Landslide kills six in Nagaland ; key national highways blocked
Six people died and four people were injured in a series of landslides , triggered by incessant rainfall along the National Highway 29 in Nagaland on Tuesday night .
Pherina and Pahar areas have been the worst damaged areas .
Landslides and mudslides at other area washed away connecting Dimapur and Kohima . The highway is also crucial for supplies in Manipur .
People started panic buying after the news of landslides and obstruction of roads spread .
However , authorities have asked people to refrain from Panic buying as there was no shortage of food and essential goods .
Efforts to clear road obstruction and make the highway functional is underway.
A data tabled in Parliament has said that 196 incidents of landslides occurred between April and July this year in the North East .
EPFO pensions can soon be collected via by bank branch
The Union Labour ministry has cleared a proposal for a centralised pension Payment System ( CPPS ) , for EPF pension beneficiaries .
Labour Minister Mansukh Mandviya called it a “ significant milestone “ in modernising the EPFO .
Under the new system the Pensioners would be able to receive their pension from any bank , any branch anywhere in the country .
This would be a great relief for pensioners who would move to their hometown after retirement .
Earlier , the process was lengthy and involved a particular EPFO Office where documents needed to be submitted before the pension could be withdrawn .
In the next phase of Modernisation that is proposed ,there will not be even need to visit any branch and the pension will be directly credited to pensioner accounts. .
EPFO is one of the two social security schemes under the Ministry of Labour , the other being ESIC .
Under this employees and employees contribute 12 % each per month that goes as provident Fund managed by EPFO .
The amount later is disbursed as fixed pensions .
Modi takes aim at China in Brunei , says India does not back expansionism
As PM Modi landed in Brunei capital Bandar Sheri Bagwan he became the first Indian Prime Minister to make a bilateral visit to Brunei .
In a banquet hosted by Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah he said that India supports “ development not expansionism “ .
“ Brunei is an important partner of India’s act east policy and Indo Pacific vision “
In the South China Sea he “urged all parties to resolve disputes through peaceful means in accordance with International law , Particularly UNCLOS 1982 .”
The two sides held a bilateral meeting . In which it was said that Brunei would continue to host ISRO’s Telemetry Tracking and command station .
The sides discussed ways to improve defence ties and the possibility of Long term cooperation in LNG supplies .
Brunei is a “ claimant state” under South China sea , along with China , Malaysia , Philippines .
It is strategically located and is rich in oil and gas .
Considered a US ally for long ,
In recent times its relation with China has improved and trade with China has increased multifold .
SC slams Uttarakhand CM , says this is not a ‘feudal era ‘
The Supreme Court ( SC ) on Wednesday orally slammed Uttarakhand Chief Minister for ignoring objections from state bureaucracy and his own ministers on transfer of an Indian Forest Services ( IFS ) officer .
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami had appointed IFS officer Rahul as the director of Rajaji tigerAPReserve . Mr Rahul was found to be involved in illegal felling of trees and unauthorised construction at Corbett Tiger Reserve . He is facing departmental enquiry and CBI enquiry in Corbett cases .
Despite objections CM Dhami appointed him as Director of Rajaji Tiger Reserve , which is ecologically sensitive .
The Court observed that this was not a “ feudal era “ in which what the king said had to be done .
“ If you disagree with all your officers and your minister . The least that is expected is that there should be some application of mind “ Justice B R Gavai said .
The court later revoked the transfer order .
Center , Tripura sign peace accord with insurgent groups in the state
More than 300 armed cadres from insurgents groups in Tripura have given up violence and have pledged to join mainstream .
A memorandum of sentiment was signed between the Government of India ,Government of Tripura and The National Liberation Front of Tripura ( NLFT ) and All Tripura Tiger Forces ( ATTF ) in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah .
The two groups have been active for more than 37 years . Their bases were in Bangladesh . They were involved in killing 600 and 300 people respectively .
Their mandate was to make an independent Tripura nation .
This is 12 th such pact from North East and third from Tripura .
Centre suggest measure to enhance security measures in hospitals
In a letter to the state, the health ministry has called for recruitment of ex-servicemen , state security force personnel to manage security at hospitals .
It also advised background checks of contract workers and Sharing of video footage .
Heavy rain claims 49 life in Gujrat
Heavy rain in Gujarat since the last week of August has caused massive damage of standing crops and has claimed 49 lives .
Kutch , Dwarka , Junagadh , Jamnagar and Porbandar are the most affected districts .
The state has got 118 % rainfall .
Kutch has received a maximum of 180% rainfall of the season .
Ethanol push turned India into corn importer , shaking up global market
India has become a big corn importer and imported 1 million tonnes of corn last year .
India for long has been a corn exporter , the reversal came after the central government increased the price of ethanol made from Corn over ethanol made from Sugarcane .
India currently blends 13% ethanol in Gasoline , and has plans to increase it to 20% by 2025— 26 .
The increased demand of Ethanol has resulted in importing corn and producing ethanol from it .
India imported most of the corn from Myanmar and Ukraine .
Corn in India is used by poultry farms as a feed .
Poultry industry is facing disadvantage from the increased corn prices .
Pressure is also to bring GM crop varieties to market .
World
Russia strikes UKraine’s Lviv as it’s troops advance in the east
On Wednesday , Russia struck missiles on the West Ukrainian city of Lviv . Three children among seven were killed in the strike .
This comes a day after Russia struck Paltova military school in which 53 had died .
Russia has increased its attack following the Kursk invasion by Ukraine .
Advancing in East Russia captured the village of Karlivka , 30 km from Pokrovsk .
Pokrovsk is a key Ukrainian supply route . Russia for long has been looking to capture it .
Xi hosts African leaders at grand Summit in Beijing
China is hosting the China Africa Forum this week .
Heads of twenty five African leaders have arrived or confirmed their arrival to Beijing .
In the biggest summit this year , the Chinese President welcomed the leaders .
China promised cooperation in infrastructure , energy and education.
China , the world’s number two economy, is Africa ‘s largest trading partner . China has given billions of loans to African countries for infrastructure projects .
China taps vast mineral resources of Copper , gold , lithium and rare earth metals of the African continent .
Mongolia defies ICC warrant for Putin’s arrest gives him a red carpet welcome
Russian President Vladmir Putin was accorded a red carpet welcome on Tuesday .
Mongolia International Criminal Court ( ICC ) member state ignored ICC warrant to arrest Me Putin .
ICC in March 2023 had issued an arrest warrant against Putin .
It is an obligation to any ICC member to comply with its arrest warrant orders .
This was the first visit by Putin to any ICC member state . Earlier he had skipped the BRICS 2023 meeting that was held in South Africa , a ICC member state .
Ahead of Mr Putin’s visit , Ukraine had urged Mongolia to arrest Putin and hand over to the court in Hague .
The EU had expressed concern that Mongolia might not execute the warrant .
Mongolia is heavily dependent on trade ties with Russia and China , this being one of the reasons for ignoring ICC orders .
Besides Russia knew this well in advance .
The two sides signed several agreements on rail connectivity , hydro projects in which Russia will aid Mongolia .
Sports
Harvinder’s shooting prowess to the fore in the recurve open
India won one gold, three silver and two bronze medals on Thursday at the Paris Paralympics .
Harvinder Singh became the first Indian to win a gold medal in Archery in Paralympics .
Sachin won silver in Shot Put .
Ajeet and Sundar won silver and Bronze respectively in the Javelin throw .
Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thangavelu won silver and bronze respectively in the high Jump event .
India has won a total 22 medals with 4 gold, eight silver and 10 broZe .
It is placed 15 th in the medalhhh tally currently .
