Anti-GM and anti-Monsanto campaigners in the US have won a victory over the biotech giant. Last March, the so-called Monsanto Protection Act was quietly passed to ensure seed companies were protected from lawsuits. Following public outcry, Congress has changed the legislation, preventing the Act from being renewed after it expired on 30 September.

In Kerala, India, a converted rick­shaw ensures that when blind children cannot go to school, school goes to them. The project, called Jyothirgamaya (From Darkness to Light), is part of Braille without Borders – a wider initiative that began in Tibet in 1998. In the southern Indian state, white canes, computers and printers are distributed to homes, enabling students to learn Braille, English and other skills to increase their confidence and independence.