TODAY NEWS ON September 18, 2024

News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source: The Hindu

National News

• Much-awaited J&K Assembly election begin today, 219 candidates in fray
• At least 9 dead, thousands injured as Hezbollah is hit by a wave of exploding pagers in Lebanon, Syria
• Supreme Court stops illegal ‘bulldozer’ demolitions across the country till October 1
• Atishi: Delhi’s third woman CM
• PM Modi lists NDA government’s 100 days’ achievements to benefit the poor, farmers, youth and women
• 2 years of Project Cheetah: Hasn’t been an easy road, says Bhupender Yadav
• Congress will ensure Jammu and Kashmir gets back statehood: Kharge
• Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Manoj Kumar Verma replaces Vineet Goyal as Kolkata Police Commissioner
• Jarange launches indefinite fast over Maratha quota - his sixth in a year
• Manipur internet ban lifted; schools in Imphal Valley reopen
• Asian Champions Trophy final: India edges past China 1-0; clinches record-extending fifth title
• PM Modi launches Odisha Government’s ‘Subhadra Yojana’, railway, NH projects worth over ₹3,800 crore
• After Nipah, suspected Mpox case surfaces in Kerala’s Malappuram
• Sensex, Nifty hit fresh record closing high levels on rate cut hopes
• Goods exports drop 9.32% to $34.71 billion in August
• Wholesale price rise at 4-month low of 1.3% in August

International  News

• Georgian Parliament approves law curbing LGBT rights
• Drug-resistant superbugs projected to kill 39 million by 2050
• Booker Prize 2024 shortlist features most women in its history
• ICC announces equal prize money for men and women in World Cups

Headlines in Detail

Much-awaited J&K Assembly election begin today, 219 candidates in fray

Ending a decade-long wait, the first phase of Assembly election in 24 constituencies in seven districts of Jammu and Kashmir will be held today (September 18, 2024). Multi-tier security arrangements have been put in place for the Assembly election, the first in the Union Territory after the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 in August 2019.

Jammu and Kashmir Elections 2024: Key facts

Jammu and Kashmir is gearing up for its first Assembly elections in a decade, with the first phase of polling set for Wednesday (September 18). Over 23 lakh voters will decide the fate of 219 candidates, including 90 independents, who are running for 24 Assembly segments— eight in three districts of Jammu region and 16 in four districts of Kashmir valley. The first round will see 24 assembly constituencies contested across the Chenab Valley districts of Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban, as well as the South Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, and Shopian.

At least 9 dead, thousands injured as Hezbollah is hit by a wave of exploding pagers in Lebanon, Syria

Hundreds of handheld pagers exploded near simultaneously in parts of Lebanon and Syria, killing at least nine people — including members of the militant group Hezbollah and a young girl — and wounding several thousand, officials said. They pointed the finger at Israel in what appeared to be a sophisticated, remote attack. Among those wounded was Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon. The mysterious incident came amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah

Supreme Court stops illegal ‘bulldozer’ demolitions across the country till October 1

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 17, 2024) froze illegal bulldozer demolitions across the country till October 1, drawing attention to reports of “glorification, grandstanding and even justifications” of the razing of private homes and properties of undertrials and their immediate family members. A Bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan said the authorities had continued with the demolitions despite a Supreme Court order on September 2 that the law did not permit the destruction of homes and properties of accused awaiting trial, or even of convicts. The court had observed that the authorities would not be permitted to bulldoze the laws of the land.

Atishi: From educationalist to Delhi’s third woman CM

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal ended the suspense over his successor by naming 43-year-old Atishi Marlena (now known only by her first name) as the new Delhi Chief Minister. With her elevation to the top post, Ms. Atishi will be third woman Chief Minister of the Union Territory after Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit.

PM Modi lists NDA government’s 100 days’ achievements to benefit the poor, farmers, youth and women

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted important steps taken by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government for the poor, farmers, youth, and women during the first 100 days of its current term. “Today marks 100 days of the NDA government’s current term. In this time, numerous key decisions have been made to benefit the poor, farmers, youth, and to empower women. Among these, the government has committed to build three crore new concrete houses and announced a ₹2 lakh crore package aimed at uplifting the youth,” Mr. Modi said addressing beneficiaries of Subhadra, a newly launched scheme for women in Odisha, at Bhubaneswar.

2 years of Project Cheetah: Hasn’t been an easy road, says Bhupender Yadav

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said the two years of Project Cheetah have been challenging, with several hurdles, from habitat adjustments to ensuring the cubs’ survival in the wild, successfully overcome. Mr. Yadav said the project, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a globally pioneering effort, symbolising hope for successfully restoring lost wildlife populations and ecosystems.

Congress will ensure Jammu and Kashmir gets back statehood: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said his party guarantees the rights of Jammu and Kashmir and will ensure it gets back the status of a full-fledged state. Mr. Kharge also highlighted the party’s promise of free treatment of  ₹25 lakh for every family and a super-specialty hospital in every district. He said this will create a healthy society.

Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Manoj Kumar Verma replaces Vineet Goyal as Kolkata Police Commissioner

Manoj Kumar Verma was appointed as the new Commissioner of Kolkata Police on Tuesday (September 17, 2024), a day after Vineet Kumar Goyal was removed from the post. He has been appointed as Additional Director General, Special Task Force. Mr. Verma, an officer of the 1998 batch, was the ADG and IGP (Law & Order) in his last assignment.

Kolkata doctor’s rape-murder case: ED raids six locations in Kolkata over RG Kar ‘financial irregularities’

Enforcement Directorate officers started simultaneous raids at six locations in Kolkata, including the residence of a TMC MLA, in connection with their investigation into the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, an officer of the agency said. Search operations were underway at the Sithi residence of TMC’s Serampore MLA Sudipto Roy and the house of a medicine dealer, besides four other places, he said.

Jarange launches indefinite fast over Maratha quota - his sixth in a year

Maratha activist Manoj Jarange has demanded the implementation of the draft notification of the sage-soyare (relatives from the family tree) and allocated Kunbi ( Maratha sub-caste covered under OBC) certificates. The activist, who initiated the sixth indefinite hunger strike from Tuesday (September 17, 2024) midnight onwards, has been agitating since October 25. He launched the stir from midnight at his native Antarwali Sarati village of Jalna district

Manipur internet ban lifted; schools in Imphal Valley reopen

Schools, colleges and higher educational institutions in the five districts of Manipur’s Imphal Valley reopened after 10 days of violence and protests that led to the clamping of curfew in three of these districts. The internet ban in these districts was lifted on Monday. On Tuesday, Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh said the 18-month-long conflict affected the State’s economy and slowed development.

Booker Prize 2024 shortlist features most women in its history

American writers Percival Everett and Rachel Kushner are among six finalists shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize for fiction this year, organisers said. Five of the six authors are women — the largest number in the prize’s 55-year history. Everett, a 2022 Booker finalist for The Trees, is again nominated for James, which reimagines Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of its main Black character, the enslaved man Jim.

Asian Champions Trophy final: India edges past China 1-0; clinches record-extending fifth title

India edged past the hosts China 1-0 in the Asian Champions Trophy final in Hulunbuir on Tuesday (September 17, 2024). It was the record-extending fifth Asian Champions Trophy title for India. India and China played some excellent hockey throughout the final. In the first three quarters, both the teams went without scoring any goals. It was not easy for the favourites and Paris Olympics bronze medallist as they failed to break the Chinese defence in the first three quarters.

PM Modi launches Odisha Government’s ‘Subhadra Yojana’, railway, NH projects worth over ₹3,800 crore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (September 17, 2024) launched Subhadra Yojana, a women-centric scheme of the Odisha government, and unveiled railway and national highway projects worth over ₹3,800 crore in the State. PM Modi laid the foundation stones and dedicated to the nation railway projects worth ₹2,871 crore in the State. He also launched national highway projects worth ₹1,000 crore at a programme at Janata Maidan in Bhubhaneswar.

After Nipah, suspected Mpox case surfaces in Kerala’s Malappuram

A young man who returned from Dubai last week has been admitted to Government Medical College Hospital, Manjeri, in Malappuram district of Kerala with symptoms of Mpox. Health authorities are yet to respond even as his serum samples have been sent to the virology laboratory at Government Medical College, Kozhikode, for confirmation. The man reached Manjeri hospital with fever and rashes on his hands on Monday (September 16, 2024). Dermatologists who examined him grew suspicious and isolated him for further examination.

Georgian Parliament approves law curbing LGBT rights

Georgian lawmakers on Tuesday (September 17, 2024) approved the third and final reading of a law on “family values and the protection of minors” that would impose sweeping curbs on LGBT rights. The bill would provide a legal basis for authorities to outlaw Pride events and public displays of the LGBT rainbow flag, and to impose censorship of films and books. Leaders of the governing Georgian Dream party say it is needed to safeguard traditional moral standards in Georgia, whose deeply conservative Orthodox Church is highly influential.

Drug-resistant superbugs projected to kill 39 million by 2050

Infections of drug-resistant superbugs are projected to kill nearly 40 million people over the next 25 years, a global analysis predicted on Monday, September 16, 2024, with the researchers urging action to avoid this grim scenario. Superbugs -- strains of bacteria or pathogens that have become resistant to antibiotics, making them much harder to treat -- have been recognised as a rising threat to global health. The analysis has been billed as the first research to track the global impact of superbugs over time, and to estimate what could happen next.

Sensex, Nifty hit fresh record closing high levels on rate cut hopes

Benchmark Sensex rose by nearly 91 points to close at a fresh lifetime high while Nifty settled above the 25,400 level for the first time supported by firm global trends ahead of the much-awaited U.S. Fed’s decision on interest rates. Extending its record-setting spree for the second day, the 30-share BSE Sensex climbed 90.88 points or 0.11% to settle at a lifetime high of 83,079.66. During the day, it rose by 163.63 points or 0.19% to 83,152.41. The NSE Nifty gained 34.80 points or 0.14% to settle at an all-time peak of 25,418.55.

Goods exports drop 9.32% to $34.71 billion in August

India’s goods exports dropped 9.32% to $34.71 billion in August, while the import bill expanded 3.3% to $64.36 billion. The trade deficit widened to a ten-month high of $29.65 billion, reckoned to be the second highest monthly gap in goods trade. “Gold imports more than doubled from $4.9 billion a year ago to $10.06 billion this August. Trade deficit should not be a matter of concern for a developing economy and you should not compare the deficits of developed countries with fast growing countries like India,” said Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal.

Wholesale price rise at 4-month low of 1.3% in August

Inflation in India’s wholesale prices slid to a four-month low of 1.31% in August from 2.04% in July, aided by a slight moderation in the pace of price rise in food items and manufactured goods, and fuel and power costs slipping into a mild deflation of 0.7% from a 1.7% uptick in the preceding month, government data released on Tuesday (September 17, 2024) showed. Food inflation eased from 3.6% in July to 3.3% in August, but this was again spurred by a year-on-year decline in prices for vegetables and eggs, meat and fish, which dropped 10% and 0.7%, respectively.

ICC announces equal prize money for men and women in World Cups

The International Cricket Council on Tuesday announced equal prize money for men and women in World Cups, starting with the women’s T20 showpiece in the UAE next month. The winners of the Women’s T20 World Cup will be rewarded with $2.34 million, a 134% increase on the $1 million awarded to Australian women when they clinched the title in South Africa in 2023, said the ICC in a statement. India, who won the men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, received $2.45 million in cash prize. “The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be the first ICC event where women will receive the same prize money as their male counterparts, marking a significant milestone in the sport’s history,” said the ICC.