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The Hindu
22-07-2025
- The Hindu
Bihar EOU arrests a man in connection with ₹101 crore embezzlement
Bihar Economic Offences Unit (EOU) on Tuesday (July 22, 2025) arrested Mohammed Syed Shahnawaz Wazi a resident of Patna under Khajekalan police station in connection with embezzlement of ₹101.67 crore. EOU Additional Director General (ADG) Nayyar Hasnain Khan told The Hindu that Mr. Wazi was working as assistant branch manager and branch manager in Awami Cooperative Bank, Pirbahore from the year 1998 to the year 2013. He added that by criminal conspiracy in connivance with other employees of bank, officials and employees of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India, agents and brokers of LIC, by preparing fake LIC policies and opening fake loan accounts, a total of ₹18.17 crores of deposit amount / public money was embezzled by fraud and forgery. In this regard, Pirbahore (Patna) Police Station Case No. 229/21 was registered, which was investigated by the EOU in the year 2024. According to EOU, Wazi, as Branch Manager, Vaishali Sahakari Vikas Cooperative Bank, Hajipur from the year 2014 to 2023, by hatching a criminal conspiracy in connivance with other employees by preparing fake LIC policies and documents of Bear House / Cold Storage, embezzled ₹83.50 crore by fraud and forgery of public money. Hajipur City Police Station had lodged three cases against him which were being investigated by the EOU. 'In the four cases, about ₹101 crore rupees deposited by common citizens in the banks were embezzled on a large scale. Mr. Wazi is the main accused in this. Earlier also a criminal case related to embezzlement was found registered against in the year 2013,' Mr. Khan said. According to EOU, Mr. Wazi was absconding in these cases for the last 4 years and Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIR) under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) has also been registered in this case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Mr. Khan also informed that on the basis of evidence found in the primary interrogation of Wazi, two of his associates have been arrested by the special team of EOU. They have been identified as Shaukat Ali and Rajnikant alias Gopal Prasad, both are residents of Patna. 'In the course of the investigation so far, it has come to light that apart from the main accused of this case, employees and other agents of Awami Cooperative Bank, Pirbahore, Vaishali Cooperative Bank, Cooperative Bank Hajipur, Life Insurance Corporation of India, Patna office and many brokers are also involved in this criminal conspiracy, against whom further action is being taken,' Mr. Khan said.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Neelakurinji Bloom: No Proposals From Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka to Declare It a Threatened Species
Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka have not proposed declaring neelakurinji a threatened species under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, says Botanical Survey of India Despite neelakurinji's famed 12-year bloom cycle and declining populations, Tamil Nadu , Kerala and Karnataka have not proposed declaring it a threatened species under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday. The NGT had in Aug 2024 registered a suo motu case based on a report that neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) had been identified as Vulnerable (Criteria A2c) under the IUCN Red List following its first-ever global assessment. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The NGT noted that the endemic shrub of the southwest Indian montane grasslands was reported to have lost almost 40% of its habitat, with remaining areas threatened by tea and softwood plantations, invasive eucalyptus and black wattle species, urbanisation, infrastructure projects, afforestation programmes, and climate change. Peermade in Kerala was cited as one of the locations where recent blooming was reported. The Tribunal directed BSI, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, and the ministry of environment, forest and climate change to respond and assist in determining whether environmental and biodiversity laws were being complied with in the context of neelakurinji conservation. In its submission on July 15, BSI stated that though neelakurinji has been reported as vulnerable globally, no formal proposal from any state, including Tamil Nadu, has been received to notify it as threatened under national law. BSI disputed reports of a 40% population decline, asserting that no conclusive scientific data exists to support that figure and indicated the need for a comprehensive reassessment across affected habitats. Contrary to the long-held view that neelakurinji grows at elevations between 1,340m and 2,600m, BSI pointed routecent field records show the plant grows at altitudes as low as 1,100m, a habitat shift that warrants closer investigation. BSI also said most subpopulations remain fragmented, with some having fewer than 500 plants, and that factors such as habitat loss, declining pollinator interactions, and the long 12-year flowering cycle continue to threaten the species. It confirmed that neelakurinji occurs in more than 34 locations, many outside protected areas, including on revenue land, further complicating conservation strategies.
Shafaq News
22-07-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
Centuries-old al-Farouq Minaret in Al-Anbar at risk of collapse
Shafaq News – Al-Anbar The historic al-Farouq Minaret in the city of Hit is facing imminent collapse due to severe structural damage, local antiquities officials warned on Monday, citing decades of neglect and lack of scientific restoration. Al-Anbar's Director of Antiquities, Ammar Ali, told Shafaq News that the minaret—believed to predate the Islamic conquests—is suffering from widespread cracks, foundational tilt, and long-standing moisture damage, placing it at serious risk. "The last maintenance effort dates back to 1945 and was carried out by residents using unscientific methods," he said. Originally used as a beacon to guide trade caravans between the Levant and Mesopotamia, the structure was later annexed to a mosque during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab and repurposed as a minaret. Ali emphasized that sewage works and accumulated humidity have further deteriorated the minaret's structure, despite its elevated location. He noted that while the State Board of Antiquities has officially requested renovation efforts, the site legally falls under the ownership of the Sunni Endowment Office according to Law No. 55 of 2002, requiring the office to handle restoration under the board's supervision. "Despite repeated promises from the Endowment to fund restoration, no concrete steps have been taken," Ali said. "We are ready to provide full technical oversight, but the ongoing delay in allocating funds remains the main obstacle." 'This monument, which has stood for centuries, now risks collapsing at any moment.' Local activist Ali Ahmed echoed the frustration, accusing relevant institutions of negligence. 'The people of Hit are deeply disappointed. This minaret is part of the city's identity, and despite repeated warnings and official memos, there has been no visible effort to save it,' he told Shafaq News. Ahmed called for an emergency rescue plan led by qualified engineering and heritage experts, urging both the central government and the Sunni Endowment to act before it is too late. The al-Farouq Minaret is one of Al-Anbar's most iconic archaeological landmarks. Dating back to the pre-Islamic era, it functioned as a signal tower for desert caravans before becoming a religious site. It has withstood the test of time, but now stands precariously without modern conservation.
New Straits Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Govt eyes streamlined agencies to bolster plastic waste import controls
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is mulling an overhaul of the country's plastic waste import system, including streamlining the roles of four key agencies to enhance coordination, accountability and enforcement. This will involve the Department of Environment (DoE), Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corp (SWCorp), Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry, and Customs Department. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who helms the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, said the proposed initiative aimed to strengthen enforcement mechanisms in addressing the transboundary movement of plastic waste. "We take the issue of unauthorised and uncontrolled transboundary movement of plastic waste very seriously. "It is often seen as a form of waste colonisation," he told the Dewan Rakyat today. Johari said overlapping jurisdictions among the agencies had hindered enforcement efforts. "We have four different bodies with different mandates. "If we want effective enforcement, all four must sit at the same table; that is my suggestion to Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry," he said, responding to questions from Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (Perikatan Nasional–Kubang Kerian) on the government's position regarding plastic waste imports enforcement. Johari said enforcement should go beyond port inspections and include strict monitoring of recycling facilities. "If we track activities at the processing plants, we can determine whether the waste is being handled by licensed operators or otherwise," he said. Johari said only 10-20 per cent of imported plastic waste is properly processed, while the remaining 80 per cent ends up in landfills. To address this, he said the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry would require all plastic recycling companies to register with the ministry and renew their licences annually. He said beginning July 1, new standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been enforced under the Customs (Prohibition of Imports) Order (Amendment) 2002. All plastic waste imports must be approved by the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry and obtain a Certificate of Approval issued by Sirim. "With the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry's involvement, we want all companies to register with the ministry. "We will scrutinise their financial reports, sales data, export destinations and waste handling practices," he said. Johari said that Malaysia, as a signatory to the Basel Convention, is bound by its provisions on the transboundary movement of hazardous waste, including the 2021 amendment which mandates Prior Informed Consent before any cross-border shipment of plastic waste.
Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Don't see why not…': Delhi HC on plea seeking rights for same-sex couples to make medical decisions for each other
The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the central government to respond to a plea by a woman, who sought that non-heterosexual couples get the right to make medical decisions for each other. The high court sought responses from the Union ministries of health, law, and social justice and empowerment, as well as the National Medical Commission (NMC), orally remarking that it does not see a reason why such a provision should not exist. Arshiya Takkar, a leadership coach and family business consultant who got married to her long-term partner, advocate Chand Chopra, in New Zealand in December 2023, has moved the Delhi High Court, highlighting that there exists 'no framework which grants or recognizes the rights of non-heterosexual couples to act as a medical representative of their respective partners during medical treatment/emergencies'. Senior advocate Saurabh Kirpal, appearing for Takkar, highlighted that the lack of guidelines in this regard leaves a 'big lacuna in case of queer couples and public at large'. Takkar underscored the 'critical need for recognition of their union in medical contexts,' as Chopra's immediate family members reside in different states or countries, making them potentially inaccessible during a medical emergency, and highlighted her 'indispensable role as her partner's decision-maker'. Takkar's petition submits that the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 mandate consent for medical procedures/treatment from a 'husband or wife, parent or guardian in the case of minor, or the patient himself', thus lacking 'explicit recognition of partners in a union', effectively making her 'powerless to make critical medical decisions' for her partner. Takkar has cited that this is arbitrary, a breach of her fundamental right of expression, and discrimination on the grounds of sex. 'The prevailing legal framework and practices, by effectively restricting medical decision-making rights to heterosexual couples or normative family members, are inconsistent with this evolving constitutional understanding and violate constitutional morality, which mandates respect for diversity and individual dignity. The absence of legal recognition for same-sex partners in medical decision-making also contravenes India's international obligations,' Takkar has submitted. Takkar has sought the court's direction to frame guidelines directing hospitals/physicians to recognise non-heterosexual partners as medical representatives and grant them access during medical treatment. She is also seeking a declaration that a medical power of attorney given in advance by a patient to their non-heterosexual partner shall be sufficient for such partner to act as the duly constituted medical representative. Taken up before Justice Sachin Datta, the court orally remarked that it can consider the latter request, on declaring that a medical power of attorney given in advance to their partner shall suffice for consideration as being their medical representative. Kirpal further added that in the interim, the Centre too can consider framing guidelines. Meanwhile, the central government's standing counsel, Monika Arora, opposed the plea, orally submitting that while the Supreme Court has laid down 'that there should not be discrimination in goods and services available to the public', such a provision is not available for unmarried heterosexual couples, say for example a man and a woman in a live-in relationship, and thus the question of discrimination does not arise. 'Here, if someone is in a live-in relationship, a boy and girl, this (provision to authorise their partner as their medical representative) is not available,' Arora submitted. Responding to the Centre's assertion, Kirpal responded, 'I am sure the Union (government) won't be so inhuman…I am surprised. An unmarried man and woman are allowed to get married (but queer couples are not in India).' Justice Datta also orally inquired from the Centre, 'Let us take the case of a heterosexual situation, I don't see why this regime shouldn't be there. Suppose there is someone living all by himself or herself, what then?…or they are estranged from their family?' Issuing notice, the court sought the responses of the government ministries and NMC, and has now kept the matter for consideration next on October 27.
