Punjab CM Amarinder Singh meets PM Modi

TOP NEWS IN NUTSHELLS (12 August 2021)

*NATIONAL NEWS*

• SET BACK TO ISRO’S EOS-3: ISRO could not get success to put GISAT-1 in orbit as cryogenic stage failed to ignite. ISRO in a statement said that earth observation satellite EOS-3 lifts off successfully on board GSLV-F10 but the mission could not be accomplished due to technical snag.
• OBC RESERVATION: Both house of the Parliament passed the constitutional amendment bill to restore the powers of the states to make their own OBC lists. The Opposition and treasury benches joined hands in the Rajya Sabha to approve the legislation. After a turbulent Monsoon session, both houses adjourned sine die.
• GIB AMENDMENT BILL: The General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill, 2021 was passed by Rajya Sabha without discussion amid protests by the Opposition MPs. The bill aims to provide greater private participation in the public sector insurance companies.
• KINNAUR TRAGEDY: At least ten people, including five women and a two-year-old girl, were killed and 60 others feared trapped under debris after several vehicles, including a bus carrying 24 passengers, were hit by a landslide on a highway near Nigulsari in Himachal Pradesh’s Kinnaur district on Wednesday. Teams of ITBP, along with units of the SDRF and NDRF, are engaged in rescue operations that continue to be hindered by falling rocks.
• CII MEET: PM Modi on Wednesday said, the decision to end retrospective taxation would strengthen trust between the Government and industry. Addressing the annual meeting of CII, he said that the Government is pushing the boundaries on reforms and that its recent legislative measures will help small investors and depositors.
• IT REFUNDS: The Income tax department said that excess interest amount or late fees paid by any taxpayer while filing ITR for the financial year 2020-21 will be refunded.  The deadline to file income tax for FY21 was extended from July 31 to 30 Sep.
• CBSE RELEASE OFFLINE EXAM DATES: The CBSE has released the datasheet for class 10 and 12 offline exams. The datasheet has been released for those students who will appear in improvement, compartment or private category examinations. The class 10 exams will begin on 25 August and conclude on 08 September whereas the class 12 exam will begin on 25 August and will conclude on 16 September.
• MAHARASTRA’S NEW COVID RULES: Maharashtra govt decided to allow malls and restaurants to remain open till 10 pm with a 50% capacity from 15 August. Shops are also allowed to operate till 10 pm.
• HP SCHOOLS AGAIN CLOSED: The Himachal Pradesh govt. decided to close schools again for 12 days, from August 11 to 22 due to increase in COVID cases. However, teachers will have to attend school regularly.
• HEALTH CARD:  Aarogyasri health cards in Andhra Pradesh would soon turn ultramodern with details in QR code and linking them with the Aadhar card of individuals.
• PUNJAB CM MEETS PM: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh meets PM Modi, seeks repeal of controversial farm laws. He urges the Prime Minister to initiate steps for the inclusion of farmers in free legal aid category.

**INTERNATIONAL NEWS**

• ADVISORY TO INDIAN NATIONALS: The Indian mission in Kabul has asked all its nationals to make immediate travel arrangements to return to India before commercial air services are discontinued.  Amid the turmoil in Afghanistan, India has brought back 50 of its nationals from Mazar e Sharif.
• AFGHANISTAN CRISIS: In an attempt to stop relentless Taliban advance in many cities of Afghanistan, President Ashraf Ghani is trying to unite warlords. He flew to Majar-e- Sharif on Wednesday to rally his forces and to brain storm with warlords, other private militia commanders, top security officials and politicians to prevent the Taliban advances. Nine provincial capitals have fallen to the insurgents in less than a week.
• WILDFIRES RAGE: In Greece, wildfires are continuing to rip through the Evia Island, prompting residents to flee to safety by sea.
• SPYING CASE:  A Chinese court sentenced Canadian entrepreneur Michael Spavor to 11 years in prison  in a spying case that has been inked to Beijing’s pressure campaign against the Canadian government over the arrest of an executive at tech giant Huawei.
• AIR TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS EASE: Several European countries, including the United Kingdom and France, have relaxed travel restrictions on India, But Canada has again extended its ban on arriving passenger flights directly from India till 21 September. This extension will impact students as they will now have to travel to a third country to reach Canada.
• INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DAY: Today an International Youth Day is celebrated. It is an awareness day designated by the United Nations. The purpose of the day is to draw attention to a given set of cultural and legal issues surrounding youth. The first IYD was observed on 12 August, 2000.

***SPORTS***

• INDIA-ENGLAND 2^ND TEST:  2^nd Test match of 5 Test will be played Thursday at Lord’s ground in London. Fast bowler Shardul Thakur will miss this match due to injury. Speculations are that R. Ashwin may be included in the last playing XI.
• RAVI SHASTRI’S LAST TENURE: Team India’s backroom may soon undergo a total revamp. Head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun, fielding coach R Sridhar and batting coach Vikram Rathor are all set to move on after the T20 World Cup to be held across October-November in the UAE. Reports say, Shastri has informed some cricket board members that he is planning to part ways with the national team after the tournament when his contract ends. Some of the other support staff, meanwhile, are already in talks with IPL teams.