TODAY NEWS ON September 19, 2024

News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source : The Hindu

National News

• ‘One nation, one election’ cleared by Union Cabinet
• Chandrayaan-4 mission expansion gets Centre’s approval
• Another wave of blasts in Lebanon; 20 killed as walkie-talkies explode in Hezbollah strongholds
• Mpox in India: Kerala confirms second case in UAE returnee
• 61% voter turnout in first phase in J-K; CEO says polling peaceful
• Delhi Lieutenant-Governor proposes September 21 for Atishi’s swearing-in
• NPS Vatsalya: Nirmala Sitharaman launches pension plan for children
• 5.6 lakh FIRs registered under new criminal law: Home Ministry official
• U.S. Federal Reserve makes half-point cut in first rate reduction since 2020
• Congress files police complaint against Ravneet Singh Bittu, Tarvinder Singh Marvah over threats against Rahul Gandhi
• India will contribute to 35% of global energy demand in next 2 decades: Puri at Gastech
• Cabinet approves ₹24,475 crore subsidy on P&K fertilisers for rabi season
• Union Cabinet gives nod to Bio-RIDE scheme to support R&D in biotechnology
• Cabinet approves setting up of National Centre of Excellence for Animation on lines of IITs, IIMs
• Cabinet approves continuation of PM-AASHA to provide better prices to farmers
• Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, sanctions ₹79,156 crore for tribal communities
• Stage set for second round of talks between Bengal government, doctors
• West Bengal economy performs poorly over several decades: EAC-PM paper
• Chandigarh court issues notice to Kangana Ranaut over movie ‘Emergency’

International News

• Wikipedia parent, users move to avert confrontation with Supreme Court over RG Kar victim identity
• Trump praises PM Modi; says will meet him next week
• WHO urges promotion of healthy diet, physical activity in Southeast Asia
• Pager attack: Taiwan, Hungary firms deny making Hezbollah pagers
• China hits 9 U.S. firms with property freeze over weapons sales to Taiwan
• Worst drought on record lowers Amazon rivers to all-time lows
• WHO urges promotion of healthy diet, physical activity in Southeast Asia

Headlines in Detail

‘One nation, one election’ cleared by Union Cabinet

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (September 18, 2024) unanimously accepted the report submitted by a high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind that explored the feasibility of ‘one nation, one election’. Ram Nath Kovind-led panel had submitted the report in March ahead of the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections. Placing the report before the Cabinet was a part of the Law Ministry’s 100-day agenda.

Chandrayaan-4 mission expansion gets Centre’s approval

Union Cabinet on Wednesday (September 18, 2024) approved expansion of Chandrayaan-4 Mission to include preparatory measures for eventual manned moon mission. It also approved Venus Orbiter Mission. The decision was confirmed by Union Electronics Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The Cabinet approved Venus Orbiter Mission, expansion of Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan-4 missions, said Mr. Vaishnaw.

Another wave of blasts in Lebanon; 20 killed as walkie-talkies explode in Hezbollah strongholds

At least 20 people were killed and hundreds injured after another round of explosions in Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut, Lebanon. A source close to Lebanon’s Hezbollah group said walkie-talkies used by the group members exploded in its Beirut stronghold with State media reporting similar blasts of pagers and “devices” in east and south Lebanon.

Mpox in India: Kerala confirms second case in UAE returnee

A 38-year-old man undergoing treatment in Kerala’s northern Malappuram district has been confirmed to have contracted mpox infection, the State Health Department said. The man, who came to the state from the UAE recently, was already admitted to a hospital here with mpox symptoms, State Health Minister Veena George said in a Facebook post.

61% voter turnout in first phase in J-K; CEO says polling peaceful

A voter turnout of more than 61% was recorded in the first phase of Assembly polls covering 24 segments across seven districts in Jammu and Kashmir, the Election Commission said. The final polling percentage can go up as data from some stations are yet to be compiled, and this also does not include postal ballots, the commission said. Kishtwar district recorded the highest 80.14% polling followed by Doda (71.34%) and Ramban (70.55%) in the Chenab valley region of Jammu, the Election Commission said, quoting the latest information said.

Haryana Assembly polls: Congress bets on ‘freebies’ in Haryana poll manifesto

As the Congress seeks to wrest back power from the ruling BJP in Haryana, it is promising a slew of ‘freebies’ in an attempt to garner support ahead of the State’s Assembly election, slated for October 5. In its poll manifesto, the party promised to pay a monthly allowance of ₹2,000 to each woman between the ages of 18 and 60 years if it comes to power in the State. Other such ‘guarantees’ include 300 units of free electricity to all households, a legal guarantee for minimum support prices for crops, and a caste survey.

Delhi Lieutenant-Governor proposes September 21 for Atishi’s swearing-in

Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena has proposed September 21 for the oath-taking ceremony of Chief Minister-designate Atishi in his communication to President Droupadi Murmu, Raj Niwas sources said, adding that the final date is subject to Ms. Murmu’s approval.

NPS Vatsalya: Nirmala Sitharaman launches pension plan for children

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the NPS Vatslya scheme, which will allow parents to save for their children’s future by investing in a pension account. Parents can subscribe to NPS Vatsalya online or visiting a bank or post office. The minimum contribution to open the Vatsalya account is ₹1,000. Subscribers will have to contribute ₹1,000 annually thereafter. The guidelines for withdrawal from the NPS accounts are being finalised.

5.6 lakh FIRs registered under new criminal law: Home Ministry official

Around 5.56 lakh First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) from July 1 to September 3, a senior Home Ministry official said. The three new criminal laws — BNS, the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), came into effect on July 1, after being passed by the Parliament in 2023. The official said a technical support call centre with a helpline number (14415) had been set up by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) to assist States in the implementation of the new laws.

U.S. Federal Reserve makes half-point cut in first rate reduction since 2020

The U.S. Federal Reserve cut its key lending rate by half a percentage-point in its first reduction since the pandemic, sharply lowering borrowing costs shortly before November’s presidential election. Policymakers voted 11-to-1 in favor of lowering the U.S. central bank’s benchmark lending rate to between 4.75% and 5.00%, the Fed announced in a statement.

Congress files police complaint against Ravneet Singh Bittu, Tarvinder Singh Marvah over threats against Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Ajay Maken approached Delhi Police to register an FIR against BJP leaders over open threats to ‘eliminate’ or cause physical injury to the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. The letter stated that the BJP leader Tarvinder Singh Marwah on September 11, 2024, in a BJP event openly issued assassination threat against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, wherein he said, “You better behave, or you will meet the same fate as your grandmother [Indira Gandhi]”

India will contribute to 35% of global energy demand in next 2 decades: Puri at Gastech

Over the next two decades, India will contribute to 35% of the global increase in energy demand, Indian Minister Hardeep Puri said at a multinational conference held to deliberate on the world’s energy needs. In his keynote address, Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri underscored India’s increasingly dominant role in the global energy landscape.

Trump praises PM Modi; says will meet him next week

Former U.S. President Donald Trump said that he will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Mr. Modi’s forthcoming visit to the U.S. Mr. Trump praised Mr. Modi but said India was abusing the U.S.-India trade dynamic, a claim he has made before about India, China, and other countries. Mr. Trump, who is seeking a second term in the White House as the Republican candidate, was speaking to Arkansas Governor Secretary Sarah Sanders at a campaign event in Flint, Michigan.

WHO urges promotion of healthy diet, physical activity in Southeast Asia

The World Health Organization (WHO) called on countries in the global health body’s ‘South-East Asia Region’ to strengthen policies and promote healthy diets and physical activity to combat the rising numbers of overweight individuals, obesity, and the spread of non-communicable diseases, which are leading causes of death in the region. Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO, South-East Asia, speaking at the inaugural event of a regional meeting to “promote healthy diets and food environments, and physical activity through policies and enabling environments” said that the burden of being overweight, obese, and their associated metabolic disorders has been steadily rising in the region, affecting both children and adults.

Cabinet approves ₹24,475 crore subsidy on P&K fertilisers for rabi season

The government on Wednesday (September 18, 2024) approved ₹24,474.53 crore subsidy on phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers for the rabi season of 2024-25 to ensure supply of crop nutrients to farmers at affordable rates. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for rabi season 2024 (from October 2024 to March 2025) on P&K fertilisers.

Union Cabinet gives nod to Bio-RIDE scheme to support R&D in biotechnology

The Union Cabinet approved the Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE) scheme to support cutting-edge research and development in biotechnology on Wednesday (September 18, 2024). “Bio-RIDE combines two existing schemes — Biotechnology Research and Development (R&D) and Industrial and Entrepreneurship Development (I&ED) — with a new component, ‘Bio-manufacturing and Bio-foundry’,” an official statement said.

Cabinet approves setting up of National Centre of Excellence for Animation on lines of IITs, IIMs

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (September 18, 2024) approved a proposal to set up the National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) on lines of the IITs and IIMs to anchor the animation ecosystem in the country. Aimed at positioning India as a content hub for providing state-of-the-art content thereby enhancing India’s soft power globally and attracting foreign investments into the media and entertainment sector, the centre will be set up in Mumbai as a Section 8 Company under the Companies Act, 2013.

Cabinet approves continuation of PM-AASHA to provide better prices to farmers

The government has approved the continuation of the PM-AASHA scheme, with an outlay of ₹35,000 crore, to provide better prices to farmers and control price volatility of essential commodities for consumers. “The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the continuation of schemes of Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) to provide remunerative prices to farmers and to control price volatility of essential commodities for consumers,” an official statement said.

Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, sanctions ₹79,156 crore for tribal communities

The Cabinet on Wednesday (September 18, 2024) approved the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, with a budget of ₹79,156 crore, to improve the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities across the country. The programme aims to provide all government benefits to five crore tribal families in 63,000 tribal-majority villages. It will cover 549 districts and 2,740 blocks in 30 states and Union territories, according to an official statement.

Kolkata rape and murder case: Stage set for second round of talks between Bengal government, doctors

The West Bengal government on Wednesday (September 18, 2024) invited the junior doctors agitating over the RG Kar incident for a meeting at the state secretariat at 6.30 p.m., responding to their request for a fresh round of talks. In his response, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant reiterated the State’s appeal to the protesting medics to join work in the wake of the emerging flood-like situation in parts of the State. The scheduled meeting would be the second round of talks between the stirring medics and the State government in 48 hours, the first of which was held in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday (September 16, 2024).

Wikipedia parent, users move to avert confrontation with Supreme Court over RG Kar victim identity

After the Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 17, 2024) ordered that the identity of the medic murdered at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata should be removed from Wikipedia, the Wikimedia Foundation moved to avert a confrontation with the highest court. The Foundation does not as a policy edit or censor articles, complicating its ability to directly change the contents of the Wikipedia entry on the incident. Instead, a representative for the foundation participated in an existing user discussion on whether the victim’s name should be mentioned in the article on the incident, and the name has been removed, for now, by volunteer editors.

West Bengal economy performs poorly over several decades: EAC-PM paper

West Bengal has experienced a continuous decline in its relative economic performance over several decades, according to a working paper by Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM). Authored by EAC-PM member Sanjeev Sanyal, the paper ‘Relative Economic Performance of Indian States: 1960-61 to 2023-24’ said the development of eastern part of the country remains a concern.

Chandigarh court issues notice to Kangana Ranaut over movie ‘Emergency’

A court in Chandigarh has issued notices to BJP MP and actress Kangana Ranaut and others on a complaint accusing them of maligning the image of Sikhs in her upcoming movie ‘Emergency’. The notices were issued by the Chandigarh district court on Tuesday (September 17) on a plea filed by advocate Ravinder Singh Bassi, who is also the president of the NGO Lawyers for Humanity.

Pager attack: Taiwan, Hungary firms deny making Hezbollah pagers

A Taiwanese company and its Hungarian partner reportedly denied making pagers that exploded while being used by Hezbollah members in Lebanon on Wednesday (September 18, 2024). The New York Times, citing American and other anonymous officials, reported that Israel had inserted explosive material into a shipment of pagers from Taiwan’s Gold Apollo. Taiwanese prosecutors launched an investigation. Taiwanese company Gold Apollo denied producing the devices and instead pointed the finger at its Budapest-based partner BAC Consulting KFT.

China hits 9 U.S. firms with property freeze over weapons sales to Taiwan

China announced steps against nine U.S. military-linked firms on Wednesday (September 17, 2024) over U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan, freezing their property within China, in the latest move to put added pressure on the United States to halt its arms sales to the island. China has repeatedly called on the White House, an important international backer and arms supplier for democratically-governed Taiwan, to refrain from formal dealings with the island’s leadership. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory.

Worst drought on record lowers Amazon rivers to all-time lows

The worst drought on record has lowered the water level of the rivers in the Amazon basin to historic lows, in some cases drying up riverbeds that were previously navigable waterways. The Solimoes, one of the main tributaries of the mighty Amazon River whose waters originate in the Peruvian Andes, has fallen to its lowest level on record in Tabatinga, the Brazilian town on the border with Colombia. Downriver in Tefé, a branch of the Solimoes has dried up completely, as seen by Reuters reporters who flew over the river on Sunday.

WHO urges promotion of healthy diet, physical activity in Southeast Asia

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday (September 17, 2024) called on countries in the global health body’s ‘South-East Asia Region’ to strengthen policies and promote healthy diets and physical activity to combat the rising numbers of overweight individuals, obesity, and the spread of non-communicable diseases, which are leading causes of death in the region. Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO, South-East Asia, speaking at the inaugural event of a regional meeting to “promote healthy diets and food environments, and physical activity through policies and enabling environments” said that the burden of being overweight, obese, and their associated metabolic disorders has been steadily rising in the region, affecting both children and adults.