CURRENT AFFAIRS
16 August 2020
NATIONAL NEWS:
A) LAC or LOC, our jawans gave a befitting response: PM.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the address on Independence Day from the Red Fort said that Indian soldiers had given a befitting reply to those who challenged the country’s sovereignty, from the Line of Control to the Line of Actual Control, whenever India has been challenged, our soldiers have given a fitting response in a language they understand. In a speech that lasted 90 minutes, Modi spoke about the policies and programs that were framed to meet the health and economic challenges of the pandemic, and the security challenges at the border. Applauding the frontline workers in the battle against the novel coronavirus, he said India was going through a unique phase due to the pandemic but would emerge victoriously. Stressing that India should be self-reliant, he said self-reliance should become a mantra for all countrymen.
B) National Digital Health Mission and health ID card for every citizen
PM Modi has said that the pandemic has brought home to us the importance of strong health systems and interventions. With this in view, the government will be launching a National Digital Health Mission that would give every Indian a health identity verifiable digitally and will work as each Indian’s health account. Every test, disease, diagnosis, and medical report along with medical prescriptions will be stored in every citizen’s health ID. The PM also announced that there were three coronavirus vaccine candidates at various stages of trial in India. In preparation for the time when any of these become viable for use, the government already has an elaborate road map for its production and distribution in the shortest possible time.
C) Committee to review the minimum age of marriage for women.
On the infrastructure front, Modi announced that that the task of connecting India’s more than six-lakh villages with an optical fiber network will be completed in the next 1,000 days. Besides, high-speed internet connectivity via submarine optical fiber cable will be extended to Lakshadweep in this period. Modi also became the first Prime Minister to talk about menstrual health in an I-Day speech as he announced that 5 crore sanitary pads priced at ₹1 had been distributed through 6,000 Jan AushadhiKendras spread across the country. He further announced that a committee has been set up to reconsider the minimum age of marriage for women. Currently, the law prescribes a minimum age of 21 years for men and 18 years for women.
D) COVID Watch: Numbers and Developments.
The number of coronavirus cases reported from India stood at 25,65,971with the death toll at 49,764. India on Friday recorded 65,002 new cases. Indian companies have sought technical details on the trials of Russian Covid-19 vaccine from the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) for possible production in India, Indian Embassy sources in Moscow said. Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced the successful development of the world’s first vaccine against Covid-19.
Chetan Chauhan, who is also a cabinet minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, was admitted at the SanjayGandhiPGIHospital in Lucknow after testing Covid-19 positive on July 12. He is currently on ventilator support.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
A) ‘I have more Indians than her’, Trump taunts Kamala Harris
US President Donald Trump while speaking to members of the City of New York Police Benevolent Association said that if Joe Biden would become the President, he will immediately pass legislation to gut every single police department in America and probably Kamala Harris is a step worse. She is of Indian heritage. I have more Indians than she has. Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden’s running mate Kamala Harris is of mixed Indian and Jamaican heritage. Harris’s candidature, announced earlier this week, has been widely seen as a big challenge for Trump’s Presidential bid, given her stronger track record in public debates compared to her Republican counterpart Mike Pence.
B) Nepal PM Oli calls up Modi on Independence Day.
Prime Minister of Nepal K.P. Sharma Oli on 15 August called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi and held a discussion. A Nepalese official statement declared that Oli has sought some meaningful bilateral cooperation with India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that anti-COVID-19 cooperation was discussed during the phone call.
This high-level contact came after nearly nine months of tension and verbal sparring after India asserted control over the Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura region of Pithoragarh, which is claimed by Nepal. In response, Nepal had issued a map that depicted the region as part of Nepalese sovereign territory and urged India to convene Foreign Secretary-level dialogue to address Nepal’s concerns. Today’s phone call is expected to boost the upcoming “oversight mechanism” level dialogue which is planned for next week. The discussion between the Foreign Secretary of Nepal Shankar Bairagi and Indian ambassador to Kathmandu Vinay Mohan Kwatra will focus on bilateral development projects and other issues such as border security and Covid-19 management. However, the Kalapani issue is unlikely to be a part of this initiative.
C) Idols from U.S. galleries handed over to India.
The U.S. authorities have formally handed over to India a set of priceless antique pieces, including a limestone relief of Shiva and Parvati, a marble Apsara, and some other idols. The artifacts were handed over to Indian officials at a ceremony to mark the Indian Independence Day festivities in New York. They were reportedly stolen and smuggled out of the country at different times. They were seized from the Nancy Weiner Gallery, Christie’s in New York, and the Maitreya Gallery, all of which are situated in the United States. This is the first time the American law enforcement agencies have disclosed the names of the galleries and individuals in possession of the artifacts and their valuation.
D) UAE’s deal with Israel has made it a legitimate target’
An ultraconservative Iranian newspaper said on 15 August that the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s decision to normalize ties with Israel has made it a “legitimate target” for pro-Tehran forces. The deal reached with the UAE is only the third such accord Israel has struck with an Arab state. As part of the agreement, Israel pledged to suspend annexation of Palestinian lands, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that did not mean it was abandoning plans to one day annex the Jordan Valley and Jewish settlements across West Bank. The UAE downgraded ties with Iran in 2016. But their relations had appeared to be on the mend in recent months, with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif holding rare talks with his UAE counterpart only last week.
SPORTS NEWS
A) S. Dhoni calls it quits: ‘Consider me retired’
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a man of few words and massive sixes, announced his retirement from international cricket in his inimitable, understated style. Through his official Instagram handle ‘mahi7781’, the former India captain, who led India to the 2011 World Cup title, put out a statement on the evening of:15 August: “Thanks. From 19.29 hrs consider me as Retired.”Dhoni had taken everyone by surprise with his retirement from Tests in Australia in December 2014. He addressed a press conference after the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and walked away. A BCCI release then mentioned that he had retired from Tests! He continued to play ODIs and Twenty20s, and that journey extended till last year. His final appearance for Virat Kohli’s men ended in defeat against New Zealand in the ICC World Cup semifinal at Manchester’s Old Trafford on July 10. He scored a 72-ball 50 and retreated. In retrospect that was his finish-line.While there was talk about a swan song during the ICC Twenty20 World Cup later this year in Australia, the COVID-19 pandemic played spoilsport. Dhoni fans can now watch him turn out for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League in the United Arab Emirates from September 19.
