Bengal bandh disrupts normal life as Trinamool takes on BJP
Several parts of west Bengal witnessed disruption of life because of the 12 hour Bandh called by BJP against police excesses against student protesters .
BJP supporters tried to block highways and railways in various parts of the state .
Kolkata Police on Wednesday arrested several BJP leaders for trying to halt transport facilities .
Clashes between Trinamool and BJP workers were also seen in many parts . Police said .
BJP state chief Sukanta Majumdar called the Bandh a “ success “ and said that he had written to Home Minister Amit Shah over the security situation in West Bengal .
He cited “ anti national “ remarks by the West Bengal CM in a rally .
He had said “ Remember if Bengal burns , then Assam , Bihar , Jharkhand, Odisha and Delhi will also burn .
Bengal to pass bill to ensure death penalty for rape
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee said that assembly session will be called soon to pass a bill for capital punishment to those convicted of rape .
Counter mindset that sees woman as less capable : Murmu
President Draupadi Murmu in an article for PTI has written about safety of women .
In her article , She is very critical of any thing that atricts women freedom or bellitles it
Jharkhand Police official questioned for ‘ spying ‘ on Champai Soren in Delhi ‘
Delhi Police lodged FIR on two police personal of Jahrkhad who reportedly were spying on former CM Champai Soren.
Mr Soren had reached Delhi where on Tuesday where he decided to be part of BJP .
SIT records Statements as probe into the abuse in Kerala filmdom gathers pace
With the latest round of elections , in the Rajya Sabha the BJP has reached a majority mark in Rajya Sabha .
With the latest elections ,NDA crosses the majority mark in the Rajya Sabha
With induction of 12 members , BJP strenght in Rajya Sabha has reached 96 . NDA has reached 119 .
The strength of Rajya Sabha is 237 now , and this brings NDA ( 119 ) into majority .
Congress on other hand can loose leader of Opposition , as it’s strength has diminished to 26 .
For leader of Opposition post at least 25 members is required .
Rajya Sabha members are elected by the elected members of state assemblies .
Highsr the number of MLAs in state assembly of a party higher is the number of MPs in Rajya Sabha .
The increased strengh of BJP will help in passing bills in parliament.
Jail is exception , bail is the norm even in money laundering case : SC
The supreme court on Wednesday held that the bail is the rule while jail is an exceptional event in money laundering cases .
Section 45 of Prevention Of Money Laundering ( PMLA ) levelled two conditions for granting bail :
- The public prosecutor has been given an opportunity to oppose the application for such a release.
- Whether the public prosecutor opposes the application , the court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds ,that he is not guilty of is not likely to commit any offence .
The court said that bail comes under individual rule and is always a liberty while deprivation is an exception .
A bench of Justice BR Gavai and KV Vishwanath was listening arguments of ED on Manish Sisodia’s bail .
Mr Sisodia was given bail on August 9 .
India signs repeat order for 73,000 SIG 716 rifles , deliveries by 2025 – end
The ministry of defence has signed a repeat order of 73,000 SIG 716 rifles from SIF Saucer ,US . The deliveries are expected to be compete by 2025
India is working to replace INSAS rifles , and SIG is a good substitute .
Already 64,000 SIG assault rifles have been given to the army .
Further transmission of Chandipura virus possible in coming weeks , warns WHO
The current spread of Chandipura Virus ( CHPV ) infection is the largest in two decades, WHO said .
Between June and August 15 , the health ministry found 64 cases of CHPV from Rajasthan and Gurjat mainly .
Sabarkantha district of Gujrat has seen 48 cases of which 38 died .
No travel restriction has been imposed thus far .
CHPV was first discovered in Chandipura district of Maharashtra in 1965 .
Since then, Wear Africa and India has found mostly affected by the virus from time to time .
Symptoms included fever , headache , convulsion and unconsciousness .
No vaccine is available for the virus .
Centre offers discussions with Unions on labour codes
Union Labour minister Mansukh Mandviya on Wednesday hold meeting with 10 trade Unions on implementation of four labour codes .
No final agreement has been reached so far and the Union mInister said that the discussion will continue on another date .
Trade Unions has said that the four labour codes were in favour of industrialists .
They also demanded implementation of Old Pension Scheme ( OPS ) for government employees.
The agenda of the meeting was Employement Linked Incentive Scheme recently launched in Union Budget . But no consensus has reached thus far .
World
Bangladesh lifts ban on Jamaat , its student wing , ‘ all associated units ‘
Interim government of Bangladesh on Wednesday lifted a ban from Jammat e Islami and its islami wing and “all associated organisations “ .
An interior ministry statement said that the government did not find any link between the group and terrorist activities and that being the reason behind the current decision , interior ministry announced .
This was preceded by statement by Jaamt chief Sahfiqur Rahaman that praised 1971 freedom fighters .
This has opened gates for contesting election for the party .
Jamaat e Islami is considered to be a rigid anti minority Islamic group . Who is more in favour of enforcing Sharia law .
The group has been banned for being associated with insurgents groups in past .
During 1971 freedom struggle , it was against fromamation of party and has supported Paksitan army .
‘ China warns US over support to Manila in South China sea . ‘
US National security Advisor Jake Sullivan is on a three day visit to China . On Wednesday he met with Wang Yi , the Chinese Foreign minister .
Mr Wang warned the US against interfering in the South China sea .
“ The United States should not use bilateral treaties as an excuse to undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity , nor should it support or condone the Philippines’ action of infringement . “
Philippines , Japan , and South Korea are three major allies of the US in the region . China has seen continued conflict with the Philippines in the South China Sea , and such conflicts are continuing .
Science
‘ High amount of plastic in Indian personal care product ‘
Personal Care Products ( PCP ) like shower gel , face wash contain a significant amount of harmful plastics , a new study has revealed .
Researchers analysed 45 types of samples of face wash , face scrub , shower gel from products that were marketed as “ eco friendly “ , “ natural “ or “ organic “ .
In 30 grams of each kind of product of face wash , face scrubs , body scrubs and shower gels respectively researchers found .26 gram , .9 gram , 1.24 gram and 1.74 gram microbeads respectively .
Microplastics don’t dissolve in water and are so small that they can pass through many wastewater treatment plants .
Microplastics are plastics under 5 mm diameter . It is added in PCP’s to increase capacity to remove dead cells , to enhance lubrication .
A study has found accumulation of Microplastics in different parts of human bodies .
This can lead to cancer , and several types of genetic disorders .
The US , UK , Canada , France and New Zealand banned the production and sale of microbeads . India has not banned it yet .
The study suggests that use of Walnut , coffee , kiwi seeds and soluble cellulose beads can replace microbeads in PCPs .
Editorial
War and peace
India is not well placed to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine
The editorial is about PM Modi’s recent visit to Ukraine . PM Modi held that India was on the side of peace . PM Modi said that the current situation can be solved through dialogue and diplomacy .
PM Modi called US President Joe Biden and Russian President Putin and talked about his recent visit .
The Russian has started massive missile attacks in recent times . And it doesn’t seem that the two sides are interested in ending the war .
In the ceasefire demand , Ukraine has asked Russia to pull all its forces from Donbas region . Russia has demanded that Ukraine should pull all of its forces from Donbas region ,and should hold that it won’t join NATO .
The editorial says that India is biassed towards Russia and is not well placed to broker between Russia and Ukraine.
Focus on trial
Agencies should shed fixation on keeping people in Jail
The editorial is about bail to K Kavitha by the Supreme Court in an excise policy case .
The SC in an oral observation questioned the investigation agencies of “ pick and choose “ whom to make accused .
K Kabitha has been accused of arranging a deal between Arvind Kejriwal and “ South block “ in the excise policy case . However the person on whose residence the deal was made has been made a witness.
The Supreme Court pulled ED over this .
SC also was not happy with Delhi High Court not granting bail to Ms Kavitha , as investigation was complete .
Text/ Context
On Ukraine’s surprise inclusion in Kursk
On August 6 , Ukrainian forces launched a surprise attack in Kursk . The Ukrainian forces continued advancing , seizing villages and towns as they moved forward.
On August 16 and 19 they destroyed two bridges across the river Siem .
On August 19 , Ukrainian President Zelensky announced that his forces have controlled 92 settlements and a total area of 1250 square km in Kursk .
Russia on August 22 , said that it had evacuated 1,33 , 190 people from the territory .
The rationale
Russia is rapidly pushing inside Ukraine from UKraine’s,s eastern border of the Kharkiv region .
The Ukrainian move can be to distract Russia’s forces from Kharkiv .
Upcoming US elections can result in the coming of the Donald Trump presidency . Trump has said that he will end the Russia -Ukraine war through negotiation as soon as he comes to power .
Republicans are not in favour of war to Ukraine .
If a negotiation occurs , the occupation in Kursk can give bargaining power to Ukraine .
Russia’s approach
Russia didn’t divert its troops from the Kharkiv region , instead it started pushing even more and further to the Kharkiv region . It is near to capture Pokrovsk , a key settlement which can boost Moscow’s control on the Donetsk region .
