Tag: latest Current Affairs

CURRENT AFFAIRS
13 January 2021

NATIONAL NEWS:

A) Supreme Court suspends farm laws, forms committee despite farmers’ objections. 

 

The Supreme Court on Tuesday suspended the implementation of three controversial farm laws, terming its order the victory of fair play. If there is a victory at all, it is the victory of fair play, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad A. Bobde corrected senior advocate Harish Salve. The CJI was responding to an apprehension expressed by Salve that the stay on the implementation of the laws should not be misconstrued by some as a political victory of sorts. The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act shall be stayed until further notice, Chief Justice Bobde said at the end of an hour-long virtual court hearing. The stay on their implementation means the Centre cannot, for the time being, proceed with any executive actions on the basis of the three laws. The court formed an expert committee to hear the apprehensions raised by farmers against the laws. The committee is composed of Bhupinder Singh Mann, agriculture economist Ashok Gulati, Dr. Pramod Kumar Joshi (former director, National Academy of Agricultural Research Management) and Anil Ghanwat from Shetkari Sangathan. The committee will report back to the court. Interestingly, all the panel members have a track record of endorsing the farm laws a fact that has caused outrage among the agitating farmers. 

B) Will continue protest, won’t appear before ‘pro-government’ panel, say farmers. 

Farmer unions protesting against the new agriculture-marketing laws on Tuesday disapproved of the Supreme Court-appointed committee and said they will not appear before the panel. Addressing a press conference at the Singhu border near Delhi, union leaders asserted that the members of the committee formed by the top court are pro-government. The members of the SC-appointed committee are not dependable as they have been writing on how agri laws are pro-farmer. They will continue their agitation, farmer leader Balbeer Singh Rajewal told the press conference. Another farmer leader Darshan Pal Singh said they will not appear before any committee, and added that the Parliament should discuss and resolve this issue. They don’t want any external committee, he said. However, the farmer leaders said they would attend the January 15 meeting with the government. Before the Samyukt Kisan Morcha meeting, Singh, the Krantikari Kisan Union president said, all the members of the committee have already declared themselves in favour of the three laws, so what is the point of this fraud exercise? Bhupinder Singh Mann, he is from Punjab, and he has already met the Agriculture Minister and expressed support for the laws. Anil Ghanwat is from the Shetkari Sangathan, both do not speak for farmers interests. [Agricultural economist] Ashok Gulati is known to be a government man. Pramod Kumar Joshi, the fourth member of the panel, has also supported the farm sector reforms.

C) CJI not in favour of resuming physical. Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde on Tuesday disagreed with the idea of resuming physical hearings in the Supreme Court, saying the court did not want to be the cause of fatalities due to the spread of coronavirus. They have been facing closedown of courts for nearly a year. It is dangerous to get a congregation of people in courts. They do not want the number of fatalities to increase due to the courts, Chief Justice Bobde said. They will take appropriate decision after consulting medical authorities, the CJI said. The three-judge Bench was hearing a suo motu case seeking financial aid to young lawyers struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic. One of the lawyers had sought a physical court hearing in the case. During the hearing, senior advocate P.S. Narasimha, as a senior member of the Bar, said Bar Councils were ready to stand guarantee for government loans of up to ₹3 lakh to young, struggling lawyers. But the Chief Justice said the Bar and affluent lawyers should contribute more than what they had already done. Ways to channelise funds from the Bar should be devised. The Bar has primary responsibility to these lawyers. The government has only a secondary responsibility, the Chief Justice said.

D) Carlsberg India probes find ‘potential improper payments’, child labour. 

An investigation of alleged unlawful practices at Carlsberg India found potential improper payments to government officials and other regulatory lapses, its former auditor said in a document seen by Reuters. Reports by a different global consultancy, also seen by Reuters and previously unreported, disclosed other lapses at Carlsberg India Pvt Ltd in 2018, including child labour. The findings cast a fresh shadow on operations and compliance practices at the Indian joint venture of Danish brewer Carlsberg A/S, which has a 17% share of India’s $7 billion beer market. Carlsberg’s probes and a boardroom dispute come amid other challenges: an antitrust investigation last year concluded that Carlsberg India colluded for years on prices with rivals, though a final ruling is pending. An India affiliate of the Price waterhouse Coopers (PwC ) network recently resigned as Carlsberg India’s financial auditor after declining for two years in a row to give an opinion on the brewer’s financials, amid boardroom tussles and internal probes into local practices, Reuters reported in November. Since at least 2019, Carlsberg had been probing allegations levelled by some past and current employees around promotion of alcohol in prohibited areas, kickbacks, and bribery.

E) Will hold ground along LAC as long as it takes: Gen. Naravane. 

Army Chief Gen. Manoj Naravane on Tuesday asserted that the Army was ready to hold territory as long as it took along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh to achieve the national objective, and noted that a collusive threat from China and Pakistan existed and India must be ready for it. Every summer, for training, a number of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) units come to Tibet and go back. These are, in terms of depth, anything from 500-1,500 km from the border. They should not lay too much significance on these comings and goings. But they keep an eye on them as they can be moved to the front in 24-48 hours, he said, at the Army’s annual press conference. There has been no reduction in the friction areas or where they are in eyeball to eyeball situations, he said, in response to questions on whether China has withdrawn some troops from the depth areas.

F) Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments.

The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 1,04,91,964 with the death toll at 1,51,531. As part of the sequential rollout, the vaccination of about 1 crore health workers will begin on January 16, followed by two crore frontline workers, then of the nearly 27 crore people aged 50 years or older, and finally those below this age limit but with co-morbidities, Health Secretary Rajeev Bhushan said. The cost of vaccination of health care and frontline workers will be borne by the Central government. Vaccines will first reach four major stores in Karnal, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai. All States have at least one State-level regional vaccine store. 54.72 lakh doses have already been received till 4 p.m. today, and 100% of the doses will be received by January 14 in all States and Union Territories. In a related development, the Centre on Tuesday announced that it has agreed to procure 55 lakh doses of Bharat Biotech’s vaccine against the coronavirus. Of these, 38.5 lakh doses will be priced at ₹295 each. Earlier in the day, Serum Institute of India (SII) Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla said the company has given a special price of ₹200 for the first 10 crore doses of the coronavirus vaccine only to India, in order to support the common man and the health workers.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) Worries rise over more violence in U. S. 

U.S. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf announced his resignation unexpectedly on Monday as worries rose over more violence during President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next week. Mr. Wolf’s departure as head of the body in charge of security for the January 20 event came five days after President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, hoping to prevent Mr. Biden from replacing him. The Homeland Security Department oversees several law enforcement bodies, including the Secret Service, the point agency for security for the White House and the U.S. President. Mr. Wolf named Pete Gaynor to replace him. But the move did not end questions over whether the U.S. capital city would be adequately secure over the coming week. An internal FBI document warned of the possibility that armed Trump supporters could hold protests in all 50 States between the coming weekend and January 20, according to U.S. media. The White House issued a statement saying that Mr. Trump had declared that an emergency exists in the District of Columbia and ordered Federal assistance to supplement the District’s response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from the 59th Presidential Inauguration from January 11 to January 24, 2021. 

B) Malaysia declares state of emergency over virus surge. 

Malaysia’s king declared a nationwide state of emergency on Tuesday to fight a coronavirus surge and Parliament was suspended, with critics charging that it was a bid by the unstable government to cling to power. The surprise move came a day after the Prime Minister announced sweeping new curbs across much of the Southeast Asian nation, including the closure of most businesses, and warned the health system was at breaking point. Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah agreed to declare an emergency until August 1 following a request from Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, the national palace said in a statement. It is the first time Malaysia has declared a national state of emergency in over half a century and Mr. Muhyiddin, in a televised address, confirmed Parliament would be suspended and elections would not take place for the time being. Not a coup, says PM But the leader, whose 10 month-old administration is showing signs of falling apart, insisted that the civilian government will continue to function. The emergency declaration is not a military coup and a curfew will not be enforced, he said, insisting that he was committed to holding a general election once the outbreak is brought under control.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
12 January 2021

NATIONAL NEWS:

A) SC says it intends to stay farm laws.

The Supreme Court on Monday said it intended to stay the implementation of the controversial agricultural laws while proposing to form an independent committee chaired by a former Chief Justice of India to amicably resolve the stand-off between the protesting farmers and the Union government. A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sharad A. Bobde underlined its disappointment at the Centre’s handling of the farmers’ protest, including the string of failed talks, States up in rebellion, suicides among protestors, and the sight of aged farmers, women and children suffering in the biting cold amid the pandemic even as Republic Day looms close. Meanwhile, the Centre has filed an urgent affidavit saying that there is a misconception being propagated that government held no discussions or consultations with any Committee before the Farm Acts were passed. The Agriculture Ministry said that this was an erroneous notion being spread by the protestors and that most farming communities were happy with the laws. In another development, Delhi Police, in a separate intervention in the Supreme Court, has sought an order of injunction against any tractor rallies by farmers on Republic Day.

B) PM-KISAN payouts worth ₹ 1,364 cr went to 20 lakh ‘wrong’ beneficiaries: RTI info.

PM-KISAN payments worth ₹ 1,364 crore have been wrongly made to more than 20 lakh ineligible beneficiaries and income tax payer farmers, according to information provided by the Agriculture Ministry in response to an RTI request from activist Venkatesh Nayak. There are 11 crore beneficiaries registered under the scheme. Punjab tops the list of States where undeserving payouts were made, accounting for 23% of the people who wrongly received money. Maharashtra and Assam also saw large numbers of such payments. A number of State Agriculture Departments have now been tasked with recovering the money wrongly paid. PM-KISAN is the Centre’s flagship scheme to provide income support worth ₹6,000 per year to farming families. When it was launched just before general elections in 2019, it was meant to cover only small and marginal farmers who owned less than two hectares of agricultural land. Later that year, large farmers were included in the scheme as the government removed land size criteria. However, certain exclusions remained. If any member of a farming family paid income tax, received a monthly pension above ₹10,000, held a constitutional position, or was a serving or retired government employee, they were not eligible for the scheme. Professionals and institutional landholders were also excluded. Until July 2020, 20.5 lakh people who should have been excluded had wrongly received PM-Kisan payouts. According to the Agriculture Ministry’s response to the RTI query, 56% of these undeserving persons belonged to the income tax payee category, while the rest belonged to the ineligible farmers category. However, 72% of the payout amount was paid to income tax payees, indicating that this category continued to receive money for multiple installments before their ineligible status was discovered and they were weeded out of the scheme’s beneficiary database. Punjab (23%), Maharashtra (17%) and Assam (14%) accounted for more than half of the beneficiaries of wrong payments, followed by Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh with 8% each.

C) Bird flu outbreak confirmed in 10 states so far: Govt.

The Centre on Monday said bird flu has been confirmed in 10 states so far and stressed on increased surveillance around water bodies, live bird markets, zoos and poultry farms. Till January 11, 2021, Avian Influenza has been confirmed in 10 states of the country, the department of animal husbandry and dairying said in a statement. The outbreak was confirmed in seven states : Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh as on January 10. On Monday, bird flu has also been confirmed in Delhi, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra. States have been asked to build awareness among the public and avoid the spread of misinformation. States/ UTs have been requested to increase surveillance around water bodies, live bird markets, zoos, poultry farms, etc. along with proper disposal of carcass, and strengthening of biosecurity in poultry farms, it said. The Centre has also directed states to maintain adequate stock of PPE kits and accessories required for culling operations.

D) AAP MLA Somnath Bharti arrested in UP shortly after youth hurls ink at him. 

Aam Aadmi Party MLA Somnath Bharti on Monday had ink hurled at him in Rae Bareli and was arrested later for allegedly making objectionable remarks. Shocked to learn that his bail application has been kept pending till 13th January n he was sent to judicial custody of 14 days, Bharti tweeted. He was arrested on charges of criminal intimidation and promoting enmity between groups, the police said, following derogatory remarks allegedly referring to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the state’s hospitals. A little earlier, a youth hurled ink at the Delhi MLA when he was emerging out of a guest house. Superintendent of Police (of Rae Bareli) Shlok Kumar said, ink was thrown on the AAP MLA, and the matter is being probed. The arrest took place less than an hour after the ink-throwing incident. Shortly after ink was flung at him, Bharti retweeted a video clip in which he is heard using a derogatory term for Adityanath while talking about atrocities on women in the state. Amethi police arrested Bharti, a former Delhi minister, in Rae Bareli on the basis of a complaint filed by BJP worker Somnath Sahu over the alleged remarks made last week.

E) Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments. 

The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 1,04,76,734 with the death toll at 1,51,339. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday claimed that the two already approved made-in-India Covid-19 vaccines are more cost-effective than any other in the world, and have been developed as per the country’s needs. Interacting with chief ministers of all States to discuss the vaccine roll-out, Modi also said that apart from the two already approved vaccines, four others are in the pipeline. Public representatives are not part of the three crore corona warriors and frontline workers to be vaccinated first, Modi said. In the first phase, starting on January 16, the cost of vaccination for these three crore people would be borne by the central government, he added. Meanwhile, the government has placed a purchase order with Serum Institute of India (SII) for 11 million doses of the Oxford Covid-19 vaccine, Covishield, each costing ₹210, including GST. India’s drugs regulator has approved Covishield and the indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech, for restricted emergency use in the country.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) Trump could be impeached again.

The U.S House of Representatives plans to vote on a resolution on Monday to ask Vice- President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment, a statute by which the President Donald Trump can be removed on grounds of incapacitation. This comes days after Trump’s supporters attacked the Capitol building. If Pence does not invoke the statute, the House will consider impeaching Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to fellow House Democrats on Sunday evening (U.S. time). In protecting our Constitution and our Democracy, we will act with urgency, because this President represents an imminent threat to both. As the days go by, the horror of the ongoing assault on our democracy perpetrated by this President is intensified and so is the immediate need for action, Pelosi wrote. Given Pence’s apparent hesitation to invoke the 25th Amendment, it is highly likely the House will seek to impeach Trump this week. There are 10 days left in Trump’s term and if impeached, he will be the first President to be impeached twice. If convicted in the Senate, Trump could be barred from running for office again in the future.

B) WHO experts to visit China to trace origins of COVID-19.

Chinese authorities said on Monday a team of experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) will arrive in China on Thursday to study the origins of COVID-19. The trip had been scheduled for last week, but some members of the team were at the last minute told the trip would be delayed. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last week he was very disappointed China had not permitted the trip, in rare criticism of Beijing from the agency. China’s National Health Commission said the team will arrive on Thursday to conduct joint research with Chinese scientists on the origin-tracing of the novel coronavirus. China’s Foreign Ministry said during the visit the international experts will hold exchanges with Chinese scientists and medical experts over scientific cooperation in origin-tracing. China’s decision to not permit the trip last week appeared to come at the last minute and catch the WHO by surprise, with some of the experts already having left home and in transit when told the visit would not take place. Investigations into the origins of the coronavirus have Zhao Lijian already become politicised. The WHO has been criticised, particularly by the United States, for its response to the pandemic and was de scribed by President Donald Trump as being China-centric and a puppet of China. China’s authorities for their part have suggested they will control how much access international scientists will have and that its scientists will have a say in how the investigations go forward.

SPORTS NEWS 

A) Third Test between India and Australia ends in a draw.

India’s Hanuma Vihari receives treatment to a leg injury during play on the final day of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia on January 11, 2021. Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin batted out the entire evening session on Day 5 to eke out a memorable draw against Australia in the third Test in Sydney on Monday. Vihari (23 not out off 161) and Ashwin (39 not out off 128), who got together in the 89th over of India’s second innings, batted for more than 42 overs. India ended up with 334 for five in 131 overs. Vihari, who was limping for a major part of his innings due to a hamstring injury, and Ashwin kept the Australians at bay with a marathon match-saving effort. The series remains tied at 1-1 going into the fourth and final Test, beginning at the Gabba in Brisbane on January 15.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
10 January 2021

NATIONAL NEWS:

 

A) First phase of vaccination to start on January 16. 

India’s Covid-19 vaccination drive is scheduled to start on January 16, with priority given to an estimated three crore healthcare workers and frontline workers, the Health Ministry said on Saturday. It added that this will be followed by voluntary vaccination of those above 50 years of age and the under-50 population groups with co-morbidities, numbering around 27 crore. The announcement followed a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review the status of the pandemic in the country and the preparedness of States and Union Territories for the roll-out of the vaccine. Emergency Use Authorization or Accelerated Approval has been granted by the National Regulator for two vaccines : Covishield and Covaxin whose safety and immunogenicity have been established, the release said. The vaccination exercise will use the principles of people’s participation (Jan Bhagidari), and the experience of elections (booth strategy) and Universal Immunization Program (UIP). There will be no compromise of existing healthcare services, especially national programmes and primary health care. They aim for it to be an orderly and smooth implementation driven by technology, noted the release.

B) Former Gujarat Chief Minister Madhavsinh Solanki passes away.

Former Chief Minister of Gujarat and former Union Minister Madhavsinh Solanki passed away in Gandhinagar on Saturday. He was 94. A four-time Chief Minister, he was a Congress stalwart in Gujarat, where the party last won the Assembly polls under his leadership in 1985. The party then won 148 Assembly seats, which still remains a record in State politics. He also served as a Union Minister in the Rajiv Gandhi government. Solanki dominated Gujarat politics for decades and was regarded as a powerful politician and mass leader in the State. His social engineering theory KHAM (Kshatriya, Harijan, Adivasi, Muslim) proved to be a powerful base in electoral politics that won the Congress landslide victories over two decades. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of the leader. In a Twitter post, he said, Shri Madhavsinh Solanki Ji was a formidable leader, playing a key role in Gujarat politics for decades. He will be remembered for his rich service to society. Saddened by his demise. Spoke to his son, Bharat Solanki Ji and expressed condolences. Om Shanti. Solanki’s son Bharatsinh Solanki also served as Union Minister in the UPA and was Gujarat Congress president twice.

C) Kejriwal announces ban on import of live birds. 

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced a ban on the import of live birds to Delhi and ordered the shutting down of Ghazipur poultry market in the wake of the avian influenza Outbreak across the country. He said a 24 hour helpline 23890318 has been set up for the assistance of people and the Delhi government has collected 104 samples till now which haw been to a laboratory in Jalandhar. Three recreational parks, including the Hauz Khas park and the Dwarka Sector 9 park, and the famous Sanjay Lake were dosed by the authorities on Saturday as several birds were found dead on their premises in last couple of days. In the last few days, there have been several cases of bird flu across various parts of the country, which is a cause for worry. Cases of bird flu have been registered in Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. No confirmed case has been registered in Delhi until now, the Chief Minister said during a digital briefing. The Delhi government is following all guidelines and directions issued by the Central government with regard to the bird flu. Rapid response teams have been formed in every district to contain the spread and conduct proper surveillance. They win function under the District Magistrates, he said, According to Mr. Kejriwal, veterinary officers are conducting surveys in all bird markets, establishments and waterbodies across Delhi. The teams are specially focusing on the poultry market in Ghazipur, Shakti Sthal Lake, Bhalswa Lake, Sanjay lake, Delhi Zoo, DDA parks situated at Hauz Khas Village Pashchim Vihar and Dwarka.

D) Shriram City to focus on SME, gold loans.

Shriram City Union Finance Ltd., which has reached pre covid 19 levels in disbursements will focus on its core business of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and gold loans in FY22, a top official said. During December, they reached the pre-COVlD-19 levels in disbursements against the corresponding year-earlier period and also for Q3, said MD & CEO Y.S. Chakravarti. The first quarter was a washout. In the first half, they disbursed Rs. 4387 crore against 11,475 crore, he added. The disbursement in Q3 is about Rs. 6000 crore, and they hope to be able to keep up the momentum in Q4, the CEO said. The pongal season will drive two-wheeler sales in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Out of the total portfolio, SMEs accounted for 55%, personal loans 20%, and gold loans 7-8% he added. On an average, the nonbanking finance Company had been disbursing loans worth about Rs. 6000 crore quarter. It is targeting a growth of 12% to 15% during FY22 by prioritising lending to SMEs and for gold loans. While no new branches were being planned, Mr. Chakravarti said as far as SME loans were concerned, they would be entering new territories that could bring in additional revenue of Rs.400 crore to Rs. 500 crore in the first 12 months of operations. Currently, the company disburses SMEs loans of Rs. 12 lakh to Rs.15 lakh in five States, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This accounted for Rs. 1000 crore revenue during Q2 of FY21. The NBFC also distributes small ticket business loans of Rs.1 lakh. In retail lending, we can’t go beyond 18% and that’s why we are looking at growth over FY20, Mr. Chakravarti said. On gold loans, he said South India had a higher share in network and assets under management-contribution, especially in SME and gold loans. This is expected to increase in coming quarters due to business revival and festivals. Gold loan schemes would be introduced in Punjab and Haryana in a phased manner, he added.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) Army apprehends Chinese soldier south of Pangong Tso. 

A Chinese soldier was apprehended in the early hours of January 8 on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the area south of the Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh, the Army said on Saturday. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldier had transgressed across the LAC and was taken into custody by Indian troops deployed in this area. The PLA soldier is being dealt with as per laid down procedures, and the circumstances under which he had crossed the LAC are being investigated, an Army statement said. Troops from either side are deployed along the LAC since a stand-off erupted in May last year due to unprecedented mobilisation and forward concentration by Chinese troops, the Army added. In a similar incident in October last year, a Chinese soldier identified as Corporal Wang Ya Long was apprehended in the Demchok area and was later handed over to the PLA. The Defence Ministry recently said that the Army has completed Advance Winter Stocking and winter preparations and troops are well entrenched to counter any misadventure by Chinese forces. With temperatures plummeting to minus 30 degrees Celsius and set to go down further, both sides have dug in for the harsh winter. The Army has deployed around 50,000 troops in addition to tanks and other equipment along the disputed boundary in eastern Ladakh to match the Chinese deployments since the beginning of the stand-off.

B) Boeing 737-500 plane feared crashed after losing contact in Indonesia. 

An Indonesian Sriwijaya Air plane is feared to have crashed into the sea after the Boeing 737 lost contact with air traffic control in the capital Jakarta, with flight tracking data suggesting that the jet plunged into a steep dive just four minutes after take-off. It was unclear how many passengers and crew were aboard Sriwijaya Air’s Boeing 737-500 when it left Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta international airport. It had a capacity of about 130. However, 62 passengers and crew were listed on an unconfirmed manifest, including seven children and three infants, local media reported. The usual flight time is about 90 minutes over the Java Sea between Java island and Kalimantan, Indonesia’s section of Borneo island. Data from FlightRadar24 said the plane reached an altitude of nearly 11,000 feet (3,350 metres) before dropping to 250 feet. It then lost contact with air traffic control. Sriwijaya Air flight #SJ182 lost more than 10,000 feet of altitude in less than one minute, about 4 minutes after departure from Jakarta, the tracking agency said on its official Twitter account. Broadcaster Kompas TV quoted local fishermen as saying they had found debris near islands off the coast of Jakarta, but it could not be immediately confirmed as belonging to the missing jet.

C) Trump banned permanently from Twitter; says he ‘won’t be silenced’.

Twitter has banned President Donald Trump’s account citing the risk of further incitement of violence. The social platform has been under growing pressure to take further action against Trump following the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Twitter had initially suspended Trump’s account for 12 hours after he posted a video that repeated false claims about election fraud and praised the rioters who stormed the Capitol. Trump has reacted by vowing that he and his support base would not be silenced. At the time of permanent suspension, he had 88.7 million followers and followed 51 people. In a statement hours after he was banned, Trump said that he predicted this would happen. They have been negotiating with various other sites, and will have a big announcement soon, while they also look at the possibilities of building out their own platform in the near future. They will not be silenced. Twitter is not about free speech. They are all about promoting a Radical Left platform where some of the most vicious people in the world are allowed to speak freely. Stay tuned, he said, indicating that some announcements in this regard were forthcoming. Twitter also started deleting new tweets posted by Trump on official government account @POTUS and suspended the account of his presidential campaign. The company said accounts used by Trump to try to get around the ban could face permanent suspension as well under its ban evasion policies.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
09 January 2021

NATIONAL NEWS:

 

A) ‘Ghar wapsi’ only after ‘law wapsi’, say farmers as 8th round of talks proves inconclusive.

The eighth round of talks between the government and representatives of protesting unions ended without any outcome on Friday. The next meeting is likely to take place on January 15, sources told. Sticking to their key demand of the repeal of three farm laws to end their protest, farmer leaders told the government their ghar wapsi from protest sites at the Delhi border can happen only after law wapsi. But the Centre insisted talks must be limited to contentious clauses and ruled out a complete withdrawal of the three laws. Sources said the talks did not make much progress and the next date has been decided keeping in mind a scheduled hearing of the Supreme Court on January 11. Government sources said the apex court may look into the legality of the three laws, besides other issues related to the farmers’ protests.

B) The senior lawyer said forced confessions violated the right to privacy.

When asked by the court why it should intervene in an obviously ecclesiastical issue like this, Rohatgi reminded the court about its interventions in questions concerning the personal laws and customs of communities such as the Bohra Muslims and Parsis. He said the court could examine the issues in the petition as they came within the ambit of the questions of faith, rights of women, and equality referred to in a nine-judge Constitution Bench in the Sabarimala case. He sought more time to amend the petition and add more facts. Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, when asked for an opinion by the court, said the whole issue stemmed from the Jacobite-Orthodox dispute. The Supreme Court had upheld the validity of the 1934 Constitution of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church to govern the parishes under the church. He suggested that the Kerala High Court should hear it. The Kerala High Court knows the entire case history, he said.

C) SC to hear plea against ‘compulsory nature’ of confessions to priests. 

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider a petition filed by a group of women against the compulsory nature of sacred confessions to priests in Christianity. Appearing before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, for the petitioners, said confessions are being abused. But Chief Justice Bobde said the veracity of such allegations would depend on the individual facts in every case. There cannot be a rule to impose confessions on a worshipper. Ladies are forced to confess before the priest. The court has to see whether confessions are an integral part of the religion, Rohatgi went on to submit.

D) Supreme Court tells govt. to arm forest officers to fight poachers. 

The Supreme Court on Friday urged the government to arm forest officers and provide them with bullet-proof vests and vehicles when told that India recorded the greatest number of mortal fatalities among forest officials in the world. Appearing before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde, senior advocate Shyam Divan said India accounted for 30% of fatalities among forest rangers in the world. Chief Justice Bobde said forest officials were up against a very powerful force. Proceeds of crime are in millions of dollars. This is an international crime. Recently, he was told that the pangolin skin trade extended to China, he noted. The court said the Centre should consider involving premier organisations such as the CBI to help the forest staff. There should even be a separate wing or wildlife division in the Enforcement Directorate with dean officials to track and investigate crimes of the poachers and the proceeds of their crime. The amounts involved are huge and justify the formation of a separate wing by the ED, Chief Justice Bobde addressed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the Centre. CJI Bobde pointed out how forest rangers in Assam were armed and no one dares come near them. But in States like Madhya Pradesh, they roam around with lathis. In Karnataka, forest guards are in chappals and just lathis. In these States, forest guards are slapped around by poachers, the CJI said.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) Trump changes tone, says he is ‘outraged by the mayhem’

A day after U.S. President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Trump condemned the violence and acknowledged that a new administration would be sworn in on January 20. The remarks were made in a video released on his Twitter account, which was earlier suspended to prevent the President from inciting further violence. Like all Americans he is outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem, Trump said as calls for removing him via impeachment or the U.S. Constitution’s 25th Amendment grew louder. Several prominent GOP lawmakers had criticised Wednesday’s violence and in the aftermath, more administration officials handed in their resignation.

B) U.S. President Donald Trump U.S. President Donald Trump. 

Trump addressed the rioters in his video message, saying they did not represent the country. To those who broke the law, you will pay, he said. This was in sharp contrast to Wednesday, when Trump had called the rioters very special in another video message in which he also asked them to retreat. In a tweet he had called the rioters great patriots even as some of them were inside the Capitol. Trump said that emotions were high following an intense election and tempers must be cooled now. Now Congress has certified the results. A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation, Trump said without mentioning Biden by name or offering congratulations, as is the norm.

C) The man who waved the tricolour during the storming of U.S. Capitol. 

A video of someone waving the Indian tricolour amid the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol had caused much speculation. Now it has emerged that one of the persons waving the tricolour was Vincent Xavier Palathingal, a Kerala-native hailing from Kochi. In a detailed Facebook post, Palathingal claimed that he was protesting a stolen election. The post, in which he claimed that he was not part of the violence, has now been taken down after people inside and outside Kerala criticised him, saying he had insulted India by carrying the tricolour to a violent protest in which five people died. Vincent Xavier Palathingal taking part in the US Capitol protest. Vincent Xavier Palathingal taking part in the US Capitol protest. Trump rallies are always a lot of fun. And today was not an exception. About 50 or so lawless people who breached the U.S. Capitol perimeter by climbing the walls, breaking the windows, and attacking police inside this sacred temple to American Democracy is not a reason to throw the million-plus peaceful protestors under the bus, he had written in the deleted post. Palathingal also posted images of himself with the Indian national flag near the Capitol, along with other Trump supporters who laid siege to the Capitol. Palathingal is an active commentator in social media on Kerala politics as well, with several posts criticising the LDF Government.

D) Hong Kong grants bail to arrested pro-democracy activists. 

Authorities in Hong Kong said on Friday that they have granted bail to most of the 55 pro-democracy activists who were arrested this week in a sweeping crackdown on dissent. One of the activists said they could still be charged under a tough national security law. The activists were accused of taking part in an unofficial primary election last year that authorities said was part of a plan to paralyse the Legislative Council and subvert state power. The primary was held to choose the best candidates to field as the pro-democracy camp sought to win a majority of seats. The mass arrests on Wednesday were the biggest move against Hong Kong’s democracy movement since Beijing imposed the national security law in the semi-autonomous territory last June to quell dissent following months of anti-government protests in 2019. Former Democratic Party legislators Andrew Wan, left, Lam Cheuk-ting, second from left, and Helena Wong, right, attending a press conference after being released on bail in Hong Kong on January 8. Former Democratic Party legislators Andrew Wan, left, Lam Cheuk-ting, second from left, and Helena Wong, right, attending a press conference after being released on bail in Hong Kong on January 8. Three of the 55 arrested people were not released, activists Joshua Wong and Tam Tak-chi, who were already in jail on separate charges, and former Hong Kong Democratic Party Chairman Wu Chi-wai, who remained in custody for failing to meet bail conditions in a separate protest-related case.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
08 January 2021

NATIONAL NEWS:

 

A) India’s GDP estimated to contract by 7.7% in 2020-21. 

India’s real GDP is estimated to contract by 7.7% in 2020-21, as compared to a growth rate of 4.2% in 2019-20. Real GVA (Gross Valued added) at basic prices is estimated at ₹123.39 lakh crore in 2020-21, as against ₹133.01 lakh crore in 2019-20, showing a 7.2% contraction, as per advance estimates by the National Statistical Office. Only two sectors are estimated to record positive growth in GVA this year: Agriculture (3.4%) and Electricity, Gas, Water Supply & Other Utility services (2.7%) The sharpest decline in 2020-21 is expected in Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication and Services related to broadcasting (-21.4%), followed by Construction (-12.6%), Mining and quarrying (-12.4%), Manufacturing (-9.4%), Public administration, defence and other services (-3.7%) and Financial, Real Estate and Professional Services (-0.8%).

B) Farmers take out tractor march against agri laws. 

Amid tight security, thousands of farmers on Thursday started their tractor march from protest sites Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders against the three agriculture laws. Bharati Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan said that farmers participated in the march with over 3,500 tractors and trolleys. There were about 300 tractors when we flagged off the march from the Sampla toll gate. But as we joined the KMP [the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal] expressway, there were thousands more. It is no exaggeration to say there were thousands of tractors and farm vehicles joining us on the road, said AIKS joint secretary Vijoo Krishnan, who took part in the first stage of the march. This is a clear warning to the Modi-led BJP government that unless the three Acts and the draft Electricity Bill are withdrawn, the struggle will continue. This is only a rehearsal, nothing in comparison to what will happen on Republic Day. Not only in Delhi, but in every state, in every district of the country, we are preparing for similar tractor parades, he added.

C) Will farmers’ protest be a ‘problem’ like Tablighi Jamaat, SC asks Centre. 

Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde on Thursday voiced the Supreme Court’s apprehension that mass gatherings of protesting farmers could lead to a problem similar to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in March last year amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Same problem will arise from the farmers’ protest. Don’t know if they are protected from Covid-19. They must tell us what is happening, Chief Justice Bobde, heading a three-judge Bench, addressed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the Centre. The court was hearing a petition seeking a CBI probe into the circumstances leading to the mass gathering of migrant workers, anxious to leave the National Capital for their villages and hometowns, at the Anand Vihar Bus Terminal, as well as the Tablighi Jamaat congregation. Both incidents happened in March last year. The court issued notice to the Centre and the Delhi government. It also asked Mehta to file a detailed report on its guidelines to prevent Covid-19, including restrictions on mass gatherings.

D) Sonia asks govt. to cut excise duty on petroleum products. 

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday demanded that the Narendra Modi government charge the same rate of excise duty on petroleum products as the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) did and give relief to common people. Excessive taxation by the Modi government has led to the highest ever price of petroleum products in the past 73 years and the government has so far collected ₹19 lakh crore in excise duty in the past six years, she said in a statement. In the midst of a collapsing economy because of corona, the Modi government is trying to convert the disaster into an opportunity to fill its treasury. Today the price of crude oil is $50.96 per barrel or just ₹23.43 per litre. Despite this, diesel is being sold for ₹74.38 and petrol at ₹84.20 per litre. This is the highest in the last 73 years, she added. The Congress president said the government was resorting to profiteering through excise duty instead of providing relief to common people. She said the repeated rise of LPG cylinder price had disturbed the household budgets. In a tweet, former party chief Rahul Gandhi alleged that since the government was looting people through heavy taxes, it was refusing to bring petroleum products under the ambit of the Goods and Services tax (GST). Earlier in the day, party’s chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala held a press conference to share details about the UPA’s excise duty. When the Modi government came to power in May 2014, excise duty on petrol was ₹9.20 per litre and ₹3.46 per litre on diesel. The government has increased excise duty by ₹23.78 on every litre of petrol and ₹28.37 on every litre of diesel, Surjewala said.

E) Sourav Ganguly discharged from hospital. 

BCCI president Sourav Ganguly was on Thursday discharged from Kolkata’s Woodlands Hospital. The former Indian cricket captain, who was admitted to the hospital on January 2 after a mild heart attack, said that he was absolutely fine. He is absolutely fine. Hopefully, he will be able to fly soon, Ganguly told reporters while coming out of the hospital. After his admission to the hospital on January 2, a coronary angiography was performed on him the same day. A team of doctors, including experts like Devi Shetty, visited and took stock of the 48-year-old former cricketer’s health. Ganguly has been diagnosed with triple vessel disease and the medical board decided that treatment of two other arteries will be done after two to three weeks.

F) Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments. 

The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 1,04,03,173 with the death toll at 1,50,536. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan on Thursday wrote to Maharashtra, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, urging them to take steps to curb the spike in Covid-19 cases. These States were reporting an upsurge in the number of daily new cases in the recent days, a release issued by the Health Ministry said. The States have been advised to maintain a ‘strict vigil’ and take steps to keep a check on the rising cases, especially in view of the new strain of the virus being observed in certain countries and which has also been reported in a few States in India. In his letter, Bhushan has drawn the attention of the States to the low and declining testing rates. Any laxity at this crucial junction may squander the results of the collective actions in containing the transmission, he noted.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) Trump promises ‘orderly transition’ after his supporters storm U.S. Capitol; Congress certifies Biden victory.

A Joint Session of the U.S. Congress on Thursday formally certified the electoral victory of Joe Biden as the next U.S. President and Kamala Harris as the Vice President in the November 3 election. The certification of the election result by Congress, usually a formality since the losing candidate would have long since conceded, was hugely acrimonious and controversial this time around as the sitting President Donald Trump continued to insist that the election was ‘stolen’ from him. Acting on the President’s words, a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol for nearly four hours in a day that saw the death of four people. As a result, the Congress, which had convened to certify Joe Biden’s election victory, was evacuated midway. Both the House and Senate reconvened after a brief period to resume duties. Videos showed people breaking windows and pressing past barricades to get inside. Lawmakers from the Senate and the House of Representatives were evacuated. After he repeatedly posted false accusations about the election, Twitter and Facebook suspended Trump’s account for violating user policy. After his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Trump said in a statement tweeted by his social media director Dan Scavino, Even though he totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th.

B) China compares U.S. violence to 2019 Hong Kong protests.

Commenting on the violence in Washington and storming of the U.S. Capitol, China on Thursday said it hopes the people in the U.S. can enjoy peace as it compared Wednesday’s events with the protests in Hong Kong. They believe that the people of the United States want stability and peace, and hope they can soon enjoy security and stability, especially amid the grim situation brought about by the pandemic, said China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying. The Foreign Ministry as well as state media in China compared the developments in Washington to protests in Hong Kong, where in 2019 protesters had stormed the legislative headquarters. Ms. Hua also tweeted a video of that incident on Thursday. While U.S. mainstream media denounced the protesters at the U.S. Capitol as ‘mobs’, they had called the violent protesters in Hong Kong ‘democratic heroes’, saying that the U.S. people were standing with them, the official Xinhua news agency quoted Ms. Hua as saying. Similarity with the protests in Hong Kong was a common theme in China’s state media’s coverage, even if the difference in contexts between protesters who were looking to overturn a fairly contested election and those who were calling for direct elections and universal suffrage to be introduced in China’s Special Administrative Region was left unsaid.

C) Indian-American named U.S. Army’s first CIO. 

Indian-American Raj lyer has taken over as the first Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the U.S. Army after the Pentagon created the position in July 2020. One of the highest ranking Indian-American civilians in the U.S. Department of Defense, Dr. lyer, who holds a PhD. in Electrical Engineering, serves as the Principal Adviser to the Secretary of the Army and directs representation of the Secretary in matters relating to information management/ information technology (IT), the Pentagon said in a statement. Equivalent in rank to a three-star General, Dr. lyer will supervise an annual budget of $16 billion for the U.S. Army’s IT operations. Over 15,000 civilians and military personnel posted across 100 countries work under him.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
07 January 2021

NATIONAL NEWS:

 

A) Supreme Court to examine validity of laws against marriage-linked religious conversion. 

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine the constitutional validity of a spate of laws enacted by States such as Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand that criminalize religious conversion via marriage and mandate prior official clearance before marrying into another faith. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde, however, did not stay the implementation of the Prohibition Of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020 and the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act, 2018, despite fervent pleas by petitioners that rampaging mobs are lifting off people in the middle of wedding ceremonies, buoyed by the enactment of the laws. What we have here is multiple States like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh enacting these laws which are absolutely horrifying. They require the prior permission to marry, senior advocate C.U. Singh submitted. Singh argued that the burden of proof was on the people who marry to show they were not doing so to get converted. Those who are found guilty under these laws stare at a 10-year prison sentence. The offences are non-bailable. However, the Bench, which had initially asked the petitioners to go to the respective State High Courts with their challenge, did not stay the implementation of the laws. 

B) Three men, including a priest, allegedly rape and murder 50-year-old in U.P’s Budaun. 

A 50-year-old woman died after she was gang-raped, allegedly by a priest and his two aides, in a village in Ughaiti area of Budaun, Uttar Pradesh, on January 3 night. However, an FIR was registered only on January 5 after a post-mortem confirmed severe injuries to the private parts of the deceased. The deceased’s son told reporters that she used to go to the village temple every evening. On Sunday, she didn’t return. Around 11.30 p.m., the priest and his two aides brought her home in a car. They said she fell into the dry well on the temple premises. She was bleeding profusely and soon died. Before we could ask anything, the three left, he said. He alleged that priest Satya Narayan and his aides, Jaspal and Vedram, were lying as they didn’t take her to hospital. They approached the police as they felt somebody had raped her. Locals said a video of the priest saying that the she fell into the well was circulating in the local media but the police could not nab him. They said the dry well was in an isolated area and not on the way to the temple that somebody could fall in it. The SHO also believed the theory of the accused till the post-mortem report revealed that she had been brutalised, said social activist Shafi Ahmed. Sankalp Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police, Budaun, said on Wednesday an FIR had been registered under sections 376D and 302 of the IPC after the medical report confirmed rape. One of the accused has been arrested and the SHO had been suspended for the delay, he said.

C) Pranab was ready to invite Congress-led coalition had 2014 thrown up a hung Parliament. 

Former President Pranab Mukherjee was ready to break convention and invite a Congress-led coalition to form a government if the 2014 Lok Sabha polls had thrown up a hung Parliament. The final volume of his autobiography, The Presidential Years, formally released on Tuesday, revealed that he couldn’t be neutral between stability and instability. He had expected a hung Parliament with the BJP emerging as the single largest party with about 195-200 seats. In such a situation, it would have been my constitutional responsibility to ensure stability. Had the Congress emerged with fewer seats but promised a stable government, he would have invited the leader of the party to form the government, keeping in mind their previous track record in managing coalition governments successfully, his autobiography read. In a no-holds-barred description of his years in the Manmohan Singh government, Mukherjee criticised several decisions, including the creation of Telangana, and targeted the party’s leadership for allowing leaders like Mamata Banerjee to walk out of the coalition. He also blamed the Narendra Modi government for the repeated parliamentary disruptions in its first term. He talked about expecting the unexpected from Modi in terms of foreign policy, and pointed out how the Prime Minister had come to him to seek support for the November 2016 demonetisation.

D) Farmers’ protests: Situation has not improved at all, says SC. 

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pointed out to the government that there had been no breakthrough in the impasse between the Centre and thousands of farmers standing firm on their demands to repeal three controversial agricultural laws and to provide legal backing for minimum support price (MSP). The situation has no improvement at all, Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde addressed Attorney General K.K. Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the two top law officers of the country, during a virtual court hearing. Venugopal, however, on a positive note, said that there are chances that the parties may come to some understanding. Both he and Mehta said that for this reason the government did not want, for now, to file a counter-affidavit in the Supreme Court to the petitions regarding the farm laws and the farmers’ protest. Our counter is ready. But there are healthy discussions going on. So we have not filed it in the Supreme Court, Mehta submitted. Several rounds of talks between the government and farmer leaders have been inconclusive so far. The CJI posted all the petitions concerning the farmers’ issue for Monday, but said that it could be adjourned if the Attorney General found it necessary for the sake of the ongoing talks.

E) Congress distances itself from Tharoor’s tweet on cancelling Republic Day festivities. 

The Congress on Wednesday distanced itself from party Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor’s tweet that the government should cancel the Republic Day celebrations on January 26 in view of the pandemic. On Tuesday, after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express his inability to come as the Chief Guest for the R-Day parade, Tharoor had called for cancellation of the festivities. Now that @BorisJohnson’s visit to India this month has been cancelled due to the #COVIDSecondWave, & we don’t have a Chief Guest on #RepublicDay, why not go one step farther & cancel the festivities altogether? Getting crowds to cheer the parade as usual would be irresponsible, Tharoor tweeted. Without directly commenting on the tweet, the Congress at its party’s official meeting said it fully backed the idea of celebrating the democratic and constitutional festivals. At a time when you are witnessing the Constitution and constitutional institutions being constantly attacked and weakened, the Congress feels that such festivities should be celebrated with enthusiasm, spokesperson Alka Lamba said. They have to take an oath that they will not allow their Constitution and institutions to be weakened at all. And he think, they can strengthen their commitment, faith and belief through our democratic festivals, she said.

F) Addressing Tamil concerns, implementing 13th Amendment in Sri Lanka’s interest: Jaishankar. 

It is in Sri Lanka’s own interest that the Tamil people’s expectations for equality, justice, peace and dignity within a united Sri Lanka are fulfilled, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said in Colombo on Wednesday. That applies equally to commitments made by the Sri Lankan government on meaningful devolution, including the 13th Amendment, he said, addressing a joint press conference with Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. Jaishankar made the remarks hours after he called on President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and also held bilateral discussions with his counterpart, as part of his three-day visit that began on Tuesday. Consistent with New Delhi’s messaging on the Tamil question since the Rajapaksas came to power, the remarks coincide with a campaign among sections in Sri Lanka to abolish the provincial council system and the 13th Amendment, which followed the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987. Gunawardena, in his statement, said the President had firmly stated his commitment to the well-being, progress and opportunity to all our citizens Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and all, he said.

G) Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments. 

The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 1,03,91,584 with the death toll at 1,50,355. The Union Home Ministry has objected to the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to allow 100% seating in movie theatres. In a letter to Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam written on January 5, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said the State government should revise its January 4 order allowing 100% seating in cinema theatres and multiplexes and bring it in line with the Centre’s guidelines, which allow only 50%. State/UT governments shall not dilute these guidelines in any manner and shall strictly enforce the same, the letter stated.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange denied bail in U.K.

A British judge on January 6 denied bail to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been jailed in Britain since 2019 as he fights extradition to the United States. District Judge Vanessa Baraitser ordered Assange to remain in prison while the courts consider an appeal by U.S. authorities against a decision not to extradite him. On January 4, the judge rejected an American request to send Assange to the U.S. to face espionage charges over WikiLeaks’ publication of secret military documents a decade ago. She had denied extradition on health grounds, saying the 49-year-old Australian was likely to kill himself if held under harsh U.S. prison conditions. The judge said on January 6 that Assange has an incentive to abscond and there is a good chance he would fail to return to court if freed.

B) Democrats heading to win Senate as Georgia results come in. 

Democrats inched closer to taking control of the U.S. Senate on Wednesday as African American pastor Raphael Warnock defeated incumbent Republican candidate Kelly Loeffler, a former businesswoman in one of two run-off elections in Georgia. Warnock became the first black Senator elected from the southern state. The other run-off race was too close to call with incumbent David Perdue, a Republican, trailing his challenger, 33 year-old Jon Ossoff, a documentary filmmaker, by over 16,000 votes with 98% reporting on Wednesday morning (U.S. time). Both of the run-offs were necessary because no candidate had won more then 50% of the vote in the November elections. If Ossoff wins his race, Democrats would take control of the Senate (they already control the House of Representatives). The high stakes races in Georgia consequently broke fundraising records and compelled Trump and Biden to campaign for the candidates earlier this week.