Tag: PO

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Global warming likely to blow past Paris limit, says UN report

Earth’s climate is getting so hot that temperatures in about a decade will probably blow past a level of warming that world leaders have sought to prevent, according to a report released August 9 that the United Nations calls a code red for humanity. It’s just guaranteed that it’s going to get worse, said report co-author Linda Mearns, a senior climate scientist at the U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research. I don’t see any area that is safe. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. But scientists also eased back a bit on the likelihood of the absolute worst climate catastrophes. The authoritative Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, which calls climate change clearly human-caused and unequivocal, makes more precise and warmer forecasts for the 21st century than it did the last time it was issued in 2013. Each of the five scenarios for the future, based on how much carbon emissions are cut, passes the more stringent of two thresholds set in the 2015 Paris climate agreement. World leaders agreed then to try to limit warming to 1.5° C since the late 19th century because problems mount quickly after that. The limit is only a few tenths of a degree hotter than now because the world has already warmed nearly 1.1° C in the past century and a half. Under each scenario, the report said, the world will cross the 1.5° C warming mark in the 2030s, earlier than some past predictions. Warming has ramped up in recent years, data shows. In three scenarios, the world will also likely exceed 2° C over pre-industrial times — the other, less stringent Paris goal — with far worse heat waves, droughts and flood-inducing downpours unless deep reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions occur in the coming decades, the report said. This report tells us that recent changes in the climate are widespread, rapid and intensifying, unprecedented in thousands of years, said IPCC Vice Chair Ko Barrett, senior climate adviser for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The changes we experience will increase with further warming. The 3,000-plus-page report from 234 scientists said warming is already accelerating sea level rise, shrinking ice and worsening extremes such as heat waves, droughts, floods and storms. Tropical cyclones are getting stronger and wetter, while Arctic sea ice is dwindling in the summer and permafrost is thawing. All of these trends will get worse, the report said. For example, the kind of heat wave that used to happen only once every 50 years now happens once a decade, and if the world warms another degree Celsius, it will happen twice every seven years, the report said. As the planet warms, places will get hit more not just by extreme weather but by multiple climate disasters that occur simultaneously, the report said. That’s like what’s now happening in the Western U.S., where heat waves, drought and wildfires compound the damage, Mearns said. Some harm from climate change — dwindling ice sheets, rising sea levels and changes in the oceans as they lose oxygen and become more acidic — are irreversible for centuries to millennia, the report ssaid

Australia signals democracies’ trade swing from China to India.

Australian special envoy and former Prime Minister Tony Abbott said a free trade agreement between his nation and India would signal the democratic world’s tilt away from China. Mr. Abbott visited New Delhi last week as Australia’s special trade envoy for India as the Australian government gives priority to sealing a bilateral trade deal. In an opinion piece likely to anger Beijing that that was published in The Australian newspaper on Monday, Mr. Abbott said the answer to almost every question about China is India. With the world’s other emerging superpower becoming more belligerent almost by the day, it’s in everyone’s interests that India take its rightful place among the nations as quickly as possible, Mr. Abbott wrote. Because trade deals are about politics as much as economics, a swift deal between India and Australia would be an important sign of the democratic world’s tilt away from China, as well as boosting the long-term prosperity of both our countries, Mr. Abbott added. Mr. Abbott was Prime Minister when China and Australia finalised a bilateral free trade deal which took effect in 2015. He also hosted a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping a year earlier. Relations have since soured over issues, including Australia banning Chinese telecom giant Huawei from major communications infrastructure projects, outlawing covert foreign interference in Australian politics and calling for an independent investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Abbott accused Beijing of capricious boycotts of Australian exports including coal, barley, wine and seafood that demonstrated Chinese use of trade as a strategic weapon.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Jharkhand judge death: Supreme Court not happy with CBI’s ‘sealed cover’ report

The Supreme Court on Monday said there was no word in the CBI’s sealed cover report about the motive behind the murder of Jharkhand district judge Uttam Anand, whose death saw Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana voice his concern over the mounting attacks on judges and total disregard shown by Central agencies and State police forces to these criminal acts which threaten judiciary’s independence. Special Investigating Team (SIT) investigates the accident spot of Additional District Judge Uttam Anand’s alleged murder case, in Dhanbad. You have filed a report in a sealed cover. It says ‘we went there’, ‘we went here’, etc. But your people have not indicated the motive… We wanted something concrete, the CJI said, expressing the court’s dissatisfaction to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI. Mehta said two people have been arrested in the case. They are under interrogation cannot reveal anything now, he submitted. The top court directed the CBI to file a weekly status report on the investigation with the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court. The Chief Justice of the High Court will monitor every week, the CJI said. The gravity of the matter, that is, the murder of a sitting judge, required the CBI to report to the Chief Justice of the High Court, he stated. The previous hearing had seen the CJI lash out at Central agencies such as the CBI, the Intelligence Bureau and State police forces for ignoring complaints from judges about abusive messages and threats even as attacks on the judiciary are on the rise. The court, which has taken suo motu cognisance of the rising number of attacks on judicial officers and even High Court judges, has suggested the formation of a special force to protect judges, especially trial court judges who decide criminal cases involving high-profile accused.

 

Amid Opposition protests, Lok Sabha passes three bills in quick time without any discussion

The government on Monday pushed through six bills, three of which were passed, in Lok Sabha despite the unrelenting Opposition protests over the Pegasus snooping row and other issues, prompting the Congress to hit out at the treasury members for violating constitutional and democratic norms. However, Lok Sabha also witnessed some rare moments of opposition members withdrawing their protests, which have been continuing since the beginning of the Monsoon Session, and returning to their seats when the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2021 to restore the states’ right to identify Other Backward Classes (OBCs) was introduced. Members of the Congress, DMK and the BSP, among others, supported the bill even as they slammed the government over the manner in which it has pushed forth its legislative agenda amid disruptions and ruckus. The House should be in order during the passage of a constitutional amendment bill as it requires mandatory division of votes, and no party will like to be seen opposing a bill that seeks to protect the interests of the OBCs. However, all other bills were introduced and passed amid noisy protests from opposition members. The bills that were passed amid the din were –The Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill 2021, The Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2021, and The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill 2021. The RSP’s NK Premachandran said the three bills were passed in 10 minutes and likened it to cooking dosas. Lok Sabha proceedings were repeatedly disrupted following uproar by the Opposition, but amid the protests, the government also introduced two other bills — The National Commission for Homoeopathy (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Amendment) Bill, 2021. Congress leaders Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Manish Tewari alleged that democratic and constitutional norms were being violated with the government pushing ahead with its legislative agenda when the House was not in order. Some of their comments were later expunged by the Chair.

 

Ministry of Defence says no transaction with Pegasus spyware maker NSO

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) informed Parliament on Monday that it did not have any transaction with NSO Group Technologies, the Israeli company that developed the Pegasus spyware, in the first pointed reference to the company from the government since the controversy broke. The government response so far had shied away from mentioning the company. Ministry of Defence has not had any transaction with NSO Group Technologies, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha to a question from CPI(M)’s V. Sivadasan. However, the response is specific to the MoD and does not exclude other Ministries or agencies that may have engaged with the firm. Pegasus was used to snoop on civilians, journalists, Ministers, parliamentarians and activists across the world, including India, according to the reports by a consortium of 17 international media organisations based on an investigation conducted by Paris-based media non-profit organisation Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International into a leaked list of over 50,000 phone numbers that are believed to be been targeted through Pegasus or of interest for potential snooping. In India, more than 300 mobile numbers, including that of two serving Ministers, three Opposition leaders, one sitting judge, journalists and activists among others were targeted by Pegasus, reports stated. The Supreme Court is currently hearing petition on the matter filed by senior journalists and the Editors Guild of India among others. Last week, the court observed that allegations of the government using Pegasus to snoop on citizens, if true, were no doubt serious and observed that the truth has to come out. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet had termed the revelations extremely alarming and called on governments to immediately cease their own use of surveillance technologies in ways that violate human rights.

 

Withdraw P-G medical education regulations bill, says IMA

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has demanded that the National Medical Commission (NMC) withdraw the draft post-graduate medical education regulations 2021 bill, which notes that there shall be common counselling for admission in all medical educational institutions to all Post-graduate Broad-Specialty courses (Diploma/MD/MS) on the basis of the merit list of the National Exit Test. Calling the move anti-student and anti-patient care’, it said on Monday the NMC should withdraw the move and initiate dialogue with the stakeholders to understand the ground reality and do course correction to ensure uniform standards of education. The Association has also demanded that the existing system of admission and selection criteria must continue for the P-G seats, because the State medical colleges are staffed and managed by the budget of the State governments and when not even 50% seats are earmarked for the respective States, the maintenance and running of the institution will lose its charm and priority. As of date, the broad specialty post-graduation course admission is through PG NEET and 50% admission is done by the all-India quota and the rest 50% seats were admitted by the State governments as per the social justice norms with NEET PG marks by the Directorate of Medical Education of the respective State. But now the draft regulation says there shall be common counselling for admission in all medical educational institutions to all post-graduate broad-specialty courses (Diploma/MD/MS) on the basis of merit list of the National Exit Test and to all post-graduate super-specialty courses (DM/MCh) on the basis of the merit list of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test. India being a federal state, leaving the role of States in medical education will be disastrous. The Association demands the existing system of admission and selection criteria must continue for the PG seats, because the State medical colleges are staffed and managed by the budget of the State governments and when not even 50% of seats are earmarked for the respective State, the maintenance and running of the institution will lose its charm and priority, said the release. Also, this notification says when a student writes his exam, the marks he scores will be valid for three years and he can re-write the exam only after three years. This is a great injustice to the students. As it has proposed to conduct the NEXT exams in 2023, the NMC should come out with the pattern and type of examination after having wider democratic consultation with the students’ body, faculty, States and the largest professional body IMA. The release said the Association in principle welcomes the district residency. However, making it for a three-month period will result in overcrowding and impact the works in the medical college departments. The Association has demanded that the NMC should withdraw this anti-federal, anti-student and anti-democratic, draft bill and try to initiate dialogue with the stakeholders to understand the ground reality.

 

Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments

The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 3,19,74,856 with the death toll at 4,28,481. Foreign nationals residing in India have been allowed to register on the CoWin portal to take Covid-19 vaccines. The Health Ministry on Monday said foreign nationals can use their passport as an identity document to register. A significant number of foreign nationals are living in India, especially in large metropolitan areas. In these areas, the potential of spread of Covid-19 is high due to higher population density. To counter any possibility of such occurrence, it is important to vaccinate all eligible persons, the Ministry said in a release. It added that the initiative will ensure the safety of foreign nationals residing in India and also bring down the possibility of further transmission from unvaccinated persons. It will also ensure overall safety from further transmission of Covid-19 virus, said the Ministry.

NATIONAL NEWS 

Threat to human rights is highest in police stations, says CJI Ramana

Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Sunday said police stations pose the highest threat to human rights and dignity, which are ‘sacrosanct’. The threat to human rights and bodily integrity is the highest in police stations. Going by recent reports, even the privileged are not spared third-degree treatment, the Chief Justice said. Custodial torture and police atrocities still prevail despite constitutional guarantees, he said. Lack of effective legal representation at police stations is a huge detriment to arrested or detained persons. The first hours of arrest or detention often decide the fate of the case for the accused, the CJI said. The top judge was speaking at the release of National Legal Services Authority’s legal services app and vision statement at Vigyan Bhawan. The CJI had a word of advice for his fellow judges. Chief justice Ramana noted that if the judiciary wants to gain the trust of the poor and vulnerable, it has to assure the marginalised that it exists for them. If judiciary wants to garner the faith of the citizens, we have to make everyone feel assured that we exist for them. For the longest time, the vulnerable population has lived outside the system of justice, the CJI said. Lengthy, expensive formal processes followed by the courts dissuade the poor and the vulnerable. The judiciary’s toughest challenge today is to break these barriers, he said. If we want to remain as a society governed by the rule of law, it is imperative for us to bridge the gap of accessibility to justice between the highly privileged and the most vulnerable. For all times to come, we must remember that the realities of socio-economic diversity which prevail in our nation cannot ever be a reason for denial of rights. Let our past not determine our future. Chief Justice Ramana said the digital divide has not helped the cause of easy access to justice. Rural and remote areas suffer from lack of connectivity. Accessing justice in India is not merely an aspirational goal. We need to work hand in hand with various wings of the government to make it a practical reality. The Chief Justice said he has already written to the government about the urgent need to bridge the digital chasm on a priority basis. Let us dream of a future based on legal mobility, a future where equality is a reality. That is why the project ‘Access to Justice’ is an unending mission, CJI Ramana said.

Better protection with Covishield-Covaxin combination: ICMR 

A combination of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines elicits better immunogenicity than two doses of the same vaccine, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said on Sunday. The Council released its findings, which suggest that immunisation with a combination of an adenovirus vector platform-based vaccine followed by an inactivated whole virus vaccine was not only safe but also elicited better immunogenicity. The immunisation program against Covid-19 in India started with two vaccines — AstraZeneca’s ChAdOx1-nCov-19 (named Covishield in India) and inactivated whole virion BBV152 (Covaxin). A homologous prime-boost approach was followed. However, 18 individuals, under the national program, inadvertently received Covishield as the first jab and Covaxin as the second. In its study, the ICMR has compared the safety and immunogenicity profile of these persons against that of individuals receiving either Covishield or Covaxin. The pre-print report titled Serendipitous COVID-19 Vaccine-Mix in Uttar Pradesh, India: Safety and Immunogenicity Assessment of a Heterologous Regime, has not been certified by peer review and should not be used to guide clinical practice, the Council said. It, however, maintained that the findings have an important implication for the Covid-19 vaccination program wherein heterologous immunisation will pave the way for induction of improved and better protection against the variant strains of SARS-CoV-2. Such mixed regimens will also help to overcome the challenges of shortfall of particular vaccines and remove hesitancy around vaccines in people’s mind that could have genesis in programmatic ‘errors’ especially in settings where multiple Covid-19 vaccines are being used. However, to conclusively prove these findings, a multi-centre RCT needs to be carried out, the ICMR said. Previously, the World Health Organisation had warned against mixing of vaccines, saying there was very little information on the mix-and-match of vaccines. It advised against people mixing and matching vaccines from different manufacturers, calling it a dangerous trend since there was little data available about the health impact. The Council admitted that there were a few limitations to their study. The sample size was small and the participants were put under a short follow-up period of only 60-70 days after immunisation with the first dose, and baseline serological and immunological data of the participants not available, it said.

Tokyo Olympics declared closed; flag passed to Paris Mayor for 2024 Games 

The Tokyo 2020 Games were declared closed by IOC chief Thomas Bach on Sunday, ending the most challenging Olympic journey after a year’s pandemic delay and threats of cancellation. Bach called them unprecedented Olympic Games as he addressed the 68,000-seat Olympic Stadium, which was bereft of fans as Japan battles to contain a record coronavirus outbreak. In these difficult times we are all living through, you give the world the most precious of gifts: hope, the International Olympic Committee president told athletes at the ceremony. And now I have to mark the end of this most challenging Olympic journey to Tokyo: I declare the Games of the 32nd Olympiad closed, he added. The Olympic flag was passed to Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo for the 2024 Games at the Tokyo closing ceremony. Hidalgo waved the flag, decorated with the five Olympic rings, after she received it from IOC president Thomas Bach. It marked a low-key end to an extraordinary Olympics that have mostly played out in empty venues with only athletes, team officials and media present. Athletes have lived in strict biosecure conditions with social distancing at the Olympic Village and instructions to wear masks unless eating, sleeping, training or competing. Bach has described how the IOC considered cancelling the Olympics and claiming the costs on its insurance policy but said officials ploughed ahead with holding the Games for the athletes. Some were already speaking of ‘Ghost Games’, he told an IOC session earlier on Sunday. What we have seen here is that on the contrary the athletes have brought soul to the Olympic Games. On Sunday, the climax of the biggest sports event since the pandemic, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge won the men’s marathon and the USA edged China at the top of the medals table. The United States scored victories in volleyball, track cycling and basketball to top the tally with 39 gold medals, just one ahead of China. The Olympics were plagued by low Japanese support as they went ahead with Tokyo and other regions under a state of emergency and with infections multiplying to new highs. But Japan’s record haul of 27 golds to finish third on the table has won hearts. Britain were fourth with 22 and the Russian Olympic Committee, the team for Russian athletes after their country was banned for systematic doping, were fifth with 20.  Though the Olympic flag has been passed to 2024 hosts Paris, the Olympic circus will reconvene in just six months when Beijing, faced with boycott threats and a renewed coronavirus emergency, holds the Winter Games in February.

Covid Watch: Numbers and Developments 

The number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 3,19,66,463 with the death toll at 4,28,244. The Health Ministry on Sunday said the general public can obtain their certificate for COVID vaccination via WhatsApp by following three easy steps. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in his tweet said anyone who wants to download their vaccination certificate can send a WhatsApp message to a number and will receive the certificate at once. Revolutionising common man’s life using technology! Now get COVID19 vaccination certificate through MyGov Corona Helpdesk in 3 easy steps. Save contact number: +91 9013151515. Type & send ‘covid certificate’ on WhatsApp. Enter OTP. Get your certificate in seconds, the Health Minister’s office tweeted.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Taliban seizes three more provincial capitals in northern blitz The Taliban tightened the noose around northern Afghanistan on August 8, capturing three more provincial capitals as they take their fight to the cities after seizing much of the countryside in recent months. The insurgents have snatched up five provincial capitals in Afghanistan since August 6 in a lightning offensive that appears to have overwhelmed government forces. Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul and Taloqan in the north fell within hours of each other on August 8, lawmakers, security sources and residents in the cities confirmed. In Kunduz, one resident described the city as being enveloped in total chaos. After some fierce fighting, the mujahideen, with the grace of God, captured the capital of Kunduz, the Taliban said in a statement on August 8 afternoon. The mujahideen also captured Sar-e-Pul city, the government buildings and all the installations there. A Taliban flag flies in the main square of Kunduz city after fighting between Taliban and Afghan security forces, in Kunduz on August 8, 2021. Taliban fighters took control of much of the capital of northern Afghanistan’s Kunduz Province, including the Governor’s office and police headquarters, a Provincial council member said. The insurgents said on Twitter on August 8 evening that they had also taken Taloqan, the capital of Takhar Province. Parwina Azimi, a women’s rights activist in Sar-e-Pul, told AFP by phone that government officials and the remaining forces had retreated to an Army barracks about 3 km from the city. The Taliban had the compound surrounded, said Mohammad Hussein Mujahidzada, a member of the provincial council. Taloqan was the next to go on August 8, with resident Zabihullah Hamidi telling AFP by phone that he saw security forces and officials leave the city in a convoy of vehicles. We retreated from the city this afternoon, after the government failed to send help, a security source told AFP. The city is unfortunately fully in Taliban hands. Kunduz is the most significant Taliban gain since the insurgents launched an offensive in May as foreign forces began the final stages of their withdrawal. It has been a perennial target for the Taliban, who briefly overran the city in 2015 and again in 2016 but never managed to hold it for long. The Ministry of Defence said government forces were fighting to retake key installations. The commando forces have launched a clearing operation. Some areas, including the national radio and TV buildings, have been cleared of the terrorist Taliban, it said. Spokesman Mirwais Stanikzai said later that reinforcements, including special forces, had been deployed to Sar-e-Pul and Sheberghan. These cities that the Taliban want to capture will soon become their graveyards, he added. Kabul’s ability to hold the north may prove crucial to the government’s long-term survival. Northern Afghanistan has long been considered an anti-Taliban stronghold that saw some of the stiffest resistance to militant rule in the 1990s. The region remains home to several militias and is also a fertile recruiting ground for the country’s armed forces. The capture of Kunduz is quite significant because it will free up a large number of Taliban forces who might then be mobilised in other parts of the north, said Ibraheem Thurial, a consultant for International Crisis Group. Vivid footage of the fighting was posted on social media over the weekend, including what appeared to be large numbers of prisoners being freed from jails in captured cities. The Taliban frequently target prisons to release incarcerated fighters to replenish their ranks.

Myanmar protesters mark 1988 uprising anniversary. 

Myanmar protesters on Sunday marked the anniversary of a 1988 pro-democracy uprising that brought Aung San Suu Kyi to prominence, with flash mobs and marches of defiance against the ruling junta. The country has been in turmoil since the generals launched their February putsch and subsequent crackdown on dissent that has killed more than 900 people, according to a local monitoring group. But protesters remain undeterred, taking to the streets daily in lightning quick rallies to demand the end to the State Administration Council as the junta’s so-called caretaker government has dubbed itself. On Sunday, flash mobs popped up across Yangon and second city Mandalay to commemorate the 1988 uprising a pro-democracy movement which the military violently quelled by opening fire on protesters and jailing thousands. Following the calls of an online campaign, red-clad protesters on Sunday flashed an eight-finger salute and carried banners that read Let’s return the old blood debt of 1988 in 2021. In 1988, our country sacrificed a lot – many people lost their lives. But the dictatorship is still alive, said Ko Sai Win, in Mandalay. It is like a black shadow on our country. The 1988 uprising heralded the rise of Ms. Suu Kyi, who had returned to Myanmar just before protests kicked off to care for her ailing mother.

NATIONAL NEWS 

Neeraj Chopra throws javelin for a gold

Neeraj Chopra ended India’s drought of gold medals by snagging the first Gold in Javelin throw in Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. With the medal, the 23 year old from Panipat, Haryana, not only became the first Indian to win a gold, but also improved India’s tally from the London 2012 games.  Wrestler Bajrang Punia got a Bronze on Saturday. This is India’s best-ever show on the world stage, surpassing the six medals (2 silvers and 4 bronzes) the country had won in London 2012. P.V. Sindhu (badminton), Lovlina Borgohain (boxing), the men’s hockey team and Bajrang Punia (wrestling) won bronze medals, Mirabai Chanu (weightlifting) and Ravi Kumar Dahiya (wrestling) won silver medals. Last Wednesday, Chopra had become the first Indian javelin thrower in history to qualify for the final at the Olympics with a throw of 87.58m in his very first attempt, to top the qualification round. He got into the company of big leaguers and favourites, World Number 1, Johannes Vetter, who had thrown over 90 metres 17 times! On August 7, javelin’s uncertainty threw up a new Olympic champion, Chopra. It also led to the biggest shock of the tournament when pre-tournament favourite Vetter failed to make the top eight from a field of 12 finalists. The German had a poor start, only managing 82.52m with his best effort from the first three attempts, which was just below the cut-off. Ironically, in an interview Vetter had remarked how easy it was for him to throw over 90 metres.  Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch won silver with 86.67, while his countryman Vitezslav Vesely won bronze with 85.44. Chopra is only the second Indian ever to win an individual gold — shooter Abhinav Bindra finished on top of the podium in 2008. Just like he had in the qualifying round, a confident Chopra strode into the arena and  led from the time he completed his first throw till the finish. Chopra was the second to throw in the 12-man final and he got off to a fine start with a throw of 87.03m. He then bettered it with 87.58 on his second and 76.79m on his third. Chopra’s rise began with a throw of 82.23m in the 2016 South Asian Games (where he won gold), aged just 19. His gold-haul would continue – through the Asian Championships, the Commonwealth Games (first Indian to medal in the event, and just the fourth Indian individual athletics gold medalist), and the Asian Games (smashing his own national record in the process, and throwing it a whole six metres further than the silver medalist). An injury to his right elbow in 2019, caused him to miss the entire year, but he returned in time to make the 2020 Tokyo Olympic qualification mark. With his medals and his flowing locks, which he chopped off for the Olympics, and with videos of his fitness regimen doing the rounds online, the stocky Chopra will be now looking at joining the 90 metres plus club!

Nod to Johnson and Johnson’s single-dose COVID-19 vaccine

With Johnson and Johnson’s (J&J) single-dose COVID-19 vaccine given approval for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA), Indians will now have a choice of five vaccines to choose from to stave off COVID in the coming months. The single shot at protection against COVID, kicks in after 28 days of being vaccinated, according to the vaccine makers. In a tweet earlier in the day, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had tweeted that EUA had been granted to the vaccine and that India now had five EUA vaccines. While the exact time when the vaccine would be made available is not known, responding to a specific query by The Hindu on the vaccine availability timeline Johnson & Johnson India spokesperson said: While we look forward to meeting our delivery commitments it is premature for us to speculate on the timing of our vaccine deliveries. It may be recalled that the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had allowed the emergency use of Covishield, Covaxin, Sputnik V and Moderna vaccines. The Health Ministry has maintained that it is continuously working towards ensuring increased supply of COVID-19 vaccines and in a response given in the Lok Sabha during this session maintained that COVID-19 vaccination protects from severe manifestation of disease and improving herd immunity and is accordingly likely to mitigate the impact COVID-19 may have with any future resurgence. Vaccines currently being utilized for immunization offer substantial protection again COVID-19 besides reducing severity of disease, hospitalization and deaths. The Ministry stated the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) had also granted permission to conduct the phase I clinical trial of intranasal adenoviral vector COVID-19 vaccine (BBV154) (in the age group of 18 and above) to Bharat Biotech International Limited, Hyderabad. So far children have been kept out of the vaccination drive by the government. The CDSCO has granted permission to conduct clinical trials of vaccines in children to — Phase II/ III clinical trial to Bharat Biotech, Hyderabad (in the age group of 2 to 18) for Whole-Virion Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine and Phase III clinical trial to Cadila Healthcare Ltd., Ahmedabad (in the age group of 12 yrs and above) for DNA-based vaccine. The outcomes of the clinical trials depend on data emerging from the trial for the purpose of its approval for launch in the country. Further, the CDSCO has not granted permission to conduct clinical trials of any imported COVID-19 vaccine on children in the country,’’ the Ministry had noted.

Centre denies existence of its own panel to deny information under RTI

The Centre has denied the existence of a committee it had set up to oversee medical oxygen supply during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020! The denial comes in the wake of deaths on account of short supply of Oxygen in the months of April and May this year, and is consistent with the Centre’s position that there were no deaths on account of the dearth of Oxygen. What is also surprising is that the statement comes just two weeks after the Centre argued strenuously before the Central Information Commission (CIC) against disclosing information about this committee on the grounds of strategic interests, commercial confidences, intellectual property and Cabinet papers. Last week, the Central Information Commission, (CIC) had called the blanket denial of information as far-fetched and unjustified, and directed a response within 10 days. In response, the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) said the committee does not even exist. However, an order dated, April 4, 2020 by the DPIIT, seen by this newspaper, had  not only announced the setting of the committee under the then Secretary Guruprasad Mohapatra, but had also spelt out the objective for setting up the committee. It was to to review the existing production and supply of medical oxygen and cylinders in the country and to ensure adequacy of production capacity, availability of oxygen gas cylinders and measures to augment their supply, a disruption-free supply chain and smooth storage, transportation and supply to end-users, and an effective communication mechanism with States through nodal teams constituted for the purpose. A DPIIT official, who was a member of the committee, also told The Hindu the panel had been constituted and held meetings. Apart from DPIIT officials, the committee included a Health Ministry representative, two AIIMS doctors, and representatives of the All India Industrial Gases Manufacturers Association and the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization. The records of this committee must be made public as it handled the crucial issue of medical oxygen. Given its stated objectives, the committee clearly recognised the issues at stake back in April 2020, so what did they do about it? This gains significance in the light of the chaos and disaster caused by oxygen shortages during the second wave of the pandemic, said activist and freelance journalist Saurav Das, who filed the initial RTI request, noting that the Supreme Court was ultimately forced to create its own taskforce to carry out the duties entrusted to this committee. Das had filed a request under RTI, seeking information on the nine-member committee set up in April 2020 under the chairmanship of  Mohapatra to ensure adequate availability of medical oxygen in the wake of the pandemic. He requested information on the members, dates, agenda, minutes and presentations of the committee’s meetings till date, as well as what steps it took to ensure adequate availability of oxygen.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

China steps up vaccine outreach with new global push.

China’s declaration this week that it would provide 2 billion doses of vaccines to the world by year-end marks a stepped up effort by Beijing to take the lead in international vaccine cooperation and position itself as representing developing countries, amid growing concerns over widening vaccine inequity with the West. The announcement came at an international meeting organised on August 5 by Beijing, which brought together foreign ministers, health ministers and other senior officials from a number of countries including Sri Lanka and Pakistan in South Asia; Thailand, Malaysia Indonesia, and Philippines in the ASEAN region; Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico in Latin America; Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa in Africa; officials from Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Hungary and the UAE; and the Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO). China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the meeting was aimed at strengthening international cooperation on vaccines and promoting fair and equitable distribution of vaccines around the world. At the forum, Mr. Wang read out a message from President Xi Jinping announcing the provision of 2 billion doses of vaccines by the end of the year as well as a donation of US$100 million to the COVAX Facility for distributing vaccines to developing countries. Mr. Wang said China has no political purpose and there have never been any political conditions attached to such cooperation. Beijing has, however, stepped up its criticism of the U.S. in particular in recent months both for failing to step up to provide vaccines to developing countries as well as for what China has called politicising the ongoing investigation into the origins of COVID-19. Its vaccine outreach comes as Beijing looks to build a broad coalition of support including at the UN and the WHO as it pushes back against criticism from the West over the question of access to investigators looking into the origins of the pandemic in Wuhan, China, where it began. Initial studies from phase three trials have shown China’s vaccines, including the Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines that lead China’s vaccine exports, are less effective than the mRNA vaccines but do offer protection against serious infection and may help reduce hospitalisation rates. Some countries using Chinese vaccines, including China, are considering a third booster dose of the vaccines to increase their effectiveness, particularly against the Delta variant. China in June said it had administered more than 1 billion doses at home and plans to fully vaccinate 70% of its population by the end of the year. China is currently dealing with the biggest spread of local clusters in over a year, and as yet has offered no timetable to when it will open up to international travel with strict restrictions and effective travel bans still remaining in place for most countries, including India. The Chinese government last week said it had stopped issuing passports and passport renewals to Chinese nationals to curb outbound travel amid concerns over the current spread, the first time it had done so since the start of the pandemic. The crucial UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan, held within the first week of India’s Presidency of the powerful global body, galvanised members to call for an end to the violence and hostilities, and helped reveal to the outside world the dire situation facing the war-torn country, India’s envoy has said. India assumed the Presidency of the UN Security Council for the month on August 1. India wrapped up a hectic first week with discussions on Afghanistan on August 6 amidst a deteriorating security situation in the country as the Taliban carried out its military offensive.

 

UNSC meeting at Afghanistan galvanised members to call for end for violence. 

The crucial meeting being convened by Russia on the fast-evolving situation in Afghanistan is expected to see the participation of Pakistan, China and the US. During the Council briefing, Afghanistan’s UN envoy Ghulam Isaczai said that the Taliban continued to enjoy safe haven in and supply and logistic line extended to their war machine from Pakistan. Graphic reports and video of Taliban fighters congregating close to the Durand Line to enter Afghanistan, fundraising events, transfer of dead bodies for mass burial, and treatment of injured Taliban in Pakistani hospitals are emerging and are widely available, Mr. Isaczai told the Council. This is not only a naked violation of the 1988 UN Security Council sanction regime, but also leads to further erosion of trust and confidence towards establishing a collaborative relationship with Pakistan to end the war in Afghanistan, Mr. Isaczai said. Stressing that the future of Afghanistan cannot be its past, Mr. Tirumurti, addressing the UNSC briefing in his national capacity, said terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries in the region must be dismantled immediately. He also said that terrorist supply chains disrupted, a reference to Pakistan, as New Delhi stressed it is time for the Security Council to decide on actions to ensure an immediate cessation of violence. It needs to be ensured that Afghanistan’s neighbours and the region are not threatened by terrorism, separatism and extremism. There needs to be zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, he said, adding that it is equally important to ensure that the territory of Afghanistan is not used by terrorist groups to threaten or attack any other country. Those providing material and financial support to terrorist entities must be held accountable, he said. India’s second week of the Presidency will open with Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairing a high-level virtual open debate on ‘Enhancing Maritime Security – A case for International Cooperation’ on August 9. The meeting on maritime security, one of the three signature events scheduled during India’s presidency, assumes significance as this will be the first time that an Indian Prime Minister would be presiding over a meeting of the UN Security Council. The Maritime Security high-level event will be the first-of-its-kind in the Security Council. This holistic concept has never been discussed before in the Council. This is also something of high priority to our Prime Minister for international peace and security, Mr. Tirumurti said, adding that Our Mission has worked closely with the UN Secretariat and with other member states of the Council, to put this high-level event together. During the week, Mr. Tirumurti, as President of the UN Security Council, chaired the Troop and Police Contributing Countries meeting on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). India is among the highest troop contributing countries to UNIFIL. India one of largest troop contributors for UNIFIL over 21 years. Paid tribute to #peacekeepers who made ultimate sacrifice, Mr. Tirumurti tweeted. Under India’s Presidency, the Council issued a press statement on the escalating violence in Afghanistan and condemned in the strongest terms the deplorable attack against the United Nations compound in Herat, Afghanistan. It expressed deep concern over the high levels of violence in the war-torn country following the Taliban’s military offensive, declaring that it does not support the restoration of the Islamic Emirate. The Council also issued a Presidential Statement on the drawdown and closure of African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur on the first working day of India’s Presidency. 

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Supreme Court rules in favour of Amazon against Future-Reliance Retail deal

The Supreme Court on Friday ruled in favour of e-commerce giant Amazon against the proposed ₹24,713-crore merger deal between Future Retail Limited and Reliance Retail. A Bench of Justices Rohinton F. Nariman and B.R. Gavai upheld the validity and enforceability of a Singapore-based Emergency Arbitrator (EA) award, which restrained Future Retail Limited from going ahead with its deal with Reliance Retail, under the Indian laws. With this, the court has made it clear that the EA’s decision could be accepted and enforced as an interim award by an arbitral tribunal under Section 17 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. Senior advocate Harish Salve, for Future Retail, had said the EA award did not have any place in the Indian statute books. The senior lawyer had argued that the award of the Singapore EA cannot be enforced under Section 17 of the Arbitration Act. Future Group had entered into a ₹24,713-crore deal with Mukesh Ambani’s RIL to sell its retail, wholesale, logistics and warehousing units. Arbitral awards are enforced under the Civil Procedure Code and not under the arbitration law, he submitted. Amazon has, in turn, argued that the Future Group is bound by the EA award. Further, the court upheld a Single Judge Bench order of the Delhi High Court to Future Group to maintain ‘status quo’ on the sale of its retail assets to Reliance Industries. The Emergency Arbitrator’s award under Section 17(1) and the Single Judge order is upheld, Justice Nariman, who authored the judgment, pronounced in court on Friday. Supreme Court ruled in favour of Amazon, holding the firm could seek interim relief from Singapore arbitral tribunal that restrained Future Retail from going ahead with its $3.4 billion sale to Reliance. Amazon approached the Supreme Court after a Division Bench of the High Court, on February 8, revoked the Single Judge’s order. The Division Bench’s decision was based on an appeal filed by Future Retail Limited. It is evident that the Single Judge order to maintain status quo was directed for the limited purpose of protecting the substratum of the dispute till a detailed order was issued… However, the High Court, instead of waiting for a detailed order, has issued the interim order [February 8] staying the operation, implementation and execution of the Single Judge order without giving any reasons, Amazon had contended in its petition before the top court. Amazon had urged the top court to protect its interests and rights as the balance of convenience was in its favour. Respondents [Future Group] have unequivocally stated that they will continue to take steps to complete the transaction. The greater the progress made towards the completion of the transaction, the harder it will be to unravel it, Amazon had pleaded in the top court.

Government disallows question on Pegasus, says matter is sub judice 

The Narendra Modi government has disallowed a question posed by CPI MP Binoy Viswam seeking details on a possible MOU between the government and Israeli cybersecurity firm NSO Group to deal with terrorist activity, citing that the matter is sub judice. Reports by the Pegasus Project, an international consortium of media organisations, that includes the Indian news portal The Wire have revealed that phones of politicians journalists, activists and Supreme Court officials, among others, were infected with Pegasus spyware. This is a military grade software that is sold by the NSO group only to governments. So far, the government has neither denied nor confirmed purchasing the hacking software. Detailing the questions he asked, Viswam said, I had asked three questions to the Ministry of External Affairs the number of MoUs government has entered into with foreign companies, the details sector-wise; (b) whether any of these MoUs with foreign companies has been in order to curb terror activities through cyber security, the details of the same; and (c) whether Government has entered into a MoU with NSO Group in order to curb terror activities through cyber security across the nation, if so, provide details thereof. He said the question was filed about two weeks back and was listed for August 12. But he was later informally informed that the question will not be admitted since the matter is already in Supreme Court. I haven’t received any formal communication on this, he added. It is ironic, Viswam said, that when the Opposition holds protests demanding a discussion on Pegasus, the government preaches about the importance of a Question Hour and how it is the hour meant for opposition members. These lessons are great, but they themselves should also abide by it, he added.

CBI, police ignore complaints from judges about threats: Supreme Court 

The Supreme Court on Friday said Central agencies such as the CBI and the Intelligence Bureau and State police forces chose to ignore complaints from judges about abusive messages and threats even as attacks on the judiciary were on the rise. The court suggested the formation of a special force to protect judges, especially trial judges who decide criminal cases involving high-profile accused. We have seen that in criminal cases involving high-profile people, there is a new trend of maligning judges. There is no freedom for judges to work. The CBI, the police, the IB do not help the judiciary. I am making this statement with some sense of responsibility. In several cases across the country involving gangsters and high-profile and powerful accused, they threaten judges, not just physically but also mentally through abusive messages, peeping into judges’ online accounts, etc. We are very sorry to say that the CBI did nothing about complaints made to it… There is still no change in the attitude of the CBI, Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana said. Attorney-General K.K. Venugopal, who was asked to assist the court, related an incident of a Magistrate who was threatened on the eve of taking up a case against some gangsters. His daughter’s life was threatened. So, given a choice between his daughter’s life and doing justice, he adjourned the case… Judges as a class are more vulnerable, say, than bureaucrats, the top law officer said. The court asked whether Jharkhand had washed its hands off any responsibility of investigating the daylight murder of Jharkhand judge Uttam Anand by transferring the case to the CBI. The court said the judge’s death was a result of the Jharkhand government’s negligence to protect its judges. The CJI said the State government chose to ignore threats to judges like Anand, who was working in Dhanbad district, where the powerful coal mafia reigns. A young judge lost his life because of the negligence of Jharkhand government, Chief Justice Ramana said about the tragic death. The court pooh-poohed Jharkhand’s claim that it had built boundary walls around judges’ colonies. And you think boundary walls will keep away hardened criminals? Justice Surya Kant asked Jharkhand Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan. Venugopal said the frequent attack on judges, including judges of the High Courts, highlighted the need for the formation of a special body to protect the judiciary and ascertain the danger to them. Chief Justice said judges functioning in courts were not protected from anti-social elements entering court complexes and resorting to violence and threats. There should be some security measures… the creation of a special force, similar to the Railway Police Force, to protect judges. An environment should be created so that judges can work without fear, Chief Justice Ramana said.

Rajya Sabha adjourned twice as Opposition protests continue

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice on Friday owing to protests by the Opposition parties on various issues, including Pegasus. As proceedings began, Deputy Chairman Harivansh congratulated wrestler Ravi Kumar Dahiya for winning Silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. After the papers and statements were laid on the table of the House, Zero Hour was to be taken up when Congress leader Anand Sharma said Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekawat was not in the House when his statement was listed in the business. There was a Statement by Minister, at serial No. 3, by Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. You called the name, but, the Minister is not here. When 21 Ministers’ statements can be laid by one Minister. I want to know, because this is disrespect to the House, whether specific permission was taken and granted. If not, why is the Minister absent, when the papers are listed against his name?, said Sharma. Leader of the House Piyush Goyal responded, I certainly respect what hon. Anand Sharma ji has said. We will make enquiries and I will get back to you. Ahead of Zero Hour, Harivansh said that nine notices had been received for suspension of rules under Rule 267 on two subjects, farmers agitation and the Pegasus issue. I want to inform the members that the hon. Chairman has already admitted notices for Calling Attention and Short Duration Discussion on different subjects, including the farmers’ agitation. I will request the Leader of the Opposition, leaders of parties, the Leader of the House and the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs to sit together to finalise the dates on which discussion on these important matters could be taken up in the House, he stated. Several Opposition members then gathered in the well of the House, shouting slogans. Amid the din, Zero Hour continued for some time before the House was adjourned till noon. Post-lunch also, due to protests, the proceedings were adjourned for the day.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

India, China withdraw from Gogra area in Eastern Ladakh 

India and China have undertaken disengagement from Gogra area of Eastern Ladakh following an agreement at the 12th round of Corps Commander talks, the Army said on Friday. This is the second friction area from which disengagement has been done after Pangong Tso (lake) in February as part of efforts of withdrawal and de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. As per the agreement, both sides have ceased forward deployments in this area in a phased, coordinated and verified manner. The disengagement process was carried out over two days, August 4 and 5. The troops of both sides are now in their respective permanent bases, the Army said in a statement. All temporary structures and other allied infrastructure created in the area by both sides have been dismantled and mutually verified, it stated. The landform in the area has been restored by both sides to pre-stand-off period. This agreement ensures that the LAC in this area would be strictly observed and respected by both sides, and that there was no unilateral change in status quo, it stressed. With this development, the focus of further talks would be on disengagement at PP15 in Hot Springs, according to a defence official. Some progress had been made but some issues remain, he observed.

 

India, Sri Lanka and Maldives to collaborate on security. 

India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have agreed to work on four pillars of security cooperation, covering areas of marine security, human trafficking, counter-terrorism, and cyber security, in a recent virtual meeting of top security officials of the three countries. The Deputy National Security Adviser-level meeting was hosted online by Sri Lanka on Wednesday, and chaired by General LHSC Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of Army of Sri Lanka. Pankaj Saran, Deputy National Security Adviser of India, and Aishath Nooshin Waheed, Secretary, National Security Adviser’s Office of the Maldivian President participated. The discussion comes nine months after National Security Adviser Ajit Doval visited Colombo for deliberations with Secretary to Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence, Kamal Gunaratne, and Defence Minister of Maldives, Mariya Didi, in which the three countries agreed to expand the scope of intelligence sharing. Their meeting marked the revival of NSA-level trilateral talks on maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region after a gap of six years. Following up on that, the Deputy NSA-level meeting this week identified four pillars of cooperation in Marine Safety and Security, Terrorism and Radicalisation, Trafficking and Organised Crime, and Cyber security, a press release from the Indian High Commission here said on Friday, adding specific proposals for cooperation in each area, including joint exercises and training were discussed. The ‘Colombo Security Conclave’ among the three neighbouring countries seeks to further promote maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region, and was initiated by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2011, when he was Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, according to a media release from the Sri Lankan Army. In military and security collaboration, assumes significance in the region, in the wake of the current geostrategic dynamic that India shares with Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Earlier this year, India aired security concerns over China being awarded development projects in an island off Sri Lanka’s northern province, close to India’s southern border. Engagement with Quad On the other hand, the Maldives’s engagement with members of the India-United States-Japan-Australia grouping, known as the Quad’, has been growing over the last year, especially in the area of defence cooperation. The Ibrahim Mohamed Solih government signed a ‘Framework for a Defence and Security Relationship’ agreement with the United States last year, an initiative that India welcomed. In November 2020, the Maldives received a Japanese grant of $7.6 million for the Maldivian Coast Guard and a Maritime Rescue and Coordination Center. Meanwhile, Male’s foreign policy choices are increasingly being challenged by sections, mostly opposition groups, wary of Indian boots on the ground.

 

SPORTS NEWS 

Tokyo Olympics: Wrestler Bajrang Punia to fight for bronze; Indian 4x400m relay team breaks Asian record but fails to qualify for final 

Triple World championships medallist Bajrang Punia defied a dodgy knee to stay in contention for a bronze medal in the men’s freestyle 65kg category at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday. The second-ranked Bajrang, who injured his right knee during the Ali Aliyev memorial tournament in Russia in June, wrestled intelligently to beat Ernazar Akmataliev of Kyrgyzstan 3-3 (via criteria) and Morteza Ghiasi of Iran ‘by fall’ to enter the semifinals. In the last-four contest, Bajrang lost to Rio Olympics bronze medallist and three-time World champion Haji Aliyev of Azerbaijan 12-5 to make it to the repechage round. Bajrang will meet either Worlds silver medallist Kazakh Daulet Niyazbekov or multiple African champion Adama Diatta of Senegal in the bronze medal contest on Saturday. Bajrang opened his account with a passivity point against Aliyev in the semifinals, but gave away four points when the Azerbaijani attacked his legs for two takedowns. Bajrang came out of his shell to bridge the gap but Aliyev countered and used the double-leg twists to collect four important points. Bajrang’s takedowns reduced the margin to 5-9. However, Aliyev wrestled smartly to make it 11-5. A desperate video referral challenge from Bajrang was in vain. Meanwhile, an off-colour Seema Bisla lost to Tunisian Sarra Hamdi 3-1 in a women’s 50kg first round bout. Sarra’s 10-0 defeat to multiple Olympic medallist Mariya Stadnik in the quarterfinals ended Seema’s hopes for a repechage appearance. In the 4×400 m relay quartet, the India team shattered the Asian record with a 3:00:25 effort in the Olympics heat race but failed to qualify for the final round by a whisker here on Friday. The quartet of Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Tom Noah Nirmal, Rajiv Arokia and Amoj Jacob ran a time of 3 minutes 6 seconds to finish fourth in the second heat. India missed out the eight-team final as they ended at ninth spot overall. The first three in each of the two heats and the next two fastest qualify for the final. The earlier Asian record was in the name of Qatar, which had clocked 3:00.56 while winning the gold in the 2018 Asian Games.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Truth has to come out in Pegasus issue, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Thursday made it clear that truth has to come out in the Pegasus snooping issue. A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) N.V. Ramana and Justice Surya Kant said the allegations of the government using Israel-based technology to spy on civilians, journalists, Ministers, parliamentarians, activists were no doubt serious, provided the news reports were true. The Bench directed the petitioners, including senior journalists N. Ram, the Editors Guild of India, Rajya Sabha Member John Brittas and five journalists, reported to be targeted by Pegasus spyware, to serve copies of their petitions to the offices of the Attorney General of India and the Solicitor General. Former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha, represented by senior advocate Manish Tiwari, has also filed a petition. Listing the case for August 10, the Bench said it wanted the government to be represented in court in the next hearing. Somebody should appear for the government, Chief Justice Ramana observed. The court did not issue a formal notice to the government. Part of the court’s reluctance was invited by a petition by advocate Manohar Lal Sharma in which he has arraigned individuals as respondents. Sharma has named Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah as personal parties in his petition. The CJI said that some of the petitioners have expanded the scope of their pleas beyond Pegasus to other issues, including a challenge on authorised interceptions under the Telegraph Act. There are a number of problems. We have to see which petitions we have to issue notice on. Some have even challenged the Telegraph Act. These are unnecessary complications, Chief Justice Ramana and Justice Kant told the lawyers. The hearing began with a barrage of questions from the Bench. For one, the Chief Justice noted that a majority of the petitions were based on reports in foreign newspapers. The court asked whether there was any other verifiable material based on which it could order an inquiry into the Pegasus allegations. We are not saying the petitions are based on hearsay and we cannot say there is no material, but with your access to international materials and resources, should you not have made more efforts? Chief Justice Ramana asked the petitioners’ side. Secondly, he said questions regarding surveillance had popped up over two years ago. Why have you come now suddenly? What were you doing for two years. Thirdly, the court asked why the targets have not taken criminal action. If you knew your phone was hacked, why did you not file a criminal complaint? he queried. Responding to the first question about the need for verifiable material other than foreign newspaper reports to order an inquiry, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Ram and senior journalist Sashi Kumar, said a California court had recorded that the Pegasus spyware was only sold to government agencies. The U.S. court had rejected a plea by NSO Group, the creators of the Pegasus spyware, for sovereign immunity.

Rajnath Singh promised to resolve deadlock but did nothing: Mallikarjun Kharge 

The Opposition-government tussle came to a head on Thursday when Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge accused the government of running a propaganda that the opposition is being inflexible despite the government’s attempt to broker a peace deal. Kharge accused Defence Minister Rajnath Singh of not delivering on his promise to resolve the deadlock. While the House discussed the Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021, Kharge said there was an attempt outside the House as well as inside to blame the Opposition for not cooperating in discussions during the ongoing session. An impression was being spread that Singh was trying to end the logjam but the Opposition was refusing to agree. Kharge said Singh called him and told him that he would find some solution to the problem after returning from a foreign trip. But a week had passed since his return and there had been no notice for a meeting received by any leader. The Opposition was ready for a discussion, he asserted, and asked the government to initiate the same. Singh responded by telling the House that he never made any such assurance. He said he did call Kharge and told him that the House should function smoothly and all important issues should be discussed. Sources said Leader of the House Piyush Goyal met Opposition leaders individually to convince them to allow the passing of the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021, and the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021. There was no mention of the Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021. Amidst ruckus, the government moved and cleared the bill by voice vote, leaving the Opposition stunned. The Opposition wanted to send the Bill for further scrutiny to a parliamentary panel. But amidst the protest, that did not happen. The Left parties, in particular, had serious objections to the Bill. Earlier in the day, the Upper House saw two adjournments in the pre-noon session after a row broke out over a suspended TMC member breaking the glass of a door of the Chamber, an act Deputy Chairman Harivansh called highly deplorable and condemnable. He, however, did not name the said MP.

Govt moves to scrap retro taxes law that led to disputes with Vodafone, Cairn Energy

The government on Thursday took the first step towards doing away with the contentious retrospective tax law of 2012, that was used to raise large tax demands on foreign investors like Vodafone and Cairn and has culminated in a freeze order from a foreign court on India’s overseas assets.  Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced The Taxation laws (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha on Thursday to nullify the relevant retrospective tax clauses that were introduced in 2012 to bring past indirect transfer of Indian assets under the ambit of taxation. As per the proposed changes, any tax demand made on transactions that took place before May 2012 shall be dropped and any taxes already collected shall be repaid, albeit without interest. To be eligible, the concerned taxpayers would have to drop all pending cases against the government and promise not to make any demands for damages or costs.  Experts welcomed the move as it will end policy uncertainty for potential investors who have seen the Vodafone and Cairn cases unfold over the past decade. This could help restore India’s reputation as a fair and predictable regime apart from helping put an end to unnecessary, prolonged and expensive litigation, said Pranav Sayta, tax partner at EY.  Former Finance Minister, the late Pranab Mukherjee, had introduced the retrospective taxation power after the Supreme Court had held Vodafone couldn’t be taxed for a 2007 transaction that involved its purchase of a 67% stake in Hutchison Whampoa for $11 billion. Later, the tax was invoked against Cairn for a corporate reorganisation done in 2006-07 and its assets were frozen by authorities. The NDA, which was in the Opposition at the time, had termed this ‘tax terrorism’ and late Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had promised to stop the retrospective tax levy. However, there was no move to scrap the law in its seven years in office so far. The latest rethink could have been prompted by Cairn Energy securing an order to freeze Indian assets in Paris last month. The ghost of the retrospective amendment on indirect transfers is now proposed to be buried with the government giving up claims on taxes due under such covered indirect transfers of Indian assets and is seeking to respect the original decision of the Supreme Court, noted Aravind Srivatsan, tax leader at Nangia Andersen. Separate international arbitration tribunal verdicts in the Vodafone and Cairn cases have ruled against India’s retrospective tax demands over the past year. While the government had earlier said it will honour the legal process, it has filed appeals against both the verdicts. Cairn Energy, which was awarded $1.2 billion by an international tribunal has filed cases in at least ten global jurisdictions, including the U.S., U.K., Canada and Japan to seize India’s assets in lieu of the award as the government didn’t abide by the tribunal’s decision. After Cairn filed a lawsuit in a U.S. court against Air India this May, seeking to make the national carrier liable to pay the damages awarded to it, the Finance Ministry said it is ‘vigorously defending’ its case against the international arbitration order and asserted that India had never ‘agreed to arbitrate’ a national tax dispute. In early July, a French court allowed Cairn to freeze at least 20 Indian properties in Paris worth $23 million.  

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Relief for NRIs as UAE brings in new exemptions for residency visa holders 

Thousands of Non Resident Indians (NRIs), especially from Kerala, hope to rejoin their jobs and reunite with their families as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) allowed entry of expatriates with valid residency visas who have taken both doses of approved Covid-19 vaccine from Thursday. However, they would have to cross multiple hurdles to make their way back to the UAE. Many of them now have to renew their visas since expatriate residents who reside outside for more than six months continuously will have their residency visas automatically cancelled. That means they would have to apply for a new entry permit to enter the West-Asian country again. Employees stranded would have to obtain approval letters from their employer or sponsor, which must be submitted at the airport immigration counter. Likewise, the entry permits would be applicable for family visits and even transmit passengers from India. Incidentally, the new relaxation in rules does not allow expatriates to re-enter the UAE even if they are on the 30-day grace period after their visa expiry. As such, their employer or sponsor, including spouse and parents, will have to cancel their existing visa and apply for a new entry permit.

 

Fully vaccinated one-third as likely to get COVID-19: study. 

Fully vaccinated people in England were one-third as likely to test positive for COVID-19, according to an ongoing survey of the population released on Wednesday. The latest findings, from a long-running study by scientists at Imperial College London and market research company Ipsos MORI, were based on 98,233 swabs taken between June 24 and July 12. They showed one in 160 people infected with coronavirus, with a prevalence rate of 1.21% for unvaccinated respondents and 0.40% for those fully jabbed. The study also found that double vaccinated people may be less likely to pass on the virus to others than those who have not received a vaccine. However, officials and scientists in Britain have urged caution after the government eased all virus curbs in England on July 19, including the legal requirement to wear masks in certain indoor settings. A U.S. government document leaked last week warned that infections among fully vaccinated people are not as rare as previously thought and that such cases are highly contagious. Paul Elliott, a Professor at Imperial’s School of Public Health and director of the survey programme, said the Findings confirm our previous data showing that both doses of a vaccine offer good protection against getting infected. However, we can also see that there is still a risk of infection, as no vaccine is 100% effective. COVID-19 cases registered daily by Britain’s Health Ministry have declined since the relaxation of rules, while population surveys have suggested they may still be rising, albeit at a slower rate. The trend has surprised experts and officials, who predicted a surge in new infections. The Imperial-Ipsos study – covering the period up to July 12 – showed even then cases were climbing more gradually than during the previous month.

 

SPORTS NEWS

Tokyo Olympics: Indian hockey ends 41-year wait for Olympic medal; Ravi Dahiya settles for silver in wrestling 

India today ended a 41-year wait for an Olympic medal in hockey, beating Germany 5-4 with a lion-hearted performance to win the bronze medal. The win showcased this team’s unending supply of grit and energy and outlined all the work put in while training in isolation for more than a year in Bengaluru. As coach Graham Reid put it, Watch this space, we’ve got a lot more to do. This is the India men’s 12th Olympics medal in hockey, the highest in Games history, but the first after the gold medal in Moscow 1980. What’s more, India women’s team will play for bronze against Great Britain on Friday. India’s Sumit celebrates after winning the men’s bronze medal match of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games field hockey competition by defeating Germany 5-4, at the Oi Hockey Stadium in Tokyo on August 5, 2021.  Meanwhile, Indian wrestler Ravi Dahiya (57kg) clinched the silver medal in Olympics after losing 4-7 in the final to Russian Olympic Committee’s Zavur Uguev. Despite starting off cautiously, Uguev got off the mark and doubled his lead within seconds. Ravi might have equalled the scoreboard at 2-2 but Uguev, showing off his immense power, again took the lead as the Indian wrestler trailed 4-2 after the conclusion of the first period. Uguev came firing on all cylinders and further extended his lead as he gave no chance to Ravi to dominate the game. At one point, Uguev was leading the match 7-2 when Ravi earned two more points to come close to his opponent

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Venkaiah Naidu suspends 6 Trinamool MPs

Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday suspended six TMC MPs for the day for carrying placards while protesting along with other opposition MPs over the Pegasus spying issue. Just as witnessed since the start of monsoon session, slogan-shouting TMC and other opposition MPs trooped into the well of the House, some holding placards, to demand a discussion on the issue of Israeli-made, military-grade Pegasus spyware allegedly being used to snoop on opposition leaders, government critics and journalists. Naidu took exception to the placards, which had anti-government slogans, before adjourning the proceedings of the House till 2 p.m. He first asked members to go back to their seats and then threatened to invoke rule 255 against those holding placards. As the members refused to budge, he ordered that those disobeying the chair and raising placards shall leave the House under rule 255. He, however, did not name anyone and said Rajya Sabha Secretariat will give the list. Later a Parliamentary Bulletin identified the six MPs suspended for the day as Dola Sen, Md. Nadimul Haque, Abir Ranjan Biswas, Shanta Chhetri, Arpita Ghosh and Mausam Noor. These members of the Rajya Sabha who entered the well of the House displayed placards, disobeyed the Chair and whose conduct was grossly disorderly in the House this morning (August 4, 2021) have been directed to withdraw immediately from the Council under rule 255 by the Chairman, it said. The six MPs, it said, shall absent themselves during the remainder of the day’s meeting. Earlier, soon after taking of oath by new member Jawhar Sircar and laying of official documents on the table of the House, Naidu said though he has not admitted notices given under rule 267 by Ramgopal Yadav and Vishambhar Prasad Nishad of the Samajwadi Party and V. Sivadasan of the CPI(M) over farmers agitation over three farm laws, a discussion on the issue under a different rule has been admitted. I have gone through it. It is an ongoing issue but important. So it is admitted for discussion under other provision, he said. A notice under rule 267 calls for setting aside of the business of the day to take up discussion on the issue being raised. Naidu, however, rejected 267 notices by Sukhendu Sekhar Roy (TMC), Mallikarjun Kharge and K.C. Venugopal (both Congress), CPI(M)’s Elamaram Kareem and V. Sivadasan and Binoy Viswam of the CPI over the Peagus issue. Now there is agreement about farmers’ agitation. And also about price rise, economic situation. The government has also expressed willingness to discuss. Let us discuss the farmers’ issues. Let us discuss the economic situation, price rise and other issues, he said.

More than 6.07 lakh cyber security incidents observed till June 2021: Govt 

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) observed over 6.07 lakh cyber security incidents in the first six months of 2021, of which about 12,000 incidents were related to government organisations, the government informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. According to data from CERT-In, which is mandated to track and monitor cyber security incidents in the country, a total of 6,07,220 cyber security incidents were observed during 2021 up to June. This number stood at 2,08,456 in the year 2018; 3,94,499 in 2019; and 11,58,208 in 2020. The data was shared by Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. There have been attempts from time to time to launch cyber-attacks on Indian cyberspace. It has been observed that attackers are compromising computer systems located in different parts of the world and use masquerading techniques and hidden servers to hide the identity of actual systems from which the attacks are being launched, Chandrasekhar said. He added that according to the logs analysed and made available to CERT-In, the IP addresses of the computers from where the attacks appear to have originated belong to various countries, including Algeria, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Netherlands, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, the U.S., and Vietnam. The total number of cyber security incidents includes hacking of 15,651 Indian websites in 2021 (up to June). This number stood at 17,560 during the year 2018; 24,768 during 2019; and 26,121 during 2020. Likewise, a total number of 70,798, 85,797, 54,314 and 12,001 cyber security incidents were related to government organisations during the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 (up to June), respectively.

Pegasus: Hearing on petitions seeking probe on August 5 

A Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana is scheduled to hear on August 5 a petition filed by senior journalists N. Ram and Sashi Kumar for an independent probe headed by a former or sitting top court judge into the mass surveillance of over 142 potential targets, including journalists, lawyers, ministers, Opposition politicians, constitutional functionaries and civil society activists, using military-grade Israeli spyware Pegasus. The Supreme Court would also hear separate petitions filed by Rajya Sabha member John Brittas and Supreme Court advocate M.L. Sharma on the same issue, which has seen more petitions being filed, including one by the Editors Guild of India for an independent investigation into the Pegasus allegations and another by five journalists who were targets of surveillance. Ram and Kumar, in their petition, have said mass surveillance using a military-grade spyware abridges several fundamental rights and appears to represent an attempt to infiltrate, attack and destabilise independent institutions that act as critical pillars of our democratic set-up. They have sought a full disclosure from the government on whether it has authorised the snooping, which seems be an attempt to muzzle free speech and to chill dissent. The government, the petition said, had still not given a straight answer to whether the illegal hack was done with its blessings. The journalists have contended that spying has caused serious dents on the rights to free speech and privacy. It has no legal basis. In fact, the legal regime for surveillance under Section 5(2) of the Telegraph Act seems to have been completely bypassed, and civilians have become targets.

SPORTS NEWS 

Tokyo Olympics: Ravi Dahiya storms into wrestling final, assured of medal, while boxer Lovlina settles for bronze  

Ravi Dahiya on Wednesday became only the second Indian wrestler to qualify for the gold medal clash at the Olympic Games when he sensationally turned around the 57kg semifinal by pinning Kazakhstan’s Nurislam Sanayev. The fourth seeded Indian was trailing 2-9 when Sanayev effected a few ‘fitley’ (leg lace) moves to pull ahead but as the clocked ticked away, Dahiya regrouped and got hold of his rival with a double leg attack that resulted in a victory by fall. Before this, Sushil Kumar was the only Indian to make the gold medal bout in 2012 London Games and settle for a silver. The 23-year Dahiya had won both his previous bouts on technical superiority en route the final. Dahiya outclassed Colombia’s Tigreros Urbano (13-2) in his opener and then outwitted Bulgaria’s Georgi Valentinov Vangelov (14-4). Meanwhile, Deepak Punia will fight for bronze medal after he was outclassed by formidable American David Morris Taylor in the 86kg semifinals. It was always going to be a herculean task for Deepak to trouble the American, the 2018 world champion and the reigning Pan-American champion. It was hardly a contest as Taylor effected one move after another to win by technical superiority in the first period itself. In boxing, Lovlina Borgohain won India’s third medal – a bronze – at the Tokyo Olympics after losing to Turkish world champion Busenaz Surmeneli in their 69kg semifinal bout on Wednesday. She becomes only the second Indian woman pugilist and third overall, after Vijender Singh (bronze in 2008) and Mary Kom (bronze in 2012) to climb the podium. However, the 23-year-old was not satisfied with the result. I’ve just lost, and I am not really happy about it. I’ve had to be content with the bronze medal throughout my career. A medal is a medal, whether it is an Olympic medal or an inter-district one, she said right after the bout. Lovlina was outplayed by Surmeneli, who won the bout by a unanimous decision. Surmeneli bossed the bout from the start, landing clean, powerful and accurate combinations on Lovlina’s head to take an early advantage. The taller Indian, who received a standing count, replied with some well-directed counters but lost the first round 5-0. The Turkish boxer continued to attack with the same intensity and the Indian, who was served a warning, got tired due to Surmeneli’s power-packed punches. Lovlina still fought on bravely and managed to carry through the contest despite receiving another standing count. In hockey, the Indian women’s team put up a gritty performance but it was not enough to secure a maiden Olympic final berth as they lost 1-2 to world no.2 Argentina in a hard-fought semifinal. India still have a chance to win the bronze medal as they will take on Great Britain in the third-fourth place play-off match on Friday.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

Biden urges New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign over sexual harassment allegations 

U.S. President Joe Biden said on August 3 that Andrew Cuomo, the Democrat governor of New York, should resign from his post over allegations that he sexually harassed 11 women. The call came after the New York Attorney General’s Office released a detailed summary of its investigation into the charges. Investigators found that Cuomo had engaged in conduct constituting sexual harassment under New York State law, according to New York State Attorney General Letitia James. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Biden said, I think he should resign. Cuomo has denied inappropriate conduct and indicated he wouldn’t step down. Earlier, he also faced calls to quit from US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and U.S. Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. New York State Attorney General James said the report was based in part on nearly five months of interviews that two independent lawyers had conducted with some 179 individuals members of Cuomo’s staff, state police officers, additional state employees and others who interacted regularly with the governor. These interviews and pieces of evidence revealed a deeply disturbing yet clear picture, said James, Governor Cuomo sexually harassed current and former state employees in violation of federal and state laws. Investigators say he harassed women outside of government as well. The report stated, Specifically, we find that the governor sexually harassed a number of current and former New York State employees by, among other things, engaging in unwelcome and nonconsensual touching, as well as making numerous offensive comments of a suggestive and sexual nature that created a hostile work environment for women. 

 

Fully vaccinated one-third as likely to get COVID-19: study. 

Fully vaccinated people in England were one-third as likely to test positive for COVID-19, according to an ongoing survey of the population released on Wednesday. The latest findings, from a long-running study by scientists at Imperial College London and market research company Ipsos MORI, were based on 98,233 swabs taken between June 24 and July 12. They showed one in 160 people infected with coronavirus, with a prevalence rate of 1.21% for unvaccinated respondents and 0.40% for those fully jabbed. The study also found that double vaccinated people may be less likely to pass on the virus to others than those who have not received a vaccine. However, officials and scientists in Britain have urged caution after the government eased all virus curbs in England on July 19, including the legal requirement to wear masks in certain indoor settings. A U.S. government document leaked last week warned that infections among fully vaccinated people are not as rare as previously thought and that such cases are highly contagious. Paul Elliott, a Professor at Imperial’s School of Public Health and director of the survey programme, said the findings confirm our previous data showing that both doses of a vaccine offer good protection against getting infected. However, we can also see that there is still a risk of infection, as no vaccine is 100% effective. COVID-19 cases registered daily by Britain’s Health Ministry have declined since the relaxation of rules, while population surveys have suggested they may still be rising, albeit at a slower rate. The trend has surprised experts and officials, who predicted a surge in new infections. The Imperial-Ipsos study covering the period up to July 12 showed even then cases were climbing more gradually than during the previous month.