CURRENT AFFAIRS - 30.10.2023

 

1. Another train tragedy due to 'human error' In Andhra Pradesh Two passenger trains collided in Andhra Pradesh, leaving at least 10 people dead and about 25 injured, agencies reported quoting government officials late Sunday night. The accident happened when the Visakhapatnam-Ragada passenger train stopped due to a break in an overhead cable and the oncoming train, the Visakhapatnam-Palasa Express, rammed it, derailing carriages, Reuters reported quoting a senior railways official. At least three coaches of one of the trains carrying scores of passengers were derailed in the incident, Nagalakshmi S, a senior government official stationed in Vizianagaram told Reuters. Hundreds of passengers were reported stuck at Visakhapatnam railway station as several trains had been delayed due to the accident. 'Human error' Details of the incident have not fully emerged yet, but officials indicated "human error" behind the train tragedy. According to railway sources, the cause of the accident appeared to be a human error and overshooting of signal by the Visakhapatnam- Rayagada passenger train. Government in action The PMO posted on X saying PM Modi spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to take stock of the situation, and that authorities were providing all possible assistance to those affected. Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock over the train accident and ordered officials to provide assistance to those injured in the incident. A lingering concern Despite the efforts of modernisation and automation in running trains, mishaps have kept the authorities and the public worried about the railways. About two weeks ago, four people were killed and at least 70 injured when the engine driver applied emergency brakes after sensing a "rattling" on the tracks. In June this year, India's one of worst train accidents happened in Odisha, killing 288 people. In a probe, the Commissioner of Railway Safety pointed to human errors behind the Odisha train tragedy involving three trains.

2. Serial blasts at Kerala prayer meeting Blasts in Kerala Two women died and 58 persons were reported injured, some seriously, in multiple blasts at a Christian religious gathering at a convention centre in Kerala's Kochi on Sunday morning. Of the injured, 30 were admitted to various Kerala hospitals — 18 of them were in ICUs, with six including a 12-year-old child in critical condition. Three of them have suffered over 90% burns. Jehovah prayer meeting The blasts took place when over 2,000 followers of Jehovah's Witnesses had assembled on the concluding day of their three-day-long prayer meeting. Jehovah's Witnesses is a Christian religious group that originated in the United States of America in the 19th century. Arrest of suspect A man named Dominic Martin, who claimed to be a member of Jehovah's Witnesses, surrendered to the police in Thrissur district, taking responsibility for the blasts. He cited disagreements with the teachings of the organization as the reason for the act. A terror case? An FIR has been registered against unknown individuals under IPC Sections 302 (murder) and 307 (attempt to murder), the Explosives Act, and the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Besides the Kerala police, the anti-terror probe body National Investigation Agency (NIA) is involved in the investigation. Also, an eight-member team from the National Security Guard, the counter-terrorism unit, was on its way to Kerala to investigate. A security alert Security measures were significantly heightened around churches and metro stations in New Delhi following the recent explosion at a convention centre in Kerala. Police officers are on alert across various public places, ensuring that they respond promptly to any information received and maintain vigilance during the festive season.

3. Gazans storm UN depots to take away basic supplies Civil order collapsing? The United Nations warned on Sunday that the "civil order" was starting to collapse in the war-torn Palestinian territory of Gaza as the Israel-Hamas conflict continued on its 23rd day. Thousands of people in Gaza broken into aid depots in a "worrying sign of civil order starting to break down", the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees said. The storming Gazans ransacked several of its warehouses and distribution centres in central and southern Gaza, taking wheat, flour and other basic items like hygiene supplies. Crisis in perspective Only 84 aid trucks have entered Gaza since the war began, compared with a pre-war average of 500 trucks a day, UN figures show. "The needs of the communities are immense, if only for basic survival, while the aid we receive is meagre and inconsistent," the UN agency said. Communications back Meanwhile, phone lines and internet connections slowly started returning after more than a day of almost total communications blackout Connectivity was cut as Israel intensified its bombardment of Gaza, and began a large ground operation involving tanks and troops Israel goes deeper The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said more troops entered Gaza overnight, while warplanes attacked more than 450 Hamas targets A check The White House said 'there is a burden...on Israel to" all it can to protect innocent people in Gaza by distinguishing between Hamas militants and the civilians. And Biden said, "There's no going back to the status quo as it stood on October 6... It also means that when this crisis is over, there has to be a vision of what comes next, and in our view it has to be a two-state solution." And a warning Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned that Israel's ongoing bombardment of Gaza could spread the conflict across the region. He said, "The crimes of the Zionist regime have crossed the red lines, and this may force everyone to take action."

4. A new platform for the youth from tomorrow Mann Ki Baat announcement In his Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that a nationwide 'Mera Yuva Bharat' platform will be launched on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary on October 31. It is aimed at giving the youth an opportunity to play an active role in various nation-building events. He said the 'Mera Yuva Bharat' website is also going to be launched and the youth should register on MYBharat.Gov.in. "MYBharat will provide an opportunity to the youth of India to play an active role in various nation-building events. This is a unique effort of integrating the youth power of India in building a developed India," the prime minister said. A push for local In his address, Modi reiterated his strong pitch for being 'vocal for local' He said, "Like every time, this time too, during festivals, our priority should be 'Vocal for Local'." "Today India is becoming the world's biggest manufacturing hub. Many big brands are manufacturing their products here. If we adopt those products, then Make In India gets a fillip and this too is being 'Vocal For Local'," he said. An example He said khadi products witnessed record sales on Gandhi Jayanti, with a store at Delhi's Connaught Place alone chalking up a sale of Rs 1.25 crore in a single day. The sale of khadi products could barely touch Rs 30,000 crore earlier, it has risen to almost Rs 1.25 lakh crore now, he said.

NEWS IN CLUES 5. Identify this sitcom Clue 1: It ran from 1994 to 2004, winning one best comedy series Emmy Award in 2002 Clue 2: The primary plot is about six friends living in Manhattan, New York Clue 3: Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis and Julia Roberts played cameos in it Scroll below for the answer

6. Why disqualification may not end CM Shinde's term Case in SC The Supreme Court is expected to resume its hearing today on the disqualification petitions against Shiv Sena MLAs, who rebelled against party boss and then-Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. In the last week's hearing, the court had asked Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to adjudicate the disqualification pleas expeditiously. Narwekar in action Narwekar came to Delhi on Sunday to meet party leaders and consult Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. His Delhi visit coincides with the Supreme Court's hearing on the please filed the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena and the Sharad Pawar bloc of the NCP, seeking a direction to to Narwekar to expeditiously decide disqualification petitions against some MLAs. On October 17, an apex court Bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said, "We are not satisfied with the time schedule. SG has apprised that during Dussehra breaks he would personally engage with the Speaker so as to indicate a firm set of modalities." Among the MLAs whose fate hangs in balance is Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, the rebel Sena leader. But an assurance for Shinde Speaking to a Marathi TV channel, Maharashtra Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has said Shinde would complete his full tenure even if he is disqualified for defecting his party in 2022. Fadnavis said in case of disqualification as an MLA, Shinde would be elected to the Legislative Council. Fadnavis said, "Shinde will complete his full term. If someone had understood the court and the Election Commission's orders, it is very clear that he has a strong case and that there is no question of his disqualification."

7. India making own 'detect and destroy' defence system A plan India plans to operationally deploy by 2028-29 its own long-range air defence system, which can detect and destroy incoming stealth fighters, aircraft, drones, cruise missiles and precision-guided munitions at ranges up to 350-km. The "interception capabilities" of the indigenous long-range surface-to-air missile (LR-SAM) system are being developed by DRDO under the ambitious Project Kusha. The system will be comparable to the formidable Russian S-400 Triumf air defence system recently inducted by the IAF, sources said. The aim The LR-SAM is part of India's goal of achieving self-reliance in the defence sector with this indigenous project. The project aims at establishing a formidable three-layered defence system capable of effectively neutralizing enemy aircraft and missiles at a remarkable range of approximately 400 kilometers. The project, valued at over $2.5 billion, would catapult India into an elite group of nations possessing indigenous capabilities to tackle aerial threats from such long distances. The three-layered system The LRSAM system will comprise three layers of surface-to-air missiles, each designed to engage targets at different ranges. Notably, India's collaboration with Israel during the development of the medium-range surface-to-air missile system MRSAM, capable of targeting aerial assets at a distance of 70+ kilometers, has been pivotal in advancing this initiative. A booster The Indian defence forces already have the Russian-made S-400 air defence systems, which can hit targets at 400 km maximum distance and also have the capability to take out targets at shorter ranges too. The system is used by the Chinese military as well, which has deployed it along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India. The Chinese also have their indigenous air defence systems but they are less capable than the S-400. The project lead for the LR-SAM project is the Indian Air Force, which is keen on promoting indigenisation in defence hardware.

8. What Chinese research ship is doing in Sri Lanka? What Sri Lanka has granted 48 hours for a Chinese vessel to conduct marine research off the island's west coast under supervision. Sri Lanka's decision to allow the Chinese ship has come amid India's concerns that it could be a spy ship. Sri Lankan foreign ministry spokesman Kapila Fonseka said the Chinese research ship Shi Yan 6, which has been in Colombo since Wednesday, would be allowed to carry out work for two days starting today. Under Lankan eye Fonseka said local scientists would be onboard Shi Yan 6 during two days of research activities along the western seaboard of the island. The Sri Lanka Navy will also monitor the 90-metre vessel that is anchored at the Colombo harbour where a Chinese state-run company operates a deep sea terminal. Why it worries India India is watchful of China's growing presence in the Indian Ocean and its influence in Sri Lanka, which is strategically located along major international shipping routes. China has increased its footprints in The Maldives in the Indian Oceanic Region. Not a first In the past, a Chinese spacecraft-tracking vessel had raised security concerns from India, leading Sri Lanka to prohibit it from conducting research activities while in its waters. Another Chinese research vessel, Yuan Wang 5, which New Delhi views as a spy ship, had visited Sri Lanka in 2022. It docked in Hambantota, a Sri Lankan port leased to a Chinese company after it failed to service a $1.4 billion loan. A pair of Chinese submarines docked there in 2014, raising protests from India. Why China has its way Sri Lanka defaulted on its $46 billion external debt last year in an unprecedented economic crisis. It was partly blamed on Chinese loans taken between 2005 and 2015. Sri Lanka owes 52% of its bilateral debts to China, whose approval is crucial for restructuring its outstanding loans.

9. Why Bangladesh is witnessing a political unrest What Bangladesh's main Opposition leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the BNP secretary general, was detained for questioning on Sunday as the country witnesses a political turmoil. Clashes raged for a second day between police and protesters demonstrating against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of the upcoming election. The BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami had called for a nationwide strike on Sunday over the violence that erupted during the Saturday protests. Protests and clashes More than 1,00,000 supporters of the two major Opposition parties BNP and the largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, rallied on Saturday to demand Hasina's resignation to allow a free and fair vote under a neutral government. Police arrested at least 1,680 BNP supporters in four days in connection with protests, said the party's senior leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed. A police officer and a protester were killed, and multiple police ambulances were torched or damaged during the clashes. What BNP wants The BNP is demanding the restoration of the election-time non-party caretaker government system, which was in place during elections from 1991 to 2008. The system was scrapped by the incumbent government after assuming office in January 2009. The BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami have been actively campaigning despite their leader, Khaleda Zia, being under house arrest, and her son living in exile in the UK. It's under international gaze The United States has called for "calm and restraint on all sides". The European Union has expressed the need for a peaceful way forward to ensure participatory and peaceful election. Domestic politics Hasina — the daughter of Bangladesh's founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rehman — has been in power for 15 years. She has overseen rapid economic growth. However, her government is accused of corruption and human rights abuses. Her Awami League dominates the legislature and is accused of running it as a rubber stamp.

10. You share your b'day with... Source: Various

Answer To NEWS IN CLUES Friends. Matthew Perry, who played Chandler Bing in Friends, has died at 54. The Emmy-nominated actor whose sarcastic, but lovable Chandler was among television’s most famous and most quotable characters. The actor was found dead of an apparent drowning at his Los Angeles home, reports said on Sunday. Friends was one of television’s biggest hits and has taken on a new life — and found surprising popularity with younger fans — in recent years on streaming services. COURTESY : TIMES TOP 10