CURRENT AFFAIRS
11 August 2020
NATIONAL NEWS:
A) Javadekar calls EIA criticism ‘needless protest’
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on 10 August said that some critics of the proposed Environment Impact Assessment (EIA 2020) notification was indulging in needless protest. On the sidelines of an event organized by the Ministry to commemorate World Elephant Day (August 12), he said that how can a draft notification be protested? It’s still a draft. They received several suggestions after soliciting comments for nearly 150 days as opposed to the norm of 60 days. They will consider these and after that, a final notification will be prepared. Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh and Shashi Tharoor, have condemned several aspects of the draft notification and former party president Rahul Gandhi said that the draft notification’s aim was a clear loot of the nation and that it was another terrible example of what the BJP government has been doing for the ‘friends’ of the suit-boot who had robbed the resources of the country.
B) UGC objects to state governments invoking National Disaster Act.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) on 10 August strongly objected to Maharashtra and Delhi governments employing the Disaster Management Act to cancel the examinations of students amid the Covid-19 pandemic, by saying that sooner the issue is resolved the better is for the students. Appearing before a Bench led by Justice Ashok Bhushan, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the conduct of examinations was entirely within the domain of the UGC, a statutory body. The law officer said the States could not go on and cancel examinations on their own. The UGC had specific guidelines and procedures for conducting them. The court then decided to hear detailed arguments on Friday.
C) COVID Watch: Numbers and Developments.
The number of coronavirus cases reported from India stood at 22,53,673 with the death toll at 45,151. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa tested negative for the coronavirus and was discharged from Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru, where he had been admitted on August 2. Meanwhile, former President Pranab Mukherjee on 10 August said on Twitter that he had tested positive for Covid-19 during a regular hospital visit. He had been admitted to the Army’s Research and Referral hospital in Delhi and his condition was stable.
D) SC will hear on ‘merits’ contempt case on Bhushan’s decade-old remarks in Tehelka.
On 10 August, the Supreme Court has decided to hear on merits whether remarks made by noted civil rights lawyer Prashant Bhushan on judicial “corruption” in a Tehelka interview in 2009 amounted to “per se contempt”. A Bench led by Justice Arun Mishra listed the case for hearing on August 17. Bhushan, his father, and senior advocate Shanti Bhushan, and their lawyer, Rajeev Dhavan were visible on the screen showing the pronouncement of the interim decision of the virtual court. On August 4, after an almost day-long hearing held away from the public eye, the Bench had said it would hear the case if “we do not accept the explanation/apology” of Bhushan.
E) When the postman acts as a human ATM
The postal department’s new service of delivering money home with the postman acting as a human ATM has turned out to be a big hit countrywide, with more than one lakh transactions being recorded across India on a daily basis. The service began shortly before the COVID-19-linked lockdown was imposed in late March. But back then the number of transactions was low. Its demand soared in the following weeks when people were stranded home but needed cash to buy essentials. This free service allows people to withdraw through the postman up to ₹10,000 at a time from any of their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. The postman carries a portable biometric device to match fingerprints. All a person needs to do is to use the Post info app or simply call the local post office or spot the postman. .Every postman typically carries ₹ 50,000-₹60,000 in cash and in case he has run out of money, he can deliver the following day. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu are among the States where this service has turned out to be most popular, with more and more of the elderly and people living in rural areas availing of it.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
A) India’s imports from China rise in June and July.
India’s imports from China have risen to $5.6 billion in July, climbing for the second straight month, although imports are still down by 24% from 2019. India’s imports from China had fallen to a record low of $3.2 billion both in April and May, coinciding with India’s lockdown on account of the pandemic. Imports rose to $4.8 billion in June and further to $5.6 billion in July, almost back to the pre-lockdown level of $5.8 billion reported in March, in part, economists said, driven by Chinese exports of medical supplies. Two-way trade, at $43.37 billion, continues to be heavily tilted in China’s favor, with India’s exports, up 6.7% year-on-year, accounting for $11 billion. The slump in China’s exports to India contrasts with its recovery overall. The GAC’s figures showed China’s exports overall rose 7.2% in July while imports fell 1.4% year-on-year. China posted a trade surplus of $62.33 billion, surpassing the $42 billion estimate given by economists to Reuters. A jump in the export of medical supplies was seen by economists as one reason.
B) China slaps sanctions on U.S. Senators
On 10 August, China sanctioned 11 Americans, including Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, in retaliation for similar U.S. moves prompted by Beijing’s crackdown in Hong Kong. Washington last week accused 11 officials of suppressing “freedom and democratic processes” in Hong Kong, including city leader Carrie Lam, and announced plans to freeze their U.S. assets. It was the toughest U.S. action yet in response to Beijing’s introduction of a sweeping and controversial new national security law for the territory. Beijing said the measure was a violation of international law and “grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs”.
C) Taliban agrees to begin talks ‘within a week’
Afghan peace talks are expected to begin within days after authorities announced on August 10 that they would soon start releasing hundreds of Taliban prisoners accused of brutal attacks. The government of Afghan will start releasing the 400 Taliban prisoners within 2 days. This was informed on 10 August by the spokesman of the National Security Council Javid Faisal. This prisoner exchange was a key part of a deal signed by the Taliban and the U.S. in the month of February. According to this deal, Washington agreed to withdraw their troops from Afghanistan and in return, the government has to hold peace talks with the Kabul government.
D) U.S. official lauds Taiwan’s success against the virus.
A U.S. Cabinet member heaped praise on Taiwan’s democracy and its success in battling COVID-19 as he met the island’s leader on 10 August. The Health Secretary of the U.S. was in Taipei for a 3-day visit which is the highest level visit from the U.S. since the time it switched diplomatic recognition from the island to China in 1979. On the morning of August 10, Mr. Azar met President Tsai Ing-wen. He told that the response of Taiwan to COVID-19 has the most successful in the world. This is a tribute to the open and transparent democratic nature of the society and culture of Taiwan. Ms. Tsai thanked the United States for supporting their demand to be a part of the World Health Organization (WHO).
