This week, former Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu was arrested in an alleged corruption case that led to violent protests by TDP supporters. He has been sent to 14-day judicial custody. Meanwhile, a rising Nipah scare has gripped the state of Kerala with fresh cases coming forth. Karnataka and Rajasthan governments have advised the residents to avoid travelling to the state. On the other hand, the Centre has released the agenda for the upcoming special session of the Parliament which includes four bills. Apart from this, the Libyan city of Derna witnessed massive chaos due to a flood that killed over 11,000 people while thousands more are feared dead. This came within days after the north African country Morocco was hit by a strong earthquake killing over 2,800 people.
INDIA
Nipah Alert In Kerala: Containment Zones Declared In Kozhikode, Only Essential Services Allowed
The Kerala government has said all officials in the state are on alert in the wake of two deaths caused by the Nipah Virus in the state. Health Minister Veena George said that a high-level meeting was held and 18 panels were formed. She said 75 rooms were prepared in the Kozhikode Medical College and two centres and a five kilometre distance around them were declared containment zones.
Speaking in the Assembly, State Health Minister Veena George said that the Bangaldesh strain of the virus has ben detected in the state and said it the variant that spreads from human to human and has a high mortality rate, though it is less infectious.
Ex-Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu Arrested In Corruption Case
The Criminal Investigation Department on Saturday arrested former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu in a corruption case. The former CM was arrested around 6 am from R K Function Hall at Gnanapuram in Nandyala town, said an official, as per a PTI report. Naidu’s counsel said they will approach the High Court for bail.
“CID has taken Chandrababu for a medical check-up after high Blood Pressure and diabetes were detected. We are approaching the High Court for bail,” said the counsel, as per an ANI report. High drama was witnessed in Nandyal district when the police officials reached to arrest Naidu in connection to the alleged corruption charges as a group of workers got into an argument with the policemen. The workers questioned the late-night action against the TDP chief and a minor scuffle also took place between the two parties.
Centre Releases Agenda Of Special Parliamentary Session, Four Bills In Govt’s ‘Tentative List’
The Centre on Wednesday released the agenda for Parliament’s special session starting from September 18 to 22. According to the Parliamentary Bulletin, two bills will be taken up in the Lok Sabha and two in the Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage. A discussion on “Parliamentary Journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha – Achievements, Experiences, Memories and Learnings” will be held in Lok Sabha on September 18, the first day of the special session, as per the bulletin.
The government has listed the controversial bill on the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner, other election commissioners for the Parliament session. The bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha during the last Monsoon session. Other bills listed under the session’s ‘Legislative Business’ in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, include The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023, and The Post Office Bill, 2023.
WORLD
Thousands have lost their lives while over 10,000 continue to be missing after a destructive flood in Libya tore apart the city of Derna. According to The Associated Press, the authorities blocked civilians from entering the flood-stricken eastern city on Friday to allow search teams to look through the mud and wrecked buildings for people still missing. The toll has risen to 11,300, while many more are presumed to be dead.
The disaster was triggered after two dams collapsed following heavy rains and sent a massive flood through the Mediterranean city early Monday, the report added. The oil-rich state has already been suffering the split between rival governments in the east and west since 2014 and the catastrophic development has nearly perished the country.
Kim, Putin Discuss Military Matters, Ukraine War, Satellites As US Warns Of More Sanctions
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday discussed military matters, the war in Ukraine, and possible Russian help for Pyongyang’s satellite programme as the two leaders sat down for a rare summit. The talks were held for several hours with their ministers where world affairs were discussed and possible areas of cooperation one-on-one. The meeting was followed by an opulent lunch of Russian “pelmeni” dumplings stuffed with Kamchatka crab and then sturgeon with mushrooms and potatoes.
Joe Biden’s Son Hunter Charged Over Making ‘False’ Statements On Firearm Purchase
US President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden was criminally charged with three counts related to making “false statements” in connection with the purchase of a firearm, news agency Reuters reported. It is the first time that the child of a sitting president has been prosecuted. According to the report, the indictment was filed in the US District Court with three criminal counts related to Huner Biden making false statements in connection with the purchase of a firearm and illegally possessing the firearm as a drug addict.
SPORTS
India registered their win by the highest-margin against Pakistan in their Asia Cup Super Fours fixture at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Monday (September 11). The Men in Blue beat their arch-rivals by 228 runs. In a match that was played across two days with a reserve day coming into picture, each of India’s top four batters scored at least a half-century. While Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill scored fifties, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli slammed unbeaten hundreds to help India post 356/2. In response, Kuldeep Yadav’s fifer ensured India bowl Pakistan out for 128.
ICC ODI Rankings: Shubman Gill Attains Career-Best Spot; Rohit, Kohli Also In Top-10
Opener Shubman Gill has achieved a career-best second position and is the highest-ranked among three Indian batters, who are now in the top 10 of the ICC Men’s ODI rankings issued on Wednesday. The other two Indians in the top-10 are skipper Rohit Sharma (8th) and the peerless Virat Kohli (9th). Last time, three Indian batters were in ODI’s top-10 list, it was way back in January, 2019.
Virat Kohli was among the players rested for India’s final Super Four match in Asia Cup with the team already assured of a place in the final. Even though he was not in the Playing 11, Kohli still found a way to hog limelight. The right-handed batter’s animated act as he was coming on to the ground to serve drinks to his teammates during the match has gone viral on social media. Kohli less India went on to lose the match by 6 runs in Colombo.
ENT
Parineeti Chopra, Raghav Chadha To Have A Pearl White Indian Wedding. Details Revealed
Parineeti Chopra, Raghav Chadha’s wedding is round the corner. After their wedding reception card went viral on social media a few days ago, the entire Parineeti-Raghav wedding schedule is out. ABP News got hold of the wedding invite with details of all the functions and going by the details given in the card their wedding will have themes like 90s’ edition, Blooms & Bites, and a white-themed wedding.
The invite shows animated glimpses of groom and brides from the royal palaces. The wedding will take place over two days on Sep 23-24 at The Leela Palace, Udaipur, and The Taj Lake. The guest will be invited on September 23 with a welcome lunch. Parineeti’s chooda ceremony will be held on the same day and the day will end with a 90s theme party. The wedding will take place on 24th with pheras around 4 pm followed by a reception.
Captain America actor Chris Evans and Portuguese actor Alba Baptista have exchanged vows over the weekend in an intimate ceremony. The wedding took place in Massachusetts at their Boston-area home. Entertainment website PageSix quoted an insider saying the nuptials — which took place on Saturday — were “locked down tight”, as guests signed NDAs and phones were forfeited.
The couple is yet to issue an official confirmation. Evans, 42, and Baptista, 26, invited their closest family and friends to the ceremony, added the insider.
Naseeruddin Shah Finds Films Like The Kerala Story, Gadar 2 And The Kashmir Files ‘Disturbing’
Naseeruddin subtly criticised the Sunny Deol film Gadar 2 for being “jingoistic” and “regressive” in tone. Since its premiere on August 11, ‘Gadar 2’, directed by Anil Sharma, has broken several box office records. The film’s total box office earnings in India have exceeded Rs 500 crore mark. In an interview with Free Press Journal, Naseeruddin Shah expressed concern that jingoism was becoming the driving force behind the success of Bollywood films.
He said, “Now the more jingoist you are, the more popular you become, because this is what has been ruling this country. It’s not enough to love your country, but beat drums about it and you have to create imaginary enemies. What these people don’t realise is that what they are doing is very harmful. In fact, films like ‘Kerala Story’ and ‘Gadar 2’, I haven’t seen them but I know what they are about.”
BUSINESS
Wholesale Inflation Remains Negative For Fifth Month, Rises Slightly To -0.52% In August
India’s wholesale price-based inflation has continued its negative trend for the fifth month in a row, with the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) standing at -0.52 per cent in August, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Thursday. The WPI inflation rate has been consistently negative since April when it stood at -4.18 per cent and was -1.36 per cent in July. In August last year, the WPI inflation rate stood at 12.48 per cent.
“The negative rate of inflation in August 2023 is primarily due to fall in prices of mineral oils, basic metals, chemical & chemical products, textiles and food products as compared to the corresponding month of previous year,” the commerce and industry ministry said on Thursday.
India’s Exports Decline 6.86 Per Cent, Trade Deficit Narrows To $24.16 Billion
India’s merchandise exports slipped 6.86 per cent to $34.48 billion in August this year as against $37.02 billion reported in the same month last year, data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed on Friday. Imports of merchandise also declined by 5.23 per cent to $58.64 billion as against $61.88 billion reported in August 2022.
The country’s trade deficit in the month stood at $24.16 billion, narrowing 2.8 per cent when compared to the $24.86 billion deficit reported in the same month last year.
Brent Crude Trading Above $94/Barrel Mark Amid Output Cuts, Experts See More Price Rise
Crude oil prices have been surging for the past three consecutive weeks with the Brent Crude benchmark surpassing the $94 per barrel mark on Friday. Analysts have attributed these price surges to supply tightening by oil producers like Russia and Saudi Arabia and China cutting banks’ cash reserve requirements by 25 basis points to boost its economic recovery.
Better-than-expected Chinese economic data with the expectation of more oil consumption pushed the prices on Friday, according to a Reuters report. The report noted data released by China’s National Bureau on Friday which indicated a rise in oil refinery processing, reaching a record high of 64.69 million tonnes in August.
TECH
Apple Event 2023 Launches: Familiar Faces With Some Key Changes
In a whirlwind showcase, Apple unveiled its latest lineup of products during the 2023 “Wonderlust” event. While the event held its usual charm, there were no earth-shattering surprises, as many of the anticipated features and adjustments had been rumoured beforehand.
The spotlight of the event shone brightly on the iPhone 15 series, including the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Notably absent from the lineup was the new iPhone SE, with rumours suggesting its possible appearance next year. A headline-grabbing move was Apple’s decision to retire the Lightning port across the entire iPhone 15 series, conforming to the European Union’s mandate for USB-C charging.
The Apple Watch Series 9 introduces an upgraded chipset, the S9 chip, boasting 5.6 billion transistors and a GPU that is 30 per cent faster than its predecessor. The addition of a second-gen ultra-wideband chip enhances precision in locating misplaced iPhones.
How Much Do The New iPhones Cost?
The iPhone 15 series caters to various budgets, with the base model, iPhone 15, starting at a price point of Rs 79,900 for the 128GB variant. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Plus, equipped with a 128GB model, begins at Rs 89,900. These devices offer a choice of five vibrant colour options, including Blue, Pink, Yellow, Green, and Black.
The complete pricing details for the iPhone 15 series are as follows:
iPhone 15 (128 GB): Rs 79,900
iPhone 15 (256 GB): Rs 89,900
iPhone 15 (512 GB): Rs 1,09,900
iPhone 15 Plus (128 GB): Rs 89,900
iPhone 15 Plus (256 GB): Rs 99,900
iPhone 15 Plus (512 GB): Rs 1,19,900
The complete pricing details for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are as follows:
iPhone 15 Pro (128 GB): Rs 1,34,900
iPhone 15 Pro (256 GB): Rs 1,44,900
iPhone 15 Pro (512 GB): Rs 1,64,900
iPhone 15 Pro (1 TB): Rs 1,84,900
iPhone 15 Pro Max (256 GB): Rs 1,59,900
iPhone 15 Pro Max (512 GB): Rs 1,79,900
iPhone 15 Pro Max (1 TB): Rs 1,99,900
Oppo May Offer Free Battery Replacement Soon
Handset maker Oppo is likely to introduce a free battery replacement programme for its buyers and the OEM may start with the Oppo A2 Pro 5G smartphone. According to famed tipster Digital Chat Station, the company is set to launch a four-year free battery replacement scheme soon, as spotted by Gizmo China. Another tipster named Whylab (translated from Chinese) has mentioned that Oppo, under the after-sales programme, will also offer a replacement if the battery’s health declines below 80 per cent within four years of purchasing the handset. This will be an upgrade from the current one or two-year warranty period that is offered by most smartphone OEMs.
SCIENCE
G20 Summit 2023: How The Green Development Pact Promises To Address Climate Change Challenges
At the 18th G20 (Group of Twenty) Summit, held from September 9 to 10, 2023, in New Delhi, a final agreement called the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration was adopted. This year’s summit focused on key climate issues, and on Saturday, September 9, a deal called the Green Development Pact for a Sustainable Future was signed. The pact recognises that the present and future generations can be prosperous only if current development and other policy choices and actions resolve environmentally sustainable practices and inclusive economic growth. The leaders have committed to address climate change challenges and environmental crises, especially those faced by the underprivileged communities living in the least developed countries, and small island developing states.
Lead exposure may have resulted in the loss of 765 million IQ points in children under five years of age, and about 5.5 million cardiovascular disease deaths in adults globally in 2019, new analysis has suggested. About 95 per cent of these impacts of lead exposure were observed in people living in low- and middle-income countries, a new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health has said. Children living in low- and middle-income countries lost an average of 5.9 IQ points during their first five years of life. The way lead exposure affects one’s health could be similar to the way particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), outdoor and indoor air pollution affect one’s health. The effect of lead exposure on global health is three times greater than the health effects of unsafe drinking water, sanitation, and handwashing, the study said.
The Indian state of Kerala has reported two deaths caused by the Nipah virus, as of September 12, 2023. One of them died in September, while the other died on August 30, 2023, an official from the National Institute of Virology has said, news agency Reuters reported. Since two more people from the family of one of the people who died from Nipah virus in Kerala were suspected to have been infected with the virus, and hence, their samples have been sent for testing, and their report has been sent to the Union health ministry. The Nipah virus strain which caused these deaths in Kerala is the Bangladesh variant, State Health Minister Veena George has said. This variant was first identified in Bangladesh in 2001.