Current Affairs - National

Typhoon Ampil, the third major typhoon this year, is threatening Japan, causing widespread cancellations of flights and train services during the major holiday week, as it heads towards the archipelago after Tropical Storm Maria. The typhoon, expected to hit Tokyo and the Pacific coast on Friday and Saturday, has led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights and train services, significantly impacting travel plans. With gusts up to 180km/h and warnings of floods, officials urge safety measures as the weather agency predicts violent gusts, floods, and landslides in eastern regions. This typhoon season is particularly intense, with climate change influencing storm behaviour, intensifying, and lasting longer over land, posing significant challenges to Japan's preparedness and response efforts.

Vantara, India’s first-of-its-kind animal rescue and rehabilitation centre founded by Anant Ambani and supported by Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation, aims to restore balance and preserve biodiversity in India. Located within the Jamnagar Refinery Complex, Vantara spans 3,000 acres, offering state-of-the-art healthcare facilities and research centres. Over 2,000 species, including over 200 elephants, have been rescued, show

The Delhi Metro celebrated a significant milestone on August 13 by recording its highest-ever passenger count, with 72.38 lakh passengers travelling through its extensive network of over 393 km and more than 288 stations. This achievement surpasses previous records set in February and throughout August 2023. The Delhi Metro has become the most visited public transport system globally, underscoring its importance as a vital mode of travel in India's bustling capital city.

The Bangladesh crisis has significantly impacted Kolar's tomato farmers, who face steep losses due to the sudden halt in exports to Bangladesh and reduced demand from Indian markets. Kolar, known as Asia's second-largest tomato market, has been forced to sell its high-quality tomatoes locally for much lower prices. Farmers are concerned about their livelihoods as prices have plummeted by 60%.

The Kolkata Police have arrested 25 individuals for vandalizing the RG Kar Hospital amid protests by women in West Bengal. Investigators have noted the emergency ward, intensive care unit, and other areas were damaged. The police are examining evidence, including the sequence of events captured on camera and the profiles of arrestees, to determine if there was a pre-arranged attack or if the protests evolved spontaneously. The investigation continues to assess if the protests were coordinated or if they evolved spontaneously, with a focus on whether there was a deliberate act of vandalism by the individuals involved.