TODAY NEWS ON December 13, 2024

News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

SOURCE; THE HINDU

Gukesh is youngest world chess champion

History was made on the small island of Sentosa in Singapore on Thursday (December 12, 2024), as D. Gukesh became the youngest world chess champion ever after defeating Ding Liren of China in the final game of their match. The 18-year-old from Chennai broke the record held by the Russian Garry Kasparov for nearly four decades.

India votes in favour of UN General Assembly resolution demanding immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza

India voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution that demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and reiterated the demand for immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the UN agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban.

Six die in massive fire at hospital in Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul

At least six persons, including a child and two women, perished in a massive blaze that broke out at a private four-storey hospital in Dindigul of Tamil Nadu late on Thursday night. The fire had engulfed the hospital building located on Tiruchi Road. Five of the victims, including three men, were trapped in the hospital lift and initial reports suggested they died of suffocation. Police said 32 persons were rushed to the Government Hospital and three of them were on ventilator.

Supreme Court questions U.P.’s ‘silence’ on core aspects of equality, secularism in schools

The Supreme Court on Thursday (December 12, 2024) questioned the Uttar Pradesh government’s “silence” about ensuring that schools in the State offer quality education to students by inculcating in them core constitutional principles of equality, fraternity and secularism in their campuses. A Bench headed by Justice A.S. Oka made the observation while hearing a case linked to the slapping of a Muslim boy in Muzaffarnagar by his classmates on the orders of their teacher, who peppered the abuse with communal remarks against the child.

What is Disease X and why the world should prepare for it

The recent outbreak reported in the first week of December 2024 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has claimed over 400 lives and remains unclassified, has raised concerns that it could be an instance of Disease X. This unsettling event has reignited discussions about “Disease X.” Disease X is not an actual but a hypothetical disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) coined the term in 2018 to describe an unknown pathogen that could potentially unleash a devastating epidemic or pandemic. It was conceptualised by the WHO to prepare for future outbreaks that are difficult to predict or identify.

Debate on Constitution to kick off in Lok Sabha today

The Lok Sabha will on Friday (December 13, 2024) begin a two-day debate on the Constitution to mark 75 years of its adoption. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reply to the debate on Saturday (December 14, 2024). Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to make her maiden speech in the Lok Sabha during the debate.

Bombay High Court refuses relief to Coca-Cola in 2001 adulterated beverage case

The Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court has refused to quash criminal proceedings initiated against Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited 14 years ago by the magistrate’s court in Maharashtra’s Jalna district, on charges of selling adulterated beverages. The case, pending before the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Jalna, dates back to batches of Canada Dry, a sweetened carbonated beverage, manufactured in June 2001. On July 26 of that year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected the product and found extraneous fibrous substances, particulate matter, and cobwebs inside the sealed bottles, raising quality concerns.

Over 50 students in Ratnagiri complain after exposure to fumes, JSW denies responsibility

At 2 p.m. on Thursday, around 30 students from Jaigad Vidya Mandir school, in the coastal district of Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri, complained of experiencing extreme eye irritation due to release of fumes in the air from a nearby power plant. Later in the day, the count went up to 60 that includes 53 boys, six girls, and a woman who were admitted in nearby hospitals.

Bengaluru forest cover shrinks due to encroachments, threatening ecology and water resources

A searing summer and a water crisis that shook citizens put the spotlight on the ecology of Bengaluru. Like its lakes, the forest area in Bengaluru is not able to escape the threat of encroachment. The five taluks of the bustling city - Bengaluru North, Yelahanka, Bengaluru East, Anekal, and Bengaluru South - have over 26,077 acres of forest land. According to the Karnataka Forest Ministry, over 2,665 acres of forest land in these taluks have been encroached upon. Forest Minister Eshwar B. Khandre made this submission in response to a question in the recently held council.

Bottom trawling by Indian fishermen must stop: Sri Lanka’s Fisheries Minister

The enduring fisheries conflict in the Palk Bay — which impacts fisher folk of northern Sri Lanka and daily wage fishermen of Tamil Nadu — can be decisively resolved only if the Indian side stops using the destructive bottom-trawling method, according to Sri Lanka’s Minister of Fisheries Ramalingam Chandrasekar. The fisheries conflict has remained a key diplomatic issue between India and Sri Lanka for many years. It is likely to be discussed during President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s scheduled visit to India next week.

Places of Worship Act: Supreme Court directs Centre to file response within four weeks

The Supreme Court on Thursday (December 12, 2024) directed the Union Government to file its counter-affidavit within four weeks. “We want the Union Goverment’s response to be on record. Most of the issues here are legal,” Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna said.

India’s retail inflation eases to 5.5% in November from a 14-month high

India’s retail inflation cooled a bit to 5.5% in November from a 14-month high of 6.2% in October but remained significantly elevated for rural consumers at 5.95%, while it dropped to 4.8% for their urban counterparts.

Hema Committee report: SC agrees to hear women who do not want to prosecute

The Supreme Court on Thursday (December 12, 2024) agreed to hear two women who have urged protection from being compelled to participate in a prosecution linked to the Justice Hema Committee report on sexual harassment and abuse in the Malayalam film industry.

Industrial output grows 3.5% in October

India’s industrial output grew at a three-month high pace of 3.5% in October 2024, from 3.1% in September. Again, factories led the uptick with a 4.1% rise. The factory output, measured in terms of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), witnessed a growth of 11.9% in October 2023.

Widespread rain in southern districts of Tamil Nadu

Widespread rainfall since late Wednesday (December 11, 2024) night across the southern districts of Tamil Nadu led to the district administrators announcing a holiday for schools in Ramanathapuram, Dindigul, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi on Thursday (December 12).