Murmu wake-up call to the judiciary: Poor afraid of going to courts

Flagging the "culture of adjournment" in deciding cases, President Droupadi Murmu said that the poor from the villages are still anxious to approach courts as they feel that fighting for justice will make their lives even more difficult, and termed it the 'Black Coat Syndrome'. 

Addressing the valedictory event of the two-day National Conference of the District Judiciary, Murmu also said that delays in deciding heinous crime cases such as rape forces the common man to think that the judicial process lacks sensitivity. 

This comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the inaugural session of the conference, called for quick disposal of cases of crimes against women, saying that the faster the decisions are taken in such cases, "the greater will be the assurance of safety for half the population".  

High-profile WhatsApp impersonation: Probe shows IP addresses of Pak, Hong Kong, Nigeria; malicious app used

In high-profile WhatsApp impersonation cases over the last three years targeting former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Kiren Rijiju, and CJI DY Chandrachud, among others, a probe revealed IP addresses of Pakistan, Hong Kong and Nigeria after analysing the WhatsApp accounts involved in these offences. 

the cyber-police station of New Delhi district police lodged an FIR under BNS Section 204 (whoever pretends to hold any particular office as a public servant) and 66(C) of the IT Act based on a complaint from an inspector of the security wing of Supreme Court Pawan Kumar, who alleged that someone was pretending to be CJI Chandrachud. 

Cargo drones to robotic mules: Last-mile connectivity is the focus before winter at LAC

From upgrading ways to enhance last-mile connectivity, monitoring of provisioning of transport, supplies, fuel and lubricants and establishing additional joint logistics nodes, the Army has been working on strengthening its entire logistics network as Indian troops brace for the fifth consecutive winter along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh where they have been in a standoff with Chinese troops since May 2020.

An Army source said that ahead of the onset of six months of harsh winter, steps are being taken: last-mile connectivity in mountainous terrain is gradually transitioning from animal transport to trucks, all-terrain and rugged terrain vehicles, civil hired transport and heavy cargo drones for transporting ration, fuel, oil and supplies. 

"Logistics supplies have been stepped up to meet the troops' needs deployed. Additionally, the Army continues to monitor stock levels twice daily to ascertain their sufficiency and to see there are adequate reserves in instances of contingencies," the source said.

Opening up the field

Paddy requires a minimum of 20-25 irrigations compared to less than four irrigations for pulses, oilseeds and millets.

A 2023 study by the Central Ground Water Board on water tables reveals that 87 per cent of Punjab's 153 blocks are categorised as over-exploited, critical, or semi-critical. 

With GHG emissions of 5 tonnes CO2 eq per hectare, paddy cultivation here is also driving climate change. Rice stubble burning is a major contributor to pollution. 

The successful implementation of this scheme will have a positive impact on the agriculture sustainability of the states, and the country at large. 

SLOW, BUT STEADY

The Indian economy grew at a five-quarter-low of 6.7 per cent in the first quarter (April-June) of the ongoing financial year. Growth has come in lower than the central bank's expectations of 7.1 per cent. 

This moderation in growth can be attributed to several factors - subdued government spending, sluggish growth of the farm sector and parts of the services economy. However, there is the possibility of some of these segments bouncing back over the next few quarters, providing a fillip to the broader economy.

RULE 170 OF THE DRUGS ACT, OVER WHICH THE AYUSH MINISTRY WAS PULLED UP

Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta, while hearing the ongoing Supreme Court case against Patanjali Ayurved, pulled up the AYUSH ministry for its July 1 notification asking state licensing authorities "not to initiate/take any action under" Rule 170 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. 

The rule, introduced in 2018, is designed to prevent misleading advertisements of AYUSH products. The AYUSH ministry's July 1 notification reiterated its position made in a previous letter, dated August 29, 2023. 

In 2018, the government brought in Rule 170 to govern the manufacture, storage, and sale of medicines in the country, "specifically for controlling inappropriate advertisements of Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicines". 

The rule prohibits AYUSH drug manufacturers from advertising their products without approval and allotment of a unique identification number from the state licensing authority. 

The manufacturers have to submit details such as textual references and rationale for the medicine from authoritative books, indication for use, evidence of safety, effectiveness, and quality of drugs. 

Why Namibia plans to kill hundreds of its majestic wild animals for meat

Namibia plans to cull hundreds of its most majestic wild animals, including dozens of elephants and hippopotamuses, to provide meat for its 1.4 million people - nearly half the southern African nation's population - who are reeling under the worst drought in a century. 

A total 723 animals, including 30 hippopotamuses, 60 buffaloes, 50 impalas, 100 blue wildebeest, 300 zebras, 83 elephants, and 100 elands, a type of antelope, are on the kill list. More than 150 animals have been killed already, and the carcasses have yielded about 63 tonnes of meat. 

Oil imports from Russia fall as refinery maintenance season curbs demand

India's crude oil imports from Russia, Delhi's largest source market for oil-cooled off sequentially in August from July's near-record levels as oil demand evidently softened in the run-up to the refinery maintenance season, according to ship tracking data and industry watchers.

Relatively lower availability of Russian oil for the export market was also a likely factor. 

Oil market experts expect India's oil imports-including from Russia-to be slightly subdued in September as well due to maintenance shutdowns at a few refineries, before recovering again in October as the affected refining capacity comes back on stream in the festival season, which is usually marked by high fuel demand. 

India's Russian oil imports declined 14.5 per cent by 0.31 million barrels per day (bpd)-sequentially in August to 1.80 million bpd, but still accounted for a whopping 39.9 per cent of the New Delhi's total crude oil imports for the month, per provisional vessel tracking data from commodity market analytics firm Kpler. Notably, India's overall oil imports for the month also declined by a similar volume -0.32 million bpd- to 4.52 million bpd. 

Indian MSMEs losing ground as Chinese goods flood market'

Indian small businesses operating in various product categories such as umbrellas, glassware, cutlery, handbags, and cosmetics are facing stiff competition in the domestic market due to the influx of Chinese goods, according to a report by the think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).

The dominance of Chinese imports is displacing local production, as over 90 per cent of the umbrellas, artificial flowers, and human hair articles are sourced from China 

In product categories such as glassware, leather, and toys, China's share in India's total market for these items has increased to over 50 per cent 

Trade deficits in natural resources like crude oil and coal are less concerning, but the growing dependence on imported industrial goods threatens India's economic sovereignty.