TODAY NEWS ON October 15, 2024

News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source: The Hindu

National News

• India slams Canada after Ottawa terms Indian High Commissioner and other Indian diplomats as ‘persons of interest’ in a case
• India decides to withdraw High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials from Canada
• Indian probe team in Pannun assassination plot to travel to Washington on Oct 15: U.S.
• Islamabad under lockdown as Jaishankar to arrive for SCO meet
• L-G Manoj Sinha invites Omar Abdullah to form government in J&K on Oct 16
• India-Russia discuss training of Indian sailors for polar navigation
• Opposition MPs boycott Waqf committee meeting
• Bahraich violence: Internet suspended; additional force deployed as police detains 30
• Maharashtra cabinet scraps toll tax for LMV at all five Mumbai toll plazas, ahead of Assembly polls
• PM Internship Scheme: More than 1.55 lakh candidates register
• Delhi government imposes ban on firecrackers to combat air pollution
• Adani power project in Sri Lanka: Anura Dissanayake government reconsidering permission
• 36% surge in vegetable prices lifts September inflation to 9-month high
• Wholesale food prices surged at two-year high pace of 9.5% in September
• Retail inflation shoots back to nine-month high of 5.5%

International News

• Three share Economics Nobel for research into differences in prosperity between nations
• Attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute a war crime, UNSG cautions
• Netanyahu mulls plan to empty northern Gaza of civilians and cut off aid to those left inside
• WHO approves Bavarian Nordic’s mpox vaccine for adolescents

Headlines in Detail

Three share Economics Nobel for research into differences in prosperity between nations

The Nobel memorial prize in economics has been awarded to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson for research into differences in prosperity between nations. The three economists “have demonstrated the importance of societal institutions for a country’s prosperity,” the Nobel committee of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said.

India slams Canada after Ottawa terms Indian High Commissioner and other Indian diplomats as ‘persons of interest’ in a case

In an unusually sharp response, India on Monday (October 14, 2024) refuted a “diplomatic communication” from Canada in which the Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other Indian diplomats have been regarded as “persons of interest” in the case of June 2023 murder of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Ministry of External Affairs described the Canadian allegations as “preposterous imputations” arguing that the matter was linked with the political challenges that the Trudeau government is facing on the domestic front in Canada.

India decides to withdraw High Commissioner and other diplomats and officials from Canada

In a dramatic turn of events, India on Monday (October 14, 2024) decided to withdraw its High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma and other senior diplomats stationed in Canada. Soon thereafter, India expelled six Canadian diplomats, including the chargé d’affaires Stewart Ross Wheeler. The developments came hours after the Canadian government declared the six Indian officials as “persons of interest” for their alleged role in the June 2023 killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.

Indian probe team in Pannun assassination plot to travel to Washington on Oct 15: U.S.

As the diplomatic row between India and Canada escalated on Monday (October 14, 2024) over the death over pro-Khalistan figure and Canadian citizen in British Columbia last year, the U.S. State Department announced that an Indian investigation team would travel to Washington DC on October 15 to investigate a plot to kill a U.S. Citizen in New York.

Islamabad under lockdown as Jaishankar to arrive for SCO meet

The Pakistani capital will be in complete lockdown as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and other leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday (October 15, 2024) to attend the Heads of Government (HoG) meeting.

L-G Manoj Sinha invites Omar Abdullah to form government in J&K on Oct 16

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday (October 14, 2024) invited Chief Minister-designate Omar Abdullah to form the next government in J&K on October 16 in Srinagar. “I am pleased to invite you to form and lead the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. As separately settled, I shall administer Oath of Office and Secrecy to you, and to those recommended by you for induction as members of your Council of Ministers, at SKICC, Srinagar on 16 October, 2024 at 11:30 a.m.,” a letter of the L-G read.

India-Russia discuss training of Indian sailors for polar navigation

The India-Russia working group on cooperation in the Northern Sea Route (NSR) held the first meeting last week and discussed targets for Indian-Russian cargo transit, possible training of Indian sailors for polar navigation and development of joint projects in Arctic shipbuilding, Rosatom state corporation of Russia said on Monday (October 14, 2024).

Attacks against UN peacekeepers may constitute a war crime, UNSG cautions

In the backdrop of back to back attacks on the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL), UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres cautioned that attacks against peacekeepers are in breach of international law and “may constitute a war crime.” Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin, in a telephonic conversation with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant reiterated the importance of ensuring the safety and security of UNIFIL forces and Lebanese armed forces.

Opposition MPs boycott Waqf committee meeting

Several opposition MPs on Monday (October 14, 2024) boycotted a meeting of the parliamentary committee examining the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, alleging that the panel is not functioning in accordance with rules and regulations.

Bahraich violence: Internet suspended; additional force deployed as police detains 30

Mahasi locality under Hardi police station limits in Bahraich district remains on edge on Monday (October 14, 2024), a day after the killing of a person during Durga idol immersion procession with angry protestors torched several properties including a two-wheelers showroom. Police resorted to lathi charges and lobbed tear gas shells as protestors resorted to violence.

Maharashtra cabinet scraps toll tax for LMV at all five Mumbai toll plazas, ahead of Assembly polls

In a relief for those commuting to the financial capital of the country, Maharashtra Cabinet has decided to scrap the toll on all the five entry-exit points of Mumbai. From midnight today (October 14, 2024), no toll will be charged to Light Motor Vehicles entering or exiting Mumbai from any of the five entry points to the city.

PM Internship Scheme: More than 1.55 lakh candidates register

“More than 1.55 lakh candidates have applied for the Prime Minister Internship Scheme,” sources said on Sunday (October 13, 2024.) The dedicated portal for the scheme went live for registration at 5 p.m. on October 12 and the target for the scheme’s pilot project was to have 1.25 lakh candidates.

Delhi government imposes ban on firecrackers to combat air pollution

Anticipating a rise in pollution levels as winter approaches, the Delhi government on Monday (October 14, 2024) imposed an immediate ban on the production, storage, sale and use of firecrackers across the city, effective till January 1.

Netanyahu mulls plan to empty northern Gaza of civilians and cut off aid to those left inside

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is examining a plan to seal off humanitarian aid to northern Gaza in an attempt to starve out Hamas militants, a plan that, if implemented, could trap without food or water hundreds of thousands of Palestinians unwilling or unable to leave their homes. Israel has issued many evacuation orders for the north throughout the yearlong war, the most recent of which was Sunday (October 13, 2024). The plan proposed to Mr. Netanyahu and the Israeli parliament by a group of retired generals would escalate the pressure, giving Palestinians a week to leave the northern third of the Gaza Strip, including Gaza City, before declaring it a closed military zone.

WHO approves Bavarian Nordic’s mpox vaccine for adolescents

The World Health Organization said on Monday, October 14 that it had approved Bavarian Nordic’s mpox vaccine for adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, an age group considered especially vulnerable to outbreaks of the disease that has triggered global concern. The WHO said in a statement that it gave the Jynneos vaccine prequalification for adolescents on October 8.

Adani power project in Sri Lanka: Anura Dissanayake government reconsidering permission

Sri Lanka’s new government led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday (October 14, 2024) told the Supreme Court that it would reconsider the approval granted by the previous government to India’s Adani Group for a wind power project. A five-member Supreme Court (SC) Bench was told on behalf of the attorney general that the decision to review the project had been taken at a Cabinet meeting held on October 7. “The final decision of the new government would be conveyed after the installation of the new Cabinet after the November 14 Parliamentary election,” the court was told.

36% surge in vegetable prices lifts September inflation to 9-month high

India’s retail inflation shot back to a nine-month high of 5.5% in September, breaking a two-month streak under the central bank’s median target of 4%, thanks to a resurgence in food price rise to 9.24% after hovering below the 6% mark through July and August.

Wholesale food prices surged at two-year high pace of 9.5% in September

Inflation in India’s wholesale prices ticked up to 1.84% in September from 1.31% in August, with food prices surging to a two-year high of 9.5% from August’s 10-month low of 3.3%, as vegetables became nearly 49% costlier, marking the sharpest surge in 14 months. Potato and Onion prices were up 78.1% and 78.8%, respectively, in September, accelerating from the previous month, while Tomato prices zoomed 74.5%, reversing course from a 53% decline in August. Fruits and pulses inflation eased marginally but remained high at 12.2% and 13%, respectively.

Retail inflation shoots back to nine-month high of 5.5%

India’s retail inflation shot back to a nine-month high of 5.5% in September, from 3.65% in August, thanks to a resurgence in food price rise to 9.24% after two months under the 6% mark. For rural consumers, inflation neared the 6% mark at 5.87% while their urban counterparts faced a price rise of 5.05%. Rural India, however, faced a relatively milder food inflation of 9.1% compared with a 9.6% rise faced by urban consumers.