Typhoon Dolphin hits Japan’s Okinawa as China prepares for landfall

Graduates of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research in Hyderabad have urged the university administration to reconsider its decision to invite Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as the chief guest at its upcoming convocation. The students have submitted a written request to the vice chancellor, registrar and faculty members. They said the university should consider constitutional values, justice and respect for citizens’ grievances while deciding who should preside over such an important academic event. The students’ concerns are linked to the Supreme Court’s handling of a petition related to police action during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20. The protest was held under the banner of “Chalo Sansad”. The students have raised questions about the court’s decision not to list the petition for an urgent hearing at the time. In their representation, the graduates referred to reports about a hearing held on July 22. They claimed that the lawyer representing the protesters was told not to waste the court’s time. The students also cited reports that the lawyer offered to show videos of alleged police excesses during the protest. According to the petition, the chief justice reportedly declined to watch the footage, saying he did not have time. The graduates further alleged that the lawyer was not allowed to fully explain the reasons behind the protest. They said the matter deserved greater consideration because of the allegations surrounding the police action. The students also said a separate letter had previously been sent to the chief justice. The letter reportedly requested the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the alleged police action. According to the students’ petition, more than 170 protesters were injured during the incident. They claimed that women and children were also among those injured. The graduates said their concerns were based on the principles they had been taught during their time at the law university. They argued that constitutional rights and citizens’ freedoms were central to their legal education. They said receiving degrees from a chief guest whose recent conduct they believe raises questions about the handling of allegations of police violence would be a matter of concern. The students have therefore asked the university to reconsider the invitation. They have also sought consultation with graduating students before making a final decision. They further requested a meeting with the university administration to discuss the issue. The graduates also asked the administration to respond to their concerns without delay.

World food prices climbed in July to their highest level in more than three years. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization says extreme weather and escalating conflicts are driving the surge. According to FAO’s food price index, prices averaged 131.1 points in July, up from 130.3 points in June. That marks the strongest reading recorded since January 2023. Experts describe the trend as a “perfect storm” of overlapping pressures hitting global agriculture at once. Multiple factors are compounding each other, making the situation harder to control. Reuters reported that FAO’s chief economist pointed to severe weather, including intense heatwaves and El Niño effects, as major contributors. These conditions have damaged crop yields in several key farming regions. On top of that, escalating conflicts in the Black Sea and Gulf regions have added further strain. Together, these factors have disrupted supply chains and pushed prices higher across multiple food categories. Cereal prices led July’s overall rise, climbing 3.4% month-on-month. That increase was largely driven by a sharp 5.8% jump in wheat prices specifically. FAO said wheat markets were rattled by fears over disrupted Black Sea exports. Heat damage to crops in major producing regions added even more pressure on supply. Vegetable oil prices also rose, climbing 2% to their highest level since June 2022. Higher crude oil prices, tied partly to the ongoing Iran conflict, helped push palm and soy oil prices upward. Rapeseed and sunflower oil prices moved in the opposite direction, declining slightly during the same period. Sugar prices rose too, up 5.6%, driven by weather concerns across Europe and Asia. Stronger expected demand for ethanol in Brazil added further support to sugar prices. Meat prices, however, told a different story entirely, falling 2.8% after hitting a record high in June. Poultry, pork and beef prices all declined during the month. Sheep meat was the exception, hitting a record high due to tight export supplies from Oceania. Dairy prices dipped slightly as well, down 0.7% overall. Despite July’s increase, the latest reading remains 18.2% below the record peak set in March 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Even so, economists warn that these combined pressures could trigger a fresh wave of global food inflation in the months ahead