Good morning,
The big headline from yesterday was the Kolkata rape-murder case, where protesters marched demanding the resignation of Mamata Banerjee. Another significant news was from the International Cricket Council (ICC), where BCCI Secretary Jay Shah was elected as the next ICC Chairman.
But before we dive into yesterday’s top stories, here are the key events to watch out for today…
Now, the top stories from yesterday…
Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: Over 100 Students Injured in Protests; BJP Calls for Bengal Shutdown
In the ongoing protest against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, students marched demanding the resignation of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. The situation escalated in Santragachi, near Howrah, where students broke through barricades. The police resorted to lathi charge, tear gas, and water cannons. Many students were detained, leading the BJP to call for a 12-hour Bengal shutdown on Wednesday, although the Mamata government has not approved it.
The march headed towards the Secretariat: The protesters named their march “Nabanna Abhiyan,” targeting the temporary secretariat of the West Bengal government, Nabanna, where the Chief Minister and other officials work. Section 144 has been imposed near Nabanna, restricting gatherings of more than five people.
Jay Shah Elected Unopposed as ICC Chairman, to Assume Office on December 1
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has been elected as the new Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC). Shah was elected unopposed and will take office on December 1. Since October 2019, he has served as the Secretary of BCCI and has been the Chief of the Asian Cricket Council since January 2021. The current ICC Chairman Greg Barclay declined to run for a third term, paving the way for Shah’s nomination. Barclay’s term ends on November 30.
Jay Shah to be the youngest Chairman: At 35, Jay Shah will turn 36 on September 22 this year and will become the youngest ICC Chairman at 36. Before Shah, the youngest ICC Chairman was Percy Sonn of South Africa, who took office at 56 in 2006.
Nursing Student Raped in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra; Auto Driver Drugged Her
A shocking rape case emerged from Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, where a nursing student was allegedly raped after being drugged by an auto-rickshaw driver. The student had taken the auto from a bus stop to her college, and the driver allegedly mixed a drug into her water, causing her to lose consciousness. She was then taken to a forest and raped. The police are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the driver.
Woke up with torn clothes: The police reported that the 19-year-old student found herself alone in a forest after regaining consciousness, with torn clothes and bruises on her arms. She called her sister to inform her of the incident.
Second sexual assault in 15 days: Earlier, in Thane district, Maharashtra, a sweeper sexually assaulted two KG students, aged 3 and 4, on August 12-13.
J&K Assembly Elections: BJP Releases Third List, NC Releases Second List
For the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, BJP has released its third list of 29 candidates, including 10 for the second phase and 19 for the third phase. Meanwhile, the National Conference (NC) released its second list of 32 candidates. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will contest from Ganderbal, while party spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq will contest from Zadibal. The NC and Congress have formed an alliance for these elections, with NC contesting 51 seats and Congress 32 seats.
Three-phase elections in the state: Voting for the 90-seat Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will take place in three phases between September 18 and October 1. Results will be announced on October 4, 2024.
Champai Soren to Join BJP on August 30; Hemant Soren Expected to Resign from Cabinet Today
Former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren is set to join the BJP on August 30, as announced by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. Champai is expected to resign from the Jharkhand cabinet today. Champai became CM on January 31 after the current CM Hemant Soren was jailed and resigned on July 3, citing the manner of his removal as an affront to his dignity.
What BJP Gains from Champai Soren: Champai Soren, known as the “Kolhan Tiger,” holds significant influence over 14 assembly seats in the Kolhan region, where BJP currently has no representation. His joining is expected to strengthen BJP’s position in the area.
Heavy Rainfall Alert for 15 States, Gujarat Floods Kill 15, 23,000 Rescued
Monsoon remains active across eastern, northeastern, western, central, and southern parts of India. The Meteorological Department has issued a heavy rainfall alert for 15 states today. In Gujarat, 15 people have died in the last three days due to floods. The army has been deployed in Rajkot, Anand, Morbi, Kheda, Vadodara, and Dwarka, where 23,000 people have been rescued so far.
Strong system to form in MP on August 29-30: Madhya Pradesh is expected to experience heavy rainfall again on August 29-30, with the beginning of September also seeing intense rain. The state has received 88% of its seasonal rainfall so far. In Bihar, rivers are in spate, with water levels rising in Bhagalpur, Munger, and Vaishali. Uttar Pradesh continues to experience rain, with 12% less rainfall this season.
PM Modi Talks to Putin Over Phone, Discusses Ukraine War for the Second Time in Two Months
Four days after his visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone. Modi shared this on X, stating that they discussed strengthening the India-Russia Special and Strategic Partnership and exchanged views on the Russia-Ukraine war. This marks the second time in two months that Modi has discussed the war with Putin, following their meeting in Moscow on July 8.
Spoke with Biden a day earlier: On August 26, Prime Minister Modi also had a conversation with US President Joe Biden, reaffirming India’s support for peace and stability in Ukraine. Modi and Biden also discussed issues related to Bangladesh, emphasizing the safety of minorities, particularly Hindus.
India Develops RT-PCR Kit for Monkeypox Detection, Gives Results in 40 Minutes
Within 15 days of the public emergency declaration, India has developed an RT-PCR kit for Monkeypox detection, named IMDX Monkeypox Detection RT-PCR Assay. Developed by Siemens Healthineers, this kit delivers test results in just 40 minutes.
WHO declared Mpox a health emergency on August 14: The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox, also known as Monkeypox, a global public health emergency on August 14, marking the second time in two years that this disease has been declared an emergency. The new strain of the virus (Clade-1) is more contagious and has a higher mortality rate compared to previous strains.