Junior Digest

KYIV, Nov 19,2024: Ukraine used U.S. ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory for the first time on Tuesday, Moscow said, in an attack regarded by Russia as a major escalation on the war’s 1,000th day.

Russia said its forces shot down five of six missiles fired at a military facility in the Bryansk region, while debris of one hit the facility, causing no casualties or damage.

Ukraine said it had struck a Russian arms depot around 110 km (70 miles) inside Russia and caused secondary explosions. It did not specify what weapons it had used.

President Joe Biden gave approval just this week for Ukraine to use the medium range U.S. missiles for such attacks, which Moscow has described as an escalation that would make Washington a direct combatant in the war and prompt retaliation.

It came amid plans for vigils to mark 1,000 days of war, with weary troops at the front, Kyiv besieged by airstrikes, and doubts about the future of Western support as Donald Trump heads back to the White House.

Military experts say U.S. missiles can help Ukraine defend a pocket it has captured as a bargaining chip inside Russia but are not likely to change the course of the 33-month-old war.

Potentially more consequential changes in the U.S. posture are expected when Trump returns to power in two months, having pledged to end the war quickly without saying how.

In an address to parliament, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the war’s “decisive moments” would come in the next year.

“At this stage of the war, it is being decided who will prevail. Whether us over the enemy, or the enemy over us Ukrainians… and Europeans. And everyone in the world who wants to live freely and not be subject to a dictator.”

A candle-lit commemoration was planned for later on Tuesday.

Thousands of Ukrainian citizens have died, over six million live as refugees abroad and the population has fallen by a quarter since Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion by land, sea and air that began Europe’s biggest conflict since World War Two.

Military losses have been catastrophic, although casualty figures remain closely guarded secrets. Public Western estimates based on intelligence reports say hundreds of thousands have been wounded or killed on each side.

“In the frozen trenches of the Donetsk region and in the burning steppes of the Kherson region, under shells, hail, and anti-aircraft guns, we are fighting for the right to live,” Ukraine’s top commander Oleksandr Syrkyi wrote on Telegram.

Tragedy has touched families in every corner of Ukraine, where military funerals are commonplace in major cities and far-flung villages, and people are exhausted by sleepless nights of air raid sirens and anguish.

In the first year after the invasion, Ukrainian troops pushed Russian forces back from the outskirts of Kyiv and recaptured swathes of territory with surprise military successes against a larger and better-armed foe.

But since then, the enemies have settled into relentless trench warfare that has ground eastern Ukrainian cities to dust. Russian forces still occupy a fifth of Ukraine and for the past year they have slowly but steadily gained ground.

The return of Trump, who has criticised the scale of U.S. aid, calls into question the united Western front against Putin, while also raising the prospect of talks to end the fighting. No such negotiations are known to have been held since the war’s first months.
PROSPECT OF TALKS PROMPTS ESCALATION

A sense of escalation has been palpable as Moscow and Kyiv push to improve their battlefield positions ahead of any talks.

Already boosted by Iranian attack drones and North Korean artillery shells and ballistic missiles, Russia has now deployed 11,000 North Korean troops, some of whom Kyiv says have clashed with Ukrainian forces who have seized a part of Russia’s Kursk region. Zelenskiy said Pyongyang could send 100,000 soldiers.

Russia continues to advance village by village in the east, claiming another Ukrainian settlement on Tuesday.

With winter setting in, Moscow on Sunday renewed its aerial assault on Ukraine’s struggling power system, firing 120 missiles and 90 drones in the biggest barrage since August.

Moscow has denounced the U.S. decision to let Ukraine attack deep into its territory with missiles, saying this would make the United States a direct combatant.

Putin signed a new nuclear doctrine on Tuesday apparently intended as a warning to Washington, lowering the threshold under which Russia might use atomic weapons to include responding to attacks that threaten its territorial integrity.
TALKS, BUT ON WHAT TERMS?

Zelenskiy has said Ukraine must do its best to end the war next year through diplomatic means. But publicly there has been no narrowing of the gulf in the enemies’ negotiating positions.

Kyiv has long demanded full Russian withdrawal from all occupied territory, and security guarantees from the West comparable to membership in NATO’s mutual defence treaty, to prevent future Russian attacks.

The Kremlin says Ukraine must drop all ambitions to join NATO and withdraw all troops from the provinces Russia claims to have annexed since its invasion.

With a change of U.S. administration, European countries are preparing for a bigger role defending the continent.

“Moscow’s escalating hybrid activities against NATO and EU countries are unprecedented in their variety and scale, creating significant security risk,” the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain and Britain said in a joint statement on Tuesday.

Bengaluru, Dec 10,2024: Karnataka and India lost one of their most distinguished statesmen on Tuesday as veteran politician and former Chief Minister SM Krishna passed away at the age of 92.

Krishna, revered as the architect of modern Bengaluru, breathed his last at his residence at 2:45 am after battling health issues for some time.

A towering figure in Indian politics, Krishna’s illustrious career spanned decades, marked by landmark achievements and a visionary approach to governance. Born on May 1, 1932, in Somanahalli village, Mandya district, Krishna began his political journey in 1962 as an Independent MLA representing the Maddur constituency.

His tenure as the Chief Minister of Karnataka (1999–2004) is remembered for ushering in an era of unprecedented growth and development. It was during his leadership that Bengaluru emerged as the Silicon Valley of India, gaining global recognition as a hub for technology and innovation.

Krishna’s contributions extended beyond Karnataka. He served as the Governor of Maharashtra (2004–2008) and as India’s External Affairs Minister (2009–2012), where his diplomatic skills strengthened India’s global standing.

An academician at heart, Krishna was an alumnus of Maharaja’s College in Mysuru and the Government Law College, Bengaluru. His quest for knowledge took him to the United States, where he earned degrees from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, and George Washington University.

Initially a long-serving member of the Congress Party, Krishna’s decision to join the BJP later in his career demonstrated his adaptability and commitment to public service over party lines.

A visionary leader, Krishna’s legacy lies in his unwavering dedication to progress, be it in governance, urban development, or foreign policy. His passing marks the end of an era in Karnataka’s political history, leaving an indelible mark on the state and the nation.
As tributes pour in from across the country, SM Krishna will be remembered as a statesman who combined intellect with action, modernised Karnataka, and inspired generations of leaders.

New Delhi, Dec 3,2024: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a series of directives to strengthen the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Protection, and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act).

The law, enacted to safeguard women against harassment at workplaces, has faced challenges in uniform enforcement across the country.

A bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh directed Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories to ensure that District Officers are appointed in every district to oversee the implementation of the Act.

These officers, under the provisions of Section 5, are required to form Local Committees (LCs) as stipulated in Section 6, to address workplace harassment complaints in districts without Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs).

Justice Nagarathna emphasized the critical role of these committees and officers, stating that District Officers must also appoint nodal officers in every taluka or area to facilitate complaint management and direct submissions to LCs. “There is a pressing need to implement these provisions in States and Union Territories where they are yet to be enforced,” she remarked.

The Apex Court also emphasized the need for transparency and accessibility. It directed that the names of nodal officers must be publicly available on the SheBox portal, a centralized online platform for filing sexual harassment complaints.

The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) informed the Court about its existing mechanisms to support complainants. These include a helpline (15100) that connects directly to District Legal Services Authorities, an online Legal Services Management System to handle complaints and assistance through legal services clinics and para-legal volunteers.

However, counsel for NALSA admitted that comprehensive data on the effectiveness of these mechanisms is not yet available.

Concerns were raised during the hearing about the lack of private-sector organizations registered on the SheBox portal.

The Court agreed and directed States and Union Territories to survey workplaces in private and public sectors to ensure compliance with the POSH Act.
In a significant move, the Top Court instructed Chief Secretaries to ensure that Deputy Commissioners or District Magistrates survey workplaces to identify those that have not yet constituted ICCs. Such organizations will be directed to comply with Section 4 of the Act, and penalties will be imposed under Section 26 for non-compliance.

The Court further directed that District Officers upload the details of ICCs and LCs on the SheBox portal through the Labor Department or Department of Women and Child Development in their respective States. It also called for the creation of SheBox portals in States and Union Territories where they do not exist.
The Bench reinforced its commitment to ensuring a safer and more equitable workplace environment for women across India.

New Delhi, November 30,2024: Noting that a transparent process is followed with the involvement of candidates and their agents at every stage of the voting process, the Election Commission has invited a Congress delegation to meet it on December 3 over its apprehensions concerning the voting percentage in Maharashtra elections. Congress had also raised some apprehensions about the EVM process after the Haryana assembly polls.
The poll panel has said it will review all legitimate concerns of Congress and provide written response after hearing the party’s delegation.
The Election Commission of India (ECI), in its interim response to Congress, reaffirmed that there is a transparent process with the involvement of candidates or their agents at every stage.
In its interim response, ECI also reiterated that there is a transparent electoral roll updation process with the involvement of political parties. The Commission has still assured Congress of further review of all its legitimate concerns, the officials said.
Responding to the issue raised by Congress regarding voter turnout data, EC asserted that there is no discrepancy in voter turnout data which is available with all candidates polling station-wise and is verifiable.
“The gap in 5 PM polling data and final voter turnout is due to procedural priorities, as presiding officers perform multiple statutory duties near the close of the poll before updating voter turnout data. As an additional disclosure measure, ECI press note, at around 11:45 pm, was thus introduced during the 2024 General Elections and followed subsequently during all assembly elections thereafter,” the poll panel said.
Congress on Friday alleged that the “integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised” and slammed the Election Commission.
The issue was discussed at the Congress Working Committee meeting and the party said it will launch a “national movement.”
“The Congress Working Committee (CWC) believes the integrity of the entire electoral process is being severely compromised. Free and fair elections is a constitutional mandate that is being called into serious question by the partisan functioning of the Election Commission. Increasing sections of society are becoming frustrated and deeply apprehensive. The Congress will take up these public concerns as a national movement,” the Congress statement said.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, who briefed the media, said that “electoral malpractices” also influenced the result of the Haryana Assembly election.
“The CWC also acknowledged that the party’s performance in Haryana has been contrary to all expectations. The INC should have formed the government in the state by a convincing margin, but it didn’t. However, there have been electoral malpractices that influenced the result in the state, which have been overlooked,” he alleged.
He said that the CWC accepted the party’s performance in Maharashtra, that was “unexplainable and shocking,” and it appears to be a clear case of “targeted manipulation.”
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole also wrote to the ECI seeking to know how voter turnout increased by 7.83 percentage points after the official polling time had ended.
“Doubts are being raised from many levels on the 7.83 per cent increase in votes. Looking at the vote figures announced by the Election Commission, there must have been long queues at the polling stations after 5 pm on the day of voting. In how many constituencies in the state were there long queues of voters after 5 pm?” Patole said his letter to the apex poll body.
He further demanded that the Election Commission announce “evidence,” including video footage.
“According to the official figures released by the Election Commission, 65.2 per cent voting was done till 11.30 pm on November 20. The official figures released on the next day, i.e. on November 21 at 3 pm, were 66.05 per cent. Where did the 1.03 per cent discrepancy in the figures officially released by the Election Commission itself come from? How did a whopping nine lakh ninetynine thousand and three hundred and fifty nine votes increase in a single day?” he asked.
The opposition has raised questions over EVMs, mentioning the rise in voting percentage in the Maharashtra polls.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi – comprising the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), the Nationalist Congress Party faction led by Sharad Pawar and the Congress – won just 46 seats.
The BJP emerged as the biggest winner with 132 seats in the Maharashtra assembly while its allies–the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and the NCP led by Ajit Pawar–won 57 and 41 seats, respectively.
The Maharashtra assembly elections were held on November 20 and the results were declared on November 23.

December 10, 2024: The Centre on Monday announced the appointment of Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra as the 26th Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, a day before incumbent Governor Shaktikanta Das’s six-year term comes to an end on Tuesday (December 10, 2024).
A 1990-batch officer of the Indian Administrative Service of the Rajasthan cadre, Mr. Malhotra is a computer science engineering graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and has a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Princeton University, U.S.A, and will take charge of the country’s monetary policy framework and banking regulation at Mint Street on December 11.

Gorakhpur, Dec 1,2024: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, said that the Uttar Pradesh government has successfully facilitated 3.84 lakh marriages under its Mass Marriage programme in the last seven years with the number expected to exceed 4 lakh by the end of this session.

Addressing a gathering at a mass marriage ceremony, Yogi said that the state government’s mass marriage program, organized by the Social Welfare Department, symbolizes both social equality and a strong stand against the dowry system, a deeply ingrained social ill.

He said that the programme is inclusive, with no restrictions based on caste, religion, region, or language. “Hindus, Muslims, and followers of other faiths are all uniting in marriage according to their respective traditions. The program also serves as a government-led campaign against dowry, child marriage, and untouchability”, he said.

At the ceremony, 1,200 couples, including Hindus and Muslims, were married. CM Yogi praised the couples for setting an example by not accepting or giving dowry, emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring that no daughter remains unmarried due to dowry.

The CM said that good governance leads to positive changes. He mentioned key initiatives launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, such as the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign, free LPG connections, and individual toilets in every village to protect women’s dignity

Additionally, free ration and housing were provided to those in need, and Ayushman cards were issued to ensure medical treatment coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh. CM Yogi emphasized that, before these initiatives, the lack of toilets and the harmful smoke from wood and coal stoves compromised women’s dignity and health.

“With LPG cylinders now available in every home, this issue has been resolved, and the government also provides free cylinders during Diwali and Holi”, he said.

Yogi said that the government’s welfare measures, such as the establishment of Atal Residential Schools offering free education to workers’ children and the provision of an annual pension of Rs 12,000 to one crore people, including the destitute and disabled, benefit all sections of society. Under the Kanya Sumangala Yojana, a package of Rs 25,000 is being provided to empower 20 lakh daughters.

New Delhi, December 9,2024: Air India on Monday confirmed that it placed an order to purchase 100 more Airbus aircraft, comprising 10 widebody A350 and 90 narrowbody A320 Family aircraft, including A321neo.
These 100 new aircraft are in addition to the firm orders of 470 aircraft that Air India had placed with Airbus and Boeing last year.
The latest order takes the total number of aircraft that Air India ordered with Airbus in 2023 from 250 aircraft, comprising 40 A350 and 210 A320 Family aircraft, to 350.
Air India also announced it has selected Airbus’ Flight Hour Services-Component (FHS-C) to support the maintenance requirements of its growing A350 fleet.
The new materials and maintenance contract will help Air India to optimise the reliability and performance of its A350 fleet, with comprehensive engineering services and integrated component services including on-site stock at Delhi provided by Airbus.
Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman, of Tata Sons and Air India, said, “With India’s passenger growth outpacing the rest of the world, its significantly improving infrastructure and an aspirational young population increasingly going global, we see a clear case for Air India to expand its future fleet beyond the firm orders of the 470 aircraft placed last year.”
“These additional 100 Airbus aircraft will help to position Air India on the path to greater growth and contribute to our mission of building Air India into a world-class airline that connects India to every corner of the world,” he added.
Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO, said, “Having personally witnessed the formidable growth of the Indian aviation sector in recent months, I am glad to see Air India renew its trust in Airbus with this additional order for both our A320 Family and A350 aircraft.”
“Through this continued partnership, we are committed to supporting the success of Air India’s “Vihaan.AI” transformation plan under Tata’s vision and leadership,” the CEO added.
With the order for 100 additional aircraft, Air India currently has a total of 344 new aircraft incoming from Airbus, having received six A350s so far. Air India in 2023 had also placed orders for 220 widebody and narrowbody aircraft with Boeing, of which 185 aircraft remain to be delivered.
Air India is the first Indian airline to operate the Airbus A350, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. Delivering exceptional fuel-efficiency, passenger comfort, and long-range capabilities, the A350s now offer an all-new Air India flying experience to travellers flying non-stop from Delhi to London and New York.
The A320 Family fleet, powered by CFM LEAP 1-A engines, is a backbone of Air India’s domestic and short-haul operations, delivering world-class flying experiences to millions of the airline’s customers as well as remarkable operational efficiency and flight economics.

Dec 28,2024: In a grand event, Hemant Soren on Thursday (November 28, 2024) was sworn in as 14th Chief Minister of Jharkhand at Morabadi Ground in Ranchi.

Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Soren.

Swearing-in ceremony took place in the presence of top leaders of INDIA bloc including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and his wife Sunita Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.
He took oath as Chief Minister for the fourth term and with this, Mr. Soren is the only leader to win the term for the second time in succession.
Mr. Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on January 31, 2024, followed by resignation and Champai Soren, now with the BJP, was made the Chief Minister. He later won the legal battle and Jharkhand High Court granted him bail on June 28, 2024 and came out of jail.
After his release from the jail, he was sworn as Jharkhand Chief Minister for the third term on July 4, 2024 and INDIA bloc emerged victorious by winning a whopping 56 out of 81 assembly seats in recently concluded assembly election.

Mr. Soren inherited politics after the death of Shibu Soren’s elder son Durga Soren and played a pivotal role in Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). For sometime, he was also a Rajya Sabha member and Deputy Chief Minister of Jharkhand during the coalition government of Arjun Munda.
He took charge as Chief Minister for the first time 2013 with the help of Congress, RJD and others. He became MLA for the second time from Barhait assembly of Santhal Pargana region. In the 2014 assembly elections, JMM became the second largest party and Mr. Soren was made the leader of the opposition.
After the results of the Assembly elections held in 2019, Mr. Soren on December 29, 2019 took oath as the Chief Minister of the state for the second time.
Except Mr. Soren no other minister took oath, however as per the informed sources the said that formula has already been discussed in which JMM will get 6 ministerial berths, Congress 4 and RJD 1. CPI(ML)L may not opt to be the part of the cabinet like in the previous government.

SEOUL, Dec 9,2024: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been banned from leaving the country over a failed attempt at imposing martial law, a justice ministry official said on Monday, amid growing calls for him to step down and a deepening leadership crisis.

Yoon has apologised for the botched attempt and said he was leaving his political and legal fate to his ruling People Power Party (PPP) but has not resigned. He has become a subject of criminal investigation, according to local media reports.

On Monday, the defence ministry said Yoon was still legally commander in chief, but growing dissent among senior military officers against the president has thrown into question his grip on power.

Oh Dong-woon, the head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, said he had barred Yoon from foreign travel, when asked at a parliament hearing what actions have been taken against the president.

A justice ministry official, Bae Sang-up, told the committee the travel ban order had been executed.

The panel was established in 2021 to investigate high-ranking officials including the president and their family members but it does not have authority to prosecute the president. Instead it is by law required to refer the matter to the prosecutors’ office.

While Yoon survived an impeachment vote in parliament on Saturday, his party’s decision to delegate presidential authority to the prime minister has plunged the key U.S. ally into a constitutional crisis.

Yoon has refused calls, including some from within his own ruling party, to resign, but his future looked more uncertain over the weekend when Yonhap news agency reported he was under criminal investigation for alleged treason.

Prosecutors on Sunday arrested ex-defence minister Kim Yong-hyun over his alleged role in the declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, Yonhap reported.

Yoon gave the military sweeping emergency powers on Dec. 3 to root out what he called “anti-state forces” and obstructionist political opponents. He rescinded the order six hours later, after parliament voted against the decree.

Amid the backlash, multiple military officials, including the acting defence minister, have said they would not follow any new order to impose martial law again.

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) has called for Yoon to be stripped of his authority over the military. The DP has also demanded the arrest of Yoon and any military officials implicated in the martial law fiasco.

The head of a task force established by Yoon’s party to handle his eventual and “orderly” resignation, Lee Yang-soo, said the team would consider all options and timing for the president’s early departure “without any limitations”.

On Sunday, PPP leader Han Dong-hoon said the president would be excluded from foreign and other state affairs, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo would manage government affairs.

New Delhi, Nov 25,2024: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the Winter Session of Parliament will be very productive, and hoped it will give a boost to India’s global standing.

Addressing media ahead of the winter session outside Parliament, Prime Minister Modi said, “The use of Parliament’s time and our behaviour in the House should be such that it strengthens the respect that India has gained at the global level.”

Slamming the opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Some people who have been rejected by the people are constantly trying to control Parliament through hooliganism by a handful of people.”

“Those who have been continuously rejected by the public, ignore the words of their colleagues, disrespect their feelings and disrespect the feelings of democracy…Today the world is looking at India with great hope,” he added.

Prime Minister Modi said, “People 80-90 times do not allow discussions to take place in the Parliament. They neither respect the spirit of democracy nor do they understand the importance of people’s aspirations.”

“The public has to reject them (Opposition) again and again…It is a condition of democracy that we respect the feelings of the people and work hard day and night to live up to their hopes and expectations.”

Speaking about the importance of this session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The last phase of 2024 is underway and the country is preparing for 2025. This Session of Parliament is special in several ways and the most important thing is the beginning of the 75th year of the Constitution.”

The country will be observing “Samvidhan Sadan” tomorrow November 26.

A special celebration to mark the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution will be held in the Central Hall tomorrow, observed as Constitution Day.

As the the Winter Session began today it will be expected to be stormy as the Opposition plans to raise the issues of Manipur ethnic violence and the indictment of businessman Gautam Adani by a US court on allegations of bribery.

For the first day, 3 bills are listed for final consideration and passing. In the Lok Sabha, the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill and the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024 will be discussed. In Rajya Sabha, the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024 will be taken up.

The government has listed 15 bills for consideration and passing, including one to Waqf ammendment Bill, and five new ones, for the winter session of Parliament.

New Delhi, Nov 19,2024: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday urged President Droupadi Murmu to immediately intervene into the ongoing unrest in Manipur.

In a letter to Murmu, Kharge said, “Both the Union Government and the State Government of Manipur have completely failed in restoring peace and normalcy in Manipur during the last 18 months and the people of the state have apparently lost confidence in both the governments”.

He said that the people of Manipur are becoming insecure on their own soil and with ‘no succor coming from the governments, they are finding themselves completely isolated and helpless for more than 540 days now’.

The Congress President said that the “People of Manipur have also lost their faith in Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of the state”.

He mentioned that bot he and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi have visited Manipur several times, but the Prime Minister has not visited the state. “But the refusal of the Prime Minister to visit Manipur is beyond anybody’s understanding”.

“I consider that it has become constitutionally imperative on part of yourself, Hon’ble Madam, as the President of Republic of India and the custodian of our Constitution to uphold the constitutional propriety and immediately intervene to ensure the protection of lives and properties of our own citizens in Manipur, as enshrined in the Constitution.

I am confident that, through your intervention of your esteemed Office, the people of Manipur will again live peacefully in their homes in security with dignity,” Kharge said.

MONTEVIDEO, Nov 25,2024: Center-left opposition candidate Yamandu Orsi secured victory in Uruguay’s presidential election, official results showed on Sunday, with 99% of votes tallied, in a second-round race that pollsters expected to be closely fought.

Yamandu Orsi, the pre-election favorite by a few points, secured a small but comfortable margin of 49.81% of the vote to conservative Alvaro Delgado’s 45.90%, official results showed.

“The horizon is brightening,” Orsi said as he addressed thousands of his Broad Front party supporters in Montevideo, who had gathered by a stage overlooking the capital city’s waterfront to await the results.

“I am going to be the president who calls for national dialogue again and again,” he said. “The country of freedom, equality and also fraternity triumphs once again … Let’s continue on that path.”

Orsi, a 57-year-old former mayor of Canelones – which has lured in firms such as a Google – has said he would avoid raising taxes that could scare off business and instead focus on attracting investors, spurring growth and skilling workers.

He has also signaled closer cooperation with Europe on fighting drug trafficking and more funding for the prison system.

His victory was celebrated by the regional Organization of American States and fellow Latin American nations across the political aisle.

Both Delgado and Uruguay’s president, fellow National Party member Luis Lacalle Pou, conceded the election, swiftly congratulating Orsi and offering to help with the transition after results signaled a victory for the center-left.

The election between two moderates in the small nation of 3.4 million people, known for its beaches, legalized marijuana and stability, marks the closing of a bumper year for global elections – many that suffered from bitter political divides.

Orsi, Delgado and Lacalle Pou all expressed goodwill for their political opposition and pledged to work together to move the country forward.

Unlike sharp right-left divides in recent elections in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, Uruguay’s political arena is relatively tension-free, with significant overlap between the conservative and liberal coalitions vying for office.

Dec 08,2024: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reportedly fleed the country after nearly 14 years of bloody civil war. The government was overrun in less than two weeks.
The Assad family has lost control of Syria after more than 50 years of brutal dictatorship. In the face of an astonishingly swift rebel offensive, President Bashar al-Assad and his family fled to Moscow and were granted political asylum, an official source in Russia told CNN.
The leader of the main rebel group, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, called the toppling of Assad a “victory for the entire Islamic nation” in his first public remarks in Damascus. The rebels — led by Jolani’s HTS group, which was formed out of an al Qaeda affiliate — have said minorities will be protected.
US President Joe Biden welcomed the fall of the Assad regime. He described it as a “historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria to build a better future,” but cautioned it was also a moment of risk and uncertainty in the region.
As the White House focuses on next steps in Syria, US Central Command said the US military struck more than 75 ISIS targets in the country to prevent the terrorist group from taking advantage of the situation there.

Strikes could be heard in Damascus in the early hours of Monday morning, according to a CNN team in the Syrian capital.

It was not immediately clear who had carried out the strikes.

Reuters reported that Israel had conducted three airstrikes in the Syrian capital on Sunday, citing two regional security sources. Israel’s military declined to comment when asked by CNN if it had conducted strikes on Damascus.

Syrians poured onto the streets of Damascus to celebrate the toppling of former president Bashar al-Assad, who fled to Russia Sunday after a swift rebel advance, ending more than five decades of crushing dynastic rule.

Opposition fighters paraded on tanks and fired celebratory gunshots, while residents cheered and held up peace signs to mark the stunning and unexpected political turn for the country, which has suffered a brutal civil war since 2011.

From Sydney to Stockholm, Syrian communities across the globe are celebrating the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime following more than 50 years of his family’s brutal dictatorship.

In Germany, home to the largest number of Syrian refugees outside the Middle East, hundreds took to the streets of the capital Berlin on Sunday – many holding posters of Assad’s face crossed out in red.

In the Swedish capital, hundreds of Syrians gathered at a major public square, waving flags in the green, red, black and white colors of the Syrian opposition, while Syrians also celebrated in Dublin and London.

Mohammad Hajji Mahmoud, a 19-year-old student in the British capital, said the news that Assad had been toppled was “unbelievable.”

Similar scenes took place in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, near the Syrian border.
“The people are very happy,” Syrian Medjit Zein told AFP in Gaziantep. “And not only here. Those who live abroad or in Syria as well. We are saved from the cruel Assad, we are very happy. May God make all dictators fall like Assad.”

Turkey, which shares a long border with Syria, is home to about 3.1 million Syrian refugees.
In the face of an astonishingly swift rebel offensive, Assad and his family fled to Moscow and were granted political asylum, an official source in Russia told CNN earlier.

Dozens of people gathered in Syria’s second city following the collapse of former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime on Sunday, according to satellite images shared with CNN.

The images, captured Sunday by Maxar Technologies, show the scale of large, anti-Assad demonstrations reported across the city of Aleppo, which rebel forces entered last week following a lightning advance.

New Delhi, Dec 6, 2024: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a petition seeking directions to prevent members of the Bar Council of India (BCI) and State Bar Councils from affiliating with political parties.

A Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan observed that bar associations are intellectual bodies and that having a political ideology does not necessarily harm their functioning. “The bar bodies are intellectual. Their functioning won’t change just because the President or Chairman has an ideology. We are a country with firm faith in democracy. We cannot direct Parliament to enact a law or anything of the sort,” the Court stated.
The plea argued that, like judicial officers, government employees, and armed forces personnel, members of the Bar Councils should also be restricted from joining political parties or holding political positions. The petitioner contended that such affiliations could compromise the independence of bar bodies, which are integral to the justice delivery system.

However, the Court was not persuaded by these arguments, emphasizing that there was nothing inherently improper about bar members holding political ideologies. When the petitioner raised specific concerns about the functioning of the BCI and State Bar Councils, the Bench suggested, somewhat pointedly, that the petitioner should consider joining a political party to better understand such dynamics.
The Court also clarified that it lacked the authority to direct Parliament to legislate on the matter.
Dismissing the plea, granted the petitioner liberty to seek recourse from other appropriate forums.

New Delhi, Nov 27,2024: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah on Tuesday said that long-term finance will soon be introduced through Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), which will empower farmers even further.

Speaking at the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the National Federation of State Co-operative Banks Limited (NAFSCOB) and national meeting of Rural Cooperative Banks at the Bharat Mandapam here, Shah said without the three-tiered structure of PACS, district-level and state-level banks, it was impossible for India’s agriculture, farmers and villages to successfully complete the journey of 75 years of independence.

He added that in a vast country like India, the system of disbursing short-term agricultural loans to about 13 crore farmers without any hassle has been instrumental in giving a new lease of life to farmers and the agriculture sector of the country.

He said that the district and state-level banks have not only taken care of short term agricultural loans, but the district level banks and PACS have also breathed a new life into every aspect, ranging from collective farming, water management, materials used in farming and individual work to strengthening the village, with the support from the state level bank.

He said that in 2027, India’s economy will be the third largest in the World which is also a goal of the cooperative sector. Shah said that along with this, the objective of the Ministry of Cooperation is to also to take care of the happiness of 140 crore people of the country.

The Cooperation Minister said that there are two obstacles in the cooperative sector – unequal treatment and the absence of a seamless legal framework and the evils that have creeped in during the last 75 years.

He said, “If we overcome both these obstacles, then the next 5 years will prove to be a defining moment for the cooperative sector. India’s cooperative sector has the potential to guide the cooperative sectors across the world”.

Shah said that unless PACS are equipped with technology, there can be no transparency in their administration and there would be issues in their viability. The district and state banks can remain effective, only by keeping PACS healthy and performing.

He said, “We will have to come out of the traditional approaches within PACS and provide space to the youth to connect with not only cooperatives but also with the functioning of PACS”.

He said, “As long as we do not strengthen PACS, district cooperative banks are of no significance, and to strengthen PACS, the Modi government has initiated several steps”.

He said the old Bye-Laws of PACS had become irrelevant. He mentioned that many changes have been made in them and sent the model Bye-Laws to the states, all states have accepted them.

“Now PACS can also operate Prime Minister’s Jan Aushadhi Kendras, run dairies, manage fishermen’s committees, and nearly 744 PACS have also received drug licenses. Along with this, PACS have been granted fertilizer licenses, and around 39,000 PACS have now become Common Service Centers (CSCs) and are providing more than 300 services in villages,” Shah said.

Shah said the cooperative sector can drive the economy of the entire country. He mentioned that providing employment, respect, and prosperity to the country’s 140 crore population can only be achieved through cooperatives.

He stated that if state cooperative banks and district cooperative banks do not become sensitive to PACS, then the sensitivity of the Ministry of Cooperation will not achieve the desired results.

SEOUL, Dec 4,2024: South Korean lawmakers submitted a bill on Wednesday to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol after he declared martial law and reversed the move hours later, triggering a political crisis in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

The surprise declaration of martial law in the major U.S. ally late on Tuesday caused a standoff with parliament, which rejected Yoon’s attempt to ban political activity and censor the media, as armed troops forced their way into the National Assembly building in Seoul.

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) called for Yoon, who has been in office since 2022, to resign or face impeachment.

Six South Korean opposition parties later submitted a bill in parliament to impeach Yoon, with voting set for Friday or Saturday.

“It was clearly revealed to the entire nation that President Yoon could no longer run the country normally. He should step down,” senior DP member of parliament Park Chan-dae said in a statement.

There were deep divisions in Yoon’s ruling People Power Party as well, as its leader called for Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun to be fired and the entire cabinet to resign.

Yoon told the nation in a television speech late on Tuesday that martial law was needed to defend the country from pro-North Korean anti-state forces, and protect the free constitutional order, although he cited no specific threats.

Chaotic scenes ensued as troops tried to seize control of the parliament building, although they stood back when parliamentary aides sprayed them with fire extinguishers while protesters scuffled with police outside.

The military said activities by parliament and political parties would be banned, and that media and publishers would be under the control of the martial law command.

But lawmakers defied the security cordon and within hours of the declaration, South Korea’s parliament, with 190 of its 300 members present, unanimously passed a motion for martial law be lifted, with 18 members of Yoon’s party present.

The president then rescinded the declaration of martial law, just about six hours after its proclamation.

Protesters outside the National Assembly shouted and clapped. “We won!” they chanted, and one demonstrator banged on a drum.

“There are opinions that it was too much to go to emergency martial law, and that we did not follow the procedures for emergency martial law, but it was done strictly within the constitutional framework,” a South Korean presidential official told Reuters by telephone.

Baku, Nov 21,2024: Reminding the developed nations of their emission history, India has iterated its demand for sanction of at least 1.3 Trillion US dollars including 600 billion US dollars as climate finance aid to developing countries who have been suffering from the impacts of climate change.

The statement reads, “For the developing countries, our people’s lives – their very survival – and their livelihoods are at stake due to climate change. The accessibility to credible Climate Finance to the

Global South, CoP28 Global stock take decision emphasized the need to bridge the gap in adaptation, gaps in implementation that arise from the lack of sufficient attention and resources, which has not yet been made available.”

“The parties to the Paris Agreement adopted the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience acknowledging the urgent need for enhanced support and resources from developed countries to help developing nations meet adaptation targets. The mobilisation should go beyond previous efforts, supporting country-driven strategies while respecting the unique needs of developing countries.”

The statement asserted, “The New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for the period post-2025 needs to be an ambitious mobilisation target at grant/concessional term. An important aspect that needs to be addressed is the slow disbursements, lack of flexibility to adapt to changing requirements, and long complex approval procedures withst ringent eligibility criteria that make it difficult to access climate finance.”

The Initial Adaptation Communication of developing countries was submitted to the UNFCCC last year, which outlined that the requirements for building adaptation capital could rise to about USD 854.16 billion. Clearly, a significant boost in adaptation finance flows is essential, it underlined

India called upon the developed countries to fulfil the agreed commitments, concerning the adaptation finance needs of developing countries. Meeting the commitments would enable the world to travel through a pathway towards strides in creating a greener, more sustainable and prosperous planet for future generations.

Thursday 05,2024: BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis took oath as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for the third time, after Mahayuti’s landslide victory in the Assembly Elections 2024. Mahayuti, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance, includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. Of the 288 seats, Mahayuti secured 230 seats – with BJP winning 132, Shiv Sena in 57 and NCP in 41 seats.

The swearing-in ceremony, which started at 5:30 pm Thursday, was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of religious and political leaders.

Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar take oath as Deputy Chief Ministers.

After taking oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis said that “in a coalition government, consultation has to be done on a very large scale” while talking about “delay” in forming government in the state.

“I don’t believe that there is any such delay (in forming the goverment). Even before this, in 2004, there was a delay of about 12-13 days. In 2009, there was a delay of about 9 days. We will have to understand that when there is a coalition government, many decisions have to be taken. In a coalition government, consultation has to be done on a very large scale. We have done that consultation and we have almost finalized the portfolio as well, there is some left, we will do that as well…,” he said in an interview to news agency ANI.

Bengaluru, Nov 20 (UNI) India is set to expand its share of the global space economy from less than 2% to at least 10% over the next two decades, with a focus on harnessing the full potential of the entire space value chain, ISRO Chairman S Somanath said on Wednesday.

Addressing the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2024, Somanath said the ambitious goal spans across three key segments: upstream (satellite manufacturing and launches), midstream (infrastructure and applications), and downstream (data-driven solutions).

The ISRO Chairman underscored the critical role of India’s talented workforce in unlocking the potential of these segments. “Downstream activities, in particular, hold immense promise. By investing in skill development, we can catalyse advancements across all facets of space technology,” he stated.

The Space Policy 2023 and ongoing reforms were highlighted as pivotal to this transformation. The policy clearly defines the roles of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), and private entities in driving innovation and growth.

Additionally, the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) framework is expected to attract global investments, further positioning India as a leader in the space industry. The Chairman also pointed to the government’s Space Mission 2047 as a visionary initiative aimed at advancing space exploration in India.

Somanath emphasised the significance of international collaborations in India’s space strategy, citing high-profile projects like the NISAR satellite with NASA, the LUPEX mission with Japan, and various climate monitoring initiatives under the leadership of the G20.

These partnerships, he stated, are essential in advancing India’s position in the global space ecosystem.

India’s recent achievements were also highlighted, particularly the historic landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon and the successful launch of the Aditya-L1 solar observatory. The ISRO Chairman announced ambitious future milestones, including human spaceflights by 2026, the establishment of an Indian space station by 2028, and plans for a lunar human landing by 2040. These developments align with ISRO’s broader roadmap to cement India’s place as a key player in space exploration.

Reflecting on previous setbacks, such as the Chandrayaan-2 mission, the Chairman remarked: “Every setback provided invaluable lessons. Chandrayaan-3, developed entirely in-house, stands as a testament to India’s resilience and ingenuity.”

The collaboration between ISRO and over 400 private-sector companies was recognised as a critical factor in fostering the growth of India’s space ecosystem. The Chairman highlighted the importance of privatisation initiatives, such as the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) and SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle) programmes, in driving innovation and enhancing the commercial viability of space startups.

“Our work involves close collaboration with governments, ministries, departments, and user segments. Traditionally, our primary users have been government bodies, shaping demand aggregation across sectors like agriculture, climate, natural resources, and cartography. This demand guides us in designing sensors, launching satellites, and delivering critical data services,” he explained.

Despite the ongoing transition of space-based communication infrastructure management to NSIL, the Chairman acknowledged that the penetration of space applications into daily life remains limited. This, he noted, represents an untapped opportunity for economic growth.

Despite operating with a relatively modest budget, India’s space programme has consistently delivered world-class results. The Chairman affirmed that continued investment in research and development (R&D) and capacity-building initiatives will drive the next wave of growth, ensuring that India remains at the forefront of the global space economy.

“With focused efforts and collaborative frameworks, India’s space sector is poised for unprecedented growth,” he concluded.

India’s space ambitions, fuelled by strategic collaborations, increased investments, and a commitment to innovation, are set to reshape its role in the global space economy, creating new opportunities for technological advancements and economic development in the years to come.