CURRENT AFFAIRS
15 August 2020
NATIONAL NEWS:
A) SC finds Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt for tweets against CJI
A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court today found noted civil rights lawyer Prashant Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt by ‘scandalizing the court’. The court found that his tweet on a photograph of Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde astride a bike, and another on the court’s role in the past six years ‘ scandalized’ the Supreme Court as an institution. The tweets had the effect of attempting to destabilize Indian democracy. Such malice should be dealt with an iron hand in the larger public interest. The magnanimity of courts should not extend to weakness, the Bench, headed by Justice Arun Mishra, said in a 108-page judgment. It will pronounce the sentence on August 20. Bhushan’sdefence, that criticism was not contempt, was dismissed by the court. According to the Contempt of Court Act, 1971 punishment could be imprisonment that may extend to six months, or fine of ₹ 2,000 or both.
B) Nagaland would ‘co-exist’ with India, but not merge with it: NSCN-IM
On the eve of Independence Day, chief of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-IM (NSCN-IM) ThuingalengMuivahon14 August said the Centre recognized the sovereignty of the Nagas when it signed the 2015 Framework Agreement and that the Nagas will co-exist but not merge with India. He said that they were not asking the Government of India for a Naga national flag and a separate constitution as recognize them or not, we have our own flag and constitution. The speech, made on the eve of Independence Day, comes at a time when talks between the Centre and the Naga group have hit rough weather, with the latter demanding the removal of the interlocutor and Nagaland Governor R.N Ravi. Earlier this week, the NSCN-IM had for the first time released the details of the 2015 Framework Agreement, stating that the Centre had agreed to “share the sovereign power” and to provide for an “enduring inclusive new relationship of peaceful co-existence of the two entities”.
C) Travel e-passes for all in TN from August 17: CM
In what will come as a big relief to many, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has announced that from August 17, e-passes will be approved for anyone who needs it for important purposes. Currently, e-passes can be sought only for purposes such as medical emergencies, deaths and weddings. The lack of inter-district mobility has been a huge impediment to businesses in the state, which have been struggling to bring back workers.The state government has, however, clarified that the relaxation applies only for those seeking e-passes for inter-district travel within Tamil Nadu. For those coming in from other states and countries, existing norms will continue to apply.
D) COVID Watch: Numbers and Developments
The number of coronavirus cases reported from India stood at 25,11,788 with the death toll at 49,001. India recorded 64,553 new cases on 14 August.
Twenty-two officials who responded to the plane crash in Kerala last week have tested positive for coronavirus. The Air India Express plane had landed with 184 passengers from Dubai under the center’sVande Bharat Mission.
In yet more sobering news from the state, Health Minister KK Shailaja today said that Kerala may report 10,000 to 20,000 coronavirus cases per day between August and September if more people don’t join the fight against the pandemic.
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah on14 July said that he had tested negative for Covid-19 infection. Shah, who tested positive on August 2, was admitted to Medanta Hospital, Gurugram. Singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, who was admitted to a hospital after testing positive for Covid-19 last week, is on life support and his condition is said to be ‘critical’.
E) Independence Day ceremony to be held while following the social distancing norms.
More than 4,000 people have been invited for the Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort. The persons who are invited are several diplomats, officials, and media personnel. The event is being organized keeping in mind the Covid-19 protocols, the Defence Ministry said today. It said seating arrangements have been made under the guiding principle of Do GazkiDoori (maintaining distance of two yards) between any two guests.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
A) Trump stokes a false birther claim.
On 13 August, U.S. President Donald Trump gave acceptance to a false and racist conspiracy theory about the eligibility of Kamala Harris to be a vice president of the U.S. This gave fuel to an online disinformation campaign. When it was asked at the White House regarding the same, Trump told the reporters that he had heard rumors that Harris who is a Black woman and a U.S.-born citizen and whose parents were immigrants, does not meet the requirements to serve in the White House. He added that he considered the rumors very seriously.
B) Iran, Turkey lash out at UAE over Israel deal.
On 14 August, Iran and Turkey had lashed out at their regional rival i.e. the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for its decision to normalize the diplomatic relations with Israel. UAE accuses Israel of betraying the Palestinian cause, even as much of the international community welcomed the move. Iran’s Foreign Ministry called the U.S.-brokered deal a dagger that was unjustly struck by the UAE in the backs of the Palestinian people and all Muslims. The UAE, which has never fought with Israel and has quietly been improving ties for years, said the agreement put a hold on Israel’s plans to unilaterally annex parts of the occupied West Bank, which is the heartland of the future state of the people of Palestine. Later on 14 July, Turkish President Recep Erdogan said he was considering downgrading Turkey’s relations with the UAE and recalling its Ambassador.
C) Turkey hits out at France over sea stand-off
On 14 August, Turkey accused France of acting like a bully because EU Foreign Ministers met to address an emerging crisis in the energy-rich eastern Mediterranean. The search for oil and gas in disputed waters not far from Cyprus has pitted Turkey against its uneasy NATO ally Greece and the entire EU bloc. Turkey’s decision to send a seismic vessel accompanied by a small Navy fleet into the increasingly volatile region on Monday prompted Greece to dispatch in its own military assets to observe what was going on. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday underscored the fraught nature of the stand-off by warning of a “heavy price” to pay for those who threaten Turkey’s Oruc Reis research ship. The Greek Defence Ministry denied being involved in an incident with the ship.
D) India hails UAE-Israel pact, reiterates Palestine cause
On 14 July, India has welcomed the normalization of ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), calling them both key strategic partners. The trilateral agreement called the “Abraham Accords”, signed along with the U.S. on Thursday, also commits Israel to suspend its plans for annexation of Palestine majority areas. While the announcement of the agreement has been welcomed by India, it will also mean continuing to walk a balance on West Asian politics. According to experts, the normalization of ties between Israel and the UAE could be followed by similar actions by other Gulf countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and strong reactions from other countries in a region India has deep stakes in terms of energy supplies and expatriate populations. New Delhi will also need to watch ties with Iran, which has slammed the agreement and will see Arab-Israeli tie-ups as a direct threat to its security.
