The Hindu Morning Digest: July 13, 2025
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday (July 12, 2025) said that it has distributed Enumeration Forms for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Voter Rolls in Bihar to almost all electors who were found at their addresses and added that the forms can be submitted by July 25 and the required documents later by August 30.
Odisha student battling for life following self-immolation, says sexual assault complaint against professor went unheard
An undergraduate girl student, whose complaint of sexual harassment against an assistant professor went unaddressed, was battling for life following self-immolation in college corridor in Odisha's Balasore district on Saturday (July 12, 2025).
Trump announces 30% tariffs against EU, Mexico to begin August 1
President Donald Trump on Saturday (July 12, 2025) announced he's levying tariffs of 30% against the European Union and Mexico. Mr. Trump announced the tariffs on two of the United States' biggest trade partners in letters posted to his social media account.
Environment Ministry exempts 78% of coal plants from installing key anti-polluting systems
The Environment Ministry has exempted the majority of India's thermal power plants from installing flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems, which are designed to cut sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions.
Iga Swiatek defeats Amanda Anisimova to win her first Wimbledon title
Iga Swiatek won her first Wimbledon championship with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Amanda Anisimova on Saturday in the first women's final at the tournament in 114 years in which one player failed to claim a single game.
Enrolment in third phase clinical trials for India's first dengue vaccine nearly complete, says ICMR
Following an announcement by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Panacea Biotec Limited to initiate third phase trials, about 8,000 of the targeted 10,000 participants have enrolled in the third phase of clinical trials for a dengue vaccine in India, Manoj Murhekar, Director, National Institute of Epidemiology, ICMR, Chennai, told The Hindu.
UGC's anti-ragging system has utterly failed, says Delhi High Court
In a strong rebuke to the University Grants Commission (UGC)'s current anti-ragging framework, the Delhi High Court has signalled that it may initiate a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) petition to address the recent surge in ragging incidents and student deaths across higher educational institutions.
WHO Regional Director Saima Wazed proceeds on indefinite leave in the wake of corruption charges in Bangladesh
Saima Wazed, Regional Director of the World Health Organization's (WHO) South-East Asia Region, has proceeded on indefinite leave from Friday (July 11, 2025), the global health body's spokesperson confirmed to The Hindu on Saturday (July 12, 2025) in an email response.
More than 70 arrested at London protest in support of banned group Palestine Action
More than 70 people were arrested on Saturday (July 12, 2025) at protests in the U.K. against the Palestine Action group being proscribed a terrorist organization by the British government following a break-in and vandalism at a Royal Air Force base.
IND vs ENG Day 3 Lord's Test: Rahul, Pant and Jadeja excel as match evenly poised
KL Rahul racked up his second hundred at the iconic Lord's before India matched England's first innings total of 387 on an attritional day three of the third Test to leave the game on even keel on a deteriorating pitch.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
42 minutes ago
- First Post
Italy's Meloni cautions against ‘trade war within the West' after Trump's 30% tariff move
Trump announced Saturday that products imported into the United States from the European Union and Mexico would be subject to 30 percent tariffs starting August 1. read more Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned Sunday against the perception of a 'trade war within the West', following US President Donald Trump's announcements of 30-percent tariffs on EU products. 'A trade war within the West would weaken us all in the face of the global challenges we are confronting together,' Meloni said in a statement released by her office. 'Europe has the economic and financial strength to assert its position and reach a fair and sensible agreement,' she said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Italy will do its part. As always,' she added, as the EU holds off on a response in the hopes of reaching an agreement. Trump announced Saturday that products imported into the United States from the European Union and Mexico would be subject to 30 percent tariffs starting August 1. Since then, Italian opposition parties have criticized Meloni and her far-right party Brothers of Italy, while opposition Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte accusing her of 'bowing her head' to Washington's threats. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Brussels would not retaliate against US tariffs on steel and aluminium for now, hoping to secure a deal to avoid broader 30-percent levy on all its exported products.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Foreigners in Bihar rolls; will be removed after 'proper enquiry': ECI Officials
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads In a significant development just ahead of the assembly elections in Bihar, Election Commission officials on Sunday indicated that a 'large number' of possible foreign nationals have been found living in the state and their names would be excluded from the final electoral rolls if it is so proven after "proper enquiry".The ECI is currently conducting a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar which involves house-to-house enumeration and verification of documents of every elector. "During the house-to-house visits, a large number of people from Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar have been found by the BLOs. These persons have been able to procure all documents including aadhaar, domicile certificate, ration card etc", ECI sources said. They said "after proper enquiry to be conducted from Aug 1 till Aug 30, if found true, such names shall not be included in the final list to be published on Sept 30, 2025".The three documents: Aadhaar, domicile certificate and ration card are not among the 11 documents proof-listed by the ECI in its June 24 order. The Supreme Court last week asked the ECI to consider allowing aadhaar and ration cards as well. The latest ECI revelation, therefore, is bound to bring the issue of citizenship to the centre of the SIR, especially in the Seemanchal region. Seemanchal is roughly spread across 24 assembly seats across the four districts of Kishanganj, Araria, Purnea and Katihar and has often been under watch for suspected infiltration of illegal immigrants. The home ministry has, on various occasions, highlighted the issue of influx of immigrants into different parts of the country, especially the Rohingyas. The issue of suspected Bangladeshi and Rohingyas Muslim presence in Seemanchal region has also been red flagged by agencies, sources told ET. "The issue of illegal intruders is related to national security, and should be dealt with strictly and they should be identified and deported," said a senior government per official estimates, there are nearly 40,000 Rohingyas across India with the highest number in Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Haryana among others. The problem has compounded since late 2011 with Rohingyas from Rakhine province in Myanmar migrating to India following persecution by the Myanmar armed there are no specific figures for Bihar, as per a Parliament reply on February 24, 2016, West Bengal with 3,724, followed by Tripura (1713), Tamil Nadu (639) and Maharashtra (228) recorded the highest number of cases of arrest of foreign nationals in 2014 under various sections of the Foreigners Act, 1946 and on charges of violating other provisions of the Immigration Control Rules & Regulations. There were 28,356 such foreign nationals found to be overstaying as of December 2014. As per the home ministry's data, more than 14,000 Rohingyas are presently registered with the UNHCR, as staying in India.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Smoke and sulphur: on sulphur dioxide emissions, public health
The axe has dropped. The Environment Ministry has exempted the majority of India's coal-fired plants from mandatorily installing Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems, which are designed to cut sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) emissions. In effect, this undermines its own mandate from 2015 that required all such plants — there are about 180 of them now, comprising 600 units — to install these systems. While these were expected to be in place by 2017, only about 8% of the units have actually installed FGD — nearly all by the public-sector National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). SO 2 is among the gases monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) as exposure beyond a degree can be harmful. Less appreciated is its propensity to form sulphates in the air and contributing to particulate matter pollution. In general, India's average ground-level SO 2 measurements have been below the permissible levels — one among several reasons that there has not been a sense of urgency in implementing FGD norms. The official reasons are the limited number of vendors in India, high installation costs, the potential rise in electricity bills, and disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the latest deadlines flew by in 2024, the Environment's Ministry's decision — it follows consultations with scientific institutions and new commissioned studies — is a sharp disavowal of the current policy. An expert appraisal committee says that Indian coal is low in sulphur; SO 2 levels in cities near plants with operational FGD units do not differ significantly from those without these units, and all of these were anyway well below permissible levels. The committee had said that concerns about sulphates are unfounded. It also argued, echoed by the Minister for Power, that sulphates had a beneficial side-effect in suppressing warming from greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, reducing sulphates would actually worsen warming and compromise India's climate goals. While IPCC assessments do account for the heat-suppressing action of sulphates, nowhere is it projected as an unalloyed good. A minority of plants, about a fifth — those within a 10 km radius of the NCR; in cities with a population of over a million, or known to be in pollution hotspots — must install FGDs by 2028. This seems to suggest that what determines their installation is the location of a coal plant and not whether FGDs are effective or SO 2 is harmful. This is a rare instance when there are different environmental standards within India on controlling exposure to a pollutant. While it is not unscientific to revise understanding of the harms or benefits of substances, this needs debate in the public domain before a policy is changed. Otherwise it amounts to undermining India's commitment to scientifically informed public health.
