TODAY NEWS ON August 22, 2024

News Headlines for CAT,CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source: The Hindu

National:

1. PM Modi arrives in Warsaw on first leg of two-nation visit to Poland and Ukraine
2. 17 killed, 20 injured in reactor blast at pharma company in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli
3. Centre debates taking caste count during Census
4. Rahul Gandhi an impactful voice, ready to join hands with him to address issues of Kashmir: PDP leader Naeem Akhtar
5. Kerala seeks around ₹900 crore Central assistance for compensation and rehab of Wayanad landslides victims
6. Puja Khedkar’s fraud affected other aspirants, UPSC tells Delhi HC
7. IT Ministry orders social media firms to delete posts revealing Kolkata rape-murder case victim’s identity
8. Governor meets R.G. Kar victim’s family; protests rage across Kolkata
9. Health Ministry to set up national task force for security of healthcare professionals
10. Supreme Court to examine need for a permanent environmental regulator
11. Internet suspended, 72 held in Badlapur post violence during protest over sexual abuse case
12. Bharat Bandh: Largely peaceful protests with sporadic incidents of violence
13. IAF fighter jet ‘inadvertently’ releases ‘air store’ near Pokhran, inquiry ordered
14. India’s second 700 MW nuclear power KAPS-4 plant starts operations at full capacity
15. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to visit U.S. as mega defence deals near conclusion
16. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal blasts assertion that e-commerce has low impact on employment
17. Decathlon to invest €100 million in India
18. Jay Shah front-runner to take over as ICC chairman

International:

1. PM Modi arrives in Warsaw on first leg of two-nation visit to Poland and Ukraine
2. Ahead of Ukraine visit, PM Modi says India supports peace in this region
3. Hezbollah fires more than 50 rockets hitting Israeli-annexed Golan Heights
4. Ukraine ratifies Rome Statute, paving way for ICC membership

Headlines in detail:

PM Modi arrives in Warsaw on first leg of two-nation visit to Poland and Ukraine

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Poland on the first leg of his two-nation visit during which he will also travel to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and share perspectives with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict. During his stay in Poland, Mr. Modi will meet President Andrzej Sebastian Duda and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

17 killed, 20 injured in reactor blast at pharma company in Andhra Pradesh’s Anakapalli

At least 17 workers were killed and 20 others sustained burns in a major fire that broke out reportedly after a reactor blast in Escientia Advanced Sciences Private Ltd. in the Special Economic Zone at Atchutapuram in Anakapalli of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.

Centre debates taking caste count during Census

The Union government is yet to take a call on conducting the next Census exercise but active discussion is on to expand the data collection to include caste enumeration, a top government source told The Hindu.

Ahead of Ukraine visit, PM Modi says India supports peace in this region

On the eve of his visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India was a supporter of peace in this region as he reiterated that “this is not an era of war” and any conflict should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.

Rahul Gandhi an impactful voice, ready to join hands with him to address issues of Kashmir: PDP leader Naeem Akhtar

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday (August 21, 2024) kept its doors open to engage the Congress for talks on a pre-poll coalition for the Assembly elections in J&K and described visiting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi “as an impactful voice who could raise issues of Kashmir and work towards broader coalition in J&K”.

Kerala seeks around ₹900 crore Central assistance for compensation and rehab of Wayanad landslides victims

Kerala is canvassing for a Central assistance to the tune of ₹900 crore as compensation for the loss sustained in the Wayanad landslides and the funds for rehabilitating the affected population.

Puja Khedkar’s fraud affected other aspirants, UPSC tells Delhi HC

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Wednesday (August 21, 2024) opposed an anticipatory bail plea by former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, accused of cheating and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits, before the Delhi High Court saying she committed a fraud against the commission and the public.

IT Ministry orders social media firms to delete posts revealing Kolkata rape-murder case victim’s identity

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said on Wednesday (August 21, 2024) that it ordered social media platforms to remove posts naming the victim of the alleged Kolkata rape and murder that occurred on August 9.

Governor meets R.G. Kar victim’s family; protests rage across Kolkata

Twelve days after the rape and murder of a doctor at the R. G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, there has been no let-up in the protests, with over a dozen rallies organised across Kolkata on Wednesday (August 21, 2024).

Health Ministry to set up national task force for security of healthcare professionals

The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday issued an office memorandum for the constitution of the National Task Force (NTF) to formulate protocols governing the safety of doctors.

Supreme Court to examine need for a permanent environmental regulator

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (August 21, 2024) decided to examine the need for a ‘permanent environmental regulator’ similar to those found in the telecom and electricity sectors.

Internet suspended, 72 held in Badlapur post violence during protest over sexual abuse case

Internet services at Badlapur in Maharashtra’s Thane district were suspended on Wednesday, a day after a massive protest over alleged sexual abuse of two kindergarten girls, and 72 persons have been arrested in connection with the violence during the stir, officials said. Meanwhile, A local Court extended the police custody till August 26 of the man arrested in connection with the case.

Bharat Bandh: Largely peaceful protests with sporadic incidents of violence

The Bharat Bandh, called by Dalit and Adivasi organisations over their demand for stronger representation and protection for marginalised communities, has been largely peaceful with some sporadic incidents of violence. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal extended support to the Bharat Bandh call given by various organisations in response to the Supreme Court’s recent verdict on Scheduled Caste reservations.

IAF fighter jet ‘inadvertently’ releases ‘air store’ near Pokhran, inquiry ordered

An object fell from an IAF fighter aircraft in the Pokhran area of Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district. “An inadvertent release of an air store from an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft took place near Pokhran firing range area, due to technical malfunction, today,” the Indian Air Force (IAF) posted on ‘X’. The IAF said it has ordered an inquiry into the incident. It, however, did not reveal the exact nature of the “air store”.

India’s second 700 MW nuclear power KAPS-4 plant starts operations at full capacity

India’s second home-built 700 MW nuclear power reactor at Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) in Gujarat, started operating at its full capacity, the plant operator said. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) said Unit 4 at KAPS had been operating at 90% capacity before raising it to full power of 700 MWe.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to visit U.S. as mega defence deals near conclusion

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to visit the U.S. from August 23 to 26. The visit comes as several high end defence deals are lined up as also friction over issues like Prime Minister’s visit to Russia and the Pannun episode. During the visit, Mr. Singh will hold a bilateral meeting with his U.S. counterpart Secretary Lloyd Austin and will also meet the U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

Hezbollah fires more than 50 rockets hitting Israeli-annexed Golan Heights

Lebanon’s Hezbollah has launched more than 50 rockets, hitting a number of private homes in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. The attack on Wednesday (August 21, 2024) came a day after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with fellow mediators Egypt and Qatar as he pressed ahead with the latest diplomatic mission to secure a cease-fire in the war in Gaza, even as Hamas and Israel signalled that challenges remain.

Ukraine ratifies Rome Statute, paving way for ICC membership

Ukraine’s parliament voted to ratify the Rome Statute, officials said, allowing the country to join the International Criminal Court (ICC) in a step Ukrainian leaders have cast as central to Kyiv’s European aspirations. Ukraine has recognised the ICC’s jurisdiction in the past, but full membership of the court is a key part of Ukraine’s quest to eventually join the European Union.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal blasts assertion that e-commerce has low impact on employment

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal attended the launch of a report that essentially concluded that the e-commerce industry did not pose a significant risk to employment opportunities in India. “I would like to completely disassociate myself with this report,” Mr. Goyal declared, launching into a series of remarks raising alarms on the e-commerce industry’s impact on traders in India. “I do not agree with any of these findings.”

Decathlon to invest €100 million in India

Decathlon, a global multi-specialist sports brand, has announced to invest €100 million in India over the next five years. “This investment will be channelled towards expanding the store network to reach 190 stores across India, enhancing digital engagement, and deepening its commitment to local manufacturing,” the company announced.

Jay Shah front-runner to take over as ICC chairman

Jay Shah, the incumbent secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has emerged as the front-runner to succeed Greg Barclay as the International Cricket Council (ICC) chair in December. Shah’s expected candidature received a major boost with the ICC through a media release on Tuesday (August 20, 2024) night confirming Barclay’s decision to step down from his post at the annual conference in November.