News Dabba for 11 January 2023: Five stories for a balanced news diet

Indie Journal brings you the daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites. Here's a glance through some of the National and International news updates, from Bombay HC permitting Johnson & Johnson to sell baby powder, Peru President Boluarte faces genocide inquiry, to ambulance workers striking again in the UK.

Bombay HC permits Johnson & Johnson to sell baby powder, The Hindu

The Hindu reported that in a big relief to Johnson & Johnson company, the Bombay High Court on January 11 quashed an order that did not allow it to produce and sell its baby powder. The report says A Division Bench of Justices GS Patel and SG Dhige, who reserved the verdict on January 9, permitted the MNC to produce and sell its baby powder. Senior advocate Ravi Kadam, appearing for the company, said that the Central Drug Testing Laboratory Kolkata is being considered as a gospel, which finds the product’s pH level within permissible limits. Maharashtra’s Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) in September last year cancelled the baby powder manufacturing licence of Johnson & Johnson Pvt Ltd “in the interest of public health at large.” Read the full report here.

Peru President Boluarte faces genocide inquiry, BBC report

Peru's top prosecutor has launched an inquiry into President Dina Boluarte and key ministers over weeks of clashes that have left dozens of people dead. BBC reports that the officials are being investigated on charges of "genocide, qualified homicide and serious injuries". Violence erupted after ex-President Pedro Castillo was arrested in December for trying to dissolve Congress. On Monday, the report said that 17 people died in clashes between Castillo supporters and security forces in south-eastern Peru. Dozens more were injured in the city of Juliaca. Read the full report here.

NDTV reports that officials persuade Joshimath locals for demolition amid protests

Renewed efforts were made by the administration on Wednesday to persuade hoteliers and locals refusing to allow the demolition of two precariously standing hotels in subsidence-hit Joshimath in Uttarakhand. NDTV reported that a fresh round of talks was held between Secretary to the Chief Minister, Meenakshi Sundaram and the protesters who have been demanding compensation on the lines of Badrinath before demolition. The Uttarakhand government had directed the razing of unstable structures on Monday, starting with these two buildings. Read the full report here.

The Straits Times: Ambulance workers strike again in the UK

The UK’s health system will endure another crisis on Wednesday as ambulance workers hold a second strike. A report by The Straits Times said that the public is warned they may have to wait longer than usual for emergency services. Members of two unions, Unison and the GMB, are walking out as part of an ongoing row over real-terms pay cuts suffered by staff in the National Health Service. Meetings with ministers on Monday failed to produce a breakthrough, The Straits Times mentions. The protests will affect much of England and Wales and follow a strike by ambulance workers in the run-up to Christmas – the first for three decades. Read the full report here.

The Wire's report on Gujarat Police drive against moneylenders for crimes, harassment

The rising number of harassment cases against borrowers has forced the Gujarat Police to launch a special drive to rein in mushrooming private moneylenders across the state. The Wire's report on the same says that directives have also been issued to district authorities even to take a suo moto cognisance of such incidents and to lodge cases given that several victims are in the fear of dire consequences if they approach authorities. There have been numerous instances of both registered and unlicensed moneylenders forcing borrowers to cough up interest amounts far exceeding the state government-mandated maximum interest rate of 12% per annum. Read the full report here.