TODAY NEWS ON July 18, 2024

News Headlines for CAT,CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source: From The Hindu

National News:

• 12 militant groups likely operating in Jammu, focus on Doda ‘to gain strategic depth’
• Karnataka halts jobs-for-locals Bill as industry raises uproar
• Haryana announces 10% reservation for Agniveers in constable, forest guard jobs
• States cannot tinker with Scheduled Castes List, Supreme Court holds
• Poll victory, good public image do not absolve people from criminal prosecution: Supreme Court judgment
• Shia mourners booked under UAPA for raising pro-Palestine, anti-Israel slogans at Muharram procession in Srinagar
• Twelve Naxals killed in gunfight with police in Maharashtra
• Stampede scare near Mumbai Airport as thousands gather for limited job vacancies
• Naval ship, P-8I patrol aircraft join rescue efforts for capsized tanker with 13 Indians off Oman coast

International News:

• Ohio police officers shot and killed a knife-wielding man near the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin.
• Iran rejects ‘malicious’ accusations implicating it in Trump assassination bid
• Elon Musk says he’s moving SpaceX and X headquarters from California to Texas
• Top Democrat Adam Schiff calls on U.S. President Joe Biden to exit presidential race
• 117 athletes to carry India’s hopes at the Paris Olympics

Headlines in Detail

12 militant groups likely operating in Jammu, focus on Doda ‘to gain strategic depth’

Over 12 militant groups, operating in twos and threes, are suspected to be active in the twin valleys of Pir Panjal Valley and Chenab Valley of Jammu region, which is in the throes of renewed militant activities over the last one month, which has left 24 people dead. Official sources told The Hindu that the security apparatus tracking militant movement has intercepted over 16 to 19 signals emanating from different pockets of the region following the attack in Reasi on June 9, which left nine pilgrims dead and over 33 injured.

Karnataka halts jobs-for-locals Bill as industry raises uproar

As a draft Bill cleared by the Karnataka Cabinet mandating reservation for locals garnered adverse reactions from industry heads and trade bodies in the State, the government late on Wednesday announced that it had been “temporarily withheld” and a decision would be taken later after a review.

Haryana announces 10% reservation for Agniveers in constable, forest guard jobs

Months ahead of the Assembly polls, Haryana’s BJP government announced on July 17 a 10% reservation for Agniveers in the recruitment of constables, forest guards and jail wardens, along with quotas in other posts. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also said that the government will provide interest-free loans of up to ₹5 lakh if any Agniveer wishes to set up their own business.

States cannot tinker with Scheduled Castes List, Supreme Court holds

The Supreme Court has held that States cannot tinker with the Scheduled Castes List notified under Article 341 of the Constitution. “Any inclusion or exclusion of any caste, race or tribe or part of or group within the castes, races or tribes has to be, by law made by the Parliament, and not by any other mode or manner,” a Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and P.K. Mishra clarified the law.

Poll victory, good public image do not absolve people from criminal prosecution: Supreme Court judgment

The Supreme Court has held in a judgment that electoral wins and good public image do not absolve people from criminal prosecution, while belling the cat on the “alarming trend” of influential figures creating significant delays and even obstructing the administration of justice. A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Satish Chandra Charma was dealing with a case involving the withdrawal of prosecution against a former Uttar Pradesh MLA in a double murder case pending trial for over three decades.

Shia mourners booked under UAPA for raising pro-Palestine, anti-Israel slogans at Muharram procession in Srinagar

A case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was lodged by the J&K Police against Shia mourners who allegedly raised pro-Palestine and anti-Israel slogans during a Muharram procession in Srinagar two days ago. The move has been condemned by several regional leaders.

Twelve Naxals killed in gunfight with police in Maharashtra

Twelve Naxalites, including women, from the Tipagad and Chandgaon Kasansur Dalams were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district on Wednesday, police said. The operation, launched at around 10 a.m., continued past sunset, and involved seven units of C60 cammandoes, targeting a Maoist camp near Wandoli Village, close to the Chhattisgarh border. The operation was based on credible intelligence indicating the presence of 12-15 Naxals, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Neelotpal told The Hindu.

Top Democrat Adam Schiff calls on U.S. President Joe Biden to exit presidential race

Representative Adam Schiff on July 17 became the most heavyweight Democrat so far to publicly urge U.S. President Joe Biden to step aside for another candidate to face Donald Trump. He called on his ally to "pass the torch." Mr. Schiff, a key congressional powerbroker, praised Mr. Biden but told the Los Angeles Times that he doubts that the 81-year-old incumbent can defeat Trump - a threat to "the very foundation of our democracy."

Stampede scare near Mumbai Airport as thousands gather for limited job vacancies

A stampede-like situation occurred near the Mumbai airport where thousands of job aspirants gathered to apply for a limited number of vacancies for the post of loader at the facility, police said on July 17. The incident took place on Tuesday morning and the situation was later brought under control, an official from Sahar police station said.

Naval ship, P-8I patrol aircraft join rescue efforts for capsized tanker with 13 Indians off Oman coast

An Indian naval frigate was diverted and a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft pressed in for search and rescue (SAR) efforts after Comoros-flagged Oil Tanker MV Prestige Falcon, capsized about 25 NM South East of Ras Madrakah. Oman on the evening of July 15. The tanker has a 16-member crew, which includes 13 Indians and three Sri Lankans, according to the Maritime Security Centre (MSC) of Oman. “Stealth frigate INS Teg deployed in the region and undergoing Operational Turnround (OTR), was sailed at short notice to render SAR assistance. SAR efforts are progressing in coordination with Omani authorities and assets, in rough seas and strong winds,” a Defence source said on July 17. “Indian Navy’s P8I is also assisting in search for survivors.”

Days after Trump assassination bid, police shoot dead knife-wielding man near the Republican National Convention

Ohio police officers in Wisconsin for the Republican National Convention shot and killed a man who was wielding two knives near the convention, Milwaukee’s police chief said on July 16. Five members of the Columbus, Ohio, police department fired on the man, who had a knife in each hand, refused police commands and charged at an unarmed man before police fired, Milwaukee Chief Jeffrey Norman said at a news conference. Two knives were recovered from the scene, the chief said.

Iran rejects ‘malicious’ accusations implicating it in Trump assassination bid

Iran on July 17 rejected what it called “malicious” accusations by U.S. media implicating it in an attempt to kill former U.S. President Donald Trump. Iran “strongly rejects any involvement in the recent armed attack against Trump,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said, while Iran’s mission to the United Nations called accusations of a previous plot to kill the former president as “unsubstantiated and malicious”.

Elon Musk says he’s moving SpaceX and X headquarters from California to Texas

Billionaire Elon Musk says he’s moving the headquarters of SpaceX and social media company X to Texas from California. Musk posted on X Tuesday that he plans on moving SpaceX from Hawthorne, California to the company’s rocket launch site dubbed Starbase in Texas. X will move to Austin from San Francisco. He called a new law signed Monday by California Gov. Gavin Newsom that bars school districts from requiring staff to notify parents of their child’s gender identification change the “final straw.”

117 athletes to carry India’s hopes at the Paris Olympics

As many as 117 athletes from 16 disciplines and a bigger number of support staff — 140 in all — will represent India in the Paris Olympics. In comparison to the pandemic-affected Tokyo Games, where the country’s women’s hockey team played, India was represented by a 228-strong contingent, including 127 athletes.