SC refuses to stay law on selection of CEC and EC

The SC on Friday declined to stay on  the newly made appointment to CEC and EC act .

The petitioner Jaya Thakur said “ The CEC and other election commissioners ( appointment , terms and conditions of service , and term of office act , 2023 ) , has diluted the Supreme Court Judgement by replacing the Chief Justice of India , with a Union cabinet minister .”

CEC and EC used to be appointed by the President .

SC has given April as the next hearing date .

SC earlier in its judgment had told govt to make a law regarding appointment of CEC and EC . For a temporary period SC had arranged a committee of Prime Minister , Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India .

The recently passed Act on appointment of CEC and EC says that appointments will be made by a committee of PM , Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha , and A cabinet minister appointed by PM .

The petitioners are contesting that not including CJI in the committee will undermine the independence of the Election Commission .

India’s longest sea bridge which provides a link to Navi Mumbai inaugurated by PM

The PM inaugurated Atal Setu , India’s longest sea bridge on Friday .

Also known as Mumbai Trans Harbour link the six lane Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri – Nhava Sheva Atal Setu will reduce the two hJour journey between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai to a  20 minute ride .

The Atal Setu will provide faster connectivity to Mumbai international Airport and Navi Mumbai International Airport , and will also reduce travel time from Mumbai to Pune , Goa and South India .It will also import connectivity between Mumbai Port and Jawahar Nehru Port Terminus .

The prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth more than 12,700 crore , in sectors such as including rail and road connectivity , drinking water , gems and jewelry. .

Retail inflation rises to 5.7 % in December

India’s retail inflation accelerated to a four month high of 5.7% in December 2023 , from 5.55% earlier .

Food inflation was 9.5%  . In Urban areas the Food Inflation was 10.42% , while in rural area it was ,9% .

PM begins special 11 day ritual before opening of Ram Temple in Ayodhya

PM Narendra Modi said that he had started 11 days of ritual leading to conawcration of Ram Temple on 22 January .

In a special message Modi say , God has Chosen him as an instrument to represent all Indians at the conawcration ceremony , He urged everyone to celebrate ‘ Deepavali ‘ at their own homes .

Murmu invited for consecration

President  Draupadi Murmu on Friday , received the invitation for the consecration of Ram temple .

Focus on best practices as global meet on pulses return India

New Delhi will host Global Pulse Federation ( GPF ) in Fabrruary , About 800 representatives from Govt , commercial and self help groups will be present at the event .

SC issues summon to center on Kerala’s suit alleging financial curbs

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine a suit filed by Kerala govt alleging that center was curtailing the state from borrowing ₹26,226 to clear “ unmet arrears and immediate obligations “ on January 25.

State says that it is unable toborrow funds , or take loans , owing to center’s arbitrary restrictions.

The court has  summoned center over this and has listed the case for January 25 .

Possible debris of IAF aircraft  located in Bay of Bengal

Almost 7 year after an IAF An 32 transport aircraft with 32 passengers went missing owe Bay of Bengal , while going from Chennai to Port Blair , the debris has bee. Located by an AUV ( Autonomous Underwater Vehicle ) on seabed approximately 140 nautical miles , from Chennai coast .

A massive search and rescue operation was launched to locate the aircraft after it went missing but  to no avail .

Science Ministry team visits Hawaii to take stock of telescope project

A Delegation from Department of Science and Technology visited Mona Key , an inactive volacano on the Island of Hawaii in the US , to discuss the “ challenges”  to the thirty meter telescope ( TMT )  project , a press release said .

The TMT has been conceived as a 30 meter diameter primary mirror optical and infrared telescope , that will enable observations in deep space . It is joint collaboration between US, Japan , Canada , China and India .

India will provide hardware worth 200 million dollar for the project .

Mauna Key is a island on Hawaii . It host multiple telescope . It is thought to be one of the world’s best site for astronomy .

But due to opposition by Local people over the project , there is chances that TMT  project can be shifted to La Palma in Spain’s canary island .

World

US ,UK launch joint strike against Houthis , target red sea strikes

US and UK launched a joint strike on Houthi military targets in Yemen  US central command ( CETCOM ) said on Friday  . External Affairs Minister S Jaishakner held a telephonic conversation with US secretary of state Antony Blinken. Earlier these countries had asked the Houthis to “ immediately end illegal attacks “  on commercial tankers .and warned that “ malign actors will be held accountable “ .

Houthis  in a statement said that five people were killed and six injured in the air strike .

“ The Americans and British should not believe that they will escape the punishment of our heroic armed forces , “ The Houthis Supreme Political Council said .

Hamas is guilty of genocide , Israel tells the Hague court

Replying over allegation of Genocide by South Africa , Israel on  Friday said that , its war on Gaza was legitimate defense of its people and instead alleged that Hamas had doen Genocide .

Israel described the allegations as hypocritical and said that Israel is fighting a war “ it did not start and did not want “ .

South Africa lawyers asked the court’s on Monday  , to order  an immediate halt to Israel military operation s

US  sanctions Hong Kong , UAE firms over Houthie aid

Washington announced new sanctions on Friday on two companies on Friday .  The move comes hours after UK and US forces , launched strikes against US forces , seeking to halt their repeated attacks .

Myanmar Junta , armed alliance reached ceasefire

Myanmar’s millitary and an alliance  of armed ethnic minority groups announced a ceasefire on Friday , after months of conflict that has posed the biggest threat to Junta . myanamr’s Nothern Shan state is undergoing conflict since October , when the alliance of ethnic minority group TNLA ( The National Liberation Army ) and the Arakan Army ( AA ) launched attack agianst the Junta .