TODAY NEWS ON September 15, 2024

News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source: The Hindu

National

• CBI arrests police officer, R.G. Kar principal in Kolkata rape and murder case
• Impasse continues as protesting doctors refuse to meet CM Mamata without live-streaming
• One dies of suspected Nipah in Kerala’s Malappuram, final test result awaited
• Curfew relaxation withdrawn in Manipur districts after women’s protest
• Chhattisgarh to introduce medical education in Hindi from 2024-25
• Three militants killed in Baramulla operation, searches underway in Kishtwar in J&K
• Centre sets up surveillance mechanism in the wake of ‘undiagnosed fever’ claiming 15 lives in Gujarat’s Kutch
• Government’s subsidised onion sale brings relief, prices drop in major cities
• Water leakage in Taj Mahal’s main dome post heavy rainfall raises concerns
• Six weeks post pregnancy not enough to regain medical fitness, says Delhi HC, asking Centre to review CAPF guidelines
• Protesting doctors reach CM Mamata’s residence to discuss demands
• Upcoming elections to decide J&K’s future, terrorism on its last legs: PM Modi
• ‘Sensitive’ inputs delaying High Court chief justice appointments: Centre to Supreme Court
• Duty hike on crude, refined oils to hugely benefit farmers: Official

International

• Asian Champions Trophy: India beats Pakistan 2-1, ends league campaign on unbeaten note
• U.S. calls on India to banning Russian state media network RT; Ministry of External Affairs officials say not relevant to us
• Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore plan to vote in 2024 U.S. election from space
• Russia says recaptured another village in eastern Ukraine
• Iran’s women going without hijabs as 2nd anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death approaches
• Trump pledges to deport Haitians from Ohio city; Biden calls for attacks to stop

Headlines in Detail:

U.S. calls on India to banning Russian state media network RT; Ministry of External Affairs officials say not relevant to us

As the U.S. ramped up its efforts to ban and block Russian state media network RT globally, sources tell The Hindu that U.S. officials have spoken to the Ministry of External Affairs about joining their actions against what they call “Russian disinformation”, by revoking accreditations and designating their journalists under the “Foreign Missions Act” . However, while the Ministry has been silent on the issue, government officials said that the debate on sanctions is not relevant to India, while a former diplomat said that banning media organisations showed “double standards” by Western countries.

CBI arrests police officer, R.G. Kar principal in Kolkata rape and murder case

The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested Tala police station officer-in-charge Abhijit Mondal and former principal of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH) Sandip Kumar Ghosh on charges of tampering with evidence and delaying filing of FIR in connection with the rape and murder of a woman doctor at RGKMCH in Kolkata. Dr. Ghosh remains in judicial custody after the CBI arrested him on September 2 on charges of financial irregularities in the institution.

Impasse continues as protesting doctors refuse to meet CM Mamata without live-streaming

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed to the agitating doctors, who had arrived at her residence in Kolkata for talks, to join the meeting, amid their demand for live-streaming of the discussions. The meeting between Ms. Banerjee and the agitating junior doctors who are protesting over the R.G. Kar rape and murder incident did not take place at the scheduled time as the medics remained adamant on live-streaming of the talks.

One dies of suspected Nipah in Kerala’s Malappuram, final test result awaited

In less than two months after a schoolboy died of Nipah at Pandikkad in Malappuram district, yet another case of the infection surfaced at Naduvath, near Wandoor, hardly 10 km from Pandikkad. The test result of a 23-year-old man who died at a private hospital at Perinthalmanna on Monday last was found positive. The man, a student in Bengaluru, had been admitted at Perinthalmanna hospital with jaundice symptoms. His blood sample tested at Government Medical College, Kozhikode, found him positive for Nipah virus. However, the Health department is awaiting result from the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for final confirmation.

Curfew relaxation withdrawn in Manipur districts after women’s protest

Three district administrations in Manipur’s Imphal Valley withdrew a partial curfew relaxation following a large gathering of women outside a police station to protest the critical injury suffered by a pregnant woman during the students’ unrest on Tuesday (September 10, 2024) . The curfew in the Imphal East, Imphal West, and Bishnupur districts had been relaxed for 11 hours on Saturday (September 13, 2024).

Trump pledges to deport Haitians from Ohio city; Biden calls for attacks to stop

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump pledged to conduct mass deportations of Haitian immigrants from the Ohio city of Springfield shortly after President Joe Biden called on the attacks on the community to cease. The city for days has found itself at the centre of a social media maelstrom after right-wing agitators latched onto false claims that Haitian arrivals were eating household pets. The majority of the 15,000 Haitians in Springfield are there legally. Trump’s longstanding pledge to conduct mass deportations usually refers to those in the country illegally.

Chhattisgarh to introduce medical education in Hindi from 2024-25

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai announced that the State would introduce medical education in Hindi across its government medical colleges. Making the announcement at a press conference at his residence office, Mr. Sai said it would be implemented from the academic year 2024-25. “MBBS courses will be available in Hindi. Necessary textbooks in Hindi will be provided to students as per the directives given to the Health Department,” said the Chief Minister.

Three militants killed in Baramulla operation, searches underway in Kishtwar in J&K

Security forces have killed three unidentified militants in north Kashmir’s Baramulla during an anti-militancy operation. In Kishtwar, a search operation is underway against hiding militants, who opened fire and killed two soldiers on Friday afternoon. Doda district is adjacent to Kishtwar where security forces have engaged a group hiding militants in firefights in upper reaches since Friday afternoon.

Centre sets up surveillance mechanism in the wake of ‘undiagnosed fever’ claiming 15 lives in Gujarat’s Kutch

In the wake of an undiagnosed fever claiming 15 lives in Gujarat’s Kutch, the Union Health Ministry has set up a surveillance mechanism to immediately respond to such outbreaks, official sources said. They said points of entry such as airports, land ports and seaports are also being monitored for the disease. The government has established an effective surveillance mechanism through the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), IHIP network, and also through the One Health Mission to immediately respond to any such outbreaks, according to the sources.

Government’s subsidised onion sale brings relief, prices drop in major cities

The government’s subsidised onion sale initiative, launched on September 5, has led to price drops in major cities within days, the consumer affairs ministry said. In Delhi, retail onion price fell from ₹60 to ₹55 per kg, while Mumbai saw a decrease from ₹61 to ₹56 per kg. In Chennai, the retail price reduced from ₹65 to ₹58 per kg, the ministry said in a statement. The government initiated the sale of onions at a subsidised rate of ₹35 per kg through mobile vans and outlets of NCCF and NAFED.

Water leakage in Taj Mahal’s main dome post heavy rainfall raises concerns

Water leakage has been reported at the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Agra which witnessed constant rain for the past three days. Videos of the submerged garden within the premises of the iconic structure went viral on social media raising concerns. The Archaeological Survey of India authorities said that there is no damage to the heritage structure even as the garden adjacent to the 17th century mausoleum remains submerged. The ASI carried out an inspection of the 17th century structure with drone cameras to a certain if any damages caused.

Six weeks post pregnancy not enough to regain medical fitness, says Delhi HC, asking Centre to review CAPF guidelines

Women seeking to join the Central Armed Police Forces are given only six weeks to lose weight and regain medical fitness after a pregnancy. Deeming this period insufficient, the Delhi High Court has directed the Union government to review its guidelines on the matter. “This period of six weeks envisaged under the Guidelines to enable a female candidate to regain her medical fitness after going through a pregnancy, in our considered opinion, is extremely short,” said a Bench of Justice Rekha Palli and Justice Shalinder Kaur. They noted that “it may not always be possible for a female candidate, who has undergone a pregnancy, to regain her complete medical fitness and lose the weight within six weeks which she may have gained during nine months of her pregnancy”.

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin says there will be change in Cabinet

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on return to Chennai from the U.S., said there would be a change in the State Cabinet. “There will be no gap between the DMK’s words and actions (sonnathai seivom). The party is celebrating its 75th anniversary. There will certainly be a situation that will fulfil your expectation,” he told reporters at the Chennai Airport.

Protesting doctors reach CM Mamata’s residence to discuss demands

Protesting doctors in Kolkata assented to meet Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her residence on Saturday (September 14, 2024) hours after she visited their protest site in Salt Lake. They arrived for the discussion around 6.45 p.m. West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant had extended the invitation after the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front wrote to him welcoming Ms. Banerjee’s visit but insisted on an audience with her to discuss their demands.

CPI(M) leader among 2 arrested in Kolkata after TMC alleges conspiracy to attack protesting doctors

CPI(M) leader Kalatan Dasgupta was among two persons who were arrested for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to attack the protesting junior doctors, police said on Saturday (September 14, 2024). The arrests were made after an audio clip of a phone call was released by TMC leader Kunal Ghosh, who alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to attack the protesting junior doctors outside the Swashtya Bhawan in Salt Lake to defame the Mamata Banerjee government in the State.

Upcoming elections to decide J&K’s future, terrorism on its last legs: PM Modi

Terming the upcoming Assembly elections as “one that will decide the fate of J&K”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (September 14, 2024) launched a scathing attack on the Gandhis, the Abdullahs and the Muftis and underscored that “terrorism was in its last stage” in the Union Territory (UT). “These elections are going to decide the fate of J&K. Since Independence, our J&K has been targeted by foreign powers. Terrorism is now counting its last days in J&K. The upcoming elections will decide the UT’s future,” Mr. Modi, who addressed the first ever election rally in J&K’s Doda, said.

‘Sensitive’ inputs delaying High Court chief justice appointments: Centre to Supreme Court

The Centre has told the Supreme Court that “sensitive material” with the government is delaying the implementation of the SC Collegium’s recommendations for appointments of chief justices to high courts. Attorney General R. Venkatramani told a bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra that he has received certain inputs from the Union government which are sensitive in nature. He also told the top court that revealing these issues in the public domain would neither be in the interest of the institution nor of the judges involved.

All files in my Ministries are in Hindi: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged parents and guardians on Saturday (September 14, 2024) to speak with their children in their mother tongue, advising them to not be swayed by concerns of “progress via other languages”. He emphasised that the future belonged to Indian languages, and that the country could no longer be bound by colonial chains. Mr. Shah said that he had made sure all the files in the Ministry of Home Affairs were in Hindi. “I want to tell all Central government employees that it took three years for even a person like me to receive all the files in Hindi. None of the communication and files are in English in my Ministries (Home and Cooperation), all files are in Hindi,” Mr. Shah said, speaking at the Akhil Bharatiya Rajbhasha Sammelan to commemorate the 75th year of Hindi as the official language of the Union.

Naxalite killed in encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma

A Naxalite was killed in an encounter with security forces in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on Saturday (September 14, 2024), police said. “The encounter took place early in the morning in the jungles on a hill near Tumalpad village under Chintagufa police station limits when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation,” Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said. “Personnel belonging to the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters — both units of the State police and district force — were involved in the operation,” he said.

Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore plan to vote in 2024 U.S. election from space

Stranded on the International Space Station through February, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore plan to vote in the November 5 U.S. presidential election from space. “It’s a very important duty that we have as citizens and (I am) looking forward to being able to vote from space, which is pretty cool,” Ms. Williams, who is of Indian origin, said on a call with reporters on Friday (September 12, 2024) afternoon.

Russia says recaptured another village in eastern Ukraine

Russia said on Saturday (September 14, 2024) that it had recaptured another village in eastern Ukraine, where it has made a string of advances. “The locality of Zhelannoe Pervoe (Zhelanne Pershe in Ukrainian) was freed thanks to the active and decisive operations of the southern units,” the defence ministry said. The village is located in the Pokrovsk district, an important logistical hub for the Ukrainian Army.

Iran’s women going without hijabs as 2nd anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death approaches

On the streets of Iranian cities, it’s becoming more common to see a woman passing by without a mandatory headscarf, or hijab, as the second anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini and the mass protests it sparked approaches. There’s no government official or study acknowledging the phenomenon, which began as Iran entered its hot summer months and power cuts in its overburdened electrical system became common. But across social media, videos of people filming neighbourhood streets or just talking about a normal day in their life, women and girls can be seen walking past with their long hair out over their shoulders, particularly after sunset.

Duty hike on crude, refined oils to hugely benefit farmers: Official

“The Government’s decision to hike customs duty on crude palm and refined sunflower oil to 20% and 32.5%, respectively, will ‘hugely’ benefit farmers as it will increase their income,” a senior official said on Saturday (September 14, 2024). The Government official also said that the decision to remove the minimum export price and slash the export duty on onions too would help farmers in the country.

Asian Champions Trophy: India beats Pakistan 2-1, ends league campaign on unbeaten note

Defending champions India continued their unbeaten run and defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 2-1 to enter the semifinal of the Hero Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir on Saturday (September 14, 2024). It was India’s fifth consecutive win in the six-team round-robin competition. Pakistan took the lead through Ahmad Nadeem (8th minute) before Harmanpreet Singh (13th, 19th) converted two penalty corners to hand India the win.