CURRENT AFFAIRS - 05.12.2023

 

1. Old warhorse takes new Movement to victory The result Debutant political outfit Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) stormed to power in Mizoram, unseating the Mizo National Front (MNF) on Monday, as it bagged 27 seats in the 40-member House. The MNF won 10 seats, the BJP 2 and the Congress 1. In the 2018 assembly elections, the MNF had won 26 seats. Why it matters This is the first time since Mizoram was created in 1987 that voters have elected a non-Congress and non-MNF party to govern the state. Shocks and surprises Outgoing CM and MNF chief Zoramthanga lost to ZPM's Lalthansanga. He submitted his resignation to Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati. Nine out of 11 MNF ministers who contested the polls lost — including Deputy CM Tawnluia. ZPM chief Lalduhoma secured the Serchhip seat defeating MNF's J Malsawmzuala Vanchhawng. Man of the moment Lalduhoma, 73, is an ex-IPS officer and was former PM Indira Gandhi's security in-charge. He was Gandhi's peace emissary who brought MNF separatist leader Laldenga to the peace talks. A long run Lalduhoma first contested the Mizoram assembly polls on a Congress ticket in 1984, but lost the election. The same year, he was elected unopposed in the Lok Sabha polls — after Indira Gandhi's assassination — as a Congress nominee. Two years later, in 1986, when he was accused of conspiring against party colleague and then-CM Lal Thanhawla, Lalduhoma resigned as Mizoram Congress president and withdrew his primary membership from the party. Lalduhoma became the first MP to be disqualified under the anti-defection law. He was also disqualified as an MLA in 2020 for defecting to ZPM despite being an Independent MLA. Meanwhile, Kaun Banega CM? While it's an easy choice in Mizoram, and possibly in Telangana (Revanth Reddy who got the Congress its only consolation prize in the latest round of elections), an intense tussle is reportedly on in the Hindi heartland states. The most-debated question currently is whether veterans Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Vasundhara Raje and Raman Singh will get another chance as CMs in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh respectively.

2. Cyclone Michaung batters south India What Cyclone Michaung wreaked havoc in Chennai and its suburbs on Monday, bringing heavy rains leading to flooding, and causing a string of deaths. Five rain-related deaths were reported in Chennai on Monday. Two of the victims died of electrocution while one person was killed after a tree fell on him. Two unidentified bodies were found in different rain-affected parts of the city. Several areas of the city were submerged in knee-deep water and there have been power outages since Monday morning, evoking memories of December 2015 when around 290 people died after catastrophic floods. Airport submerged The runway of the Chennai airport, one of the busiest in India, lay submerged due to torrential rain under the impact of the severe cyclone. The airport's operation was shut until Tuesday morning. Heavy rains and strong winds forced authorities to close factories. Taiwan's MNCs Foxconn and Pegatron halted Apple iPhone production at their facilities near Chennai due to heavy rains, reports said. In Chennai, a major electronics and manufacturing hub, cars were swept away as flood water flowed through the streets. The cyclone Cyclone Michaung is expected to make landfall on the coast of Andhra Pradesh around noon today, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The cyclone is likely to hit the coast with sustained winds of 90-100 kph, gusting to 110 kph. The preparation Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the CMs of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry, assuring them of all necessary central help. The deployment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel has been made. Authorities in both Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are on high alert, evacuating thousands of people living in coastal areas. They have issued warnings to fishermen not to venture out to sea. Schools, colleges, offices and banks were closed on Monday and Tuesday in Chennai and the neighbouring districts. Parts of Andhra Pradesh are likely to receive more than 200 mm of rain over the next 24 hours, IMD said. More here

3. Mystery over Manipur gunfight that left 13 dead The gunfight At least 13 people were killed in a gunfight between two "militant groups" in Manipur on Monday, seven months after ethnic clashes in the border state killed over 180 people. The incident happened in Leithu village in Manipur's Tengnoupal district, where the bodies of the victims, with multiple bullet wounds, were found. The gunfight site is located about 15 km from the Myanmar border. The mystery The deceased are suspected to be the cadres of the outlawed PLA group. However, there is no official confirmation of their identities. No weapons were found near the bodies, said reports quoting the police, who suspected that the weapons might have been looted after they were killed. The timing The gunfight happened four days after the Centre and the Manipur government signed a peace agreement with the United National Liberation Force (UNLF), the oldest militant outfit in the state, operating largely from Myanmar. Who? Initial reports suggest that these could be cadres of the Valley-based insurgent group People's Liberation Army, whose ban under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was extended recently. PTI quoted an official as saying, "A group of militants on their way to Myanmar were ambushed by another group of insurgents dominant in the area." The areas around the place where the incident occurred are dominated by tribal people. The officials said probably a part of the group could have escaped to Myanmar where they got their arms training before being sent back to Manipur. A peaceful area The area has remained peaceful and was not touched by the ethnic conflict that rocked Manipur on May 4. The state has witnessed sporadic violence since the peak of ethnic clashes that erupted in May over sharing government benefits and quotas. Tengnoupal district shares a porous border with Myanmar. The village has no proper road connection and is often used by insurgent groups to cross over to Myanmar.

4. Rumblings in INDIA bloc after Congress's poor show Changing dynamics The poor performance of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh seems to have changed the dynamics within the INDIA opposition front - which was formed earlier this year to take on the BJP in the 2024 general elections. The grand old party was leading the initiative till one month ago. Now its leadership is facing questions. The BJP on Sunday retained Madhya Pradesh and snatched Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from the Congress. The grand old party won in Telangana, defeating K Chandrashekar Rao's BRS - a victory that's being dubbed as a consolation prize. Who should be the leader? The calls for Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee to be made the face of the Opposition bloc seems to have got louder once again, even as Banerjee personally downplayed BJP's performance and asserted on Monday that a good seat-sharing pact among opposition players is capable of defeating the BJP in 2024. Several key aides of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar also pushed for a "credible face", like the JD(U) supremo, on Monday for leading the INDIA coalition. Both Trinamool Congress and JD(U) are constituents of the Opposition bloc, and the supremos of both parties have been in the race for being accepted as the face against Modi for a while. Introspection time Leaders of the INDIA bloc are set to convene at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi tomorrow to formulate a strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Banerjee has said that she won't be attending the meeting. Also, the Congress organised a meeting in New Delhi on Monday in which senior leaders are learnt to have discussed the latest poll debacle and issues to be raised in the Winter Session of the Parliament.

NEWS IN CLUES 5. Identify this country Clue 1: It's the largest country in the world comprising solely of islands Clue 2: This country is home to some 400 volcanoes Clue 3: The country has the largest Buddhist monument in the world Scroll below for answer

6. Last full session of Parliament gets a stormy start New session, old show The Lok Sabha proceedings faced an abrupt adjournment, merely nine minutes into the Winter Session's commencement as BSP member Danish Ali pressed for action against BJP's Ramesh Bidhuri for alleged 'derogatory' remarks he made in the previous session. Danish Ali, displaying a placard on his chest, drew objections from Speaker Om Birla, resulting in the immediate adjournment of the proceedings. Mahua in focus The Ethics Committee's report, proposing the expulsion of TMC member Mahua Moitra, was scheduled as item noumber 5 on Monday during the opening of the session. Despite its listing, the report was not tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday, prompting questions from TMC floor leader Sudip Bandopadhyay and other Opposition members. Government sources said it would be done soon. However, Monday was time for the treasury bench to relish the BJP's victory in three states. Chadha is back The Rajya Sabha, on the other hand, decided to revoke the suspension of AAP member Raghav Chadha on the first day of the winter session. A motion was adopted, acknowledging Chadha's breach of privilege for listing members in a select committee without consent. It was collectively agreed that the duration of his already served suspension was deemed adequate as a sufficient penalty. Chadha was suspended on August 11 during the Monsoon Session for alleged "breach of privilege" after complaints. He had subsequently moved the Supreme Court against the suspension. A new Post Office Bill The Rajya Sabha approved a bill to repeal the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, consolidating and amending laws related to post offices in India. The bill empowers the central government to authorise officers to intercept, open, or detain items in the interest of security, public order, emergency, or public safety. Opposition vs govt Opposition members raised concerns about specific provisions, questioning if the government aims to establish a "surveillance state." Minister of State for Communications, Devusinh Chauhan, dismissed concerns, stating provisions aligned with national security objectives, emphasising the government's right to monitor illegal substances for public interest.

7. 'A person can be convicted for suicide abetment if...' A matter of proximity The Supreme Court has said that a person can be convicted for abetment of suicide if his act of instigation was of such intensity that the deceased had no choice but to commit suicide and such instigation must be in close proximity to the act of committing suicide. How it came up A bench quashed criminal proceedings against a man who was charged with abetment of suicide as the deceased woman had taken the extreme step days after he had threatened her. The deceased committed suicide 15 days after she and her husband were assaulted and threatened by him for not refunding the loan. What the court said "The question is whether the appellant instigated the deceased to commit suicide. To attract the first clause, there must be instigation in some form on the part of the accused to cause the deceased to commit suicide. Hence, the accused must have mens rea (intention) to instigate the deceased to commit suicide. "The act of instigation must be of such intensity that it is intended to push the deceased to such a position under which he or she has no choice but to commit suicide. Such instigation must be in close proximity to the act of committing suicide," the court said. And more... The bench said it is impossible to conclude that the appellants instigated the deceased to commit suicide by demanding the payment of the amount borrowed by using abusive language.

8. Is India becoming more unsafe for women? A concern The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, released on Monday, shows that cases of crime against women have spiked, recording an increase of 4% seen in India. A total of 4,45,256 cases of crime against women were registered during 2022, compared to 4,28,278 cases in 2021, according to NCRB's 70th annual report. Metropolitan alarms Metro cities show a greater increase in such crimes. Data for 2022 shows an increase of 12.3% in crimes against women in 19 metro cities — each having a population of above 2 million — compared to 2021. With a 239% increase, Jaipur recorded the highest rate, followed by Delhi, Indore and Lucknow. Chennai and Coimbatore — both in Tamil Nadu — had the lowest rate. Delhi's disturbing surge With 14,247 cases in 2022, Delhi topped the list of states and Union Territories at 144.4% — way above the country's average rate of 66.4%. Delhi was followed by Haryana with a 118.7% increase in crimes against women, Telangana with 117%, Rajasthan 115.1%, Odisha 103%, Andhra Pradesh 96.2%, Andaman and Nicobar Islands 93.7% and Kerala 82%. UP leads in FIRs In absolute numbers, Uttar Pradesh (65,743) registered the maximum FIRs in cases of crime against women followed by Maharashtra (45,331), Rajasthan (45,058), West Bengal (34,738) and Madhya Pradesh (32,765). These five states together contributed to 50.2% of India's total cases, revealing concerning trends in women's safety. The threat of the known The majority of cases under crime against women were registered under 'cruelty by husband or his relatives' (32.6 %) followed by 'kidnaping and abduction of women' (19.4%), 'assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty' (17.9 %), and 'Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012' (13.2 %). Children not safe either Growing crimes against children raise serious concerns for their future well-being and safety as a staggering 64,469 victims were reported in 2022 under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of incidents at 8,151, followed by Maharashtra (7,572), Madhya Pradesh (5,996), Tamil Nadu (4,968) and Rajasthan (3,371).

9. A graft hearing in the shadow of a war Hearing resumes A district court in Jerusalem will resume hearing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption case today after a more than two-month hiatus due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. What's the case? Under the Bezeq-Walla bribery case, also addressed as Case 4000, Netanyahu allegedly took regulatory steps beneficial to Bezeq Telecommunications in exchange for favourable media coverage on the Walla website, earlier owned by Bezeq, reported news agency PTI. The hearing so far In June, the three judges in the case recommended that the prosecution withdraw the bribery charge. The prosecution, however, declined to withdraw the charge and decided to continue the trial as planned, after which the court heard the testimonies of the people concerned. The last hearing in the bribery case was held on September 20, after which the court adjourned for a holiday break, which got extended due to Hamas' brutal attack on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent war. The courts had since shifted to an emergency schedule, during which only urgent hearings were held. The trial in Netanyahu's corruption cases was halted as they were not considered urgent. Why now? Last week, Justice Minister Yariv Levin signed regulations allowing the courts to resume normal operations. Under the directives, courts have resumed activity with exceptions for attorneys and litigants now serving in the army reserves or who have been evacuated from their homes under government orders. In addition, legal procedures have been "frozen" in connection with lawyers and litigants who have been taken hostage or deemed missing, as well as parents, spouses, children, and siblings of hostages and missing persons.

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

Answer To NEWS IN CLUES Indonesia. The bodies of 11 climbers were recovered on Monday, a day after a furious eruption of the Mount Marapi volcano in Indonesia. Rescuers searched for 12 more climbers, who were still missing. They were among the 75 climbers, reportedly in the vicinity of Mount Marapi when the volcano erupted. Marapi has stayed at the third highest of four alert levels since 2011, indicating above-normal volcanic activity and prohibiting climbers or villagers within three kilometres of the peak. COURTESY : TIMES TOP 10