Tag: latest Current Affairs

CURRENT AFFAIRS
25 October 2020

NATIONAL NEWS:

 

A) Income Tax returns filing deadline for FY20 extended till December 31.

To provide more time to taxpayers for furnishing Income Tax Returns (ITR) pertaining to financial year 2019-20, the government has further extended the due date for furnishing of Income-Tax Returns. The deadline for businesses to file annual Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns and reconciliation statements for the financial year 2018-19 has also been extended from October 31, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The government said it had received a number of pleas for the extension in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, and the GST Council had also recommended that taxpayers be granted more time to comply. For taxpayers who need to get their accounts audited or furnish reports on specific domestic or international transactions, the deadline is now January 31, 2021. For the rest, it has been extended to December 31, 2020 from the earlier limit of November 30. Further, in order to provide relief to small and middle class taxpayers, the due date for payment of self-assessment tax for the taxpayers whose self-assessment tax liability is up to ₹1 lakh had been extended to November 30, 2020, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said this in a statement on 24 October. The due date for payment of self-assessment tax for these taxpayers has now been extended to January 31, 2021 for those who need to furnish audited accounts or report specified transactions. For the rest, the deadline has been extended to December 31, 2020.

B) Farooq Abdullah named chairman of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration; Mehbooba Mufti to be deputy.

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah has unanimously chosen as the chairman of the recently-floated People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration while PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti will be his deputy, the amalgam said. CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami is the convenor of the alliance, while Sajad Lone of People’s Conference has been named as the spokesperson. The amalgam leaders, who met at the residence of Mufti for the first time after its formation, adopted the flag of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir as its symbol. The alliance will come out with a white paper within a month on governance in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370, Lone told reporters after the meeting. The white paper will not be rhetoric. It will be based on facts and figures to present the reality to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and around the country, Lone said. The alliance also decided to hold its next meeting after a fortnight in Jammu, followed by a convention in Srinagar on November 17.

C) Congress shows ‘selective outrage’ in cases of crimes against women, says Nirmala Sitharaman.

On 24 October, the BJP has accused the Congress of employing selective outrage in cases of crimes against women, and questioned the silence of Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra over the alleged rape and murder of a six-year-old girl in Punjab. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, at a presser at the BJP’s national headquarters in New Delhi, also took a swipe at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, questioning if he had asked Gandhi about the issue while holding a joint poll campaign with him in the State. She also noted that the child hailed from the Dalit community. Attacking Yadav, she referred to a news report of 2008 to mention the allegations of eve-teasing and misbehaviour with women against the RJD brothers, a reference to him and his elder brother Tej Pratap. The Punjab incident may not hurt the RJD because that is how things were when they were in power, Sitharaman said, by adding that the RJD presided over Jungle Raj during its rule between 1990-2005. In response to Sitharaman’s comments, Gandhi tweeted that unlike in UP, the governments of Punjab and Rajasthan are NOT denying that the girl was raped, threatening her family and blocking the course of justice. If they do, he will go there to fight for justice.  In a horrifying incident, a six-year-old girl was allegedly raped, killed and then set on fire, with her half-burnt body found at a home in Tanda’s Jalalpur village, the police said on Thursday.

D) Centre lays out modalities of compound interest scheme on loans up to ₹2 crore.

3 weeks after informing the Supreme Court that the Centre would bear the additional compound interest on loans of up to ₹2 crore availed by retail borrowers as well as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the government formally communicated the modalities of the scheme to lenders on 23 October. Banks and other lenders, including co-operative banks and non-banking finance companies, have been asked to credit the difference between the compound interest and simple interest for the 6 month period between March 1 and August 31 into these loan accounts by November 5. This would be implemented even for borrowers who had not availed the moratorium on loan repayments allowed by the RBI up to August 31. At its last hearing on October 14, the Supreme Court had turned down the Centre’s request for a month to implement a scheme to ensure that borrowers with loans of up to ₹2 crore won’t have to bear compound interest on the interest dues accruing on their loans during the moratorium period. The apex court, which had been hearing petitions seeking an extension of the six month moratorium granted by the RBI on loan repayments, had given the Centre time till November 2 and said that the common man’s Diwali is now in the government’s hands. In view of the unprecedented and extreme COVID-19 situation, the object of the scheme is to provide ex-gratia payment of difference between compound interest and simple interest by ways of relief for the period from March 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020, to borrowers in specified loan accounts, the Finance Ministry said in its communique laying out the scheme’s contours.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) Carbine deal a benchmark for UAE firms to invest in India.

The deal for 93,895 Close Quarter Carbines (CQBs) for the Indian Army, for which United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s government-owned small arms manufacturer Caracal was shortlisted, is like a benchmark for UAE industry and they are watching closely on further investments in the Indian market, said Hamad Salem Alameri, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Caracal. Once this first contract moves, a lot of sister companies within the group will see this as a success story and people will have the confidence to come and invest in India.  However. while Caracal was shortlisted 2 years back, the final deal has been delayed and recently an in principle decision was taken in the Defense Ministry to cancel the deal and take the domestic route for procurement. But no formal announcement has been made so far. Nothing came to officially on the cancellation or on the intent of cancellation. He said in the last 2 years Caracal had developed of suppliers and technology partners and the starting point of indigenization will be 60%. Stating that Caracal has already identified four locations to set up the facility and also identified local partners to be able to commence production immediately, Mr. Alameri said India is already part of their global supply chain and over 20% of the components fitted on the CAR 816 are already made in India. The deals for 72,400 assault rifles and 93,895 carbines were approved by the Defense Acquisition Council in January 2018 to be processed through the fast track route.

B) Countries battle virus as WHO sees ‘exponential’ rise.

Grim data highlighted the struggle for authorities around the world to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control on Saturday, as the U.S. reported 80,000 infections in a single day, France extended a curfew to two-thirds of citizens and Germany’s death toll passed 10,000. The World Health Organization had earlier warned of an exponential rise in infections threatening health systems’ ability to cope. But populations weary of social isolation and economic hardship have pushed back against fresh restrictions to slow the resurgent virus’ spread, including overnight clashes in hard-hit Naples between Italian police and hundreds of protesters. Johns Hopkins University had earlier reported 79,963 new American cases in 24 hours, a new record, although the number of daily deaths has remained broadly stable since the beginning of autumn at between 700 and 800.

C) U.S. allies welcome Israel-Sudan deal but Iran, Palestine cry foul.

Sudan and Israel agreed on 23 October to normalize relations, in a U.S.-brokered deal to end decades of hostility that was widely welcomed but stirred Palestinian anger.

The announcement makes Sudan, technically at war with Israel since its 1948 foundation, the third Arab country to forge diplomatic relations with the Jewish State in the last two months. “HUGE win today for the United States and for peace in the world,” U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted.

Other U.S. allies, including Germany, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, welcomed the deal as a boost to stability in the West Asia.

Meanwhile, Palestinian leaders strongly condemned the deal, echoing their rejection of Israel’s normalisation accords with the UAE and Bahrain signed in Washington last month.

“The State Of Palestine expressed today its condemnation and rejection Of the deal to normalise ties with the Israeli occupation country which usurps Palestinian land.” president Mahmoud Abbas•s office said in a statement.

Iran, which has been a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause. said Sudan had paid a “shameful” price to be removed from the “phony” blacklist.

“Pay enough ransom, close your eyes on the crimes against Palestinians, then you’ll be taken Off the so-called terrorism’ black- + list. Obviously the list is as phony as the U.S. fight against terrorism. Shameful!” its Foreign Ministry said.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
24 October 2020

NATIONAL NEWS:

 

A) Bihar needs Nitish-led NDA govt for development: Modi.

Addressing a poll rally in Sasaram, Bihar on 23 October, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended the speculation about growing differences between alliance partners JD(U) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), asserting that an NDA government led by Nitish Kumar was necessary for development in Bihar. He also clarified that the NDA in Bihar meant the BJP, the JD(U), the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), and the Vikasheel Insaan Party. He did not mention the Chirag Paswan-led LJP. Apart from Sasaram, Modi is scheduled to address public meetings in Gaya and Bhagalpur. In all, he will address 12 public meetings during the three-phase Bihar elections that will end on November 7. Counting will be on November 10. He said that for the development of Bihar, an NDA government led by Nitish Kumar is necessary for a self-reliant Bihar, an NDA government is necessary here. 

B) Shivraj Singh Chouhan latest to promise free Covid-19 vaccine. 

Ahead of the by-election to 28 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh, and after the BJP promised Bihar residents free vaccination against Covid-19 in its Assembly election manifesto, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced that the vaccine will be administered free to the poor in his state. Chouhan said that control over the Covid-19 pandemic has been achieved to a great extent in Madhya Pradesh, but the permanent cure is a vaccine. The State government has decided that the Covid-19 vaccine will be administered free to those who can’t afford it.

C) WHO had informed India about coronavirus in early January, reveals RTI query.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had informed India about the novel coronavirus circulating in Wuhan, China as early as January 11, and had conveyed that its probable dates of onset was 12-29 December 2019, according to information accessed through the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The RTI reply shows that the WHO also advised against any travel or trade restrictions on China based on the information currently available on this event. In the RTI reply, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) said Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, New Delhi, sent an alert mail to Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan on January 11, 2020, regarding the novel corona virus circulating in Wuhan. The RTI query, filed by Jammu resident Rohit Chaudhary, had sought to know “the date when the Government of India first received information on the Covid19/Coronavirus/Wuhan Virus/China Virus. After the first known case was detected in India on January 30, more than 77 lakh Covid-19 cases and around 1.17 lakh deaths have been reported in the country so far.

D) Centre imposes stock limits, offers onion at ₹26-28 per kg to States, UTs.

The Centre has imposed stock limits on onions as the rising prices have crossed levels needed to trigger government intervention under the provisions of the newly amended Essential Commodities Act. The storage limits of 25 tonnes for wholesalers and 2 tonnes for retailers, in effect from today until Dec 31, will send a strong message that the government will not allow price manipulation to hurt the ordinary consumer, Consumer Affairs Secretary Leena Nandan said. Nationally, the average retail price was more than ₹55 per kg as on October 21. This is only 22% higher than last year, when excess rainfall had similarly affected crops, damaged onions in warehouses, and caused transport disruptions. However, the price is 115% higher than the average of the last five years for this date. This triggers the extraordinary price rise clause of the amended Essential Commodities Act, allowing the government to invoke stock limits. Further, in a bid to cool down retail onion prices, which are at over ₹75 per kg in some places, the Centre has asked States and Union Territories to take the vegetable from the central buffer stock for retail intervention. As per data maintained by the Consumer Affairs Ministry, retail onion prices were ₹86/kg in Mumbai, ₹83/kg in Chennai, ₹70/kg in Kolkata, and ₹55/kg in Delhi on October 22.

E) Amazon refuses to appear before Parliament Committee.

E-commerce giant Amazon has refused to appear before the Joint Committee of Parliament on the Data Protection Bill on October 28, and this amounts to breach of privilege, panel chairperson and BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi said on 23 October. Lekhi said that the panel is unanimous in its opinion that coercive action can be suggested to the government against the e-commerce company. Amazon has refused to appear before the panel on October 28 and if no one on behalf of the e-commerce company appears before the panel, it amounts to breach of privilege, she told PTI. Meanwhile, Facebook’s policy head Ankhi Das appeared before the panel on the issue of data security on 23 October. Facebook India representatives were asked some tough questions by the members of the panel, sources said. During the meeting, a member suggested that the social media giant should not draw inferences from the data of its users for commercial benefits of its advertisers. The panel has summoned officials of Twitter on October 28, and those of Google and Paytm on October 29.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) Pakistan to stay on FATF grey list till 2021.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on 23 October has decided to keep Pakistan on the grey list till the next review of its compliance with the recommendations made in February next year. Pakistan has made progress across all action plan items and has now largely addressed 21 of 27 action items. As all action plan deadlines have expired, the FATF strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by February 2021, said an FATF statement issued in Paris at the end of the Plenary session, on the decision to keep Pakistan in the list of Jurisdictions under increased monitoring or grey list. At the FATF Plenary, Turkey proposed that members should consider Pakistan’s good work and instead of waiting for completion of the remaining six of the 27 parameters, an FATF on-site team should visit the country to finalize its assessment. On-site teams are permitted only after jurisdictions complete their Action Plans. Such visits would signal exit from the grey or black list. However, when the proposal was placed before the 38-member Plenary, no other member seconded the move; it was not supported even by China, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. The FATF finally decided to keep Pakistan in the grey list. Pakistan has now almost 4 months to comply with the recommendations as its performance will now be put to scrutiny in the next plenary in February 2021. The points on which Pakistan failed to deliver included inaction against charitable organisations or non-profit organisations linked to terror groups banned by the UNSC.

B) Oli move on Nepal map hints at softer stand.

After months of simmering dispute with India over the Kalapani issue, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli indicated a softer line on 23 October when he used an old map of Nepal to greet everyone on the festival of Vijay Dashami. The old map does not show the region of KalapaniLipulekIl-Limpiyadhura, which is part of India’s Pitoragarh district. The triangular piece of land is, however, shown as part of Nepalese territory in the new map, which was unveiled on May 20, and made part of the insignia of the Nepalese state by an amendment on June 8. Prime Minister Oli’s use of the national insignia of Nepal carrying the old map has drawn strong reactions from the political of Kathmandu, with leaders expressing surprise about the use of the old map during Dussehra, which is the biggest festival in the Himalayan country. Individual level can use any map of Nepal that he wishes but as the Prime Minister of Nepal, he should have used the national map of Nepal that was passed by Parliament and dedicated to the Nepalese people, said Bishwaprakash Sharma, who is spokes of the Opposition Nepali Congress. Nepalese publication Myrepublica reported that Mr. Goel led a nine-member delegation. The visit drew attention as it came a fortnight before the scheduled visit to Nepal of General Manoj Mukund Naravane, chief of the Indian Army.

C) China’s Xi sends warning to ‘invaders’.

China’s President Xi Jinping on 23 October have invoked the memory of the Korean War on its 70th anniversary to send a warning to any invaders that force must be met with force. Mr. Xi, speaking at a meeting to mark the anniversary of what China officially calls he War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, said the 1950-53 conflict that saw China intervene on behalf of North Korea served a reminder that China will never sit back and watch any damage to our national sovereignty and will never allow any force to invade or divide the sacred territory of the motherland. While the Chinese President did not specifically refer to any of China’s current disputes, Chinese State media have framed the high-profile marking of the anniversary through a number of events in recent days, against the backdrop of deteriorating China-U.S. relations and as sending a message to Washington, even if Mr. Xi’s comments would likely also draw attention in both India and Taiwan amid recent tensions. It is necessary to speak to invaders in the language they know, that is, a war must be fought to deter invasion, and force must be met by force, he was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency. A victory is needed to win peace and respect. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has issued a somewhat muted response to the announcement of the exercise, saying China always believes that military cooperation between countries should be conducive to regional peace and stability.”

The Xinhua commentary issued a sharper response. “After a long-time hiatus, the Quad reconvened in 2017 when the United States proposed the so-called Indo-pacific strategy on the East Asia cooperation, which, based on an obsolete Cold War mentality, is aimed at stoking geopolitical competition and con• frontation so as to contain the region’s development,” it said.

‘Cold War mentality’ The drill, the commentary

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS
23 October 2020

NATIONAL NEWS:

 

A) BJP promises free Covid-19 vaccine in its Bihar poll manifesto. 

On 22 October, the BJP has released its manifesto for the Assembly polls in Bihar with the first promise in it being free distribution of vaccine against Covid-19, once it is approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who released the manifesto in Patna, said that as soon as Covid-19 vaccine is available for production on a mass scale, every person in Bihar will get free vaccination. This is the first promise mentioned in their poll manifesto. The announcement led to a storm of criticism by Opposition leaders, who felt that offering free vaccines as an election promise during a pandemic was morally unacceptable. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted sarcastically that GOI just announced India’s Covid access strategy. Kindly refer to the state-wise election schedule to know when will you get it, along with a hoard of false promises. BJP’s Information Technology Cell chief Amit Malviya offered more clarifications. Like all programmes, Centre will provide vaccines to states at a nominal rate. It is for state Governments to decide if they want to give it free or otherwise. Health being a state subject, Bihar BJP has decided to give it free. Amid the criticism, Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami jumped in to say that a potential vaccine would also be free in Tamil Nadu, which goes to polls next year. Once Covid-19 vaccine is ready, it will be provided to all people of the state free of cost, announced the Tamil Nadu CM.

B) Govt. issues warning to Twitter over misrepresentation of Indian map.

The government has shot off a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, conveying its strong disapproval over misrepresentation of the Indian map, and asserting that any attempt by the micro-blogging platform to disrespect the country’s sovereignty is unacceptable. In a strongly-worded letter, Information Technology (IT) Secretary Ajay Sawhney has warned the platform that such attempts not only bring disrepute to Twitter but also raise questions about its neutrality and fairness as an intermediary. IT Ministry sources told PTI that Sawhney sent the letter to Dorsey after Twitter showed the geo-location of Leh in Jammu and Kashmir, People’s Republic of China. The IT secretary, in his letter, reminded Twitter that Leh is the headquarter of the Union Territory of Ladakh, and both Ladakh as well as Jammu and Kashmir are integral parts of India.

C) Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories shuts units after cyber attack.

One of India’s leading pharmaceutical companies, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, has temporarily shut down some of its production facilities in the wake of a cyber-attack in the early hours of 22 October. While a statement from the drugmaker said it had isolated all data centre services to take required preventive actions, sources said that as a precautionary measure the company had also temporarily shut down some of the production facilities. Details of the units were not immediately available. In a intimation to the stock exchange, the company said that in the wake of a detected cyber-attack, they have isolated all data centre services to take required preventive actions. CIO Mukesh Rathi said that they are anticipating all services to be up within 24 hours and we do not foresee any major impact on our operations due to this incident.

D) Editors Guild: ‘Kashmir Times’ office sealing reprehensible. 

The Editors Guild of India on 22 October said that the sealing of the Srinagar offices of Kashmir Times was reprehensible and had disturbing implications for the media in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. On Monday, the J&K Union Territory administration sealed the newspaper’s Srinagar offices. In a statement, the Guild said that newspapers and magazines in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which became the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh last year, were already ravaged by conflict. Publications have steadily lost advertising over the last decade. Jammu and Kashmir’s communication shutdowns, followed by the pandemic lockdown, have totally stopped the trickle of revenue. Instead of assisting the media, which was most needed in these dark times, the administration without any notice took control of the office of Kashmir Times, putting its lock on the door. The newspaper editor, Ms. Anuradha Bhasin, and the staff have been denied access to records, computers, furniture and equipment in the office. Describing the act as vindictive, the Guild called on the government to restore status quo. The Press Club of India also issued a statement seeking the restoration of status quo.

E) Delhi riots: Umar Khalid tells court he’s in ‘sort of’ solitary confinement. 

Former JNU student leader Umar Khalid, arrested under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the north-east Delhi riots in February, told a court here on 22 October that he was not allowed to step out of his cell and it was sort of a solitary confinement. Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat directed Tihar Jail Superintendent to be present before the court on Friday to hear the matter. Khalid made his submissions directly to the court through video-conferencing when he was produced before it on expiry of his judicial custody in the case. He said that he have not been allowed to step outside at all. He was alone in his cell. No one is allowed to meet him. It is practically sort of a solitary confinement. He was not well for the last 3 days. He was feeling discomfort. This is like a punishment. Why is he given this punishment? He reiterate that he need security but it cannot be that he have to be in his cell all day.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) U.S. proposes not to issue business visa for H-1B specialty occupations.

The U.S. State Department has proposed not to issue temporary business visas for H-1B specialty occupations. These visas allow companies to send their technology professionals for a short stay to complete jobs on-site in the U.S. This move could, therefore, affect hundreds of Indians. The proposal, made public on Wednesday, less than two weeks ahead of the November 3 presidential election, is likely to impact several Indian companies which send their technology professionals on B-1 visas for a short stay to complete jobs on site in the U.S. On December 17, 2019, the Attorney General of California announced a $800,000 settlement against Infosys Limited to resolve allegations that approximately 500 Infosys employees worked in the state on Infosys-sponsored B-1 visas rather than H-1B visas, the State Department said. The proposed changes and the resulting transparency would reduce the impact of foreign labour on the U.S. workforce of aliens performing activities in a specialty occupation without the procedural protections attendant to the H-1B classification.

B) Snowden granted permanent residency in Russia.

Fugitive US whistleblower Edward Snowden has been granted permanent residency in Russia, his lawyer said this on 22 October. Snowden, the former US intelligence contractor who revealed in 2013 that the US government was spying on its citizens, has been living in exile in Russia since the revelations. His lawyer Anatoly Kucherena told AFP that his residency permit was extended and is now indefinite, a situation made possible by recent changes to Russia’s immigration law. Kucherena said that the application was filed in April but the process was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. Snowden is wanted in the United States on espionage charges after he leaked information showing that agents from the National Security Agency (NSA) were collecting telephone records of millions of US citizens. When asked whether Snowden planned to apply for Russian citizenship, Kucherena said that he will make the decision himself. It was natural that Snowden wanted to return to the United States but will only do so when the case against him is closed.

Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump said he would “take a look” at pardoning Snowden but has not made further comment on the matter.

A 2015 petition calling on then president Barack Obama to pardon the whistleblower and privacy advocate was rejected by the White House.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
22 October 2020

NATIONAL NEWS:

 

A) Rajasthan could become second State to reject farm laws. 

Rajasthan is likely to become the second Congress-ruled State after Punjab to formally reject the Centre’s Farm Acts, which are being opposed by large sections of agriculturists across the country. A special session of the State Assembly will be convened shortly to discuss the impact of the contentious laws on the farmers.Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has said that an Amendment Bill would be brought in the Assembly to nullify the applicability of the Central legislations and a resolution adopted against the Centre’s stand on the issue of farmers’ welfare. The Council of Ministers took the decision to call the Assembly session at its meeting held here. He said that Rajasthan would follow suit after the passage of Bills against the Central statutes in the Punjab Assembly. The Congress stands resolutely with our Annadatas (food providers) and will continue to oppose the anti-farmer laws passed by the NDA government. The Council of Ministers laid emphasis on a mandatory provision for procurement of agricultural produce at minimum support prices. It observed that the removal of ceiling on the stock of farm commodities in normal circumstances under the Essential Commodities Act after the implementation of new agricultural laws would lead to an increase in black marketing and hoarding.

B) Air pollution linked to 1,16,000 infant deaths in India in 2019: Report.

Outdoor and household particulate matter pollution contributed to the deaths of more than 1,16,000 Indian infants in their first month of life in 2019, according to State of Global Air 2020 report by the U.S.-based Health Effects Institute. More than half of these deaths were associated with outdoor PM2.5 and others linked to use of solid fuels such as charcoal, wood, and animal dung for cooking. Long-term exposure to outdoor and household air pollution contributed to over 1.67 million annual deaths from stroke, heart attack, diabetes, lung cancer, chronic lung diseases and neonatal diseases in India in 2019. For the youngest infants, most deaths were related to complications from low birth weight and preterm birth. Overall, air pollution is now the largest risk factor for death among all health risks, according to the report. The study highlights the ongoing challenge of high outdoor air pollution, with South Asian countries, including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal featuring among the top 10 countries with the highest PM2.5 exposures in 2019. All of these countries experienced increases in outdoor PM2.5 levels between 2010 and 2019.

C) ICMR approves new, low-cost testing method developed at IIT-Kharagpur.

A new coronavirus diagnostic method, using a low-cost portable unit developed by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur has been approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The approval came after tests with patient samples showed an accuracy level slightly lower than the gold standard RT-PCR method at a fraction of the cost. The machine cost less than ₹5,000 to make and the test kits would each cost about ₹500, IIT-Kharagpur researchers told journalists on Wednesday. Once the viral RNA was extracted, the testing process took about one hour. The IIT was in discussion with commercial manufacturers and start-ups, and hoped that the government would also subsidise the cost of test kits.

D) EC reiterates Covid-19 norms for campaigning after parties flout rules.

The Election Commission (EC) on 21 October has reiterated its guidelines for campaigning during the Covid-19 pandemic after finding that political parties and candidates had been lax in maintaining crowd discipline during the ongoing polls. With campaigning underway for the Bihar Assembly elections and by-polls across States, the EC wrote to all recognised national and State parties to reiterate its earlier advisory regarding social distancing, mask-wearing and other Covid-safe measures. Instances of such public meetings have come to notice of the Commission, where large crowds have assembled in utter violation of social distancing and the political leaders/campaigners are addressing the gathering without wearing masks in complete disregard of the guidelines/instructions. It added that it has taken a serious view of the laxity on the part of political parties and candidates on the ground in terms of maintaining crowd discipline and reiterated the need for parties to be careful during campaigning.

E) Calcutta High Court modifies order on puja pandals.

Calcutta High Court on 21 October has made minor modifications to its order passed on Monday by allowing a higher number of organisers to enter the Durga Puja pandals. But it maintained that pandals will remain no entry zones and visitors will not be allowed inside. Hearing a review petition, a Division Bench of Justices Sanjib Banerjee and Arijit Banerjee said that ‘dhakis’ (traditional drummers) may be permitted, but only in the no entry zone outside and not within the pandal area. ‘Dhakis’ will have to wear masks and maintain physical distancing norms, the court said. For smaller Durga Puja pandals whose area is less than 300 sq metres, now 30 organisers are allowed inside, while bigger ones can have up to 60 names in the list of organisers who are allowed inside. In the order issued on Monday, the numbers were 15 and 25 for smaller and bigger pandals respectively. The court added that the charts with the name of organisers or locals who will be allowed inside the pandals should be hung up by 8 a.m. every day and all the people (who are allowed inside) should not be present inside the pandal at one time. For bigger Durga Pujas, 45 persons can be present inside the pandal and for smaller ones, 25 people can be present at any given time.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) India-Germany flights resume after 3 weeks.

After a three-week impasse between India and Germany that led to the suspension of flights between the two countries, the Government of India on Wednesday announced the resumption of services. In continuance to the existing Air Bubble arrangement between India and Germany, the flight operations of @airindiain and @lufthansa between both the countries have recommenced. According to a senior DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) official, both Lufthansa and Air India will run 10 flights each a week. This agreement is for 2 months. The disagreement between the 2 sides was primarily due to the fewer number of flights allowed to Air India (3 or 4 weekly) compared with those allowed to Lufthansa (20 weekly). Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri said that Lufthansa was using the air bubble agreement to ferry sixth freedom rights passengers, or passengers destined to travel beyond Germany.

B) Group of Senators backs Australia’s inclusion.

A bipartisan group of Senators has written to India’s Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu backing India’s decision to invite Australia to the annual Malabar naval exercise. The letter also asks India to join the Blue Dot Network, a U.S.-led collaboration with Australia and Japan that supports private-sector led infrastructure financing opportunities in response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The letter says strengthening the Quad, the group comprising India, the U.S., Australia and Japan has become especially important in the face of China’s rising military and economic assertiveness. India’s invitation to Australia to join this year’s exercise comes three years after Canberra had asked to join the programme. The Senators’ letter called Australia a uniquely capable and stalwart partner, saying its addition to the Malabar exercise would provide increased interoperability, strengthen threat assessment abilities and enhance the maritime roles and missions of the 4 naval powers.  However, of equal importance is the symbolic nature of Australia’s inclusion in Malabar, marking the first time that the United States, India, Japan and Australia will engage collectively at the military level since the formation of the Quad and the Quad-plus-Singapore naval exercises held in September 2007.

C) Thai PM may lift emergency as rival rallies rock nation. 

Thailand’s embattled premier announced on 21 October that he might lift an emergency decree that has failed to stifle a growing protest movement demanding he steps down and also reforms to the monarchy. After a day of anti-government and rival royalist protests across the country, thousands of angry pro-democracy activists marched on Government House, defying an emergency decree imposed last week banning gatherings of more than 4 people. As they chanted for him to resign, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha addressed the nation, saying he would make the first move to de-escalate the situation. He said that he is currently preparing to lift the state of severe emergency in Bangkok and will do so promptly if there are no violent incidents, without specifying any timeframe. They must now step back from the edge of the slippery slope that can easily slide to chaos, calling on protesters to resolve their differences through Parliament.

Activists had massed at Bangkok’s Victory Monument, while counter-rallies attracted thousands of royalists in the southern province of Narathiwat and scores more in the capital.

Democracy activists have assembled daily in the capital since last week, flouting the emergency edict.

CURRENT AFFAIRS
21 October 2020

NATIONAL NEWS:

 

A) Punjab passes its own 3 farm Bills.

The Punjab Legislative Assembly has unanimously passed 3 Bills to negate the Centre’s 3 new agriculture laws on 20 October. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said that the Bills being presented would form the basis of the State’s legal battle ahead and hence needed to be thoroughly vetted before presentation. The draft resolution expressed the Assembly’s deep regret over the callous and inconsiderate attitude of the government of India in attending to the concerns of the farming community on recent farm legislation enacted by them. The Bills passed by the Assembly include the Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020, and The Essential Commodities (Special Provisions and Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2020. These 3 legislations, along with the proposed Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2020 are clearly against the interests of farmers and landless workers, and time-tested agriculture marketing system established not only in Punjab but also in the original green revolution areas of Punjab, Haryana, and western UP.

B) Don’t lower your guard until there is a vaccine: PM Modi.

In his seventh address to the nation since March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked people not to ease up on coronavirus precautions during the festive season. He observed that even though India’s coronavirus situation is better than other countries, people must not think that normalcy has returned. He said that lockdowns are gone, but the coronavirus is still there. Noting that the government is making all efforts to ensure that the Covid-19 vaccine, whenever it is launched, reached every Indian, he said anyone who is careless and moving around without a mask is putting themselves, children, and the elderly at risk. He also called on the media and people on social media to spread awareness about the need to follow Covid-19 guidelines.

C) Election Commission raises poll spending limit for candidates.

The poll spending limit for candidates contesting Lok Sabha and assembly elections has been increased by 10%, based on the recommendation of the Election Commission that contestants be allowed to spend more on campaigning given the difficulties they may face due to Covid-19 curbs. The hike in expenditure limit will help candidates contesting the Bihar assembly polls as well as the by-polls to one Lok Sabha and 59 assembly seats. Over a month ago, the Election Commission had recommended a 10% hike in expenditure for all elections to be held during the Covid-19 pandemic. The hike was recommended keeping in mind the difficulties candidates may face in campaigning amid the restrictions imposed, including those on holding rallies amid the pandemic. The notification issued by the Law Ministry on Monday night said the maximum expenditure a candidate can incur in campaigning for a Lok Sabha seat is ₹77 lakh. Until now it was ₹70 lakh. For assembly campaigns, it has been hiked from ₹28 lakh to ₹30.8 lakh.

D) Manipur cut off as road bridges remain unsafe.

Manipur remained partially cut off from the rest of the country for the second day on 20 October as the wobbly bridges along NH 37 that link Manipur to other parts of the country continued to be unsafe for loaded trucks. The Makru bridge was damaged on midnight of 19 October. The landlocked State depends on Assam and other States for all items in general, and consumer goods in particular. It has triggered a price hike in Manipur from 20 October onwards. A spokesman of construction agencies reportedly told some reporters who reached the damaged bridges that overloaded trucks were responsible for the breakdown of the bridges. Truck drivers, however, have denied this allegation. The All Manipur Transporter, Drivers and Motor Workers’ Union said that officials deployed along the NH 37 enforced the permitted weights and no truck was allowed to carry goods more than the approved weights. The drivers said that the Makru, Barak, and Irung bridges have been in bad shape for decades. An activist said governments of different parties were busy passing the buck on the company undertaking repairs of roads and bridges.

E) Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments.

The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 76,40,661 with the death toll at 1,15,858. Cautioning that Covid-19 infection can recur without sustained caution, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) director general Balram Bhargava has said that any negligence can lead to re-infection. Covid-19 re-infection in India is currently under investigation and we are collecting data on this. Bhargava added that the government is also keenly following the Solidarity trial interim results, which seemed to indicate that remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon regimens appeared to have little or no effect on 28-day mortality or the in-hospital course of Covid-19 among hospitalised patients. The Solidarity trial is an international clinical trial launched by the World Health Organisation to compare untested treatment options for Covid-19. He said that the results are interim, not peer reviewed. Debate and discussion is ongoing and we will take the results of these trials into consideration.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) U.S. Justice Dept. to file landmark antitrust case against Google.

The United States’ Justice Department is expected to file a lawsuit on 20 October by alleging that Google has been abusing its online dominance in online search to stifle competition and harm consumers. The litigation marks the government’s most significant act to protect competition since its groundbreaking case against Microsoft more than 20 years ago. The suit could be an opening salvo ahead of other major government antitrust actions, given ongoing investigations of major tech companies including Apple, Amazon and Facebook at both the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission. Lawmakers and consumer advocates have long accused Google, whose corporate parent Alphabet Inc. has a market value of just over $1 trillion, of abusing its dominance in online search and advertising to stifle competition and boost its profits. The case is expected to be filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., and will allege, among other things, that Google uses billions of dollars collected from advertisers to pay phone manufacturers to ensure Google is the default search engine on browsers. Trump has often criticised Google, recycling unfounded claims by conservatives that the search giant is biased against conservatives and suppresses their viewpoints, interferes with U.S. elections, and prefers working with the Chinese military over the Pentagon.

B) China opposes India-Taiwan trade ties

On 20 October, China has asked India to approach ties with Taiwan prudently and properly, and said it would firmly oppose any official exchanges between New Delhi and Taipei. The statement from China’s Foreign Ministry came in response to reports that India and Taiwan were considering going forward with talks on a trade deal. India and Taiwan in 2018 already signed a bilateral investment agreement. India-Taiwan trade ties have expanded since, and Taiwanese firms are prominent investors in India, although India and Taiwan do not maintain formal diplomatic relations. The Chinese Embassy in Delhi raised with India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) the putting up of posters in New Delhi on October 10, wishing Taiwan Happy National Day, by a member of the BJP, including outside the Chinese Embassy. The posters were taken down following the complaint. The posters followed a note sent by the Chinese Embassy to around 250 journalists asking them not to refer to Taiwan as a country or a nation while covering an event to be organised by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India. The MEA responded to the note, saying that there is a free media in India, that reports on issues that they see fit. On 20 October, China has reacted guardedly to India’s announcement that Australia will join next month’s Malabar naval exercise with India, Japan and the U.S.

C) Russia offers U.S. freeze on N-warhead numbers.

On 20 October, Russia said that it was ready to offer the U.S. a mutual one-year freeze on the number of nuclear warheads held by both countries in order to extend a landmark arms reduction deal due to expire next year. Russia offers to extend the New START by one year and is ready to take on a political commitment with the United States to freeze the number of nuclear warheads both sides have for this period, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Russian President Vladimir Putin last week proposed extending by one year the New START treaty, which caps the number of nuclear warheads held by Washington and Moscow and expires on February 5, 2021.

The White House described the proposal as a “non-starter” unless accompanied by a freeze on the number of nuclear warheads.

The Ministry said the suspension could only take place on the understanding that there were no “additional” demands from the U.S.

But it added the extra time gained could be used for talks on the future control of nuclear weapons.

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS
20 October 2020

NATIONAL NEWS:

A) No visitors allowed inside Durga Puja pandals across West Bengal: Calcutta High Court. 

No visitors will be allowed inside Durga Puja pandals across West Bengal, and the Puja mandap will be treated as a containment zone this year, the Calcutta High Court said in an order on 19 October. A Division Bench of Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Arijit Banerjee said that only organisers of the Durga Puja committees can enter pandals in numbers ranging from 15 to 25. No Entry notices should be put up near the pandals this year, and an awareness drive should be taken up to inform people about the High Court’s order. Hearing a public interest litigation on the issue of Durga Pujas being allowed in the State during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Court observed that the police does not have enough resources to control the crowd if people descend on the streets. The Calcutta High Court said that small Durga Puja pandals of 5 metres and large puja pandals of 10 metres should be declared a no-entry zone. The distance will have to be measured from the place where the boundary of Durga Puja pandal ends. The Court also directed that the names of Durga Puja organizers allowed inside puja pandal be displayed outside the pandal, and this cannot be changed every day. 

B) Highly disappointed with actions of Republic Network: BARC.

TV viewership rating agency Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has charged Republic TV with misrepresenting its private and confidential communication, saying it has not commented on the ongoing investigation into the alleged manipulation of ratings. In a statement, said it was cooperating with the law enforcement agencies in their ongoing investigation in the Television Rating Points (TRP) manipulation case. Responding to claims by Republic TV that an email from BARC gives proof of the channel not being involved in any alleged malpractices, the agency said it was highly disappointed with the broadcaster’s actions. BARC India is highly disappointed with the actions of the Republic Network by disclosing private and confidential communications and misrepresenting the same. BARC India reiterates that it has not commented on the ongoing investigation and without prejudice to BARC India’s rights, it expresses its dismay at the actions of the Republic Network. Mumbai police, on a BARC complaint, is investigating allegations of manipulation of TRP ratings. Republic TV is one of the four channels being investigated. The BARC statement came after Republic TV disclosed what it said was an email conversation between the agency’s CEO Sunil Lulla and Republic Media Network CEO Vikas Khanchandani.

C) Bombay HC asks police to summon Arnab if he is to be accused in FIR.

The Bombay High Court on 19 October has asked the Mumbai Police to issue summons to Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami, if he is proposed to be added as an accused in the FIR in the TRP manipulation case. A Division Bench of Justices S.S. Shinde and M.S. Karnik was hearing a criminal petition filed by ARG Outlier Media Private Limited and Goswami, who is the managing director and editor-in-chief of Republic Media Network. The plea seeks to quash the FIR registered by Kandivali Police Station against them on October 6. The charges have been made under Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 120B (punishment of criminal conspiracy) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing on behalf of Goswami, argued that Mumbai Police had mala fide interest, that they might arrest Goswami, and sought interim protection from arrest. To this, the court said it could not pass that order as Goswami had not been named as an accused. The court said that in case the Investigating Officer proposes to name Goswami as accused in the case, then, as done with the 8 persons, summons shall be issued to him and he shall then cooperate with the police. The court directed Mumbai Police to produce papers of the investigation in a sealed cover on November 4, and said it would hear the matter on November 5.

D) Muthiah Muralitharan asks Vijay Sethupathi to ‘step away’ from his biopic.

Retired Sri Lankan cricketing icon Muthiah Muralitharan has asked actor Vijay Sethupathi, who was roped into starring in his biopic, 800, to step away from the project so as to not encounter problems in his career in future. Vijay Sethupathi shared Muralitharan’s statement with a message ‘Nandri, Vanakkam’ as if to suggest that he won’t be starring in 800. In a statement from the United Arab Emirates, Muralitharan, who is currently working as a bowling coach for the Sunrisers Hyderabad team at the Indian Premier League, said that he doesn’t want to be the reason to derail the career of a great artist like Vijay Sethupathi. As soon as the official poster of 800 was launched, political leaders and many from the Tamil film industry said that the actor should not act in the biopic of a person who had made comments that were perceived to be in support of the war waged by Sri Lankan forces against the LTTE, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians.

E) ED questions Farooq Abdullah in J&K Cricket Association case.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on 19 October has questioned former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah in connection with the alleged misappropriation of funds of the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association, of which he was the president. Abdullah, whose statements have been recorded in the case multiple times since 2018, was summoned again to the ED’s Srinagar office for another round of questioning. The move came days after he, along with Mehbooba Mufti, who was recently released after 14 months of detention, and some other political leaders in Jammu and Kashmir came together on the issue of Article 370. The ED’s money-laundering case alleging misappropriation of ₹43.69 crore is based on an FIR registered in 2015 by the CBI on a direction from the J&K High Court.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

A) Australia to join Malabar naval exercise next month.

Amid the ongoing stand-off with China in eastern Ladakh, the Ministry of Defence on 19 October has announced that Australia would join the Malabar 2020 naval exercise, consisting of India, Japan and the U.S., to be held next month, more than 3 years after Australia first requested to join. As India seeks to increase cooperation with other countries in the maritime security domain and in the light of increased defence cooperation with Australia, Malabar 2020 will see the participation of the Australian Navy, the Ministry said this in a statement. The exercise is scheduled to be held end-November and the planning conference to finalise the modalities of the exercise is scheduled to be held virtually end of October, according to an official source. This will formally bring together the militaries of the four countries in the Quad group. After years of reluctance due to Beijing’s sensitivities, India has finally agreed to Australia’s inclusion in Malabar, which began as a bilateral exercise between India and the U.S. in 1992 and was expanded into a trilateral format with the inclusion of Japan in 2015.

B) Army apprehends Chinese soldier in Demchok sector. 

A Chinese soldier was apprehended in Demchok sector in Eastern Ladakh after he strayed across the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Army said this on 19 October. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldier has been identified as Corporal Wang Ya Long. The PLA soldier has been provided medical assistance, including oxygen, food and warm clothes to protect him from the vagaries of extreme altitude and harsh climatic conditions. A request has also been received from the PLA about the whereabouts of the missing soldier. As per established protocols, he will be returned to Chinese officials at the Chushul-Moldo meeting point after completion of formalities.