Author: Shivali Varshney, Vidhyarthi Darpan

CURRENT AFFAIRS
25 JULY 2020

NATIONAL NEWS:

A) Rajasthan political situation back in flux.

The Rajasthan High Court on 24 July ordered a status quo to be maintained on the disqualification notices issued by Assembly Speaker C.P. Joshi to the former Congress leader Sachin Pilot and 18 supporting Congress MLAs. With this order, the court has effectively put the disqualification procedure on hold. No action will be taken against them till the Apex Court resume the hearing on the special leave petition of the speaker made on 27 July. Ashok Gehlot has said that he had requested the Governor of Rajasthan, Mr. Kalraj Mishra on July 23 to call a session of the Assembly. But there had been no response. He also claimed that the Governor was under pressure from the BJP central government not to call an assembly session. 

B) Don’t be too risk-averse: RBI governor tells banks.

On 24 July, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das said that the financial system of the country is sound but lenders should desist from extreme risk aversion during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. He told this in the biannual Financial Stability Report (FSR). He further said that the top priority right now for banks and financial intermediaries should be augmenting capital levels and improving resilience. The financial system in India is good, in the current environment. But the need for financial intermediaries to actively augment capital and improve their resilience has acquired top priority.

C) Covaxin human trials begin at AIIMS. 

The phase-I human clinical trial of India’s first indigenously-developed vaccine against the novel coronavirus, Covaxin, began at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on 23 July. The first dose of the injection was given to a man who is 30 years old. Since 18 July, more than 3,500 volunteers have registered themselves for the trial. Out of these, 22 persons are currently being screened. The first volunteer who is a resident of Delhi was screened 2 days ago and his parameters of health were found within the normal range. He also does not have any co-morbid conditions. Few more participants will be given the vaccine on 25 July after their screening reports come in.

D) MMS calls Narasimha Rao “father of economic reforms.”

Former PM of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh said that Former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao was a great son of the land.  He can honestly be called the father of economic reforms in India since he had the vision as well as the courage to push the economy forward. While addressing the inaugural function of the year-long birth centenary celebrations of the late Prime Minister, which was organized by the Congress’s Telangana unit, Manmohan Singh said that he is particularly happy that the program date coincides with the first Budget of Rao’s government, which was presented by him in 1991. The 1991 Budget is hailed by many as the one that set the foundations of a modern India by laying the roadmap for economic reforms in the country.

E) COVID Watch: Numbers and Developments. 

The number of coronavirus infections reported from India stood at 13,19,446 with the death toll at 31,038. The chief scientist of the WHO, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, has warned that a situation where a large section of the population has developed antibodies against Covid-19, is still a long way off though it can speed up by a vaccine. In a social media live event, which was organized by the WHO from Geneva, the scientist said that more waves of the infection would be required to get to a stage of natural immunity. 

F) SC gave time to lawyers in Prashant Bhushan’s Contempt case. 

The Supreme Court on 24 July gave time to the lawyers till 4 August to research and prepare their defense for civil rights lawyer Prashant Bhushan and former editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine, Tarun Tejpal in an old contempt case which has come back into the spotlight these days. The case was registered in 2009 after the court took suo motu cognizance of an interview in Tehelka, in which Bhushan had remarked about the judiciary and the presence of former CJI S.H. Kapadia on the Forest Bench of the apex court. The Bench had decided the Niyamgiri mining lease case in Odisha in favor of Sterlite Industries.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) With border talks set to continue, India imposes new economic curbs. 

India and China have agreed to hold another round of high-level military talks so as to move forward the disengagement process along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Meanwhile, in a move that is seen as primarily targeting Chinese businesses, India has slapped new trade curbs on companies from nations that share a land border with India. As per the new rules, companies from nations that share a land border with India are barred from bidding for government contracts for goods and services until they register with the industry department. This comes close on the heels of two earlier economic curbs the banning of 59 Chinese apps, and a rulemaking it mandatory for suppliers to mention the origin country on the e-Marketplace of the government while bidding for tenders.

B) No business as usual with China: Envoy

Indian envoy in Moscow Mr. D.B. Venkatesh Varma has said that India has made it clear to China that it will not do business with China until there is a complete disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India does not believe in a trade war with any country. However, The engagement of India with China on multilateral fora like Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS), Russia-India-China (RIC), and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was expected to continue. The statements come during the disengagement process at the LAC that appears to be stalled after an initial pullback by Chinese troops from some of the stand-off areas. Both countries were negotiating to resolve the situation. The ban on some Chinese apps is a step towards ensuring digital security. 

C) India invites Israeli defense companies to strengthen ties.

On 24 July, India invited greater participation from Israeli defense companies under the new liberalized foreign direct investment (FDI) regime in defense manufacturing. This was conveyed during a telephonic conversation between Defense Minister of India, Mr. Rajnath Singh, and his Israeli counterpart Lieutenant General Benjamin Gantz. The conversation took place as the Indian Armed Forces are undertaking a series of emergency defense purchases, including from Israel, amid ongoing tensions with China on the border.

D) China asks the U.S. to shut Chengdu consulate

On 24 July, China has ordered the U.S. consulate in the southwestern city of Chengdu to close its retaliation for one of its missions in the United States being shuttered. This was done during a furious week of Cold War-style diplomacy. In a statement given by the Foreign Ministry, it was said that ordering the Chengdu consulate to cease operation was a legitimate and necessary response to the unreasonable measures which were taken by the United States. The U.S. is responsible for the current situation in China-U.S. relations. 

E) Apple starts sales of India-made iPhone 11.

The contract manufacturer of Apple, Foxconn has started assembling the iPhone 11 in India. The flagship of the U.S. company device is being assembled at Foxconn’s Chennai plant. A small batch of iPhone 11 which are assembled-in-India had been dispatched to the retail market and was now on sale. Currently, iPhone XR and iPhone 11 are being assembled by Foxconn, which is situated in Chennai. The iPhone 7 is made by, Wistron, in Bengaluru, which is another partner. 

SPORTS NEWS 

A) IPL to be held in UAE. 

The BCCI has finalized the rescheduled window for the IPL from September 19 to November 8 in the UAE, pending government approval. In consultation with various stakeholders, they have decided on the same window, considering the various aspects required. The governing council will be formally convened once they get a formal response from the government, which they hope will happen early next week. The BCCI office-bearers were involved in discussions with franchise management, the broadcasting partner, and the Emirates Cricket Board over the last couple of days.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
24 JULY 2020

NATIONAL NEWS:

A) Women officers can now get permanent commission in the Army

A formal Government Sanction Letter has been issued by the Defense Ministry for grant of a permanent commission (PC) for women officers in the Army. The Selection Board will be scheduled soon after all the affected Short Service Commissioned (SSC) women officers exercise their option and complete the documentation process. The order specifies the grant of permanent commission to SSC women officers in all the 10 streams in which they presently serve. 

B) High Court adjourns hearing on capital Bills to August 6

On 22 July, a three-judge Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court has refused to conduct a piecemeal hearing of the writ petitions filed against the Decentralization and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill and the APCRDA Repeal Bill and their reintroduction by the State. They have cited a reason for the same by saying that when a situation is developing, all the matters have to be taken up together. The Bench, comprising Justices Rakesh Kumar, A.V. Sesha Sai, and M. Satyanarayana Murthy, gave liberty to a petitioner’s counsel to implead the Accountant-General to let them know about the costs involved in the construction of the capital and how much has been spent on it so far.

C) Recoveries continue to rise 

The number of active cases in India is 4,26,167 active with a fatality rate of 2.41% and the recovery rate at 63.18 %. This was as per the figures that were released by the Union Health Ministry on 22 July. It is for the second day in a row that recoveries in a single day continue to post a significant rise to 29,557. While the number of recovered cases has jumped to 7,82,606, there has been growth in the recovery rate, which stands at 63.18%. A higher number of patients getting cured and discharged has contributed to the increasing gap between recovered and the active cases. 

D) Independence Day event scaled down. 

The union ministry has said that the Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort will be limited to the Prime Minister’s speech, a 21-gun salute, unfurling of the national flag, the national anthem, and release of tricolor balloons. This decision was taken by keeping in view the limitations and precautionary steps in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The Ministry has issued detailed guidelines for the celebrations at the State, district and panchayat levels. They suggest inviting COVID-19 warriors such as doctors, health workers, sanitation workers as a recognition of their noble service. The Ministry asked different arms of the government to spread the message of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” on August 15. 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

A) India expects China to work sincerely: MEA

India has expected that China will work sincerely on the disengagement plan at the Line of Actual Control as agreed to by both the countries. In between the concerns that the process has slowed down after the People’s Liberation Army soldiers failed to withdraw from the ridges of the Finger areas around Pangong Tso lake. On 22 July, Anurag Srivastava, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said that It is their expectation that the Chinese side will sincerely work with them for complete disengagement and full restoration of peace and tranquility on the border areas at the earliest, which was agreed to by the Special Representatives. He further said that India would not accept any unilateral attempts to change the status quo along the LAC.

B) India and Israel to work on a rapid test

The Embassy in India on 22 July said that in the next few weeks, a special flight from Israel will land in India with a team of high-ranking team of Israel research and development in order to develop rapid testing for COVID-19 in under 30 seconds. The flight will also bring emerging technologies of Israel for combating COVID-19, which have been donated by the Foreign Ministry of Israel. The plane will also deliver some mechanical ventilators which were granted special permission by the Government of Israel for export to India. The delegation of Israel which is led by the Directorate of Defense Research and Development in the Ministry of Defense will conduct a series of tests to determine the effectiveness of a number of rapid diagnostic solutions along with Indian scientists. 

C) China launches an ambitious Mars mission. 

China has launched its most ambitious Mars mission on 22 July in a bold attempt to join the U.S. in successfully landing a spacecraft on Mars. Around 12-40 p.m., a Long March-5 carrier rocket took off from Hainan Island, south of China’s mainland. The space agency of China has said that the rocket carried the probe for 36 minutes before successfully placing it on the looping path that will take it beyond the orbit of earth and into more distant orbit around the sun of Mars. The tandem spacecraft of China will take seven months to reach Mars. It marked the second flight to Mars this week after a UAE orbiter blasted off on a rocket from Japan on 19 July.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
23 JULY 2020

NATIONAL NEWS:

 

A) Rajasthan Speaker moves SC in a Pilot case. 

On 22 July, Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Speaker C.P. Joshi challenged a State High Court order directing him to defer the Tenth Schedule proceedings against former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot till 24 July. Joshi described the court’s order as an interference by the judiciary in the Speaker’s exclusive domain. His petition, filed by advocate Sunil Fernandes, said the High Court order was an affront to the powers of the Speaker. Meanwhile, Pilot and 18 other MLAs filed a caveat in the apex court by urging that no order should be done ex-parte without informing their side. Joshi, too, has moved the Supreme Court, asking it to stop the Rajasthan High Court from pronouncing a verdict on the disqualification notices on Friday. 

B) Former SC judge B.S. Chauhan to head Vikas Dubey probe.      

The Supreme Court on 22 July, approved the Uttar Pradesh government’s choice of retired apex court judge Justice B.S. Chauhan to head the commission that will probe the gunning down of eight police officers and the encounter killings of their alleged assailants, history-sheeter Vikas Dubey, and his associates. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad A. Bobde said that the single most important aspect of the commission’s inquiry should be how Dubey came to be released on bail or parole. 

C) Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments.

The number of coronavirus cases reported from India stood at 12,35,388 with the death toll at 29,887. India reported its highest ever a number of recoveries on a single day, with 28,472 COVID-19 patients having been cured or discharged from hospitals in 24 hours, according to a statement from the Union Health Ministry on June 22. With this, the number of recovered patients stands at 7,53,049. This has strongly boosted the recovery rate to 63.13%

D) Writer and critic Kovai Gnani pass away.

Eminent writer, Tamil Marxist scholar and literary critic Kovai Gnani died on 22 July at his home in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. He was 85. His son Pari Vallal said that he died at 11.15 am due to age-related health problems. His eyesight had been impaired for more than 20 years. A key figure in the Vanambadi poetry movement in Coimbatore and an author of more than 50 books, Gnani promoted Tamil literature through several little magazines, including the likes of Parimanam, Nigazh, and Tamizhneyam.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

A) U.S. to buy 100 million doses of vaccine.

if Britain will able to successfully develop the vaccine, the U.S. government will pay $1.95 billion to buy 100 million doses of Pfizer Inc and the German biotech COVID-19 vaccine. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense said that the agreement allows the U.S. government to acquire an additional 500 million doses. Pfizer and BioNTech have been testing vaccines that require two injections in clinical trials.  Pfizer will deliver the doses if the product receives emergency use authorization or licensing from the U.S.

B) The US shuts down the Chinese consulate in Houston as tensions rise.

The United States has told China to shut down its consulate in Houston by 24 July. China has described this move as a political provocation. The Houston consulate is one of five in the U.S, not counting the embassy in Washington DC. The U.S. justified its decision by citing a need to protect American intellectual property and information from Chinese spying. Beijing condemned the order and threatened retaliation. China was considering closing the U.S. consulate in the city of Wuhan. China warns the U.S. to immediately withdraw its decision, otherwise, China will definitely take proper and necessary measures against this. 

C) India, China not to use UAVs at friction points. 

The armies of both Indian and China have agreed to not use unmanned aerial vehicles at the friction points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), other than for mutually agreed short time periods. The confidence-building measure has impacted real-time verification of the de-escalation process, as aerial objects cannot be used within 10 km of the face-off sites, a senior government. Earlier, the two armies had agreed to a 30-day moratorium on foot patrolling at all the friction points while they pulled back from their positions. The official said that as of now, they were not engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation at any of the points, but a continuous verification was required and they were prepared for the long haul. 

D) Facebook to set up two teams for evaluation of its policies and algorithms. 

Acknowledging that it needs to do more to combat racism on its platforms, Facebook has said that it is setting up two teams to evaluate its policies and algorithms. The equity team of Instagram and the Inclusive Product Council of Facebook will look for bias in algorithms and work to make both the platforms fair and safe for all. Recently, against the backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement, Facebook has been under fire for its failure to crack down on racist content and groups on its platforms.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
22 JULY 2020

NATIONAL NEWS:

A) Pune firm to make a billion doses of Oxford vaccine
The Serum Institute of India, based in Pune, said that it will apply for a license to start clinical trials of the coronavirus vaccine developed at Oxford University. The firm is the world’s largest vaccine-maker in terms of the number of doses produced and sold globally. It has partnered with biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to mass-produce the Oxford vaccine. With the trials of the SII’s COVID-19 vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University showing encouraging results, Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India (SII) had earlier said at least 300 million doses of the potential vaccine named ‘Covishield’ would be ready by December this year.

B) Caution against the use of respirator masks
A recent advisory from the Union Health Ministry said that the N-95 valved respirator masks do not prevent the virus from escaping out and thus may not aid in the containment of COVID-19. The Director-General of Health Services has alarmed against the use of N-95 respirator masks by telling that they do not prevent the virus from escaping outside, thus may not aid in the containment of Covid-19.
The Central government has told the need to wear at least home-made protective cover for the face and mouth whenever people step out of their residences. The advisory further said that the covers must be washed and cleaned each day and only cotton cloth must be used.

C) COVID Watch: Numbers and Developments
The number of coronavirus cases reported from India stood at 11,88,791 with the death toll at 28,747. The government said that their ultimate aim is to reduce Covid-19 cases positivity rates to 5% and maintain aggressive testing levels. The ministry added that 30 states and union territories already had lower figures than the national average. It further said that cases per million in India is 837, which is very low compared to the figures for other countries. Deaths per million population are 20.4 as compared to 77 in the rest of the world.

D) 23% Delhiites have antibodies to the virus
The results of Delhi’s seroprevalence study, released on 20 July showed that 23.48% of the people surveyed had developed IgG(Immunoglobulin G) antibodies. This indicates that they had been exposed to the coronavirus. The study indicated that a large number of infected persons remain asymptomatic. Releasing the results of the survey, the Union Health Ministry on 20 July said that the serosurvey is done to determine the exposure of the novel coronavirus among the population. These cases are mostly in the densely populated areas of Delhi.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

A) Probe Russian link to Brexit poll: Lawmakers.
According to a parliamentary report released on 20 July, the British government should properly investigate any Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit referendum after failing to look into it despite past evidence of Kremlin meddling. The report further said that oligarchs with links to Russian President Putin used their wealth for extending patronage and building influence across a wide sphere of the British establishment. There should have been an assessment of Russian interference in the referendum and the public must be told the results of that assessment.

B) EU leaders strike a deal to rebuild the economy.
A €750 billion rescue package has been announced to pull the bloc out of deep recession. On July 20, European leaders have agreed on a massive aid package for their pandemic-ravaged economies, as U.S. President Donald Trump finally came out in favor of face masks as a tool against the novel coronavirus. The virus has infected more than 14.7 million people and killed over 6,10,000 of them since emerging in China late last year, with the fresh alarm being sounded over its accelerating spread in Africa. After a 90-hour summit, the European leaders finally agreed on a rescue package of €750 billion ($858 billion) to try and pull their bloc out of a deep recession. The pandemic has devastated the global economy.

C) Close to a limited trade deal with the U.S.
On July 20, the Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that India and U.S. have almost finalized a limited trade deal. He also told that both the countries have declared earlier that the long term plan is to work towards a comprehensive trade deal. As an intermediate step between the imminent limited deal and the comprehensive deal, Mr. Goyal proposed a preferential trade agreement that would cover 50 to 100 goods and services. India and the U.S. have apparently been close to finalizing a limited trade deal several times over the past year, including when both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump were in New York last year for the United Nations General Assembly session. Again, in February this year, the two sides scrambled unsuccessfully to finalize a mini deal that was to be announced during Mr. Donald Trump’s India visit.

D) China repeats claim on Bhutan’s east.
China said that it has offered Bhutan a package solution for its boundary dispute, which is
reviving a reference to its 1996 proposal for a territory swap to give Bhutan the disputed areas in its north in exchange for the disputed western areas, including Doklam. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) also repeated its claim on Bhutan’s eastern boundary at Sakteng, which experts warn, maybe a new pressure tactic by Beijing to push Thimphu into concluding a boundary deal. During a meeting of the UNDP-led Global Environment Facility on June 2-3, 2020, the Chinese representative had unsuccessfully tried to stop the funding for Bhutan’s Sakteng forest sanctuary, claiming the area was disputed. Bhutan, through the Indian delegate who represented them, had rejected the claim and was granted the funding.

SPORTS NEWS:

A) Team India to undergo two-week quarantine.
The Cricket Australia acting chief Nick Hockley said that the Indian team will have to undergo a two-week quarantine period, most likely in Adelaide, once it touches down in Australia for the much-anticipated tour later this year. This statement is in contrast to the views of the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, who had already made it clear that he was not in favor of a two-week quarantine period for the Indian team once they get off in Australia. Hockley again stated that the two-week quarantine is pretty well-defined. They are working towards making sure that during the quarantine, the players will get the best training facilities so that they do not suffer any kind of losses relating to their practice and training.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
21 JULY 2020

NATIONAL NEWS:

A) Congress MLA alleges Pilot offered him ₹35 crores to join BJP. 

Rajasthan Congress MLA, Giriraj Singh Malinga has alleged that Sachin Pilot had offered him ₹35 crores to switch to  BJP, but he rejected the offer. He also said that he had informed Gehlot about the secret offer. Sachin Pilot responded by saying that he was not surprised though he was sad.  He would take appropriate and strictest possible legal action against the MLA. 

Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has been called by the Rajasthan police to appear for questioning in connection with investigations into an alleged conspiracy to topple the Rajasthan government. 

B) SC asks UP to consider having retired SC judge on panel probing Dubey encounter.

The Supreme Court of India has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to expand the committee which is probing the encounter deaths of gangster Vikas Dubey and his crime partners. The apex court has asked the state to consider a former SC judge and a retired police officer. The three-judge Bench led by the CJI Bobde found substance in the arguments that there have been about 6,126 police encounters in which 122 persons have been killed in Uttar Pradesh. The court has declined to spare a sitting SC judge for the probe committee. 

C) Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments.

The number of coronavirus cases reported from India stood at 11,45,653 with the death toll at 27,966. India reported its biggest single-day jump in coronavirus infections on 20 July of 40,425 new cases. The toll rose by 681 to 27,497. The recovery rate stood at 62.61%. The Kerala government has made it compulsory for all the migrant workers entering the state to undergo rapid antigen assay-based tests for the coronavirus, followed by 14 days of room quarantine. 

D) PM Modi to visit Ayodhya. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of other VIPs, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar, will attend the ceremony for laying of the foundation stone for the Ram temple in Ayodhya which will be held on 5 August. A 40 kg silver brick will be laid as the foundation stone by the Prime Minister. The PTI reports that three-day-long Vedic rituals will be held before the main ceremony, which will begin on August 3.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) Oxford Covid-19 vaccine triggers an immune response. 

In a new research paper published in The Lancet, the scientists of Oxford University have said that their experimental vaccine, in an early trial, produced a dual immune response in hundreds of people aged between 18 to 55. The trials showed that the injection led them to make antibodies and T-cells that can fight the coronavirus. Though these results are promising, yet they are still preliminary only. The effects of the vaccine were calculated by the number of antibodies and T-cells it produced in the blood of the volunteers and not in any response to the virus itself. 

B) Sri Lanka to research on Ravana’s aviation routes. 

Sri Lanka’s aviation authority has said that it will lead a research project to study the aviation routes of mythological character Ravana. The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka has asked the public to search and provide any relevant documents and literature. They asked them to contact an email ID and phone number to research the topic of King Ravana and the ancient domination of aerial routes that are lost now. The project sought to bring out an authoritative narrative about King Ravana as there are a lot of stories. 

C) Trump refuses to clearly say upon accepting election results. 

The President of the United States, Mr.  Donald Trump has refused to accept the results of the upcoming presidential election which are going to be held in November. In an interview which was held on 19 July, Donald Trump said that it was too early to make such an ironclad guarantee. Counting a similar threat he made weeks before the 2016 vote and scoffing at recent polls that show him lagging behind presumptive Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

D) Iran to continue work with India on the Chabahar line. 

In the latest development to India, Iran’s Chabahar-Zahedan railway project, the Railway Minister of Iran has said that Iran and India are determined to continue cooperation on the railway line. These remarks contradict the remarks of the Iranian officials who had earlier said that India was not a part of the project. Meanwhile from the meeting which was held on 20 July, it is unclear that whether it means that there has been some progress in the issues pending since December 2019 and whether India will now sign an agreement with the government of Iran to take the project forward.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
20 JULY 2020

NATIONAL NEWS:

 

A) COVID Watch – Numbers and Developments. 

The number of coronavirus cases reported from India stands at 11,15,080 with the death toll at 27,512. As per the Union Health Ministry release, the Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of India has fallen below 2.5% for the first time on 19 July. The Ministry told that this reduction was because of the focused efforts of the Centre and State/UT governments on efficient clinical management of hospitalized cases.

B) States, Union Territories differ on a date for reopening schools. 

All educational institutions have been shut down since mid-March due to the pandemic, leaving 25 crore children across the country out of school. In many states, some form of distance learning has started by using online resources as well as television and radio programmes. On July 15, the HRD Ministry held a videoconference with the State representatives to discuss the School Safety Plan. Assam was the only State willing to open at the end of July. Of the 36 States and UTs, 21 said that they had not taken a decision yet, with five of those adding that they were awaiting guidance from the Centre. On the other hand, Delhi, which has the third-highest number of cases, said that it would like to open schools preferably in August. According to the Ministry document,  Delhi has dropped to sixth place inactive cases. Bihar, Chandigarh and Haryana are also willing to reopen around Independence Day, while Puducherry says it will make a decision after July 31. The rest of the States are pitching for a date in September or beyond.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) Indian American votes are crucial for ‘battleground’ states. 

Less than 4 months are left for the elections and the democrats urged the Indian-American community to vote and support presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden emphasizing his character and history of support for the India-U.S. relationship. Tom Perez said that a significant difference in the elections can be made by the vote of Indian-American and the AAPI  ( Asian-American and Pacific-Islander community).  There are approximately 1.3 million American-Indian voters in 8 battleground States. These are Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.

B) China has crossed its 1960 claims along the LAC. 

Chinese troops are currently present on the north bank of Pangong Lake in Ladakh in an area that is beyond what  China described as its official boundary during talks with India in 1960, official records show. China’s tent which is set up on the bend of the Galway River, which sparked the violent face-off resulting in the death of 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of Chinese personnel on June 15, was also beyond China’s territorial claims, as per the 1960 records. The records contradict China’s current claims of where the Line of Actual Control (LAC) runs. In 1960, India certainly viewed China’s presence in areas where the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) transgressed in May as being beyond Beijing’s own territorial claims.

C) UN draft declaration goes soft on demand for reform.

Despite India’s repeated demands for reform of the UN Security Council, the process of the expansion of the membership is expected to slow down this year. The General Assembly at the meeting which was held on September 15, 2008, had decided to proceed with the modalities so as to prepare and facilitate intergovernmental negotiations on the question of equitable representation. They also decided to increase the membership of the Security Council and other matters which are related to the Council.  The Resolution of 2005 had expressed the strong global will to stop the misuse of military power. 

D) Twitter disables Trump tweet over a copyright issue. 

Twitter disabled a campaign-style video that is retweeted by U.S. President Donald Trump on July 19, citing a copyright complaint. The video included music from the group Linkin Park was disappeared from the  Twitter feed of President late on 19 July with the notification that this media has been disabled in response to a report by the copyright owner. Twitter began challenging the tweets made by Donald Trump in May and since them, twitter has repeatedly clashed with him. Twitter has disabled or commented on tweets made by Donald Trump because there were copyright complaints or violations of a policy against threatening violence.

SPORTS NEWS 

A) Brathwaite, Brooks defy England.

Off-spinner Dom Bess removed nightwatchman Alzarri Joseph with his second ball of the day, having him caught by Ollie Pope at short-leg for 32. Shai Hope, whose only two Test hundreds came at Headingley in 2017, helped Brathwaite add 53 before he was caught behind jabbing at a Sam Curran cutter. After Chris Woakes had bowled the 41st over of the West Indies innings, umpire Michael Gough was quick to notice that Dom Sibley had used saliva on the ball. The umpires pulled out a sanitised tissue to clean the ball on both sides. The fielding side will get a warning if saliva is used. If a team does it more than twice, it will be given a five-run penalty.