| 19 June 2021
1. In a concerning development, the Ballia district hospital in Uttar Pradesh, India, witnessed the deaths of 54 patients over a span of three days. Health officials reported that 23 patients died on June 15, followed by 20 more on June 16 and 11 on June 17. These fatalities occurred amidst severe heatwave conditions in the region. The state government dispatched a special team to investigate the cause of these deaths.
According to the Chief Medical Officer of Ballia, Dr Jayant Kumar, only two of the deaths were attributed to heat stroke, while the remaining patients had pre-existing conditions such as fever or other illnesses. The hospital records revealed that 40% of the deceased had fever, while the remaining 60% were suffering from other ailments. To ensure accountability, the Chief Medical Superintendent of the district hospital was transferred out of Ballia for making hasty statements attributing the deaths to heat stroke without proper information.
As the region grapples with intense heatwave conditions, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings of severe to very severe heatwaves in several states, including Uttar Pradesh. The rising temperatures have prompted some states to extend the closure of schools during the summer period.
2. Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi and the leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been engaging with leaders of various opposition parties to garner support against a recent ordinance introduced by the Central government. The ordinance seeks to establish a National Capital Civil Service Authority, allowing the Centre to transfer bureaucrats and initiate disciplinary proceedings against them, thereby undermining a Supreme Court ruling.
Kejriwal's objective is to assemble enough opposition strength in the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, to block the government's efforts to turn the ordinance into law. Several prominent opposition leaders, including Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee, K Chandrashekar Rao, and Sharad Pawar, have expressed their support for Kejriwal's cause.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the ruling coalition in India, currently holds 106 seats in the Rajya Sabha, while the opposition numbers, excluding certain parties, stand at 106 as well. The support of friendly parties like the YSR Congress Party and Biju Janata Dal will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of this issue. However, the stance of these parties remains uncertain, as they have not yet clarified their position on the ordinance.
3. Amidst a protest against the Wrestling Federation of India's outgoing chief, Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, allegations and counter-allegations have emerged between two prominent wrestlers, Sakshi Malik and Babita Phogat. Babita Phogat, now a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been accused by Malik of siding with the government during the protest. In response, Phogat alleged that Malik has become a "Congress puppet."
Sakshi Malik, a bronze medalist in the 2016 Olympics, and her husband Satyawart Kadian claimed that the wrestlers' protest was not politically motivated and was unrelated to the Congress party, as alleged by Phogat. Phogat, a gold medalist in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, ret
orted by criticizing Malik's decision to hold the protest on the day of the new Parliament building's inauguration and accused her of being influenced by the Congress party.
The case against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is also a BJP lawmaker, involves charges of sexual harassment and stalking by six women wrestlers. The Delhi Police has recommended dropping charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act.
4. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken commenced high-level diplomatic talks in Beijing on Sunday, aiming to ease the escalating tensions between the United States and China. Blinken met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who identified Taiwan as the "most prominent risk" in the bilateral relationship.
Both parties agreed to expand the number of bilateral flights and expressed their commitment to maintaining stable ties between the two countries. While there was no confirmation of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Blinken might have a last-minute discussion with him on Monday.
The visit comes after a significant breakdown in US-China relations, triggered by an incident involving a Chinese spy balloon that drifted into the US airspace and was destroyed by American military aircraft. The two nations have numerous areas of concern, including territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the status of Taiwan. Blinken's visit marks the highest-level engagement between the US and China since President Joe Biden took office.
5. IndiGo Airlines Places Record Order for 500 Airbus A320 Family Aircraft**
IndiGo, a leading low-cost carrier in India, has made a groundbreaking deal with Airbus, placing an order for 500 aircraft from the A320 family. This order, surpassing Air India's earlier mega-order for 470 aircraft from Airbus and Boeing, sets a record as the largest-ever single aircraft purchase by any airline in partnership with Airbus. With this order, IndiGo becomes the world's biggest customer for the A320 Family.
The purchase agreement was signed at the Paris Air Show 2023 on June 19, with top officials from both IndiGo and Airbus in attendance. Combined with their previous order for 480 aircraft, IndiGo's order book now stands at nearly a thousand aircraft, ensuring a steady stream of deliveries between 2030 and 2035. The fuel-efficient A320NEO family aircraft will enable IndiGo to lower operating costs, improve fuel efficiency, and contribute to its sustainability goals by reducing CO2 emissions.
IndiGo's CEO, Pieter Elbers, emphasized the significance of this order in boosting economic growth, social cohesion, and mobility in India. Christian Scherer, the Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International at Airbus, highlighted the partnership's role in expanding India's air connectivity domestically and internationally.
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