In Focus by The Hindu

Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, was scheduled to be executed in Yemen today on July 16, as per reports, but the execution has now been postponed after multiple levels of talks and negotiations got underway. Nimisha Priya has been on death row in Yemen since 2018 for the murder of her former business partner, a Yemeni citizen Talal Abdo Mehdi . Efforts to have her released have included raising funds for ‘blood money’ or money that is paid to the victim’s family as compensation. The case has presented complications because of the internal breakdown in Yemen, Yemeni capital Sanaa is controlled by Ansar Ullah (Houthi) while the Internationally Recognised Government of Yemen operates out of Aden. We do a deep dive into the case of Nimisha Priya, the rights of Indian citizens who get enmeshed in criminal judicial systems in other countries, India’s obligations to these citizens and the death penalty laws in India with Shreya Rastogi, Director of Death Penalty Litigation and Forensics, The Square Circle Clinic, NALSAR University of Law, Delhi Host: Zubeda Hamid Guest: Shreya Rastogi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

There’s been a lot of action in the world of footwear fashion – especially legal action involving claims and counter-claims about cheap fakes of expensive originals, and also expensive rip-offs of cheaper originals. First it was the crocs, the uniquely shaped perforated sandals. The American company which makes them, Crocs Inc., is pursuing legal action against several Indian companies, including the likes of Bata and Liberty, for copying their visual design and “passing off” their product as crocs. Then we have the case of Italian luxury fashion brand Prada, which has been facing heat in India after it showcased men’s ‘Toe-ring Sandals’ that looked a lot like Kolhapuri chappals. And now we have the German sandal brand Birkenstock getting court approval to inspect factories in India and seize counterfeit Birkenstock sandals. Are these three cases comparable? How exactly does the copyright regime work in the fashion world? And why are Indians crazy for Birkenstocks? In Part 2, we shift focus to the cultural and fashion dimensions of the sandal scandal, examining how Crocs, Birkenstocks, and even Kolhapuris became trend statements. Host: G Sampath Guests: Rosella Stephen, editor of The Hindu’s Sunday Magazine, and Shantanu Sood, a lawyer who specialises in intellectual property-related issues. Produced and edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

There’s been a lot of action in the world of footwear fashion – especially legal action involving claims and counter-claims about cheap fakes of expensive originals, and also expensive rip-offs of cheaper originals. First it was the crocs, the uniquely shaped perforated sandals. The American company which makes them, Crocs Inc., is pursuing legal action against several Indian companies, including the likes of Bata and Liberty, for copying their visual design and “passing off” their product as crocs. Then we have the case of Italian luxury fashion brand Prada, which has been facing heat in India after it showcased men’s ‘Toe-ring Sandals’ that looked a lot like Kolhapuri chappals. And now we have the German sandal brand Birkenstock getting court approval to inspect factories in India and seize counterfeit Birkenstock sandals. Are these three cases comparable? How exactly does the copyright regime work in the fashion world? And why are Indians crazy for Birkenstocks? In Part 1, we look at the legal battles. In Part 2, we explore how footwear became a cultural and fashion phenomenon. Host: G Sampath Guests: Shantanu Sood, a lawyer who specialises in intellectual property-related issues, and Rosella Stephen, editor of The Hindu’s Sunday Magazine. Produced and edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

As the U.S. wraps up its 90-day tariff pause, the pressure is on — but many of America’s key trading partners, including India, haven’t signed trade deals.President Donald Trump announced 'Liberation Day" tariffs on April 2, but paused from April 9 to July 9 in a bid to sign deals with trading partners.The U.S. successfully signed pacts with Vietnam, China, and the U.K., but did not secure deals with major partners like the EU, Japan, or India.Now, the pause is officially over, and with retaliatory duties expected to take effect from August 1, the future of global trade has just become more uncertain.India may have reason to worry. In FY2025, India's total trade with the U.S. stood at $186 billion, with exports at $115.2 billion and imports at $70.8 billion. enjoyed a trade surplus of $44.4 billion. That kind of imbalance could make India a target for fresh tariffs.However, India has refused to negotiate under a deadline, and the national interest comes first. The Indian government has also been negotiating with the U.S. on a broader trade deal for years, but a breakthrough remains elusive. So what happens next?  Guest: Ajay Srivastava, Founder, Global Trade Research Initiative [GTRI] Host: Nivedita V Edited by Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

A bridge collapsed in Gujarat on July 9, killing at least thirteen people. The Gambhira Bridge, which connected the Anand and Vadodara districts, gave way, sending cars, bikes and auto rickshaws plunging into the Mahisagar River. Built over four decades ago, the bridge had shown signs of being worn out but was still heavily used. Its collapse is part of a troubling pattern of deadly bridge cave-ins across India. What caused the Gambhira Bridge to collapse? Could it have been prevented? And what does this say about how India builds and maintains its roads and bridges? Guest: Abhinay Deshpande from The Hindu’s Ahmedabad Bureau Host: Anupama Chandrasekaran Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]