Junior Digest

New Delhi, August 17,2024: After the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Monkeypox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), a detailed review of the Monkeypox situation and the preparedness was taken by the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, J P Nadda in a meeting with the senior officials of the Ministry on Saturday.
There are no reported cases of Monkeypox in India as of date.
In the meeting chaired by the Union Health Minister, it was decided that as a matter of abundant caution, certain measures such as sensitizing the health units at all the airports, seaports, and ground crossings; readying the testing Laboratories; gearing up health facilities for detecting, isolating and managing any case, etc. are to be taken.
In the meeting, it was noted that Monkeypox infections are usually self-limiting lasting between 2-4 weeks and patients generally recover with supportive management. The transmission requires prolonged close contact with an infected case and is generally through the sexual route, direct contact with body/lesion fluid, or contaminated clothing/linen of an infected person.
WHO had earlier declared Monkeypox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in July 2022 and subsequently revoked the same in May 2023. Globally since 2022, WHO has reported 99,176 cases and 208 deaths due to Monkeypox from 116 countries. Since the 2022 declaration by WHO, a total of 30 cases were detected in India with the last case in March 2024.
A Joint Monitoring Group Meeting under the Chairmanship of the Director General of Health Services consisting of experts from relevant fields was held on August 16 to review the situation.
The meeting was attended by experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), World Health Organization (WHO), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), National Centre for Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), Directorate General of Health Services (Dte.GHS), Central Government Hospitals, All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS etc.
Although the possibility of a few imported cases being detected in the coming weeks is not entirely ruled out, it was assessed that the risk of a large outbreak with sustained transmission is presently low for India.
The situation is being monitored closely by the Ministry.

Aug 17,2024: Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot on Saturday gave sanction to three private complainants to file court cases seeking a probe against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over a 2021 allotment of 14 housing sites in Mysuru to his wife Parvathi B M in exchange for 3.16 acres of land acquired from her by the authorities.

“I hereby accord sanction against Chief Minister Sri Siddaramaiah under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for the commission of the alleged offences as mentioned in the petitions,” Gehlot said in a communique dated August 16 that was released on Saturday.

“It is very necessary that a neutral, objective and non-partisan investigation should be conducted. I am prima facie satisfied that the allegations and the supporting materials to disclose commission of offences,” Gehlot added.

The Karnataka government is expected to challenge the governor’s sanction. “He (the governor) has no authority, he has no jurisdiction, it is totally unconstitutional,” Siddaramaiah said on Saturday, adding that he would “fight it out legally in the court of law”.

The three complainants, anti-corruption activists T J Abraham, Snehamayi Krishna and Pradeep Kumar, had approached the governor last month for sanction to file private court complaints against Siddaramaiah, seeking an investigation into the land allotments made by the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) to Parvathi.
The activists have alleged corruption in the acquisition of 3.16 acres of land in Mysuru’s Kesare village in 2004 by Siddaramaiah’s brother-in-law B M Mallikarjun – he gifted the land to Parvathi in 2010 – and the subsequent exchange of the land in 2021 for 14 housing sites by MUDA under a 50:50 scheme where land equivalent to half the acquired land is allotted in a developed area.

Incidentally, the Siddaramaiah government stopped the 50:50 MUDA scheme in October 2023 after complaints of it being misused cropped up during the BJP tenure in 2020. All land exchanges by MUDA under this scheme were halted pending an inquiry after the allegations of corruption in the land allotment to Parvathi.

In anticipation of the governor granting sanction, the Congress had rallied around Siddaramaiah and the state cabinet passed a resolution on August 1 advising the governor against doing so. The Congress cabinet is now scheduled to hold a special meeting on Saturday evening.

In the MUDA ‘scam’, the Karnataka government has constituted two separate probes by a one-man judicial commission headed by former Karnataka High Court judge P N Desai and a second by an IAS officer Venkatachalapathy.

There are, however, Karnataka High Court orders that have ruled that a governor’s sanction is not required to file a private complaint against a public servant in a Prevention of Corruption case.

The Karnataka governor, while granting sanction for filing complaints in a court against Siddaramaiah, has, however, stated that the ordering of two separate probes by the Congress government into the alleged MUDA scam raises suspicion of wrongdoing.

“Further, the constituting of a committee under an IAS officer and immediately constituting one more committee under a retired judge of the high court and the government’s own acceptance that there is a potential big ticket scam in the allotment of sites by MUDA does not inspire much confidence,” the governor stated in his sanction order.

“It is a well settled legal principle that the person against whom allegations are made, should not be empowered to decide the course of action,” the governor said.

New Delhi, Aug 15,2024: In his first Independence-day address to the nation after forming government for a third successive term, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday pushed for implementation of proposals like a “Uniform Civil Code” and “One-Nation, One-Poll”, highlighted women safety and asserted his government’s resolve to take tough decisions and initiate reforms to make “Viksit Bharat 2047” a reality.

“The Supreme Court has held discussions regarding UCC again and again, it has given orders several times. A large section of the country believes – and it is true, the Civil Code that we are living with is actually a Communal Civil Code in a way… I would say that it is the need of the hour that there be a Secular Civil Code in the country, only then we would be free of discrimination on the basis of religion.”

Delivering his longest ever Independence Day speech of 98 minutes from the ramparts of Red Fort, PM Modi also warned against heinous crimes against women. In the wake of recent gang-rape in the medical college in West Bengal, he asked the state government to give the most stringent punishment to the culprits. “I call upon the state governments to take tough action against the culprits in rape cases… there is a need to create fear among the criminals for such crimes.”

On ruling BJP’s agenda for implementing “One-Nation, One-Poll”, he called upon all political parties and Constitutional experts to come forward and deliberate on the issue. Elections again and again put hinderance in the path of development. Extensive and widespread discussion has taken place in this direction and we must work on it with sincerity,

On India’s 78th Independence day, the Prime minister presented a “blue print” for “Viksit Bharat 2047”, saying the government has the political will to take tough decisions and reforms to make this a reality.

“Viksit Bharat 2047 are not mere words. This is not for an intellectual debate, it is a reflection of the resolve and dream of 140 crore Indians,” Modi said while speaking on a gamut of issues ranging from political and economic reforms, foreign policy and infusing young blood in politics.

Our government is committed to taking up big reforms, he said, adding, “Since my re-election for a third term, a majority of people seeking to meet me are big investors. They are keen to invest in India. I urge all states to establish clear, investor-friendly policies and ensure a strong commitment to good governance, transparency, and robust law and order.”

States must compete among themselves to bring investments and ensure that all these big investors who come to India never go back.

Modi’s first Independence Day address of his third term takes him past the record of Manmohan Singh, who unfurled the tricolour 10 times from the ramparts of Red Fort during 2004-2014. India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi did the honours for 17 and 16 times, respectively.

Taking a dig at “dynastic politics”, Modi called upon youth to come forward and contribute to nation building and be a part of Viksit Bharat 2047.

“I call upon to bring one lakh youth into the political system, specifically those with no history of politics in their families. This initiative is aimed at fighting the evils of nepotism and casteism and inducting fresh blood into India’s polity,” Modi said.

“We want to infuse fresh blood in politics so that we get rid of dynastic politics or politics of caste,” he added.

Modi started his address by paying rich tributes to the countless people who made sacrifices and struggled for the country’s freedom. “The country is indebted to them,” he said.

He expressed concern over rising number of natural calamities and their impact on people. The surge in cases of such disasters is a matter of concern, he said and paid condolences to families who lost loved ones in disasters.

Expressing concern over recent development in the neighborhood Bangladesh, the Prime Minister said India hopes situation there will be normal very soon and India will always be there with the development journey of Bangladesh. “India’s concern is to ensure the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. India is committed towards the policy of peace and we always want our neighboring countries to walk the path of prosperity and peace.”

PM Modi ended his 90-minute long address to the nation by saying in his third term he will work three-times more and assured the nation stating, “We shall work 24×7 to make Viksit Bharat by 2047 a reality.”

Kolkata, Aug 8,2024: Veteran Marxist leader and former Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passed away at his south Kolkata flat on Thursday, family sources said. He was 80.

The Marxist stalwart is survived by wife Meera Bhattacharjee and son Suchetan Bhattacharjee.

Bhattacharjee breathed his last around 8.20 am while fighting a bout of mild fever at his Palm Avenue flat in south Kolkata, a family source said.

The octogenarian Marxist leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was suffering for long owing to age-related ailment and breathing trouble. He had fought Covid-19 twice.

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reacting to the demise of the veteran Marxist leader saying, “Shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of the former Chief Minister Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.”

“I have known him for the last several decades, and visited him a few times when he was ill and effectively confined to home in the last few years. My very sincere condolences to Meeradi and Suchetan at this hour of grief. I communicate my condolences to the members of the CPI(M) party and all his followers. We have already taken a decision that we shall give him full respect and ceremonial honour during his last journey and rites,” Banerjee said in her X handle post.

During the Left Front’s 34 years of rule in the state, Bhattacharjee was the second and last CPI(M) chief minister who was in office from 2000 to 2011.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari expressed his grief at the demise of the veteran Communist leader.

The veteran Marxist leader and a former Polit Bureau member of CPI(M), who had huge influence in the Leftist movement in Bengal was admitted to a private hospital a number of times before being shifted back to home in south Kolkata.

Bhattacharjee had served as the 7th Chief Minister of West Bengal from 2000 to 2011. In a political career spanning over 5 decades, he became one of the senior leaders of Communist Party of India (Marxist).

He was known for his relatively open policies regarding business, in contrast to the broadly anti-capitalist policies of CPI(M). But while trying to invite private investment during his tenure as CM, Bhattacharjee faced strong land acquisition protests and allegations about violence against the protesters.

This led to Bhattacharjee’s loss in the 2011 election, resulting in the end of Left Front’s 34 years of rule in West Bengal, the world’s longest democratically elected communist government.

Bhattacharjee was born on March 1, 1944 in North Kolkata to a Bengali Brahmin family. Famous poet Sukanta Bhattacharya was his father’s cousin.

A former student of Sailendra Sircar Vidyalaya, Bhattacharjee studied Bengali literature at the Presidency College, Kolkata, and secured his B.A. degree in Bengali (Honors), and joined Adarsh Shankha Vidya Mandir school at Dum Dum as a teacher.

New Delhi, Aug 3,2024: Climate crisis and its impacts are not ‘gender-neutral’, the Child and Development Minister Annapurna Devi said on Friday emphasising that women from lower economic backgrounds face some of the most severe effects of climate change.

Replying to an unstarred question in Lok Sabha, the Minister informed that the Government has not conducted audit regarding the impact of climate change on women and children.

“However, a report submitted by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change revealed that women, especially those from lower economic backgrounds, face some of the most severe effects of climate change,” she said.

“Globally, it is now accepted that the climate crisis and its impacts are not ‘gender-neutral’,” She added.

“UNICEF has recognized that Children are more prone to dehydration due to their lower ability to regulate body temperature, making them more vulnerable to heatwaves and high temperatures,” the Minister informed.

She further mentioned, “Climate change may cause crop failures and rising prices, which in turn may lead to increased rates of malnutrition among children.”

Citing a recent study done by M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in 2024 that examines the implications of climate change on women and children across various agro-ecological zones in India, the Minister informed, “This study reveals that women and children in Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Telangana are especially vulnerable to climate-related disasters.”

Children exposed to climate hazards are more likely to experience stunting, underweight conditions, and increased susceptibility to early pregnancies,” She said.

“According to the study, exposure to drought events raises the likelihood of underweight women by 35 percent, child marriage by 37 percent, teenage pregnancy by 17 percent, and intimate partner violence by up to 50 percent,” the Minister added.

Highlighting that the Government recognizes the adverse impact of climate change on women and children, Annapurna Devi said, “It has taken several steps to mitigate the vulnerabilities.

A National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) has been launched by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in 2019 with the goal to reduce morbidity, mortality, injuries and health vulnerabilities to climate variability and extreme weather events especially among vulnerable groups like women, children and marginalized communities.”

“Various activities for increasing general awareness, capacity building of health care professionals and healthcare workers, strengthening health sector preparedness, collaborative partnership and steering research on climate sensitive health issues are the key objectives of the programme,” she added.

The Government implements the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), which is the overarching policy framework and comprises of National Missions in specific areas of solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, water, agriculture, Himalayan ecosystem, sustainable habitat, health, green India and strategic knowledge on climate change, the Minister said.

Further, schemes like Ujwala Yojana, which provides for clean cooking gas connections, Har Ghar Nal se Jal under Jal Jeevan Mission, which provides for tapped drinking water at the doorstep, Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan under which crores of household toilets have been constructed, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the flagship scheme of Government for housing, have not only reduced the drudgery on women but also help improving their health status and empowerment, she added.

Dhaka, Aug 5,2024: Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country amid massive violent anti-government protests. Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman will hold direct talks with student and teacher representatives soon, the army’s media wing announced on Monday evening, hours after the army chief announced the setting up of an interim government.

The Inter-Services Public Relation (ISPR) on Monday evening announced that the Army Chief would be holding talks with student and teacher representatives.

On Monday afternoon, Sheikh Hasina submitted her resignation to the President and left the country on board a military helicopter, accompanied by her younger sister Sheikh Rehana.

Subsequently, the army took over the responsibility.

Earlier at around 4pm in a briefing, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that Sheikh Hasina had resigned and left the country, during an emergency meeting at the Cantonment in the capital.

He said that an interim government would be formed to run the country.

He assured that he has taken the responsibility for the safety of the public and urged people not to be disheartened, promising that all their demands will be fulfilled.

According to reports, Sheikh Hasina’s helicopter landed at the Hindon air base near Delhi, India, in the evening.

Air Officer Commanding (AOC) Sanjay Chopra received Sheikh Hasina at the air base, reports said.

The Indian Air Force and security agencies closely monitored her aircraft from the moment it entered Indian airspace until it landed at Air Force Station Hindon.

Sheikh Hasina plans to go to London, UK, reports said.

Sheikh Hasina had apparently intended to record a speech before her departure but did not get the opportunity to do so.

Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters stormed Sheikh Hasina’s official residence, Ganabhaban, and raided its premises. Visuals were seen of student protesters lying on her bed, taking away furniture, and even geese, rabbits from her garden and fish from the large pond in the premises.

Protesters set fire to several buildings associated with the Awami League party and former long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Protesters set fire to the Bangabandhu Bhaban, also known as the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, at Dhanmondi and the Awami League president’s office. Protesters also set fire to the Awami League Dhaka district office.

Visuals on TV and social media showed protesters chipping away at a large metal statue of the Founder of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of Sheikh Hasina, and trying to pull it down.

Thousands of people were seen pouring into the streets of the capital Dhaka in jubilation and shouting slogans.

Images showed flames billowing from vehicles near the prime minister’s home, with police unable to contain throngs of people storming it.

Meanwhile, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the main gateway of the country by air, has been closed.

Group Captain Kamrul Islam, executive director, (HSIA), said all operations at the airport were shut temporarily.

Students Against Discrimination, the student’s body spearheading the strike, said they will present the outline of a national government at 8 pm.

Protestors also vandalised the residence of the chief justice.

A number of people were climbing the boundary wall of the chief justice’s residence at Hare Road No 19.

Dhaka University Prof Asif Nazrul on Monday urged people and students to have patience and maintain discipline in Bangladesh.

At the same time, he also assured of moving forward in the right direction, saying great news awaits as per the aspirations of the students and people.

He made the call in a video message posted on his Facebook page on Monday.

“We are now in a discussion with the Army chief. It seems to me that he has understood the aspirations and expectations of our students and people,” he said.

“I hope there is great news for you. I also request the students, the public and the youth to maintain peace and patience. This country is ours. From now on, we will move in the right direction,” he added.

Bangladesh erupted in massive anti-government protests over a 30 pc quota in government jobs for descendants of freedom fighters, which was scaled down to five percent last month following protests. However, the protesters began demanding Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, which happened today.

Washington, Aug 3,2024: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has won enough delegate votes to secure the Democratic presidential nomination, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Jaime Harrison announced on Friday, noting that the results are not yet official.

The virtual voting process closes for delegates on Monday, and the DNC is expected to make official announcement of the results Monday evening. The Democratic National Convention, which is scheduled for Aug. 19-22, will formally nominate the party’s presidential candidate.

The virtual voting process for approximately 4,700 delegates started on Thursday morning. One and a half days into the voting, Harris’s campaign reported that she has obtained more than the 2,350 votes required to secure the nomination.

Harris, 59, would be the first Black woman and the first Indian American in U.S. history to receive a major party’s presidential nomination.

Earlier, U.S. media reports said that Harris is expected to reveal her running mate by Monday, and will hold their first rally together in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

New Delhi, Aug 14,2024: Refusing to grant interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court on Wednesday sought responses of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate by August 23 on the Aam Aadmi Party leader’s petition seeking bail and challenging his arrest by the CBI in the Delhi Liquor Policy Scam.

A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan issued notice to the probe agencies asking them to file their responses in the backdrop of the Chief Minister citing health issues to seek bail.

Eluru, Aug 12,2024: Andhra Pradesh Minister for Civil Supplies Nadendla Manohar on Monday said that the state government would disburse payment into the farmer’s account within 48 hours of procuring paddy from the ensuing kharif season.

The Minister disbursed dues to the farmers for the procurement of paddy at a programme held in CR Reddy College auditorium here.

He formally launched disbursement of Rs 674.47 crore worth payments to over 35,374 farmers from whom the paddy was procured by the previous government.

Speaking on the occasion, Manohar regretted that the erstwhile YSRCP regime did not pay Rs 1,674.47 crore to over 8,724 farmers for procuring paddy. Now the Chandrababu Naidu headed coalition government has taken steps to disburse the arrears to the farmers.

“As soon as the coalition government assumed charge, it disbursed Rs 1,000 crore to the farmers. The remaining Rs 674 crore is being disbursed to the farmers today,” the Civil Supplies Minister observed.

He also said the government will supply tarpaulins with a 50 percent subsidy for farmers to protect their paddy produce from being drenched in the rain.

Accusing the previous YSRCP government of putting the farming community in lurch, he flayed that the erstwhile government had taken Rs 40,500 crore loans in the name of Civil Supplies, but at the same time, the YSRCP regime did not disburse money to the farmers for the paddy purchased.

“Efforts are being made by the Civil Supplies Department to pay Rs 10,000 crore to the banks by March 31, 2025”, Manohar said.

The Minister promised to the farmers to issue CCR cards during the Grama Sabha programmes to be held from August 16 across the state.

He reiterated the commitment of purchasing full paddy produce from the farmers.

District Collector K Vetri Selvi maintained that 2,17,496 metric tonnes of paddy was procured from the farmers in the district. An amount of Rs 200 crore has to be disbursed to the farmers for the paddy procurement, of which, Rs 153 crore had been disbursed.

Now, the remaining Rs 47.53 crore is being credited into the bank accounts of 2,116 farmers in the district, the Collector added.

New Delhi, August 14,2024: The University Grants Commission has introduced a new enrollment procedure for students seeking admission to Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and Online Programmes for the academic year 2024-25. The change, effective from September 2024, is aimed at ensuring that students enroll only in approved Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to offer ODL programmes and online programmes and enhancing transparency in the admissions process, stated UGC Chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar.
“The UGC (ODL Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 set the minimum standards for such programmes, and a list of recognised institutions is available on the UGC Distance Education Bureau website. Recent issues with unrecognised institutions admitting students highlighted the need for this standardised procedure. To safeguard student interests, the UGC has developed a mechanism requiring students to register on the UGC-DEB web portal and create a unique DEB-ID using their Academic Bank of Credit (ABC)-ID. This DEB-ID will be mandatory for all students enrolling in recognized ODL/Online programmes, except for foreign learners, and will remain valid for their lifetime. HEIs are urged to implement this new admission process efficiently and promote it to new learners to ensure successful adoption and operation,” said the UGC Chairman.
UGC (ODL Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 stipulated the minimum standards for offering programmes in open and distance learning mode and online mode by the higher educational institutions and accordingly, the year-wise list of universities recognised/entitled by the Commission to offer programmes in ODL/Online mode is in the public domain at the UGC Distance Education Bureau website https://deb.ugc.ac.in/, according to the UGC.
It came to the notice of the Commission in the recent past that few HEIs admitted students in unrecognised ODL/Online programmes thereby putting the future of students at stake. To address such incidents and to increase the transparency in ODL and online mode admission, the Commission in its 581st meeting held on 25th June 2024 has decided to standardise the admission procedure for students enrolling in ODL and Online mode to safeguard their academic future and career prospects.
Accordingly, UGC has developed a mechanism for a transparent admission process wherein any student who intends to enrol in ODL/ Online Programmes shall register on the UGC-DEB web portal (URL link: https://deb.ugc.ac.in/ and https://deb.ugc.ac.in/StudentDebId) with their Academic Bank of Credit (ABC)-ID for generating a unique DEB-ID, according to the UGC.
All stakeholders are hereby informed that the creation of DEB-ID shall be required for every student (except foreign learners) willing to enroll in ODL/ Online programmes in recognized/entitled HEIs from the academic year 2024-25, the academic session beginning September 2024 (revised from July-August, 2024) and onwards. The DEB-ID once generated on the UGC-DEB web portal will remain valid for lifelong ODL/Online learning, according to the UGC.
All Higher Educational Institutions are requested to expedite the smooth implementation of the new mechanism for ODL and Online mode admission process by doing the requisite API integration process and promoting this initiative among new learners to ensure its successful implementation, according to the UGC.
For any further inquiries or concerns, learners can contact the Helpdesk established on the website at https://deb.ugc.ac.in/, according to the UGC.

Washington, Aug 14,2024: US President Joe Biden said Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region is creating “a real dilemma.”

“I’ve spoken with my staff on a regular basis, probably every four or five hours in the last six or eight days. It’s creating a real dilemma for Putin. We’ve been in direct contact, constant contact with the Ukrainians,” Biden said on Tuesday in comments on Ukraine’s attack.

Earlier on Tuesday, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said the United States was not engaged in any aspect of Ukraine’s military operation in the Kursk region.

On August 6 at 5:30 a.m. local time, up to 1,000 Ukrainian troops crossed the border into Russia and launched an offensive in the Kursk region, capturing several villages.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Kiev has launched a large-scale provocation, firing indiscriminately at civilian targets.

Twelve civilians have been killed in the attack, and 121 others injured, including 10 children, acting Kursk region governor Alexei Smirnov said on Monday.

Sriharikota, (Andhra Pradesh), Aug 16,2024: In yet another successful mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the latest Earth Observation Satellite EOS-8 and a passenger satellite using the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) from the Spaceport of Sriharikota on Friday morning.
After a short and smooth 6.5 hr countdown that began at 0247 hrs, SSLV-D3, the third and final developmental flight carrying the 175.5 kg EOS-08 and SR-0 DEMOSAT took off majestically from the First Launch Pad as scheduled at 0917 hrs from the SHAR Range.

Dhaka [Bangladesh], August 8,2024: Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government, three days after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to quit and flee the country amid massive unrest in the country , Al Jazeera reported.
Yunus, 84, took oath at a ceremony in Dhaka on Thursday night.
The country has been marred with violence after protests, led majorly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, took the shape of anti-government protests.
The key tasks for Yunus will now be to restore peace in Bangladesh and prepare for the new elections.
Bangladesh’s figurehead President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to Yunus for his role as chief advisor, which is the equivalent to a prime minister, as per Al Jazeera.
The ceremony was held in the presence of foreign diplomats, civil society members, top businessmen and members of the former opposition party at the presidential palace in Dhaka.
However, no representatives of Sheikh Hasina’s party, Awami League were present.
Muhammad Yunus is a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur and founder of Grameen Bank, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts to create economic and social development through microcredit.
Upon arriving in Bangladesh earlier in the day, the Nobel laureate made a heartfelt appeal to his supporters and urged the people of Bangladesh to maintain calm and end chaos, stressing that it is the “first responsibility” to ensure that no attack is carried out against anyone in the country, Daily Star reported.
He further stressed that Bangladesh has tremendous potential but the first priority is to save the country from chaos so that the country can proceed on the “path shown by students.”
“If you have faith in me and trust me, then ensure that there will be no attack anywhere in the country. This is our first responsibility,” Yunus told a crowded press briefing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his arrival on Thursday.
“What I would like to stress first is to save the country from chaos. Save the country from violence so that we can move forward on the path that the students have shown us,” he added.
Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina, tendering her resignation from her post on August 5 in the wake of mounting protests. The protests, led majorly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, took the shape of anti-government protests.
Following her fleeing from the country, the situation in Bangladesh has been volatile, with reports showing Awami League offices, members and people of minority communities being targeted by extremist groups. Several cases of killings and arson have also been reported.

Chennai, Aug 16,2024: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President M K Stalin on Friday thanked the Centre for issuing a coin to commemorate five time CM and DMK Patriarch M Karunanidhi’s birth anniversary.

In a statement here, he said “as the son of Mr Karunanidhi (popularly called as Kalaignar) and as one of you, I express my gratitude to the Union Government of India for issuing a coin bearing his image as another diamond in the crown of fame of our living artist, a beacon of future generations.”

The Rs 100 coin will be released by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at an event to be held in the city on Sunday.

Mr Stalin said it will be a happy and proud moment for all and a tribute to the great artist who is part of our lives.

He said the centenary of the late leader was being celebrated in every district on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government for the architect who built modern Tamil Nadu as the Chief Minister for five times.

He also pointed out building of Multi-speciality hospital, Centenary library in Madurai, Kilambakkam bus terminus near Chennai, named after Mr Karunanidhi to mark his centenary.

Mr Stalin pointed out that on behalf of the Union Government, an event will be held on Sunday evening at Kalaivanar Arangam in the city to honor the legendary leader, who continued to be the voice of state autonomy to strengthen India’s federal ideology, who has been a guide to various political leaders in strengthening Indian democracy, and who has played an important role in electing many presidents and prime ministers.

He also said the only time a condolence resolution was passed in Parliament for the death of a political leader was for Mr Karunanidhi who was not a member of either House of Parliament.

“Kalaignar, in his 95-year long career and 81 years of public life, has made an impact at the National level in terms of political-administrative-art-literature-film industry-journalism”, he added.

Tokyo [Japan], August 14,2024: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced his decision not to run in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership election next month, NHK News reported.
Kishida explained his decision in a news conference on Wednesday.
The prime minister said: “In the upcoming presidential election, it’s necessary to show the people that the Liberal Democratic Party will change. To this end, a transparent and open election, and free and open debate are important. The first easy-to-understand step that indicates that the LDP will change is for me to step back.”
Kishida lauded the achievements of his government saying that they had promoted wage increases and investment to put an end to 30 years of deflation. Kishida also said that his government transformed its energy policy to deal with a significant increase in electricity demand. He also told the media that during his tenure the government had implemented large-scale measures to deal with the declining birthrate and significantly strengthened Japan’s defence capability.
”I am proud that my administration was able to produce such major achievements,” Kishida was quoted as saying in NHK News.
Kishida also said that he would support a new leader. According to Japan Today, local election losses earlier in the year eroded his clout, and LDP lawmakers have voiced the need for a fresh face ahead of the next general election.

New Delhi, Aug 9,2024: “Bail is the rule and jail an exception,” the Supreme Court said on Friday while granting bail to former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia in cases related to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy under which he spent 17 months in jail waiting for the trial to begin.

The judgment also set a new, relaxed yardstick for interpretation of the harsh bail provisions under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, in cases of prolonged incarceration.

“Bail can’t be rejected as a punishment,” said a bench of Justice B R Gavai and Justice K V Viswanathan upholding Sisodia’s “right to a speedy trial”, adding, “It’s high time that trial courts and high courts realize that bail is the rule and jail an exception.”

Accepting Sisodia’s bail plea, the bench said the procedure should not become the punishment and that the right to bail should not suffer due to delay in trial.

Giving hope to other incarcerated PMLA accused like Sisodia, the top court said the rigours of Section 45 of PMLA can be relaxed to account for prolonged incarceration.

According to Section 45 of the PMLA, bail can be granted to an accused in a money laundering case only if twin conditions are satisfied – there should be prima facie satisfaction that the accused has not committed the offence and that he is not likely to commit any offence while on bail.

The court barred Sisodia from leaving the country and set certain conditions before allowing him to step out of prison after 17 months.

The bench said that the bail shall be granted to Sisodia on depositing a bail bond of Rs 10 lakh and a surety of the like amount.

The court directed Sisodia to surrender his passport and report to the Investigating officer (IO) on every Monday and not attempt to influence witnesses.

Taking note of the denial of bail to Sisodia over the past few months, Justice Gavai said, “A citizen cannot be made to run from pillar to post for bail. He cannot again start from square one, the trial court, and climb up the ladder till the Supreme Court for bail. Grant of bail is not a snakes and ladders game.”

The Supreme Court noted that the AAP leader has suffered incarceration of 17 months and that the trial has not yet commenced.

The Court noted that Sisodia had been denied the right to a speedy trial and the trial court and the High Court ought to have given due weightage to this.

Dismissing the contentions of the ED and CBI that the delay in the trial can be attributed to Sisodia, Justice Gavai said, “When we specifically asked the ASG to show any order where the trial court found any application to be frivolous, not one was shown. We find that the finding of delay by the appellant is not supported by the record.”

The Court said that relegating the former Deputy CM to the trial court for relief would be a “travesty of justice”.

“A citizen cannot be made to run from pillar to post. June 4 order recorded that it did not go into merits…Procedures cannot be made a mistress of justice,” Justice Gavai said while dismissing the central agencies’ preliminary objections to the bail plea.

Justice Gavai noted that the Supreme Court in its order on June 4 had recorded an undertaking from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), that the final chargesheet/prosecution complaint would be filed in the trial court on or before July 3.

At the start of the day’s proceeding, the bench asked, “How the central agencies justify the delay in the trial?”

Appearing for Sisodia, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi had approached the Supreme Court asserting that the trial had not begun despite assurances from the probe agencies in October 2023 that it would be concluded within six to eight months.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju appearing on behalf of the ED and CBI said the delay came from Sisodia’s side who had sought one document after the other in court.

”Our trial would have commenced and these documents were unwarranted but just because of these applications. Delay is completely attributable to them and not to the agency. Speedy trials cannot be fitted in a straight jacket formula. It is case-by-case basis and they do not want this to be heard on merits. So the best option for them is to delay it,” Raju apprised the Supreme Court.

Justice Viswanathan then said that had the accused been on bail, he would have tried to delay the trial. But that was not the case here.

”Delay may happen on the accused side if they are on bail,” Justice Viswanathan reasoned.

Raju said the accused could also deliberately delay the trial and use the situation to seek bail and added that among the 400-odd witnesses, the ED could have the important ones to testify first.

The Supreme Court noted that the ED has to establish an unbroken chain of evidence linking Sisodia with the liquor lobby in the excise scam case.

“We know it is difficult to establish the chain as everything is done undercover… but that is where your competence lies,” the bench said.

The court observed that except a statement made by businessman Dinesh Arora, an accused-turned-approver in the case, there was no proof against Sisodia.

Sisodia was arrested by the ED and the CBI on February 26, 2023, and March 9, 2023, respectively.