Day of the Year
National System Administrator Appreciation Day
- National System Administrator Appreciation Day is an international celebration of system admins across the globe. This day acts as an official recognition of geekdom and of the time and effort these device-doctors and tech-therapists sacrifice as they work their magic, often at the most unsocial of hours. Also known as SysAdmin Day, this day is set aside to show appreciation for system administrators as well as other IT workers.
- The day got its start in the year 2000, when Kekatos was inspired by a Hewlett Packard advertisement in a magazine. The ad featured a systems administrator who was receiving flowers and gifts in appreciation for installing a printer. Kekatos realized that this was an all-too rare occurrence, so he started National System Administrator Appreciation Day to create better opportunities for this type of activity.
Latest Updates
States have unlimited right to tax mineral-rich lands: SC
- A nine-judge Constitution Bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, on Thursday held by an 8:1 majority that Parliament cannot limit the power of State legislatures to tax mineral-bearing lands and quarries. The judgment, freeing States from the restrictions imposed by the Centre, is in tune with the federalist principles of governance.
- “Any dilution in the taxing powers of the State legislatures will necessarily impact their ability to raise revenues, which in turn will impede their ability to deliver welfare schemes and services to the people. The ability of the State governments to invest in physical infrastructure, health, education, human capacity, and research and development is directly correlated to the raising of government revenues… Fiscal federalism entails that the power of the States to levy taxes within the legislative domain carved out to them and subject to the limitations laid down by the Constitution must be secured from unconstitutional interference by Parliament,” the Chief Justice said.
- The verdict noted how mineral-rich States such as Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha continue to have per capita income below the national average.
News Capsule
Over one lakh cusecs likely to be released from KRS dam; flood warning issued
- In the wake of heavy rain in the catchment areas, the water release from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam across the Cauvery will be stepped up to over one lakh cusecs from the 70,000 cusecs at present.
- A release from Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd. (CNNL) and the Mandya district administration on Thursday evening said the outflow from the KRS dam would be stepped up to one lakh cusecs to 1.5 lakh cusecs in due course.
- This will be the highest in terms of outflow from the dam in the last two years and is due to the dam attaining the full level of 124.8 ft with no let-up in the rate of inflow into the reservoir.
- Issuing a flood warning, authorities directed people in low-lying areas and those living on the banks downstream to move to safer locations.
The ‘geo-calculus’ of the Moscow visit
Two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to Russia, his first bilateral trip in the third tenure of the government, the dust from the storm it kicked up in the United States and Europe is only just beginning to settle. The evident warmth between Mr. Modi and the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, drew sharp criticism from the Ukraine President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and also a series of statements from the U.S. State Department, the National Security Adviser and the U.S. Ambassador to India, expressing disappointment. New Delhi has asserted its “freedom of choice” but has moved to allay concerns that anything fundamental has changed in India’s worldview as a result of the Russia visit. It would be a mistake, however, to assume that nothing has indeed changed, purely by examining formal outcomes. In many ways, Mr. Modi’s visit was the message itself.
The Karnataka Bill is a symptom of a larger problem
- The Karnataka Reservation Bill has been panned almost universally and also generated so much controversy that the State government was forced to pause it and issue assurances. The Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in the Industries, Factories and Other Establishments Bill, 2024, as it is called, mandates 50% and 70% reservation in management categories and non-management categories, respectively.
- The Bill, as currently drafted, may be too heavy-handed and some provisions may need a rethink. However, a deeper conversation about the underlying issues — namely, India’s exploding jobs crisis and regional socio-economic disparities — is required before knee-jerk dismissal.
In U.S., Netanyahu calls for global alliance against Iran
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Gaza ceasefire demonstrators on Wednesday and called for a global alliance against the Iranian regime he accuses of funding them, as he addressed a U.S. Congress divided by the war.
- Washington has become increasingly alarmed by the humanitarian toll of Israel’s nine-month campaign in the narrow coastal territory, and protests in Israel and the U.S. have been ratcheting up pressure on Mr. Netanyahu.
- The Prime Minister hit back at his critics in a speech at the United States Capitol, accusing Tehran of funding and promoting U.S.-based anti-Israel protest — and called Gaza peace activists “Iran’s useful idiots”.
- “America and Israel today can forge a security alliance in the West Asia to counter the growing Iranian threat,” he told lawmakers as demonstrators burned his effigy in the streets beyond the historic Capitol complex.
- “All countries that are in peace with Israel, and all those countries who will make peace with Israel, should be invited to join this alliance.”
