BJP leader’s house torched in Manipur
Unidentified attackers in Churachandpur district of Manipur torched the house of a BJP spokesperson on Saturday .
Kuki Zo community has called a massive rally in the state for their demand of separate administration Kukiland .
Chief Minister Biren Singh condemned the attack and vowed that action will be taken against officials who failed to provide security .
On August 29 , Mr Singh rejected the demand for a separate administration .
Polling in Haryana was postponed to October 5 .
The Election Commission ( EC ) on Saturday postponed the date of upcoming assembly elections in Haryana from October 1 to October 5 , citing the centuries -old festival of the Bishnoi community .
Bishnoi community resides in Sirsa , Fatehabad and Hisar in Haryana .
The festival of remembrance of Guru Jameshwar is celebrated each year. This year the date falls on October 2 .
The festival is celebrated in Bikaner , Rajasthan . Bishnoi from Haryana generally travels to Rajasthan to celebrate this auspicious occasion .
Guru Jambleshwar was the founder of Bishnoi Panth .
Saving biodiversity and encouraging good animal husbandry are some of the key rules of the community .
47 rescued from Laos cyber scam centre
At least 47 Indians trapped in Cyber scam centres in Laos have been rescued from Bokeo Province of Laos , Indian Embassy in Vientiane said .
The Indian authorities have warned against fake job offers from Laos.
Now Telugu women seeking release of 2022 report on harassment
Leading women actors , producers and Directors of Telugu film industry are pushing the Telangana government to release a two year old report on sexual harassment of women .
The Voice of Women ( VoW ) , a support group for women in Telugu film industry issued a statement demanding the release of the report .
The Hema Commission report has been the reason for this demand .
La Nina to take root in September ; North India may witness heavy rain
India is expected to get above normal rainfall in September due to the effect of La Nina , the Indian Meteorological Department ( IMD ) has predicted .
Northern part of India is expected to get heavy rain ( 9% above normal ) . Rajasthan , Uttarakhand and Delhi is expected to get heavy rain .
Monsoon withdrawal usually begins by mid September , but it can get delayed this time .
Because of the La Nina effect , the Bay of Bengal can see vigorous “ cyclonic activity “ .
This is predicted by IMD .
La Nina is cooling down in the mid Pacific region, which results in pressure differences that cause rain in Asia . It also helps aid in Cyclone build up in Bay of Bengal .
Center plans to boost ‘ 2G ethanol ‘ production , set up enzyme manufacturing facilities to reduce imports
The Department of Biotechnology is contemplating setting up enzyme manufacturing in India.
Last week the centre unveiled the BioE3 policy to boost bio-technological manufacturing in India .
The first enzyme plant may come up in Manesar , Haryana and will be a supplier to proposed 2G bio ethanol plants in Mathura , Bhatinda and Panipat .
2G ethanol or second generation ethanol is made from rice straw unlike conventional methods of sourcing it from sugarcane.
Enzyme is a key ingredient for 2G ethanol production. India currently imports enzymes for its current plants .
India has a policy to increase bio ethanol in Petrol to 20 % by 2026.
Center asks Bengal to setting up of fast track court
Women and Child Development minister Annapurna Devi has written a second letter to West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee asking her to expedite setting up Fast Track Special Courts ( FTSCs ) .
This comes after Mamta Banerjee wrote to PM Modi second time in the week asking him to make stringent law and exemplary punishment for the crime such as rape and murders .
Ms Annapurna Devi pointed out that West Bengal currently has 88 Fast Track Courts ( FTCs ) but that is different from FTSCs recommended by the centre .
FTCs in West Bengal handles broad spectrum of cases , including civil disputes , and are not dedicated to rape and POCSO cases like the FTSCs .
FTSCs is a scheme to expedite the trial and disposal of pending cases under rape and POCSO related cases .
Currently there are more than 750 FTSCs across the country .
Bipartisan support for abolishing Jumma break , says Assam CM
On Friday Assam Assembly announced a two hour break for Jumma ( Muslim community prayer on Friday ) .
Assam CM Himanta Vishwa Sharma on Friday said that the decision was made unanimously by Hindu and Muslim MLAs . Out of 25 Muslim MLAs no one spoke against it .
He was speaking on criticism over his decision by several INDI Alliance bloc leaders .
World
Taiwan slams China after Pacific bloc alters statement
The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry on Saturday accused China of an “ arbitrary intervention “ after the joint communique of Pacific Island Forum ( PIF ) didn’t mention the removal of Taiwan .
Five day PIF meeting recently concluded in Tonga . China had built pressure that Taiwan must be removed as a development partner of the grouping .
But the final communique didn’t mention Taiwan .
A Chinese minister who participated in meetings called it a “ mistake “ that “ must be corrected “.
Three PIF countries recognise Taiwan .
Stand off between X owner Musk and Judge leads to platform’s ban in Brazil
Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre De Morres on Friday ordered the suspension of X in Brazil . The orders come after monthslong case over disinformation on X .
X refused to name a new legal representative as ordered by court .
X has refused to comply with orders by the Brazilian government citing free speech .
X chief Elon Musk called Mr. moarases an “evil dictator cosplaying as a judge . “ and accused him of “trying to destroy democracy in Brazil . “
The orders by the court came into force on Saturday . Even those accessing X through VPN can have to pay heavy fines .
Israel presses for deadly West Bank attack for fourth day
Two new murder cases filed against Hasina in Bangladesh
Two new murder cases have been filed against former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina .
The case is about the killing of three BNP activists .
A total of 84 cases has been filed till now , 70 of these are of murder charges , eight on allegation on crime against humanity and genocide .
Beijing , Manila trade blame in New South China sea clash
A China and Philippines vessel collided near Sabina Shoal in South China Sea .
Both sides have accused each other over collision. .
The Philippines said that no crew member was injured .
This is the fifth such incident in a month .
Sabina Shoal is located 140 km from Philippines island Palawan , and 1200 km from Hainan island of China .
Sports
Bronze for Rubina as India wins fourth medal in shooting
Rubina Francis won bronze in the 10 m air pistol .
This is fourth medal in shooting on the third day of the Paris Paralympics 2024 .
Northeast lifts maiden crown after downing Bagan
Northeast United won the 133rd edition of Durand cup beating Mohun Bagan in the final in Kolkata.
Durand cup – It is Asia’s oldest football tournament .
Mohun Bagan has won the tournament a maximum of 17 times .
Mohun Bagan is also the oldest Football club in India . The club is based in Kolkata.
FAQ
Will an extended space stay affect astronaut ?
The story so far :
On August 24 , NASA announced that the Boeing starliner crew capsule that took Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams to the International Space Station ( ISS ) , wasn’t safe enough to transport them back .
NASA extended their stay till February 2025 ,when they will return on a SpaceX capsule .
How does space affect the body ?
astronauts stay in space for varying periods of time , the current average is 60 days .
Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore will spend 240 days .
Due to no gravity , several parts of the body are affected such as the brain , heart , and bones .
Bones become weaker , food may move more slowly to the gut and can lead to waiting again .
Around 70% of astronauts involved in long duration spaceflight develop a condition called Spaceflight Associated Neuro Ocular Syndrome ( SANS ) ; more fluid enters the eye and builds up the back of the eye . affecting eyesight .
Further because of the body’s weightless experience , the heart is required to do less work and could shrink .
Though still not much has been known as the sample size of the data is small .
Why did the centre alter its pension plan ?
The story so far :
Last weekend ,the Union cabinet launched the Unified Pension Scheme ( UPS ) , which will come into effect from April 1 ,2025 .
Employees who are part of the National Pension Scheme ( NPS ) will have the option to shift to UPS .
Key features of UPS
major components of UPS
- On retirement employees will get half the average of the last 12 month salary .
- Employees with minimum 10 years service will get a minimum ₹10,000 salary .
- On the death of a pensioner 60 % of salary will be given to his nominee .
- The contribution by employees and government for the salary will be 10 % and 15% respectively .
About OPS and NPS .
Under Old Pension Scheme ( OPS ) , there is provision of 50 % of last average of 12 month drawn salary will be given as pension . Major difFerence with UPS is that Under OPS government contributes all amount , no amount is given by employer .
NPS was launched in 2004, Under this 10% of employees salary was deducted from employees and invested in fund and equity .
60% of the fund accumulated at the time of retirement was given as lump sum while 40% was reinvested in equity . The monthly income through equity was given as pension.
Problem with NPS
Under NPS employees were not able to get what they would have got under OPS .
The Employees Union started demanding OPS .
Congress made it an issue for polls . Central government later formed a committee led by former Finance secretary T V Somanthan in March 2023 to review NPS . The report of the committee has not been made public .
Central government employees have broadly welcomed the UPS provisions .
How will morality law extend to Afghan women ?
The story so far :
The Taliban last week announced a new law on “ the propagation of virtue and vice “ which imposes its interpretation of Sharia on people of Afghanistan .
What does the law say ?
Some important points in the laws are :
- Women must cover their entire faces and bodies before any unrelated men or a non Muslim woman.
- Men must grow their beards , and should not wear western neckties .
- All traditional games and sports have been marked as gambling .
- Women need to accompany a man while travelling.
These laws were enforced as a decree when the Taliban government occupied Afghanistan .
These have just been codified as law .
There is fear of brutal enforcement of these laws after being codified .
The UN has heavily criticised the move .
Profiles
AMMA ‘s moment of reckoning
Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes ( AMMA ) has been disbanded , after few of its members and associates were accused under the Hema committee report.
the 17 memeber committee was headed by Mohanlal .
AMMA was launched in 1994 to protect the interests of the Tamil Film Fraternity .
Today the association has a total membership of 506 members that includes 250 women .
The prophet of privacy
Paul Durov , the founder of Telegram has been arrested by French authorities over complicity in range of crime including drug trafficking , child sexUal abuse , money laundering and not obeying the authorities .
Telegram has denied charges .
Telegram currently has 950 million users .
Mr Durov has described Telegram as a “ privacy focussed social media platform “ .
Growing stature
Pacific Islands Forum ( PIF ) – It is a group of 18 Island Nations in the Pacific Ocean , mainly night east of Australia .
Though the group included Australia and NewZealand . Recent times has seen increase
