Assam and Mizoram ink pact on border hands-off

TOP NEWS IN NUTSHELLS (06 August 2021)

**NATIONAL NEWS**

• SC TO HEAR PEGASUS SNOOPING CASE: The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear a batch of petitions seeking a court-monitored SIT probe into Pegasus snooping controversy on August 10. The court has asked the petitioners to serve copies of their respective petition on the Centre.
• BOMBAY HC ON VACCINAGION CARD: The Bombay High Court has asked Maharashtra Govt to consider issuing a vaccination card to allow fully inoculated people to travel in local trains. The court said that it is a matter of livelihood of poor people who cannot afford to spend too much on travel.
• 2^ND ANNIVERSARY REPEAL OF ART.370: Union Territory of J&K, celebrated the 2nd anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A. In Jammu, BJP Yuva Morcha took out Tiranga rally which was followed by Flag hoisting program at the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh.
• ASSAM-MIZORAM BORDER ROW: Assam and Mizoram govts. ink pact on border hands-off. Both states will take measures to promote preserve and maintain peace and harmony amongst the people of two states particularly in border areas.
• TAXATION LAW AMENDMENT BILL: Centre on Thursday has introduced Taxation Law Amendment Bill 2021 in Lok Sabha to do away with the contentious retrospective tax demand provision.
• AERA BILL: Rajya Sabha passed Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021. AERA bill proposes to amend definition of ‘major airport’ in accordance with Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Act, 2008 (AERA Act).
• SAMAGRA SHIKSHA: Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the continuation of ‘Samagra Shiksha Scheme’ for school education for further five years. The scheme will continue up to March, 2026. This scheme emphasises on improving the quality of school education by focussing on two T’s – Teacher and Technology.
• MoU BETEWEEN DU & UL: The University of Delhi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Ladakh for a period of five years. University of Ladakh is one of the youngest universities in India.
• FLOOD SITUATION ALARMING: Following Pulichinthala Dam gate in Andhra Pradesh, washed away, flood alert has been issued in Krishna distt.  People from low-lying areas along the river are being evacuated to safer places. In Bihar CM Nitish Kumar made an aerial survey of flood-affected areas of the state to assess the damage caused by prevailing floods. Meanwhile Ganga and Punpun are flowing above danger mark. In Madhya Pradesh, the rescue and relief operations are in full swing in the flood-affected areas. More than 6,000 people from 240 affected villages in Northern MP have been rescued so far.
• MAOIST ATTACK IN CHHATISGARH: One person was killed and 11 others injured in a Maoist attack on Thursday morning in Dantewada district of  Bastar division. Maoist triggered an IED blast targeting the vehicle carrying 12 civilians.
• NO REGISTRATION FOR EV: In a bid to attract more people to consider and buy electric vehicles, the Centre has scrapped the registration fees of electric cars completely. Now no more registration fees will be charged for electric vehicles.
• EOS-3 LAUNCH SCHEDULE:  Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has confirmed that it will launch the earth observation satellite EOS-3 aboard its GSLV Mk III vehicle on August 12 from the country’s only spaceport at Sriharikota.

**INTERNATIONAL NEWS**

• TROIKA MEETING: India has not been invited to a key meeting convened by Russia in 2nd week of August on the fast-evolving situation in Afghanistan. Although Russia has invited US, China and Pakistan for this meet, India downplayed its absence saying that it engages with Russia regularly on Afghanistan.
• JAISHANKAR’S TEHRAN VISIT: External Affairs Minister S.Jaishakar’s visit to Tehran is significant for timing on Afghanistan situation. He attended swearing-in ceremony of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday. His visit marks milestone in recent attempts by both sides to reset the ties, that have been under strain for several reasons, including India cancelling oil imports due to the US sanctions, progress in Chabahar port and Iranian comments on Kashmir over the past few years. They also signal that India will continue to walk its tightrope balance on ties with Iran on one side, and the US and West Asian adversaries, including Saudi Arabia and Israel on the other side.
• UNSC ON AFGHANISTAN: United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has declared that it is against the restoration of Islamic emirate in Afghanistan.
• INDIA-AUSTRALIA TIE: Tony Abbott, Special Envoy of Australian PM Scott Morrison met PM Modi in New Delhi on Thursday. In a tweet, PM Modi said, they had a good conversation on ways to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Australia.
• PROJECT ON DAM SAFETY PROGRAME: Central Water Commission of India and World Bank signed a $250 million project for long-term dam safety program. This project will help in strengthening dam safety by building dam safety guidelines, bringing in global experience, and by introducing innovative technologies.
• BAN ON SUN CREAMS IN THAILAND: Thailand has banned sun creams containing chemicals that damage coral from all of its marine national parks. Concerns are growing those lotions, tourists use for sun protection, are harming slow-growing corals. The Thai Department of Conservation said four ingredients commonly found in sun creams were shown to destroy coral larvae, obstruct coral reproduction and cause reef bleaching. Anyone flouting the ban can be fined up to £2,100.