CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -The subject of today’s hearing is the Senate-passed version of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA for short. Earlier this year, this legislation was unanimously reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and in May, passed the Senate by a voice vote.

Detailed explanation-2: -The US State Department currently lists four countriesas state sponsors of terrorism, ‘for having consistently provided support for acts of international terrorism’. Syria has been on the list since 1979, Iran since 1984, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) since 2017 and Cuba (again) since 2021.

Detailed explanation-3: -An Act to make special provisions for the prevention of, and for coping with, terrorist and disruptive activities and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. (1) This Act may be called the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987.

Detailed explanation-4: -JASTA’s intended purpose is to create a tort exception that allows victims and their families to seek justice for acts of international terrorism in the United States that are caused by terrorist torts of a foreign state or its officials.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 (POTA) was an Act passed by the Parliament of India in 2002, with the objective of strengthening anti-terrorism operations. The Act was enacted due to several terrorist attacks that were being carried out in India and especially in response to the attack on the Parliament.