Top events today: MVA calls off Maharashtra Bandh, Rajnath Singh’s US visit, and many more

Top events today: There are a host of developments, updates and events expected in India and internationally in the political, educational, sports and general spheres on August 23. We take a look:

Mission Rhumi 2024: India's first hybrid rocket launched

India successfully launched its first reusable hybrid rocket named RHUMI 1 today. Launched from the TTDC Ground in east Coast Road in Chennai, RHUMI 1 has been developed by a Tamil Nadu-based start-up called Space Zone India.

The rocket will propel three Cube Satellites and fifty PICO Satellites to a suborbital trajectory. The rocket's innovative design emphasizes flexibility and reusability.

The rocket is equipped with several innovative features such as an adjustable launch angle, which can be changed from 0 to 120 degrees, an eco friendly descent system among several others.

Maharashtra Bandh 2024

While the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has withdrawn its call for Maharashtra Bandh, following a Bombay High Court (HC) ruling that it will cripple lives, the coalition will now hold peaceful demonstrations and tie black bands around their mouth to protest against the Badlapur school sexual abuse case.

“We have called off August 24 Maharashtra bandh but opposition leaders will protest with black bands around their mouth. We don’t agree with the Bombay High Court order on bandh,” confirmed Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.

The bandh, supported by the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Nationalist Congress Party, was announced after massive protests erupted in Badlapur, halting local train services in the city.

Rajnath Singh US visit; bilateral talks : Day Two

Today marks Day 2 of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to the US. On Day 1 of his visit, Rajnath Singh, upon his meeting with US defence secretary Austin Lloyd, highlighted several collaborative opportunities in the India-US Defence Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, which was adopted in 2023.

Rajnath Singh, and Ausitn Lloyd further appreciated the progress made in operationalising the Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness, which is a Quad initiative. India's efforts to enhance the Maritime Domain Awareness for the partners in the Indian Ocean Region, was also lauded during the talks.

The Defence Minister and Secretary Austin also commended the efforts of the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) for establishing the Defence Innovation bridge between the two countries.

The upcoming INDUS X Silicon Valley Summit in September 2024 will further witness announcements of several key initiatives, the Ministry of Defence stated.

Amit Shah to chair anti-Naxal review meeting Chhattisgarh's Raipur

According to official sources, Amit Shah will assess both the measures taken against Naxal insurgency and the advancement of infrastructure projects in regions known as Red corridors within nine states troubled by Left Wing Extremism (LWE).

The meeting will also witness the participation of chief secretaries and director generals of police from neighbouring states including police chiefs of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and West Bengal. These are the states where Naxalism has been constricted, as per the latest data collated by the Ministry of Home Affairs, reported ANI.

Kolkata doctor, rape murder : Protests underway, Kolkata police bans gathering near RG Kar 

Doctors in West Bengal have said they will continue their strike to protest against the rape and murder of their colleague at the RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, despite the Supreme Court's appeals.

The top court on Thursday, had asked the protesting doctors to resume work, and assured them that no adverse action will be taken once they rejoin.

Four colleagues of the victim, would be put through the lie detector test to check if they have been involved in the case, said CBI.

Massive protests had erupted nationwide, severely affecting healthcare services, after a trainee resident doctor was brutally raped, and murdered in the seminar hall of R.G Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, on August 9.

The Supreme Court had taken suo moto cognizance of the case, in which the Chief Justice hauled up the Bengal government for the delay in registering FIRs and autopsy, after the victim's death was reported.

(with inputs from agencies)