 "FirstUp: Trump’s Russia deadline; SC to hear plea on J-K statehood... The news today")
It is a busy day.
US President Donald Trump’s deadline for Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine ends today.
The Supreme Court is likely to hear a plea today that asks the Centre to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will deliver a National Day message today, a day before National Day.
West Bengal is expected to see fresh protests starting today, as several groups plan protests marking one year since the RG Kar rape and murder case.
Let’s take a look:
Trump’s deadline for Russia to end Ukraine war expires
The deadline set by US President Donald Trump for the Russian president to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or face sanctions on oil exports comes to an end today.
A White House official told Reuters that Trump could meet Vladimir Putin as early as next week, with the US continuing to prepare for secondary sanctions. These could also target countries like China in a bid to push Moscow towards ending the war.
Trump has shown growing frustration with Putin over the lack of progress on peace and has warned of steep tariffs on nations buying Russian oil and other exports.
Washington has warned of “severe tariffs” and other financial measures if the violence continues.
Trump has also spoken of raising import taxes on countries that purchase Russian oil, which could lead to higher tariffs for nations like China and India.
SC to hear plea on restoration of statehood of J&K
The Supreme Court is likely to hear a plea today asking the Centre to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The petition says that even after the court upheld the removal of Article 370, which gave special status to J-K, there has been no move to bring back statehood. It argues that this goes against the principle of federalism.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIn its December 2023 judgment, the Supreme Court said Article 370 was only a temporary part of the Constitution. It ruled that the President had the power to revoke it after the Constituent Assembly of the former state ended in 1957.
Singapore’s Wong to deliver National Day address
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will deliver the National Day message today, on the eve of the country’s National Day.
This will be his second National Day message as prime minister, after taking office on May 15, 2024.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong will deliver the speech in Mandarin.
Associate Professor Faishal Ibrahim, who serves as Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs, will deliver the address in Malay.
Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Manpower, Dinesh Vasu Dash, will deliver the message in Tamil.
Protests in Bengal over RG Kar case anniversary
Fresh protests are expected in West Bengal starting today, as various groups plan demonstrations to mark one year since the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August last year.
Her body was found on the morning of August 9 inside a seminar hall on the hospital premises.
While civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, the only person convicted in the case, has already been given a life sentence by a trial court, the Central Bureau of Investigation has yet to finish its probe into the alleged “larger conspiracy” behind the crime.
Last year’s protests mainly targeted the state government and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
This year, the protests are expected to take a wider view, also raising questions about the CBI’s failure to complete a full investigation.
With inputs from agencies
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