel affair
Zurich | Reuters –– Swiss specialty chemicals group Clariant expects biofuels to get a boost from the scandal surrounding Volkswagen’s manipulation of diesel motor emissions tests, CEO Hariolf Kottmann told a German newspaper. Clariant is spending 30 million euros (C$44 million) a year to expand capacity in Munich to make bioethanol from wheat straw, and […] Read more
TPP deal near resolution, Japan says
Atlanta | Reuters — Japan’s Economy Minister Akira Amari said on Friday negotiators were close to reaching a sweeping Pacific Rim trade deal, citing progress on the remaining issues involving autos, dairy products and intellectual property protections for expensive biologic drugs. Amari, who spoke to reporters before a meeting of the 12 trade ministers represented in […] Read more
Pacific trade ministers extend talks through Saturday
Atlanta | Reuters — Pacific trade ministers are extending talks on a free trade deal between a dozen nations through Saturday in a bid to reach a final agreement, representatives from Japan and Mexico said Thursday. Japanese Economy Minister Akira Amari said the extension on Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks in Atlanta showed ministers thought there […] Read more
Bulgaria opts out of growing GM crops
Sofia | Reuters –– Bulgaria has told the European Union it will ban the cultivation of crops with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) under EU rules that allow member states to opt out of GMO cultivation, the agriculture ministry said in a statement on Thursday. “The agriculture ministry upholds its position that Bulgaria should be free […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
