At least 116 were killed in a stampede at the Hathras religious gathering, most victims women

A Satsang by a local preacher in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras turned into the site of a tragedy as 116 people, almost all of them women, were killed in a stampede.

According to officials, the event in Phulrai village was addressed by Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari aka Bhole Baba, who has been active in the region and adjoining districts for 27 years.

A preliminary investigation points to a host of factors that led to the incident - thousands more than expected turning up at the Satsang; many falling on the uneven surface while trying to collect soil the preacher had walked on before he left the venue, and healthcare facilities struggling to keep pace with the rush of dead and injured.

Army Chief likely to visit Jammu belt today, review security situation

With a series of terror incidents in Jammu, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi has planned to visit the area this week to review the security situation in areas south of the Pir Panjal range and discuss operational challenges in the UT with the senior Army brass.

General Dwivedi's planned travel to Jammu, which is likely to be on Wednesday, will mark his first official visit to an operational area in the same week he took charge. It is reflective of the priority that he accords to the security-related challenges that the region is facing at present.

He is likely to review the over-all J&K strategy - including new challenges of narco-terror prevailing in the UT and keeping infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC) in check, they said.

Iran's presidential election

On June 28, Iran held the first round of voting to elect a new President, necessitated by the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May. 

Since neither of the top two candidates - 69-year-old cardiac surgeon Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist, and 58-year-old hardliner Saeed Jalili-won more than 50% of votes, they will face off in a run-off election on July 5.

Abhaya mudra, a Buddhist & Hindu cultural symbol conveying freedom from fear

In his first speech as LoP in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi invoked the abhaya mudra, the gesture of the raised open palm that is commonly understood as conveying reassurance and freedom from fear. 

He portrayed the government as a regime based on fear and stressed that the culture of fear is alien to the Hindu religion and Indian civilisation.

Mudras in Buddhism

In Sanskrit, the term mudra could mean a seal, mark, sign, or currency, but in the Buddhist context, it refers to "hand and arm gestures made during the course of ritual practice or depicted in images of buddhas, bodhisattvas, tantric deities, and other Buddhist images" (Buswell and Lopez, The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, 2013).

Mudras are most commonly associated with visual depictions of the Buddha (or Buddharupa): different gestures convey different moods and meanings, AINED signifying the subtle manifestations of the Buddha's states of realisation. 

For about 500 years after the Buddha, who lived in the 6th or 5th Century BCE, the person of the great teacher was not depicted in the form of an image or sculpture. At Sanchi, for instance, the Buddha is symbolised by a vacant throne or a footprint.

Delhi & a New London

Delhi should stop underestimating the relative importance of Britain for India. 

India's exports to Britain today, at nearly $30 billion, are nearly six times the exports to Russia. 

Although far behind the US and China, Britain today is among the front-ranking global middle powers. 

Its financial clout, technological depth, and global reach make Britain a force multiplier for a rising India. 

As he nudges Labour towards political moderation, Starmer allows India to strengthen ties with Britain.

Critical mineral recycling: Govt plans PLI scheme to boost circular economy

The Ministry of Mines is in the initial stages of designing a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to boost the recycling of critical minerals in India, The Indian Express has learnt. 

This move aims to foster a circular economy and bolster domestic supply chains, following a lack-lustre response to recent auctions of critical mineral blocks.

The proposed PLI scheme aligns with policy recommendations from NITI Aayog, the government's apex think tank, and complements the Battery Waste Management Rules (BWMR), 2022, which mandate phased re-cycling of used electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion batteries from 2026 onwards.

In an office memorandum dated May 1, 2024, the Mines Ministry circulated a concept note on a PLI scheme envisaged for the recycling of critical minerals, people familiar with the developments said. 

The note was shared with key government stakeholders, including the Department of Science & Technology, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), and the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), for comments and feedback. The ministry is yet to hear back from MNRE and MHI.

Union Budget likely to be presented on July 24

The full Budget for 2024-25 may be presented on July 24 in the monsoon session of Parliament, while the Economic Survey may be tabled on July 23, sources said.

While the final decision on the dates will be announced soon, sources said the normal practice is that two sessions of Parliament have a gap of at least 15 days between them. The inaugural session of the 18th Lok Sabha concluded on Tuesday. While the next session could begin on July 18 going by the 15-day norm, sources said it will likely begin only on July 22 (Monday).

'Moderating inflation aiding goods trade recovery in India, China'

India and China exhibited "very strong" quarter-over-quarter export performance as the decline in goods trade among major economies reversed during the first quarter of 2024, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said in its report released.

In the first quarter of 2024, global trade continued its modest and gradual increase that began in the second half of 2023, fuelled by positive trade dynamics for the US amid moderating inflation and improving economic growth forecast.

"Overall, moderating global inflation and improving economic growth forecasts suggest a reversal of the downward macroeconomic trends that have characterised most of 2023. 

Additionally, rising demand for products related to energy transition and artificial intelligence should contribute to trade growth through 2024," UNCTAD said. 

However, the global trade outlook for 2024 remains subject to downside risks. Persistent geopolitical tensions, rising shipping costs, and emerging industrial policies could significantly impact global trade, the report said.