CURRENT AFFAIRS
27 JULY 2020
NATIONAL NEWS:
A) India could fast track clearances on imported vaccines.
A guidance document from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) said that the Indian companies who are looking to import or test potential COVID-19 vaccines, that have been developed internationally, could get leeway in the number of India-specific tests and trials they would need to conduct. The document was published on 23 May. It further said that the data which is generated outside India will be considered and examined and an abbreviated pathway may be considered for the COVID-19 vaccine based on scientific rationale.
B) Congress to move a no-confidence motion against the Chief Minister of Manipur.
The coalition Ministry in Manipur is likely to face a no-confidence motion on the one-day Assembly session which is scheduled on August 10. At the very same time, the Opposition party also said that they will move a contempt of court against the Speaker. In the meanwhile, 2 Congress MLAs are yet to give an answer to the party’s showcase notice in order to explain that why disciplinary actions should not be taken up against them for voting for BJP candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat in Manipur.
C) PM to inaugurate new testing centers.
On 27 July, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch high throughput novel coronavirus testing facilities in Noida, Mumbai, and Kolkata. The PMO said that these will ramp up testing capacity and help strengthen early detection and treatment in the country. As part of his monthly radio address on 26 July, PM Modi said that the COVID-19 recovery rate in India is far better as compared to other countries and the case fatality rate of covid19 is also much less as well.
D) Covid Watch – Numbers and Developments.
The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stands at 14,30,358 with the death toll at 32,816. The Union Health Ministry on 26 July said that about 36,145 patients have recuperated from COVID-19 in a span of 24 hours, the highest recorded in a day, pushing the recovery rate to 63.92%,. The Ministry further said that the COVID-19 case fatality rate has further dropped to 2.31%.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
A) 200 Chinese investment bids await MHA nod.
Approximately 200 investment proposals from China are waiting for security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after new rules which were notified in April. As per these new rules, prior approval is mandatory from the government for foreign direct investments (FDI) from those countries which share a land border with India. Since FDI is allowed through automatic routes, prior to these rules, the proposals have been passed without the approval of MHA. The prior approval from the government or the security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs was mandatory only for making investments in critical sectors and any investments from Pakistan and Bangladesh.
B) Poland set to quit the treaty on violence against women.
On 25 July, the Justice Minister of Poland said that steps will be taken from the next week to withdraw from a European treaty on violence against women. The Ministry would submit a request to the Labor and Families Ministry on 27 July to begin the process of withdrawing from the treaty which is known as the Istanbul Convention. The ruling Law of Poland and the Justice party has promoted a conservative social agenda. The government said that the treaty is disrespectful towards religion. Moreover, it also requires teaching social policies in schools that are liberal.
C) Russian Navy will soon get hypersonic n-weapons, says Putin. On 26 July, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Russian Navy would be armed with hypersonic nuclear strike weapons and underwater nuclear drones. The combination of fast speed and altitude of hypersonic missiles is capable of traveling at more than 5 times the speed of sound which makes them difficult to track and capture. Mr. Putin said at an annual naval parade at St. Petersburg that the capabilities of Navy were growing and the navy will get 40 new vessels this year.
D) The staff prepares to leave the U.S. consulate in Chengdu.
The staff of the U.S. consulate in Chengdu made final efforts to clear the premises on 26 July as security remained tight outside, ahead of a closure ordered by Beijing as China-U.S. relations continue to worsen. A mini tourist atmosphere was created outside the facility on a street on 26 July. The Police have asked the people to move on from there when the crowds were gathered outside the consulate. The onlookers were taking photos and videos of the compound. The street was closed only the consular or police vehicles were allowed to pass from there.
