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Amid growing concerns over weakening rupee and rising global oil prices, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday “sought a review of payment terms with major oil producers,” reports The Indian Express.
The rupee has weakened by 14.5 per cent this year and the global oil prices have more than doubled since Modi took charge in 2014. As general elections approach closer, the government is looking to take measures to bring some relief to the consumers. As part of this strategy, the government wants to make a part of oil imports payment in rupee.
The Times of India has put it on the front page with the headline “PM seeks repayment system to soften blow of oil imports”. The Economic Times has pushed the news to its 15th page with headline “PM Modi Asks Oil Producers to Review Terms of Payment”. Hindustan Times has also chosen to lead with the prime minister’s request but has put the news only on its business page. The Hindu has given prominence to the assurances of the Saudi Arabia Energy Minister Khalid A. al-Falih’s assurance of “meeting all of India’s energy needs”.
India imports nearly 85 per cent of its oil needs and is currently the third largest consumer of oil. Adding to the volatility in the global oil market is the upcoming sanctions on Iran by the US in November.
Union Minister M.J. Akbar continues to remain on the front pages of nearly all English newspapers. This time, it’s for filing a criminal defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani who had alleged Akbar of harassing her 20 years ago.
The Indian Express reports, “Akbar files a defamation case against Woman Number One”. The news daily has also written a parallel story giving prominence to Ramani’s reaction to the defamation case. “Truth and the absolute truth is my only defence,” said Ramani. The Telegraph, a newspaper where Akbar served as founder-editor, has put the news on the front page with the headline “Akbar files suit against Ramani”. The Times of India has made it the front page lead whereas Hindustan Times has given it a column space on the front page.
As part of the #MeToo movement, over a dozen journalists have accused Akbar of harassment during his time as editor.
Prime time
Does M.J. Akbar have a very sound legal case?
India Today anchor Padmaja Joshi debated the legal merits of the defamation suit Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar has filed against the woman who had first named him — journalist Priya Ramani. During the debate, journalist Suparna Sharma said the legal system has failed the women in the country, while lawyer Flavia Agnes said it’s not wrong for the minister to go to court.
Sharma said, “The whole #MeToo movement is against the legal system failing us and the men in power using the system for their own benefits.”
Agnes said, “He has the right to the court in order to prove his innocence, there is nothing wrong in it.”
Who is a ‘good’ Hindu?
In light of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s recent comments, Aaj Tak anchor Anjana Om Kashyap debated the idea of a ‘good’ Hindu. Tharoor earlier said, “No good Hindu would want a Ram Temple built by demolishing somebody else’s place of worship.” During the debate, Hindu saint Acharya Satendra Dev said Ram temple will be built in Ayodhya, while Maulana Sajid Rashini said breaking down the mosque is also a bad thing.
Dev said, “Any true Hindu will want that a temple is built at the birthplace of Lord Ram.”
Rashini said, “If Babar had done wrong by breaking the temple and building a mosque, then you are also doing the wrong thing.”
News it’s kinda cool to know
Chemical engineers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have designed a material which is capable of self-healing and carbon-negative, reports Inverse. In a new study published in Advanced Materials, the engineers showcased how to design the material, which is inexpensive and simple to produce. The research is a step forward in the fight against climate change.