Railways backs out of human error claim ; accident toll increases to 10 .
The death toll in the Kanchenjunga express and a goods train in Darjeeling district of West Bengal rose to 10 on Tuesday .
The Commissioner of Railway Safety( CRS ) will begin an inquiry into the cause of the accident on Wednesday . Railway walked back from its initial claims that human error was behind the accident . Railway acknowledged that the automatic signalling system was not working on the route .
The Kavach train protection system is yet to be installed for the region’s rail network .
Despite the rising number of train accidents , installations of the Kavach automatic train protection system has been slow.
Last December Railway minister , Ashwani Vaishanav. said Kawach had been deployed on 1465 km and 139 locomotives , including electronic multiple rakes.
Additional Kavach tenders are being awarded for the 3,000 km Delhi – Mumbai and Delhi Howrah corridor.
Any negligence in the conduct of NEET should be dealt with thoroughly , says SC
The Supreme Court made it clear to the centre and National Testing Agency ( NTA ) , that it did not want “ even .001% negligence “ on the part of anyone in the conduct of UG NEET 2024 .
Even if there is .001 % negligence on the part of anyone , it should be thoroughly dealt with . said Justice S.V Bhatti and Justice Vikram Nath.
The Court asked NTA to admit its mistakes if there is and take strict action to those involved .
The court issued notice to centre and NTA to submit their responses in two weeks ..
The court hearing was based on two petitions filed by students to take confidence into the matter .
41 Airport across country go into tizzy after receiving bomb threats ; all prove to be hoaxes
A Delhi High court on Tuesday directed the National Investigation Agency ( NIA ) to file its reply on the date of Sheikh Abdul Rashid. , aka Engineer Rashid has to take oath as a LoK Sabha Member . Mr Rashid is currently in Tihar Jail in a terror funding case .
Mr Rashid has won Baramulla Lok Sabha seats as an independent candidate . He defeated National Conference leader Omar Abdullah .
Lok Sabha session will be from 24 June to July 3 . The session will witness oath taking of MPs .
‘ Students must not sport wearables indicating caste ‘
The one man committee headed by retired Madras High Court judge , K Chadru has recommended that the TamilNadu government prohibit students from wearing coloured wristbands , wrist or forehead marks that may indicate their caste. The report further said that students must not come from a bicycle painted to show their caste .
It also indicates the removal of caste appealations in the name of schools .
Mr Chandru submitted his report to chief minister M K Stalin in Chennai .
Chandru committee was constituted in the wake of an incident in Nanguneri in Tirunelveli . Here two school children belonging to Scheduled Caste were brutally assaulted.
by a group of students from intermediate caste .
41 airports across country go into tizzy after receiving bomb threats ; all prove to be hoaxes
As many as 41 airports in the country received email threats warning of bombs in their premises on Tuesday .
All were later found to be hoaxes . Police have arrested at least six people in this regard .
Scientist from India , China , UK develop catalyst to produce cheaper biodiesel
A team of scientists from Assam and Odisha in India , China and UK has developed a water repellent catalyst that can cut the cost of “ environmentally benign biodiesel .
The team will use a superhydrophobic carbon catalyst that can bring down the carbon cost of biodiesel from current ₹100 per 1.2 litre to ₹37 per litre .
Women’s panel receives 12,600 complaints in 2024
The highest number of complaints received by National Commission for Women ( NCW ) , so far this year has been from Uttar Pradesh , followed by Delhi and then Maharashtra .
Of the total 12 ,648 received by NCW till now in 2024 , the top four states are : Uttar Pradesh ( 6,492 ) , Delhi ( 1119 ) , Maharashtra ( 764 ) , Bihar ( 586 ) .
Category of crimes :
“ right to dignity “ harassment other than domestic violence : 3567
Domestic violence : 3,217
Dowry Harassment : 1,963
Molestation : 821
In 2023 the total number of cases were 28 ,811 .
China has 500 nuclear warheads says SIPRI
According to the latest report by Stockholm International Peace Research Organisation ( SIPRI ) , a defence think tank , India’s nuclear arsenal reached 172 warheads this year surpassing Pakistan’s 170 .
China has triple the number of warheads of 500 .
SIPRI also noted that India is strengthening the undersea leg of the nuclear triad .
“ India’s third SSBN ( a nuclear powered submarine carrying ballistic missiles armed with nuclear weapons ) was reportedly launched in 2021 , fourth is under construction and will be launched in 2024 . “
INS Arihant and INS Arighat are two submarines that can carry nuclear weapons .
Editorial
New Dynamics
The G7 must review its own purpose in a rapidly changing world
The editorial is about the significance of G7 .
G7 held in Apulia, Italy was once a grouping where some major decision used to be taken.
This year the group was focussed on China and Russia . Though joint communique decommissioned eight infrastructural projects as well .
In Russia it was decided that countries will use Russian assets seized within their territories to fund Ukraine .
In China the group showed concerns about Industrial targeting , Indo Pacific and unfair practices .
PM Modi participated in the “ G 7 outreach “ programme to meet other leaders . He hailed India’s elections as “ victory of democratic world .
The groupings like G20 and BRICS seems to be better placed ,
World
Biden planning to ease immigration pathway for spouses of US citizens
US president Joe Biden on Tuesday will unveil new rules , easing the process of undocumented spouses of US citizens to obtain permanent residence status , the while house said .
The new rules will not expand Eligibility for permanent residency , but rather streamline the process for those who already qualify for permanent residency .
The new rules will apply to those who are present in the country for 10 years , and married to US citizen before June 17 , 2024 .
The administration estimates to include some 5,00,000 people .
Those approved would be granted work Authorization and right to stay in US for three years .
Chinese forces seize two Philippines ship in disputed shoal
Chinese forces seized two Phillipines runner boats in the South China Sea on Tuesday . The boats were delivering food and other essential items to Second Thomas shoal .
Some Philippine navy personnel were injured .
The US warned that it is obliged to protect the Philippines from being a long term ally .
Both Philippines and China claim Second Thomas shoal island as their own . Currently a ship named Sierra Madre is stationed there to deliver fresh supplies .
Russia’s Putin makes rare visit to North Korea , an old ally
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in North Korea early on Wednesday .
This is Putin’s first trip to North Korea in 24 years .
Mr Putin was recieved by North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un .
Mr Putin said that the countries would continue to “ resolutely oppose “ , western ambition “ to hinder the establishment of multipolar world order based on justice , mutual respect for sovereignty , considering each other’s interest . “
Mr Putin also said that Russia and North Korea will develop trade and payment systems “ that are not controlled by West “ .
and jointly oppose sanctions against the countries which he described , “ illegal , unilateral , restrictions . “ Mr Putin said that countries will expand cooperation in tourism ,culture and education .
North Korea is currently under heavy sanctions by UNSC for its development of Nuclear Arsenal . Russia is also facing economic sanctions after its war with Ukraine started .
Both the US and South Korea has accused North Korea of supplying Russia with artillery and missiles in lieu of defence technology .
Russia has denied such charges .
