CURRENT AND CORPORATE AFFAIRS : 03 AUGUST 2020

Current and Corporate Affairs : 03 August 2020

COVID-19

1. Coronavirus pandemic likely to be lengthy, warns WHO: – The World Health Organization has warned that the coronavirus pandemic is likely to be lengthy. The statement comes after an emergency committee of WHO met to evaluate the crisis six months after sounding the international alarm. The committee also warned of the risk of response fatigue given the socio-economic pressures on countries. The panel gathered for the fourth time over the coronavirus crisis, half a year on from its January 30 declaration of a public health emergency of international concern – the WHO’s highest level of alarm. The committee highlighted the importance of sustained community, national, regional, and global response efforts. The committee urged the WHO to provide nuanced and pragmatic guidance on COVID-19 reactions to reduce the risk of response fatigue in the context of socio-economic pressures. The committee also urged the agency to accelerate research into the remaining critical unknowns of the virus.
2. India records highest ever single day COVID-19 recoveries of 51,255 cases: – A record 51,255 recoveries have been registered in the country in the last 24 hours. This is the highest number of recoveries in a single day since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country. With this, the recovery rate has improved to 65.43 per cent. The case fatality rate has further declined to 2.13 per cent. The Health and Family Welfare Ministry said, a total of 11,45,629 people have recovered from COVID-19 in the country so far. 54,735 new cases of Coronavirus have been reported in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 17,50,723. Presently, the total number of active Corona cases in the country is 5,67,730. In a single day, 853 deaths have also been reported taking the nationwide toll to 37,364

NATIONAL NEWS

1. Home Minister Amit Shah tests positive for COVID-19; Leaders from different political parties wish him speedy recovery: – Leaders from different political parties have wished a speedy recovery of Home Minister Amit Shah, who tested positive for COVID-19. BJP President J P Nadda, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, TMC President and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BJD President and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and others have wished good health for Mr Shah.
2. NIA arrests 6 more people in Kerala gold smuggling case: – NIA has arrested six more people and conducted searches at six places in connection with the Kerala gold smuggling case. The agency has so far arrested 10 people in the case of smuggling of gold through diplomatic baggage addressed to the UAE consulate in Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram. During searches, two hard disks, one tablet computer, eight mobile phones, six SIM cards, one digital video recorder and five DVDs were seized, besides various documents including bank passbooks, credit and debit cards, travel documents and identity documents of the accused. Further investigation in the case is continuing.
3. Railways Ministry organizes Virtual Retirement Function for 2,320 superannuating officials: – In a first, the Ministry of Railways organized Virtual Retirement Function for 2,320 superannuating officials connecting all Zones and Divisions. Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, complimented the superannuated staff for their dedicated services and valuable contribution to Railways. Mr Goyal urged all to continue to perform acts which can benefit society at large and further enrich the process of nation building.
4. Govt. issues fresh guidelines for International passengers arriving in India from 8th August: – The Health Ministry has issued fresh guidelines for arriving international passengers which will be operational from 8th August. The guidelines state that before planning to travel, all travelers should submit a self declaration form on the online portal – newdelhiairport.in at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel.They should also give an undertaking on the portal that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days. This includes 7 days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost followed by 7 days isolation at home with self monitoring of health.
5. VP M Venkaiah Naidu pays tribute to freedom fighter Pingali Venkayya on his birth anniversary: – Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today paid tribute to legendary freedom fighter and the designer of India’s national flag, Pingali Venkayya on his birth anniversary. In a tweet, Mr Naidu said, Pingali Venkayya was a polymath with interests in geology, education, agriculture and languages. He said, Our national flag is a symbol of our sovereignty, great history and culture. The Vice President said, the nation will always be grateful to the designer of the Tricolour, the pride and glory of our nation.

STATE NEWS

1. Union Minister of State for Communication Sanjay Dhotre inaugurates Bharat Air Fibre Services in Maharashtra: –Sanjay Dhotre, Union Minister of State for Communication today inaugurated Bharat Air Fibre Services at Akola in Maharashtra. With inauguration of Bharat Air Fibre services, residents of Akola and Washim districts will get Wireless Internet Connections on demand.
2. UP Cabinet Minister Kamal Rani Varun dies battling COVID-19; President, PM and Defence Minister express grief: –President Ram Nath Kovind has expressed grief over the demise of Kamal Rani Varun, Cabinet Minister in Uttar Pradesh. In a tweet, Mr Kovind said, well respected for serving people at the grassroots, Kamal Rani Varun had also served as an MP in the Lok Sabha twice. He expressed condolences to her family and followers.
3. Second plasma bank inaugurated at Tezpur medical college in Assam: – In Assam, the second plasma bank was inaugurated today at Tezpur medical college. Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the plasma bank. He said that already 3 people have donated plasma.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

1. EU calls for united efforts from its member countries against China: – European Union has called for a more united approach from its 27 member countries against an authoritarian China. In an interview to German media, EU’s High Representative for foreign and security policy, Josep Borrell said, China has become more aggressive in its neighbourhood, especially in the South China Sea or on the border with India. He said, Chinese leaders did not hesitate to leave aside international commitments with the imposition of the Hong Kong National Security Law. Borrell also called for a more coordinated approach among the EU, US and other democratic powers like India. He said, EU and US should be at the heart of this effort, but we should also be working closely with Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and others. Pondering steps to deal with China, Borell said, we can consider measures such as extending visas for Hong Kong citizens, restricting student exchanges with China, banning exports of tear gas.
2. UAE becomes first country in Arab World to produce nuclear energy: –As the Barakah Nuclear Plant’s 1st Unit got operational on Friday, UAE became the first country in the Arab World to produce nuclear energy. The new plant is part of the UAE’s graph to become less reliant on oil and gas, the current source of the vast majority of its energy. UAE is among the world’s biggest fossil fuels producers. Barakah plant situated in the Al Dhafrah region of Abu Dhabi started producing heat on Saturday, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation said in a statement. The plant, powered by South Korean technology , hopes to produce 5.6 gigawatts of electricity
   and supply up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs, the corporation said.
3. Bangladesh to construct modern food storage system with USD 202 million World Bank financial support: – Bangladesh will be constructing five more modern food storage systems in the country in addition to the three already under construction with financing support from the World Bank to enhance the storage capacity and improve the efficiency of grain storage. The World Bank has approved a dollar 202 million additional financing for the modern food storage facilities project in Bangladesh. The financing will help increase the storage capacity of Bangladesh’s grain reserves by 5.35 lakh tons for 4.5 million households, said a World Bank Press release.

BUSINESS AND FINANCE

1. FPIs remain net buyers for 2nd consecutive month in July: – Foreign portfolio investors remained net buyers for the second consecutive month in July by pumping in Rs 3,301 crore in Indian markets. According to the depositories data, a net sum of Rs 7,563 crore rupees was invested in equities while Rs 4,262 crore were withdrawn by FPIs in July.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL APPOINTMENTS

1. Air Marshal V R Chaudhari takes over as chief of IAF’s Western Air Command: – Air Marshal V. R. Chaudhari took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command of Indian Air Force today. The Air Marshal took over command from Air Marshal B Suresh. Air Marshal V. R. Chaudhari was commissioned into fighter stream of the IAF in 1982 as a Fighter Pilot. During his career, he has flown wide variety of fighter and trainer aircraft. He has a flying experience of MiG-21, MiG-23 MF, MiG 29 and Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft.

AWARDS AND HONORS

1. 11 Women entrepreneurs awarded by Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment cohort: – The Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment, WEE cohort initiative helps women ranging from college going students to middle-aged housewives to take up entrepreneurship as a viable, fulfilling career option. It is India’s first of its kind initiative to strengthen women’s ecosystem at IIT Delhi, supported and sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology. The cash awards in the form of a grant totalling Rs 25 lakh have been presented to 11 Women entrepreneurs. Kalpana Arora, who has done a Doctorate in wastewater management from IIT Delhi, has been awarded for her products like sanitizers from wastewater. She is a social entrepreneur and works for tribal women and farmers in the hilly region of Uttarakhand through Self Help Groups.

SPORTS

1. Indian men, women hockey teams for Tokyo Olympics to join national camp in Bengaluru from Aug 4: – Members of the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams bound for Tokyo Olympics will join the national camp at Sports Authority of India’s National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) in Bengaluru from Tuesday. The decision was taken by Sports Authority of India (SAI) after formal permission was received from the state government to begin training at Bengaluru. The athletes, coaches and support staff, who were on a home break, will join the camp on August 4 and undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine inside the campus. Considering the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Bengaluru, the permission from the state government has been given subject to all arriving athletes, coaches and support staff adhering to institutional quarantine protocols issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Government of Karnataka.

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Compiled By : CS Surbhi Saxena

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