TODAY NEWS ON August 23, 2024

News Headlines for CAT,CLAT and IPM aspirants
 

Source: The Hindu

National News

• PM Modi voices ‘deep concern’ over conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia
• Federation of All India Medical Association calls off 11-day strike
• Kolkata doctor rape and murder: CBI allowed to conduct polygraph test
• Election Commission to deploy over 400 observers for J&K and Haryana Assembly elections
• Anakapalli industrial accident is a clear case of negligence
• At least 12 dead in Tripura floods; helicopters deployed
• NDMA identifies 189 glacier lakes for monitoring
• Centre talks to States on new mechanism to gather crop data
• Akasa Air expects MAX delivery in a matter of ‘days and weeks’
• SC rejects pleas of BCCI, Byju’s to defer Committee of Creditors meeting
• Anakapalli pharma factory blast: Naidu meets injured workers

International News

• Bangladesh’s Yunus meets Indian High Commissioner
• Biden speaks with Netanyahu on ceasefire deal
• Sri Lanka Supreme Court finds Ranil Wickremesinghe guilty
• Former ISI chief's close aide flees Pakistan amid probe
• India surpasses China to become Russia’s top oil buyer in July
• Lord’s to host its first-ever women’s Test
   

Headlines in detail:

PM Modi voices ‘deep concern’ over conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, says no problem can be solved on battlefield

Prime Minister Narendra Modi voiced “deep concern” over the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, saying India firmly believes that no problem can be solved on the battlefield and that it supports dialogue and diplomacy for the early restoration of peace and stability. “We support dialogue and diplomacy for the early restoration of peace and stability. For this, India, along with its friendly countries, is ready to provide all possible support,” he added. He made the remarks in a joint press statement after his meeting with Polish counterpart Donald Tusk, during which they discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties and decided to elevate the bilateral relationship into a strategic partnership.

Federation of All India Medical Association calls off 11-day strike

The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) for two Central government hospitals — Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Ram Manohar Lohia — called off their 11-day strike today. This comes after the Supreme Court, the Union Health Ministry and hospitals appealed to the resident doctors to resume their duties in the interest of patient care. The strike severely disrupted patient services in hospitals across India as doctors demanded better safety at the workplace.

Kolkata doctor rape and murder: CBI allowed to conduct polygraph test on R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital ex-principal Sandip Ghosh, 4 other doctors

A special court in Kolkata on Thursday allowed the CBI to conduct a polygraph test on former R.G. Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh and four other doctors in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at the hospital, officials said.

Election Commission to deploy over 400 observers for J&K and Haryana Assembly elections

The Election Commission on Thursday said that it would deploy over 400 observers for the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana. It has asked the observers to stay vigilant against false narratives and be accessible to all political parties and voters.

At least 12 dead in Tripura floods; helicopters deployed

Two IAF Mi-17 helicopters were deployed to Tripura on Thursday (August 22, 2024) to evacuate stranded people from flood affected areas. Besides these, 11 NDRF teams, 26 SDRF units and emergency service teams are working tirelessly in relief and rescue operations as the State grapples with unprecedented flash floods.

NDMA identifies 189 glacier lakes for monitoring

Following disasters inflicted by overflowing glacial lakes in the Himalayas, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has finalised a list of 189 “high-risk” glacial lakes for mitigation measures to reduce the risk emanating from them.

Centre talks to States on new mechanism to gather crop data

Ahead of the nationwide implementation of the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), the Centre has convened a national conference with the States to discuss the improvement in crop production statistics in New Delhi on Thursday (August 22, 2024).

Akasa Air expects MAX delivery in a matter of ‘days and weeks’ after six-month delay from Boeing

Boeing customer Akasa Air is hopeful of taking the delivery of its 25th 737 MAX aircraft “in a matter of days and weeks” after being hit by delays due to a slowing of production following increased scrutiny on the aerospace manufacturer from regulators in the U.S. The airline inducted the 24th aircraft in its fleet in February, and has since not added any planes.

SC rejects pleas of BCCI, Byju’s to defer Committee of Creditors from meeting

The Supreme Court on Thursday (August 22, 2024) did not heed repeated requests by debt-ridden ed-tech firm Byju’s and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to defer the Committee of Creditors (CoC) from meeting.

Anakapalli pharma factory blast: Naidu meets injured workers; announces ₹ 1 cr ex-gratia to kin of deceased

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met the employees, who were injured in the industrial accident occurred at Escientia Advanced Sciences Private Limited at Atchutapuram Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Anakapalli district and undergoing treatment at Medicover Hospitals near Venkojipalem. He also announced an ex-gratia of ₹ 1 crore to the kin of the deceased. While ₹50 lakh will be provided to those who were severely injured and ₹25 lakh will be given to those who suffered minor injuries, he stated. Later, speaking to the media, Mr. Naidu said that as many as 17 persons died and 36 persons were injured in the industrial accident. He said that among the 36 injured, 10 have received severe injuries and 26 have suffered minor injuries.

Bangladesh’s Yunus meets Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma; ‘normal call’ says India

Bangladesh Chief Adviser Prof. Mohammad Yunus met Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma in a meeting that the Indian side described as a “normal call on”. The meeting came minutes after Prof. Yunus met his senior colleagues over the unprecedented floods in the eastern districts of Bangladesh that his administration has blamed on India releasing water from neighbouring Tripura without “early warning”. The Ministry of External Affairs denied reports of floods in the eastern districts of Bangladesh were caused due to the opening of the Dumbur dam in Tripura.

Biden speaks with Netanyahu as U.S. prods Israel and Hamas to come to agreement on ceasefire deal

President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today as the United States presses Israel and Hamas to agree to a “bridging proposal” that could lead to a ceasefire in the war in Gaza. Mr. Biden "stressed the urgency of bringing the ceasefire and hostage release deal to closure," the White House said in a statement. The two leaders also discussed using high-level talks in Cairo this week between mediators from the U.S., Israel, Egypt and Qatar to work through "remaining obstacles" to an agreement.

Sri Lanka Supreme Court says Ranil Wickremesinghe guilty of ‘arbitrary and unlawful’ conduct

Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court found President Ranil Wickremesinghe guilty of “arbitrary and unlawful” conduct, in the postponement of local body elections scheduled last year, even as he campaigns hard for a mandate in the September 21 presidential contest. President Wickremesinghe rose to the island nation’s top office in July 2022, not winning a national election, but through an extraordinary parliamentary vote. He replaced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country and resigned amid mass protests triggered by a severe financial meltdown.

Former ISI chief's close aide flees Pakistan amid probe against him for misuse of official authority

A close aide of Pakistan's former ISI chief Lt General (retd.) Faiz Hameed, who has been in the Pakistan Army's custody on corruption and other changes, has fled the country to evade arrest, according to a media report. Mohsin Habib Warriach, who is said to have managed major business deals for Gen Hameed in Pakistan and abroad, has reportedly fled to the UK, Samaa TV reported. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi didn't confirm nor deny reports about Mohsin Warriach's leaving the country. Gen Hameed is facing court-martial proceedings for misusing his position to extort money from a private housing society and his role in May 9 attacks on military installations and his close ties with jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan are also being probed.

India surpasses China to become Russia’s top oil buyer in July

India overtook China as the world’s biggest importer of Russian oil in July as Chinese refiners bought less because of lower profit margins from producing fuels, a comparison of import data showed. Russian crude made up a record 44% of India’s overall imports last month, rising to a record 2.07 million barrels per day (bpd), 4.2% higher than in June and 12% more than a year ago, data on Indian shipments from trade and industry sources showed. Indian refiners have been gorging on Russian oil sold at discounts after Western nations imposed sanctions against Moscow and curtailed their energy purchases in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Lord’s to host its first-ever women’s Test

Lord's, the 'home of cricket', will host its first-ever Women's Test between India and England in 2026, the ECB announced today. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said that after playing a three-match ODI series against hosts England in July 2025, India will return in 2026 for a one-off Test. "We can confirm that India Women will return in 2026 to take on England Women in the first-ever women’s Test match at Lord's. It will be a truly special occasion, and one of real significance," ECB CEO Richard Gould was quoted as saying by the Board's website.