FirstUp: 2024 Paralympics in Paris and other big headlines today
Aug. 28, 2024, midnight
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It is set to be a big news Wednesday.
The Summer Paralympics is set to open in Paris.
In West Bengal, the BJP has called for a 12-hour strike to protest the police action on a march to state secretariat Nabanna over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
A Delhi Court will hear an appeal by Rau’s IAS Study Circle to access premises shut after the deaths of UPSC aspirants in Delhi.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will hear petitions seeking a review of the 2022 PMLA verdict.
The Madras High Court to hear on former Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji’s bail plea in money laundering case.
Across the border, Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islam announced that it will launch a nationwide strike against inflation, reported Geo News.
The Polaris Dawn astronaut mission, delayed due to a helium leak discovered in the spacecraft, is scheduled to launch soon.
Let’s take a closer look:
Opening ceremony of 2024 Paralympic Games to take place in Paris
The Paralympic Games are set to begin in Paris today, with nearly 4,400 athletes participating. The opening ceremony will be held at the Place de la Concorde, where athletes with disabilities will compete for 549 medals across 22 sports over 11 days.
India's delegation to the Paralympics is the largest ever, comprising 179 members. This includes 84 athletes competing in 12 sports, 77 team officials, nine medical officials, and nine contingent officials.
“Given the unique requirements of some para-athletes, personal coaches have been included in the team. However, they will provide assistance to other players as instructed by the Chef de Mission/team head coach,” the Sports Ministry stated when approving the delegation.
BJP call for strike in Bengal after police action on march
The Bharatiya Janta Party has called for a 12-hour strike in West Bengal today to protest the police action on a march to the state secretariat Nabanna over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Advertisement Members of various organizations protest against violence against women at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. PTI Just yesterday, chaos erupted in Kolkata after police intercepted a protest march to the state secretariat. Riot police used teargas, water cannons, and batons to prevent the protesters from reaching the state secretariat. Some protesters were also seen throwing stones at the police.
Modi's Cabinet Set for Initial Gathering Following 3.0 Formation
Sources indicate that the Union Council of Ministers is expected to convene its inaugural meeting today. The precise agenda for the council gathering has yet to be finalized, sources report.
The Union Cabinet convened its first session on June 10th, the day succeeding the swearing-in ceremony. Prior to the Lok Sabha elections in March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had presided over a gathering of his then-Council of Ministers, where the 100-day plan for the incoming administration was deliberated upon.
Advertisement Delhi Court to consider if Rau’s IAS Study Circle can access premises after student deaths
A Delhi court will decide whether to allow Rau’s IAS Study Circle to access the premises of its Old Rajender Nagar building, where three UPSC aspirants died in July after rainwater flooded its basement. In an application, Rau’s IAS Study Circle CEO Abhishek Gupta sought relief, claiming that it was required to ensure the smooth running of classes.
During the legal arguments, senior advocate Rebecca John, representing Gupta, argued that access to the building was essential for the students to continue their academic pursuits. She asserted that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) lacked the authority to restrict access to the building.
Advertisement Madras HC to hear appeal on Senthil Balaji’s bail
The Madras High Court is set to hear former Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji’s appeal against a sessions court order refusing to discharge him from a money laundering case.
When the case was presented for hearing, Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan informed the court that charges had been formally established against Senthil Balaji in the money laundering case by Principal Sessions Judge S Alli. Furthermore, the trial had commenced with the examination of a prosecution witness. He added that the trial was adjourned to August 22 for the purpose of cross-examination.
Also Read: ED Uncovers Rs 22 Lakh Cash, Valuables at Driver's Residence Following Raids Against TN Minister Senthil Balaji Advertisement Balaji was apprehended on June 14, 2023 by the Enforcement Directorate in relation to a money laundering case connected to a cash-for-jobs scam. This scam transpired during his tenure as Transport Minister under a previous AIADMK administration.
Nationwide bank strike against action on Trade Union members
The All India Bank Employees Association has called for a nationwide strike today to protest against “political attacks” on trade union members. The strike was called after Bank of India served chargesheets to officers who attended a union event that was held in July 2024.
Bank of India issued chargesheets to 13 officials of the Bank of India Staff Union-Kerala for their participation in the 23rd Biennial Conference of the Bank of India Staff Union in the state on July 27, 2024.
SpaceX to launch Polaris Dawn astronaut
The launch of SpaceX’s historic Polaris Dawn astronaut mission will take place today. It had been scheduled to launch early Tuesday morning (August 27) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
But a helium leak has forced a delay of at least 24 hours.
“Teams are taking a closer look at a ground-side helium leak on the Quick Disconnect umbilical. Falcon and Dragon remain healthy and the crew continues to be ready for their multi-day mission to low Earth orbit. Next launch opportunity is no earlier than Wednesday, August 28,” SpaceX announced in an X post on Monday evening (Aug. 26).
SpaceX engineers are thoroughly investigating a helium leak detected on the Quick Disconnect umbilical. The Falcon and Dragon spacecraft are in good condition, and the crew remains ready for their multi-day mission.
Next launch opportunity is no earlier than Wednesday, August 28 →…
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) August 27, 2024 Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami announces nationwide strike against inflation
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Deputy Leader, Liaqat Baloch, announced that the party would organize a strike across the country on August 28 to pressure the government into providing relief to the general public, reported _Geo News_.
Baloch, during a press conference in Islamabad on Monday, stated that the trading community had decided unanimously to participate in a nationwide strike to protest inflation, high electricity rates, and the imposition of heavy taxes. He cautioned that any government attempts to suppress the strike would lead the country towards chaos.
On this day…
Birth anniversary of musician Ustad Vilayat Khan
Birth anniversary of poet Firaq Gorakhpuri
Birth anniversary of swimmer Janet Evans
Henry Hudson discovered Delaware Bay in 1609
Queen Wilhelmina opened the Peace Palace in The Hague in 1913
World War II: Marseille and Toulon were liberated in 1944
A power outage plunged 500,000 residents in southeast England into darkness in 2003.
Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana launched in 2014
