1. BJP Leader’s Home Set Ablaze Amid Renewed Manipur Unrest
In a fresh wave of violence in Manipur, the house of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson was set on fire on Saturday, during protests by Kuki-Zo tribal people demanding separate administrative status. The arson attack occurred in Peniel village in Manipur’s Churachandpur district, targeting the residence of the parents of Michael Lamjathang Haokip, a BJP spokesperson and a leader of the Thadou tribe. Some members of the Thadou tribe are pushing for a rapprochement with the Meitei community and prefer not to be identified as ‘Kuki.’
2. Haryana Poll Date Rescheduled to Accommodate Bishnoi Festival
The Election Commission of India has rescheduled the Haryana Assembly elections to October 5, 2024, citing the “centuries-old festival of the Bishnoi community.” Initially slated for October 1, 2024, the polling date was adjusted to accommodate the festival. The counting of votes for both the Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana Assembly elections has also been moved from October 4 to October 8, 2024, according to the Commission’s latest notification.
3. Nadda and Bhagwat Meet in Kerala
During a three-day coordination meeting in Palakkad, Kerala, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) paid tribute to the victims of the Wayanad landslide. The gathering, attended by 300 Sangh Parivar office-bearers, also saw the presence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief J.P. Nadda. This is the first meeting between Nadda and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat following Nadda’s controversial comment suggesting the BJP no longer needed RSS support. The two leaders reportedly held a private meeting lasting around 25-30 minutes.
4. Wrestler Vinesh Phogat Joins Farmers’ Protest at Shambhu Border
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat joined the farmers’ protest at the Shambhu border on Saturday, marking the 200th day of the ongoing agitation. The protest, which began following a blocked march to Delhi on February 13, continues to demand legal guarantees for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops.
5. Bihar Minister Giriraj Singh Attacked During Public Event
Union Minister Giriraj Singh narrowly escaped an attack during a public gathering in Begusarai, Bihar. The incident took place at a Janata Darbar organized in his home constituency, approximately 125 kilometers from Patna. As the 71-year-old minister was concluding the event, a man seized the microphone and attempted to punch him. Quick intervention by party workers and security personnel prevented the attack from escalating.
6. UN Agencies Launch Polio Vaccination Campaign in Gaza
UN agencies, in collaboration with local health authorities, are set to launch a large-scale polio vaccination campaign targeting 640,000 children in the Gaza Strip. This effort will depend on brief, localized pauses in the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters, with the first vaccination window scheduled to begin on Sunday.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized that to achieve effective immunization, at least 90% of children under the age of 10 must be vaccinated within a short time frame. This initiative comes in response to the discovery of Gaza’s first polio case in 25 years. A UN expert has warned that more children could already be infected and stressed the potential risk of a broader regional outbreak if swift action is not taken.
7. China and Philippines Blame Each Other After Ships Collide in South China Sea
Tensions between China and the Philippines have escalated following a collision between coast guard vessels from both countries in a contested area of the South China Sea. The Philippines accused a Chinese ship of “deliberately” ramming its vessel, while China countered that the Philippines “intentionally” crashed into its ship.
The incident occurred on Saturday near the Sabina Shoal, a hotspot in the ongoing maritime dispute between the two nations. This is the latest in a series of confrontations over the past two weeks involving ships from both sides, further straining relations over territorial claims in the South China Sea.
8. Social Media Platform X Blocked in Brazil Following Legal Dispute
The popular social media platform X has gone offline in Brazil after Elon Musk, its owner, refused to comply with local laws. This led to the Brazilian Supreme Court ordering a nationwide ban on the platform.
On Saturday morning, millions of users in Brazil, which has the fifth-largest digital population globally, found themselves unable to access X. The block was enforced by internet service providers and mobile network operators, effectively cutting off the platform’s access in the country.
9. Donald Trump Backs Legalizing Recreational Marijuana in Florida
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana use in Florida. In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump stated that the amendment would legalize “personal amounts of marijuana for adults,” regardless of public opinion.
Trump argued that “someone should not be a criminal in Florida when this is legal in so many other states,” and called for an end to what he sees as unnecessary legal action and expenditure of taxpayer dollars on arresting adults for possession of small amounts of marijuana.
10. Switzerland Considers Shifting 500-Year Neutrality Policy Amid Security Concerns
Switzerland is facing growing calls to reevaluate its 500-year-old policy of neutrality in light of escalating security threats. A newly released report suggests the country, neutral since 1515, should consider strengthening its defense ties with the European Union (EU) and NATO.
Prompted by fears over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggressive actions in Ukraine, the report, prepared by a panel of experts including senior diplomats and former military leaders, recommends that Switzerland align itself more closely with NATO and the EU on defense matters to enhance national security.
