Contents:
- Supreme Court declines to stay poll bond scheme
- IMF brings down India’s growth forecast to 4.8%
- Virus outbreak spreads to Beijing, Shanghai
- Manipur tribes call truce after decades of conflict
- Thanjavur gets a Sukhoi squadron
- World’s richest 2,000 people hold more than poorest 4.6 billion combined: Oxfam
SUPREME COURT DECLINES TO STAY POLL BOND SCHEME
Why in news?
SC said that, electoral bond scheme is not unconstitutional and thus it will not stay it
More about electoral bonds
- As per provisions of the Scheme, electoral bonds may be purchased by a citizen of India, or entities incorporated or established in India.
- A person can buy electoral bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.
- Only the registered Political Parties which have secured not less than one per cent of the votes polled in the last Lok Sabha elections or the State Legislative Assembly are eligible to receive the Electoral Bonds.
IMF BRINGS DOWN INDIA’S GROWTH FORECAST TO 4.8%
Why in news?
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 20th January, lowered India’s economic growth estimate for the current fiscal to 4.8%
Reasons for slowdown.
Decline in rural demand growth and an overall credit sluggishness for the lowering of India forecasts
IMF
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF), is an international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
- Formed in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference. Formally came into existence in 27 December 1945
- It now plays a central role in the management of balance of payments difficulties and international financial crises
- Membership of IMF consisting of 189 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world
VIRUS OUTBREAK SPREADS TO BEIJING, SHANGHAI
Why in news?
- An outbreak of a new coronavirus has spread to more Chinese cities, including the capital Beijing and Shanghai, authorities said on 20th January, and a fourth case has been reported beyond China’s borders
- China’s National Health Commission confirmed that the virus, which causes a type of pneumonia, can pass from person-to-person,
Spreading outside
South Korea on 20th January confirmed its first case, a 35-year-old Chinese national who had travelled from Wuhan, the fourth patient reported outside China.
More about corona virus?
- There were more than 200 confirmed cases of patients with pneumonia caused by the new strain of coronavirus as of January 20th.
- The outbreak is strongly linked to a seafood market in Wuhan, but some patients diagnosed with the new coronavirus deny exposure to this market.
- China confirms person-to-person spread of new virus
- The outbreak has spread from the central city of Wuhan to cities including Beijing and Shanghai
Countermeasures
- There is no vaccine for the new virus. Symptoms include fever, difficulty in breathing as well as pneumonic infiltrates in the lungs.
- Chinese authorities have stepped up monitoring and disinfection efforts ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday in late January, when many of the country’s 1.4 billion people will travel domestically and overseas.
- Airport authorities in the United States as well as many Asian countries, including Japan, Thailand, Singapore and South Korea, have stepped up screening of passengers from Wuhan.
- The World Health Organization sent directives to hospitals around the world on infection prevention and control.
MANIPUR TRIBES CALL TRUCE AFTER DECADES OF CONFLICT
Why in news?
Umbrella Organisations of 2 tribes have called a truce in Manipur after almost 4 decades of violence
Details:
- The conflict between the Nagas and the Kukis in 1993 had claimed more than 230 lives and displaced 1,00,000, mostly Kukis.
- The working committee of the Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) and the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) have signed a declaration to settle contentious issues and inter-community differences peacefully.
- The KNO, which is seeking a territorial council in Manipur, is the umbrella body of 17 militant outfits now engaged in peace talks with the Centre.
- According to the declaration, the two sides will “work together closely to resolve differences through a democratic political process, and by respecting each other’s history and identity”
THANJAVUR GETS A SUKHOI SQUADRON
Why in news?
IAF positions 6 BrahMos-armed SU-30MKIs at Thanjavur
Details:
- The Indian Air Force inducted a squadron of Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter planes, with the capability to carry BrahMos missiles, at its Thanjavur airbase
- With the SU-30MKI Squadron getting positioned in Thanjavur, the Indian Air Force would get more air power to strike from long stand off ranges on any target at sea or on land with accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions.
Thanjavur
- Thanjavur is an important center of South Indian religion, art, and architecture. Most of the Great Living Chola Temples, which are UNESCO World Heritage Monuments
- Kovil Venni, situated 15 miles (24 km) to the east of the city, was the site of the Battle of Venni between the Chola king Karikala and a confederacy of the Cheras and the Pandyas.
WORLD’S RICHEST 2,000 PEOPLE HOLD MORE THAN POOREST 4.6 BILLION COMBINED: OXFAM
Why in news?
In its “Time to Care” report, Oxfam said it estimated that unpaid care work by women added at least $10.8 trillion a year in value to the world economy – three times more than the tech industry.
Details
- The Nairobi-headquartered charity said in a report released ahead of the annual World Economic Forum of political and business leaders in Davos, Switzerland, that women around the world work 12.5 billion hours combined each day without pay or recognition
