TODAY NEWS ON August 13, 2024

News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source: The Hindu

I&B Ministry extends window for feedback on draft Broadcasting Bill till October 15

The Information & Broadcasting Ministry on Monday (August 12, 2024) extended the time for receiving feedback on the draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill till October 15, stating that a fresh draft would be published after detailed consultations with the stakeholders.

BJP, RSS go into huddle over question of next BJP president, fate of Bangladeshi Hindus

The question of who will be the next BJP president and the timing of the election to that post is still hanging fire, with both the BJP and the RSS getting into a huddle before the formal “samanvay” (coordination) meeting of Sangh Parivar affiliates to be held in Palakkad at the end of this month.

Consumer price inflation eases to five-year low of 3.54% in July

Inflation in India’s consumer prices eased to a nearly five-year low of 3.54% in July, with food price rise moderating to 5.4% from a six-month high of 9.4% in June, thanks to base effects from last July when retail inflation stood at 7.4% and the food index was up 11.5%. Inflation faced by urban consumers dropped to just under 3% in July, from 4.4% in June, while rural consumers experienced a relatively higher price rise of 4.1%, down from 5.7% in June. Food price rise was also higher in rural India at 5.9% compared with 4.6% in urban parts of the country. In June, rural food inflation was lower at 9.15% while urban food prices were up 9.6%.

Industrial output growth slumps to five-month low of 4.2% in June

India’s industrial output growth slumped to a five-month low of 4.2% in June, with manufacturing output growth halving to 2.6% from the previous month, and electricity generation easing 2.8% from May’s record high in the face of an abating heat wave. On the basis of end-use, production growth fell in all six segments compared to May, with consumer non-durables’ output shrinking 1.4% from last June, marking the second such contraction in three months.

NIRF Ranking 2024: IIT Madras bags top spot in overall category; IISC Bengaluru tops Universities category

IIT Madras bagged the top position as the best educational institution in the country overall category in the ranking conducted by National Board of Accreditation (NBA) and National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). Following IIT Madras, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, and IIT Bombay secured the second and third positions, respectively, in the overall category. IIT Delhi, which was at the third spot last year in the category, has slipped to the fourth position.

20 Afghan Sikhs get citizenship under Citizenship Amendment Act

Twenty Sikhs from Afghanistan, part of the first group of Afghan Sikhs who had applied for citizenship online nearly 100 days ago, have been accorded citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019 in the past one week in New Delhi.

West tells Iran to ‘stand down’ Israel attack threats

The United States and European allies called on Iran to “stand down”, as fears mounted of an imminent attack on Israel that could spark an all-out war in the Middle East. Tensions are soaring in the region, with the United States rushing a missile submarine and an aircraft carrier group in a show of support for its key ally.

Rajasthan rains: Death toll rises to 22, CM visits affected areas in Jaipur

Eight people died in rain-related incidents in Rajasthan, taking the death toll in the last two days to 22, as the spell of heavy rainfall is likely to continue in the eastern part for the next four to five days, officials said.

Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India will not hurt bilateral relations: Bangladesh interim govt adviser

A top adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government on Monday (August 12, 2024) said that deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s extended stay in India will not hurt bilateral relations and Dhaka will always try to maintain good relations with New Delhi.

Lack of transparency in spending, weak infrastructure, safety concerns: NCERT report highlights issues in KGBV schools

Lack of transparency in the utilisation of funds, weak infrastructure, shortage of teachers, low salaries, and concerns over student safety are among the challenges identified in an evaluation of 254 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBV) by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The NCERT has submitted the report to the Ministry of Education (MoE).

Kolkata doctor rape case: IMA demands special law to curb attacks on medical staff

The Indian Medical Association has written to Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda seeking enactment of a special central law to curb attacks and violence against doctors as a "deterrence" measure, besides the declaration of hospitals as safe zones. The IMA made the demands, which included defined security measures, as resident doctors at government hospitals across the country held protests and strikes over the recent rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee in Kolkata, raising the issue of the safety of medical staff in the workplace.

Earthquake felt from Los Angeles to San Diego, swaying buildings and knocking items off shelves

A 4.4 magnitude earthquake was strongly felt from the Los Angeles area to San Diego, swaying buildings, rattling dishes and setting off car alarms, but no major damage or injuries were immediately reported. Monday’s quake was centred near the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Highland Park, about 6.5 miles (10.5 kilometres) northeast of Los Angeles’ City Hall, and about 7.5 miles (12.1 kilometres) below the surface, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
 

Mamata visits residence of murdered RG Kar hospital doctor, says will hand over to CBI if Kolkata Police fail to crack case by August 18

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on August 12 visited the residence of the doctor allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. She reached the residence by 12:45 p.m. Ms. Banerjee has said that she has no issues with the investigation by Central agencies if the family so desires, after talking to her parents and family members. Meanwhile, 10 government hospitals in Delhi have begun an indefinite strike, halting all elective services on August 12 in response to the murder in Kolkata.

Farmers’ protest: Supreme Court for partial opening of road at Shambhu border

The Supreme Court on August 12 directed the partial opening of the road at the Shambhu border to facilitate the movement of ambulances, essential services, and local commuters. It also directed Punjab and Haryana DGPs to meet in a week along with SPs of the adjoining districts for partial reopening of roads at Shambhu border. The Supreme Court said it will pass a brief order on terms of the panel to be constituted for talking to protesting farmers at Shambhu border.

At least seven people killed, several injured in stampede at Jehanabad’s Baba Siddhnath in Bihar

At least seven devotees died and several injured on August 12 in a stampede at the Baba Siddhnath Temple on Banavar hillock under Makhdumpur block of Jehanabad district of central Bihar. The injured persons are admitted to government hospitals for medical attention. The death toll can mount further, said local residents. All the 10 injured persons are admitted in the local government hospital and are undergoing treatment. As many as 16 persons were injured in the incident out of which 10 were discharged from local government hospital after primary medical attention while, three others were sent to Gaya-based Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital and other three were undergoing treatment in local government hospitals.

Pakistan’s former ISI chief Faiz Hameed taken into military custody: Army

Pakistan’s former ISI chief Lt Gen (retd.) Faiz Hameed has been arrested by the military ahead of his court martial in connection with a housing scheme scandal, the army said on August 12. “Complying with the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, a detailed court of inquiry, was undertaken by Pakistan Army, to ascertain correctness of complaints in Top City Case made against Lt Gen Faiz Hameed (Retd),” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) — the media wing of the Army — said in a statement.

Bangladesh crisis: Police call off strike; set to join work on August 12

“Protesting police officers in Bangladesh have agreed to call off their strike after the interim government assured them to meet most of their demands,” according to media reports on August 12. The Bangladesh Police Subordinate Employees Association (BPSEA) declared the strike on August 6, following clashes across the country between police and students during the widespread protests against Sheikh Hasina’s government over a controversial quota system in jobs.

Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin faces possible ouster in court case

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin could be thrown out of office this week when the country’s Constitutional Court rules on his appointment of a cabinet minister with a criminal conviction. The case comes a week after the same court disbanded the kingdom’s main opposition political party and banned its former leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, from politics for a decade.

Residents flee as Greece wildfires rage despite ‘superhuman’ efforts

“Greece ordered fresh evacuations near Athens on August 12 as wildfires spread despite “superhuman” efforts to contain the flames,” firefighters said. At least five more communities were told to flee by civil protection authorities on Monday, after hundreds of people evacuated on August 11, 2024, from at least eight villages. “Civil protection forces battled hard throughout the night, but despite superhuman efforts, the fire evolved rapidly,” fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said.

Russia evacuates another border region amid growing threat from Ukrainian units

Russia on August 12 evacuated parts of a second region next to Ukraine after Kyiv sharply increased military activity near the border just days after its biggest incursion into sovereign Russian territory since the start of the 2022 war. Ukrainian forces rammed through the Russian border early on Tuesday and swept across some Western parts of Russia’s Kursk region, a surprise attack that may be aimed at gaining leverage in possible ceasefire talks after the U.S. election.