CURRENT AFFAIRS CAPSULE – JULY 29, 2020

Source – India Today

News: It is an annual event observed every year on July 29, to raise awareness for tiger conservation and making efforts to save them from going extinct. 

Background 

• The Global Tiger Day came into existence in 2010 in Russia during the signing of Saint Petersburg declaration by 13 tiger range countries. 
• The Heads of the Governments of Tiger Range countries had resolved to double tiger numbers across their global range by 2022 by signing the St. Petersburg declaration on tiger conservation. 
• It is estimated that the world had lost around 97 per cent of wild tigers in the last 100 years and currently, only 3,890 tigers are left alive across the world. 

Important statistics 

• The tiger population in the country has grown from 1,400 in 2014 to 2,967 in 2019. 
• Corbett Tiger Reserve in Uttarakhand has the highest number of 231 big cats in the country. 
• Nagarhole and Bandipore reserves in Karnataka have 127 and 126 tigers. 
• There are no tigers left in Mizoram’s Dampa, West Bengal’s Buxa and Jharkhand’s Palamau reserves.

Source: Deccan Herald

News: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar releases updated report on India’s Tiger Survey.

India’s latest Tiger Census was included in the Guinness World Records for having laid over 25,000 camera traps and having more than 35 million pictures.

Highlights of the report

• As per the latest tiger survey, India has 70% of the world’s tigers, at 2,967. 
• Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tigers at 526, closely followed by Karnataka (524) and Uttarakhand (442). 
• Chhattisgarh and Mizoram saw a decline in tiger population. 

New Initiative 

• Lidar-based survey technology will be used for the 1st time.
• Lidar is a method of measuring distance by illuminating the target with laser light and measuring the reflection with a sensor.

Additional Information 

• Project Tiger was launched in 1973 with just nine tiger reserves. Today, India has 50 tiger reserves spread over 72,000 sq. km. 
• Monitoring System for Tiger’s Intensive Protection and Ecological Status (MSTrIPES) android app has been launched and was extended to all 50 tiger reserves.
• Objective of the app is to strengthen patrolling and surveillance.

News: Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Najib Razak has been sentenced by Malaysian court to 12 years in jail and fine of 210 million ringgits ($49.4 million). 

• Verdict has been announced for diverting an estimated 42 million ringgits ($9.87m) from SRC International, a unit of 1MDB, into his personal bank accounts
• This sentence has been announced in first of 7 cases linked to the alleged theft of billions of dollars from the state fund, 1MDB. 10 years each for three counts of criminal breach of trust and 10 years each for three counts of money laundering in other 6 cases.
• The judge allowed a request by Mr. Najib’s lawyers to delay the jail sentence and the financial Penalty. 
• Najib, on the other hand has pleaded not guilty and is planning to appeal in Malaysia’s Federal Court if convicted. 
• 1MDB fund was set up by Najib Razak to promote economic development. 
• Allegations of corruption over 1MDB has been made for more than 5 years, but conviction came only after his election defeat in 2018 when his successor Mahathir Mohamad reopened investigations.

News: Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard fired a missile on dummy US aircraft carrier in Hormuz drill. 

During this exercise “Great Prophet 14”, Iranian commandos fast-roped down from a helicopter. 

Iranian troops also fired anti-aircraft batteries at a drone target in the exercise from a location. 

Significance of this drill

The drill in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, from where 20 percent of all traded oil passes, is being seen as an escalation amid the tensions between Iran and US. 

Tensions between 2 countries escalated after the withdrawal of US from landmark nuclear deal in 2018. 

Recently US accused Iran Revolutionary Guards of using speedboats to harass its warships in the Gulf.

Another incident over Syria involving an American jet fighter approaching an Iranian passenger plane also has renewed tensions.

News: In a tit for tat move against the moves of US and European countries, China has suspended Hong Kong’s extradition treaties with Canada, Australia, and the UK. 

Previously, extradition treaties were cancelled by Canada, Australia and the UK with the Hong Kong after Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law.

Imposition of National security Law has been seen by western countries as an erosion of the civil liberties and human rights the city has enjoyed since its handover from Britain in 1997.

Canada, Britain and Australia are part of the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance. The other members are New Zealand, which suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong earlier and Hong Kong, which is preparing to take such a move. 

European Union has also started limiting technology exports to Hong Kong that may be used for repression or suppression. 

Five Eyes” intelligence alliance

Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council (FIORC) is an intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

This alliance originated in the wake of the second world war, between US and UK to exchange foreign intelligence

Now it is aimed to creating a supply chain network to end reliance on Chinese products. 

China national security law

Law was imposed by China on Hongkong after months of widespread pro-democracy protests last year. China has tagged protesters as violent, foreign-backed separatists.

The four categories of criminal offence outlined in the law are: 

1. Secession, 
2. Subversion of state power, 
3. Terrorist activities and 
4. Collusion with foreign and external forces to endanger national security.

Punishment of long-term imprisonment of 10 years and above for Lead perpetrators and serious offenders. 

Damaging public transport and certain public facilities would be classified as terrorism under the law.

A national security agency, consisting of Chinese officials will be established to oversee enforcement of the law, such officials will not be subject to jurisdiction of Hong Kong. 

If a case involves “state secrets or public order,” it could be held behind closed doors without juries in Hong Kong. Only the verdict and eventual judgements would be made public.

Foreign and external NGOs and news organisations will subject to oversight of government bodies. 

Hong Kong courts will oversee national security cases, but Beijing can take over cases in special circumstances.

News: As per the study by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), nearly 3 billion koalas, kangaroos and other native Australian animals were killed or displaced by bushfire. 

As per the WWF-Australia Chief Executive Officer, this ranks as one of the worst wildlife disasters in modern history. 

It is the first continent-wide analysis of animals impacted by the bushfires. 

Displaced animals because of destroyed habitats and now faced lack of food and shelter or the prospect of moving to habitat that was already occupied, were also included in the total numbers.

Increased number of animal casualties is the result of assessment of total affected area, rather than focusing on the most affected states. 

from September 2019 to March 2020, Australia battled one of its worst bushfire seasons ever, resulting in 34 human deaths and nearly 3,000 homes lost.

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

It is an international organisation committed to conservation of the environment. World Wildlife Fund was set up shop in September, 1961, at IUCN’s headquarters in Morges, Switzerland.

Organisation works in more than 100 countries, by collaborating with people around the world to develop and deliver innovative solutions. 

The WWF provides money for conservation initiatives including programs focused on individual species, forests, and freshwater and marine issues etc., around the world.

WWF is focused around six ambitious goals:

News: Changes in FDI rules have been notified by the government. 

Changes allows non-resident Indians (NRIs) to acquire up to a 100 per cent stake in Air India.

Background 

The government has put its entire stake in Air India up for sale. Earlier, NRIs could own up to 49 per cent in the airline. 

Government has already made attempts to sale Air India in 2018 but could not succeed. 

Again in 2020, several attempts have been made with many extensions of deadlines for bids. 

As per the rules of Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), foreign investments in Air India, comprising that of foreign airlines shall not exceed 49 per cent. 

Earlier, as per rules, Overseas Citizens of India were allowed 100% FDI in air transport, but not Air India. Now OCI category has been replaced with NRI and has been allowed to make 100% FDI in Air India, through automatic route. 

About Air India 

It is largest international carrier out of India with an 18.6% market share, owned by Air India Limited, a government-owned enterprise. 

Airline was founded by J. R. D. Tata as Tata Airlines in 1932 Tata Airlines. Later renamed as Air India after World War II and became a public limited company.

With effect from 10 September 2020, Thierry Bolloré has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Jaguar Land Rover. 

Announcement has been made by N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover plc. 

Bolloré has also been CEO of Groupe Renault and has extensive expertise in the automotive business including senior position at global automotive supplier Faureci.

The current chief executive, Prof Speth, will take up the previously announced position of Non-Executive Vice Chairman of Jaguar Land Rover plc.

After announcement, Shares of Tata Motors spiked 4.85 per cent.

Source – Times of India

Princepal Singh, the resident of Dera Baba Nanak village, in Gurdaspur district of Punjab, has signed to play in the NBA G-League, the National Basketball Association’s official minor league, in 2020-21. 

He is a 6’10” forward, who will train and compete alongside the new G League team featuring elite youth prospects. 

He is the first NBA Academy graduate to sign with the NBA G League and also the and first NBA Academy India graduate to sign a professional contract. 

The NBA G League provides top young prospects with a chance to begin their professional careers while receiving mentorship and life-skills training.

During his time in the NBA Academy program in India and Australia, Princepal participated in several high-profile international basketball events, including Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Asia 2018, BWB Global 2018 and the NBA Global Camp 2018.