CURRENT AFFAIRS
09 August 2020
NATIONAL NEWS:
A) Kozhikode crash: Passengers included stranded tourists; many who had lost jobs.
The Air India Express plane from Dubai that crashed in Kozhikode late on 7 August was a repatriation flight operated under Vande Bharat, and those on board were returning after being stranded for several months. There were 10 infants, as well as six crew members on the flight, taking the total to 191. There were many who were forced to return after they lost their jobs, as well as those whose visas had expired. Some were students, while at least two were returning to get married. Air India Express lost two of its pilots, Captain Deepak Vasant Sathe and First Officer Akhilesh Kumar in the crash. The Kerala government has announced ₹10 lakh compensation to the families of those who died in the Air India crash. The medical expenses of those under treatment will be taken over by the state government, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
B) IMA flags death of 196 doctors to PM.
As of August 7, nearly 200 doctors, the majority of the general practitioners, have lost their lives to Covid-19, according to information released by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). Deaths of doctors due to Covid-19 from various States include Tamil Nadu (43 deaths), Maharashtra and Gujarat (23 each), Bihar (19), Karnataka (15), Andhra Pradesh and Delhi (12 each). Of the 196 doctors who lost their lives to the virus, 170 were above the age of 50 years, with general practitioners accounting for around 40% of the deaths. Meanwhile, the number of reported coronavirus cases from India stood at 21,43,326 with the death toll at 43,387.
C) Stalin writes to PM urging him to stop the implementation of NEP.
DMK President M.K. Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal, urging them to halt the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, until the situation is conducive to follow the due process enshrined in the Constitution. His concerns seemed to be primarily two-fold: the erosion of federalism and the return of the three-language formula. Stalin pointed out that the proposed policy threatens the progress made in educational attainment, access, and quality in the country by undermining not just the authority of States but also setting up additional barriers to social justice and equity in our country. He further said that the three-language formula proposed in the new education policy with a compulsory option of Sanskrit at all levels of education cannot be accepted. This move undermines the glory and dignity of Tamil language and is an affront to the feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu.
D) G.C. Murmu takes charge as a new CAG.
The Former Lieutenant Governor (L-G) of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Girish Chandra Murmu took charge as the new Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on 7 August. Murmu was sworn in as the CAG by President Ram Nath Kovind, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a communiqué. A 1985-batch retired IAS officer of the Gujarat cadre, Murmu will have a tenure up to November 20, 2024. He replaces Rajiv Mehrishi, who was completing his tenure this week.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
A) India, China hold Major general-level talks over Depsang.
A meeting between India and China at the Major General-level got underway on 7 August at Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO). On the agenda were issues concerning the strategic Depsang plains. The talks began around 11 a.m. and were limited to Depsang to discuss issues of varying claims and also the blocking of patrols by each other. This is the first Major General-level meeting since the stoppage of all established meetings at Colonels, Brigadiers, and Major General level following the violent clash at Galwan on June 15, after which military talks were limited to Corps Commander level.
B) Anti-regime protests rock Beirut. Four days after a huge explosion left at least 158 dead, thousands of Lebanese, furious with their political leaders, have again taken to the streets in protest. An economic crisis and a collapsing currency had triggered massive anti-government protests in October last year. This week, two ministers who attempted to visit badly damaged neighborhoods in recent days were chased out, and police fired tear gas at stone-throwing protesters who tried to break through a barricade preventing access to the parliament building.
C) China’s ties with the U.S. plunge further.
On 8 August, China has slammed the U.S. for imposing barbarous sanctions in response to the crackdown of Beijing in Hong Kong. This marks a dramatic week of deteriorating relations between the two biggest economies of the world. In the toughest U.S. action on Hong Kong since China imposed a sweeping new security law on the territory, Washington on 7 August imposed sanctions on a group of Chinese and Hong Kong officials. This was done after President Donald Trump’s decision of banning TikTok and WeChat in the U.S.
SPORTS NEWS
A)Woakes, Buttler power England’s win.
A magnificent partnership between Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes propelled England to an unlikely three-wicket win over Pakistan in a topsy-turvy first Test at Old Trafford on 8 August. Woakes joined Buttler at the crease with England having slumped to 117 for five and seemingly sliding to defeat in its pursuit of a daunting 277 on a bowler-friendly pitch. But between them, Buttler and Woakes launched a superb counter-attack to turn the tide of the match towards the host with a sixth-wicket stand worth 139 runs. In a final twist, Buttler was eventually out leg-before for 75 to leg spinner Yasir Shah with England requiring another 21 for victory, thereby reviving Pakistan’s fading hopes. Stuart Broad was also dismissed attempting to knock off the last 4 runs but Woakes finished on 84 not out to see the host home.
