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The West Bengal government on Saturday, August 17, ordered the transfer of 42 doctors involved in the RG Kar Hospital protest, a move condemned by the medical community and opposition parties. Critics, including opposition parties and the United Doctors Front Association (UDFA), argue that the transfers are a punitive measure against those supporting the ongoing medical students' and junior doctors' demonstrations.
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The Union Health Ministry announced on Saturday, August 17, the formation of a committee to recommend safety measures for healthcare professionals, inviting input from all stakeholders, including state governments. The move comes as doctors across the country protest the alleged rape and murder of a resident doctor in Kolkata. The ministry has urged agitating doctors to resume duties, especially in light of the rising dengue and malaria cases.
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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to visit Chennai on August 18 to attend two significant events. He will participate in the release of a commemorative coin marking Kalaignar Karunanidhi’s birth centenary and also inaugurate a new state-of-the-art Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) building.
Tomorrow, 18th August, I shall be in Chennai to attend Kalaignar Karunanidhi’s birth centenary commemorative coin release event.
Also, I shall be attending inaugural function of a newly constructed state-of-the-art Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre…— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 17, 2024
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The representatives of the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Resident Doctors' Associations of Governmental Medical Colleges & Hospitals of Delhi have met the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare at New Delhi in the aftermath of the incident against a resident doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.
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Healthcare services took a hit across West Bengal on Saturday as doctors joined their junior colleagues in the cease work, demanding justice for the rape and murder of a medic at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
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Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates flagged off the first India Day celebrations in the Greater Seattle Area in the United States.
A flag hoisting ceremony was held during the celebrations and dignitaries including Bill Gates spoke during the event.
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At least 20 coaches of the Sabarmati Express train number 19168 derailed between Kanpur and Bhimsen station in Uttar Pradesh at 2:30 am on August 17, officials said. “No injury to any person has been reported as of now. We are trying to find details regarding the number of coaches derailed,” the official said, as per news agency PTI.
New Delhi, August 17: The father of the young doctor who was tragically raped and murdered last week at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata voiced his concerns on Friday, questioning why his daughter went uncontacted for several hours while on duty. He revealed that his daughter left for duty around 8:10 am and was last in touch with her mother at 11:15 pm the previous night. However, despite being on call from 3 am to 10 am, no one reached out to her during that time.
"My daughter left for duty around 8:10 am and last spoke to her mother at 11:15 pm. When my wife tried calling her in the morning, her phone rang, but she didn’t answer as she had already passed away by then," he said. Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case: ‘Entire Department is a Suspect’, Says Father of Deceased Medic, Raises Concerns Over Institutional Neglect (Watch Video).
He also expressed support for the ongoing protests, describing those demonstrating as “like my own children.” He further mentioned that his daughter had faced issues in college, leading him to suspect that the entire department might be involved. The father confirmed he has spoken to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials, though he refrained from commenting further due to the ongoing investigation. Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Threatens To Protest in Delhi if CBI Fails To Crack RG Kar Case by August 18, Blames Opposition for Hospital Ransacking Incident.
In another news, Following a recent surge in violence in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grave concern about the safety of Hindus and other minorities in the neighbouring country. In his Independence Day speech, Modi highlighted the distress of over 140 crore Indians regarding the situation in Bangladesh and termed the attacks on Hindus as "worrisome."
A day after Modi's speech, Bangladesh's interim government chief advisor, Professor Muhammad Yunus, reached out to Modi via phone on Friday. During their conversation, Yunus assured Modi of the Bangladeshi government's commitment to ensuring the protection and safety of Hindus and other minorities in the country. Modi shared this update in a post on 'X' (formerly Twitter), emphasising the supportive stance of India towards a democratic, stable, and progressive Bangladesh.