Polio Vaccination Team Fired At In Pakistan's Balochistan Province

A polio vaccination team and two policemen escorting it were attacked by three unknown assailants in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, the police said. The attack occurred in Quetta's Qambrani road area.

The vaccine workers, some of them women, and the policemen were unhurt. However, one of the attackers was injured when the policemen opened fire on them, the police said, adding that the three managed to flee.

"They were three armed men on a motorcycle. As they came near the polio vaccination team and were about to open fire, the policemen suspecting something was wrong fired first. One attacker was injured, while the two others panicked. The three managed to flee from the scene," senior police official Rahim Khan said.

The attack came just a few days after two policemen escorting a polio vaccination team were gunned down in Quetta's Nawan Killi area on Tuesday.

Pakistan regularly witnesses attacks on polio vaccination teams. Its polio vaccine campaign has been hit by such terrorist attacks in many parts of the country, notably in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Even in Pakistan's biggest city, Karachi, polio vaccine workers, and the policemen escorting them have come under fire.

Many religious leaders and terror groups have accused the polio vaccine teams of working under a Western agenda and claim that polio drops make children infertile.

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PM Modi To Lay Foundation Stone For Redevelopment Of 508 Railway Stations

In a historic initiative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for redevelopment of 508 railway stations across the country on August 6 via video conferencing, his office said.

These 508 stations are spread across 27 states and union territories, including 55 each in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, 49 in Bihar, 44 in Maharashtra, 37 in West Bengal, 34 in Madhya Pradesh, 32 in Assam, 25 in Odisha, 22 in Punjab, 21 each in Gujarat and Telangana, 20 in Jharkhand, 18 each in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, 15 in Haryana and 13 in Karnataka.

The redevelopment, which will cost Rs 24,470 crore, will provide modern passenger amenities along with ensuring well designed traffic circulation, inter-modal integration and well designed signage for guidance of passengers, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said, adding that the design of station buildings will be inspired by local culture, heritage and architecture.

Noting that PM Modi has often laid stress on provision of state-of-the-art public transport and that railways is the preferred mode of transport of people, the PMO said he has prioritised the importance of providing world-class amenities at railway stations.

Guided by this vision, the 'Amrit Bharat Station Scheme' was launched to redevelop 1,309 stations, it said. As part of this scheme, the foundation stone for redevelopment of 508 stations is being laid by the prime minister.

"These stations will be redeveloped at a cost of more than Rs 24,470 crore. Master Plans are being prepared for development of these stations as 'City Centres', with proper integration of both sides of the city. This integrated approach is driven by the holistic vision of overall urban development of the city, centred around the railway station," the PMO said.

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"As Hot As A Jacuzzi": World's Oceans Record Hottest Surface Temperature

The world's oceans set a new temperature record this week, raising concerns about knock-on effects on the planet's climate, marine life and coastal communities.

The temperature of the oceans' surface rose to 20.96 degrees Celsius (69.7 Fahrenheit) on Friday, according to European Union climate observatory data.

The previous record was 20.95C in March 2016, a spokeswoman for the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service told AFP.

The samples tested excluded polar regions.

Oceans have absorbed 90 percent of the excess heat produced by human activity since the dawn of the industrial age, according to scientists.

This excess heat continues to accumulate as greenhouse gases -- mainly from burning oil, gas and coal -- continue to accumulate in the Earth's atmosphere.

Globally, the average ocean temperature has been besting seasonal heat records on a regular basis since April.

"The ocean heatwave is an immediate threat to some marine life," said Piers Forster of the International Centre for Climate at the University of Leeds.

"We are already seeing coral bleaching in Florida as a direct result and I expect more impacts will surface."

The overheating of the oceans is predicted to have other effects on marine plant and animal life too, including on the migration of certain species and the spread of invasive species.

This could threaten fish stocks and thus undermine food security in certain parts of the globe.

Warmer oceans are also less capable of absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2), reinforcing the vicious cycle of global warming.

And higher temperatures are likely to come, since the El Nino phenomenon, which tends to warm waters up, has only just begun.

Scientists expect the worst effects of the current El Nino to be felt at the end of 2023 and continue into subsequent years.

Like bath water

"While there are certainly short-term factors, the main long-term cause is without a doubt the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere caused by human activity, primarily by the burning of fossil fuels," said Rowan Sutton, director of climate research at the University of Reading.

The latest figures follow a string of record highs around the world.

On Monday, temperatures of 38.3C -- as hot as a jacuzzi -- were recorded off the Florida coast, which could be a world record high for a point measurement if the figure is confirmed.

Last week, the surface waters of the North Atlantic rose to a record-high average temperature of 24.9C, according to provisional data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The North Atlantic usually only reaches its peak temperature in September

Since March, the month when the North Atlantic begins to warm up after winter, temperatures have been higher than in previous years and the gap with past records has continued to widen in recent weeks.

The region has become a key point for observing the heating of the world's oceans.

Earlier in July, the Mediterranean Sea broke its daily heat record, with a median temperature of 28.71C, according to Spain's leading maritime research centre.

Marine heatwaves have become twice as frequent since 1982, according to a 2019 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

By 2100, they could be 10 times more intense than they were at the beginning of the 20th century if pollutant emissions are not reduced.

The use of coal, oil and gas is expected to be at the centre of debates in the upcoming United Nations climate talks, dubbed COP28, scheduled to take place at the end of the year in Dubai.

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Parliamentary Panel Suggests Greater Punishment For False Poll Affidavit

The punishment for filing a false election affidavit should be enhanced to a maximum of two years from the present six months but the penalty should only be applied in exceptional cases and not for minor errors or unintentional mistakes, a parliamentary committee said on Friday.

According to section 125A of the Representation of the People Act, the penalty for filing a false affidavit is a jail term that may extend to six months, or fine or both.

The standing committee on Law and Personnel headed by BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi said that to ensure fair elections and to protect citizens' constitutional rights, the punishment under Section 125A should be increased to a maximum of two-year imprisonment and a fine.

"The Committee observes that the current punishment, which is only six months under Section 125A, is insufficient and should be increased. The severity of punishment should be based on the severity of the offence committed," it said.

However, the penalty should only be applied in "exceptional cases" and not for minor errors or unintentional mistakes.

"Under the new provision, submitting a false affidavit should be considered a violation of constitutional provisions, and an election may be invalidated under sub-Section 1(d)(iv) of Section 100 of the (RP) Act," it said.

Section 100 deals with grounds for declaring the election to be void.

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Rahul Gandhi Meets Lalu Yadav In Delhi Ahead Of INDIA's August Meet

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday met RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and discussed a host of issues, including the way forward for opposition bloc INDIA, sources said.

The meeting came on a day Rahul Gandhi got a huge relief from the Supreme Court after it stayed his conviction in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his Modi surname remark and paved the way for his reinstatement as a member of the Lok Sabha.

Rahul Gandhi reached RJD MP Misa Bharti's residence to meet Lalu Prasad. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav was also present during the meeting.

Congress general secretary organization KC Venugopal accompanied Mr Gandhi as they met Lalu Prasad.

Lalu Prasad and Rahul Gandhi were seen hugging each other and sharing a laugh during the meeting.

The two leaders discussed a host of political developments, including the way forward for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), sources said. Mr Gandhi also enquired about Lalu Prasad's health.

The former Congress chief and Lalu Prasad also discussed Bihar politics where the RJD, the Congress, the Left parties and the JD(U) are in a coalition government headed by Nitish Kumar.

The meeting assumes significance as it comes just ahead of the opposition's Mumbai meeting likely to take place on August 31-September 1.

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India May Cut Wheat Import Tax To Boost Supply, Check Prices: Report

The central government is considering cutting or even abolishing a 40% import tax on wheat and lowering a limit on the amount of wheat stocks millers and traders can hold, a government official said on Friday, as part of efforts to boost supplies.

"We have options like lowering or abolishing the wheat import duty and tweaking the stock holding limits to control prices," Sanjeev Chopra, the most senior civil servant at the food ministry, told reporters.

"The options are under consideration. The government is committed to controlling prices," Chopra said.

The government in June imposed a limit on the amount of wheat stocks traders can hold in an effort to bring down prices. The government is also offering wheat to bulk buyers such as biscuit makers to augment supplies in the local market.

Wheat prices in New Delhi have jumped 12% in the past four months to 25,174 rupees a metric ton, the highest in nearly six months, as trade and industry officials say production was hit by erratic weather.

There was no proposal to import wheat from Russia in a government-to-government deal, Chopra said.

Wheat output rose to a record 112.74 million metric tons in 2023, up from 107.7 million metric tons a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. India consumes around 108 million metric tons of wheat annually.

But a leading trade body told Reuters in June that India's wheat harvest in 2023 was at least 10% lower than the farm ministry's estimate.

Still, wheat stocks at government warehouses were at 28.3 million tonnes against a target of 24.5 million tonnes.

The decisions to lower or axe the wheat import tax and tighten local stock holding limits would help boost supplies "during the festival season", said Rajesh Paharia Jain, a New Delhi-based trader.

Festival demand for foodstuff peaks around October.

India banned exports in May 2022 after a sudden rise in temperatures clipped output, even as exports picked up to meet the global shortfall triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On Friday, Chicago wheat futures snapped a seven-session slide on rising tensions in the Black Sea grain export region after a Ukrainian drone attack near the Russian export hub of Novorossiysk rekindled global supply fears.

After last year's wheat export ban, India, which accounts for 40% of world rice exports, last month ordered a halt to its largest rice export category to calm domestic prices.

Separately, the food ministry on Friday said the country has more than "sufficient stock" of sugar. Sugar stocks totalled 10.8 million tonnes, sufficient for this season's demand and next season's optimum carryover stocks of about 6.2 million tonnes.

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Defining Hate Speech "Fairly Complex": Supreme Court Flags "Free Speech" Concern

Defining hate speech is complex but the real problem in tackling them lies in the implementation and execution of law and judicial pronouncements, the Supreme Court said on Friday, days after parts of Haryana were rattled by communal violence.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti, which was hearing a plea against the rallies to be organised by right-wing outfits Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal in Delhi-NCR region over the communal clashes in Haryana along with other petitions against hate speeches, asked about whether the events were peaceful.

Senior advocate CU Singh, appearing for petitioner Shaheen Abdullah, said hate speeches were made at the rallies but no violence was reported.

The bench told Mr Singh that a solution to hate speeches can be found through collective efforts alone.

"Why don't you sit together and try to find a solution? You see, the definition of hate speech is fairly complex and it needs to be ensured that it does not transverse into the area of free speech.

"There is my 2020 judgement in the case of Amish Devgan versus Union of India which deals with balancing of competing interests of free speech and the need to prevent the spread of hatred and communal disharmony. There are several other verdicts of the top court. You see the main problem is implementation and execution," Justice Khanna told Singh and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represented the Centre.

Mr Mehta said the top court has specified what hate speech is in the 2018 verdict in the Tehseen Poonawalla case and no one can justify hate speech against any community.

"The law is very clear that if any hate speech is made, one can lodge an FIR and, if FIR is not registered, then one can approach the court," Mehta said.

He, however, said some individuals and organisations were now approaching the Supreme Court directly instead of the police station concerned with complaints about hate speeches and seeking contempt action by the top court over violation of its orders. Also, he said, a new practice has emerged where people approach the court voicing apprehension about the possibility of hate speeches being made at an event and seeking advance ruling.

Mehta was referring to the April 28 order of the top court that directed all states and union territories(UTs) to register cases against those making hate speeches even without any complaint, terming these speeches as a "serious offence" capable of affecting the secular fabric of the country.

Extending the scope of its 2022 order beyond three states--Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Uttarakhand, the top court had made it clear to authorities that any hesitation to act against hate speeches will be viewed as contempt of the top court and appropriate action will be taken against the erring officers.

The bench said there should be a mechanism so that no one has to come to the top court time and again. Social tension is in nobody's interest, it said.

"Everyone will have to find a solution as there has to be some way to deal with hate speeches. Everybody should not be coming to court and there should be some mechanism. We have thought of something and we will let you all know," the bench said and posted the matter for a resumed hearing after two weeks.

Mr Mehta said he has also received some video clips of hate speeches and the petitioner should be directed to amend his petition because he is selectively targeting only one community and ignoring the hate speeches made by others.

On August 2, with communal clashes claiming six lives in parts of Haryana close to Delhi, the top court had ordered enhanced deployment of security personnel in sensitive areas and a crackdown on hate speech but refused to stop the proposed rallies by VHP and Bajrang Dal in the NCR.

On October 21 last year, the top court directed Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Uttarakhand to crack down hard on those making hate speeches, calling them shocking for a country that is religion-neutral.

Holding that the Constitution of India envisages a secular nation, the court had directed the three states to promptly register criminal cases against the offenders without waiting for a complaint to be filed. 

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