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July 20, 2020: National / International Current Affairs

1. Kashmir’s Accession to Pakistan Day observed across the world

• Kashmiris on both sides of Line of Control (LoC) and all over the world observed the Youm-e-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan (Accession to Pakistan Day) on July 19, 2020 while Pakistan on this occasion reaffirmed its unwavering support to Kashmiris in their just struggle to freedom.
• In their messages on this day, President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan, they reaffirmed the commitment to the Kashmiri people and stand with them in their struggle for self-determination.
• The Prime Minister said, “We commemorate the historic occasion of Youm-i-Ilhaq-e-Pakistan, when Kashmiris passed a resolution for accession to Pakistan.”
• In his tweet, he said Kashmiris’ right of self-determination is recognised by the UNSC and under international law.

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2. Population in Pakistan continues to grow rapidly: report

• Pakistan`s total population is estimated at 220.9 million and it is growing rapidly with an annual fertility rate of 3.6 children per couple, says a world population report.
• The 2020 World Population Data Sheet released by the US Population Reference Bureau, Washington also estimates that the world today has a total of 7.8 billion inhabitants.
• Referring to the Covid-19 crisis, the report warns that `population density in urban areas, household size, and population aging contribute to our vulnerability to pandemics`.

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3. Pakistan reaffirms support to Kashmiris struggle

• Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday reaffirmed Pakistan`s support to the people of Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) in their struggle for self-determination.
• On the occasion of the Accession to Pakistan Day, not only the government but opposition leaders also expressed solidarity and support to the people of occupied Kashmir.
• `Kashmiris` right of self determination is recognised by the United Nations Security Council as well as international laws. We will continue tonght for justice for Kashmiris as they struggle against the brutal & illegal actions of the Hindutva Supremacist Indian government in IOJK,` the prime minister said in a tweet.

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4. Punjab provincial minister resigns, CM accepts

• In the aftermath of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Lahore visit last, Punjab Minister for Wildlife and Fisheries Malik Asad Ali Khokar resigned from his position on July 19, 2020 afternoon citing personal reasons.
• Many believe the minister was forced to resign but Mr Khokar insisted that he relinquished his ministerial portfolio because he wanted to focus more on his constituency. “I was finding it hard to look after my constituency due to official responsibilities”, he said. Sources, however, said he was removed because of his poor performance as minister

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5. EU virus recovery summit struggles to find accord

• An EU summit to agree a huge coronavirus economic rescue package was at risk of collapse without a deal on July 19, 2020 as bickering leaders struggled to find compromises on a third day of talks.
• The 27 leaders have argued for more than two days over the scale and rules for the package, with the Netherlands leading a band of `frugal` allies in demanding lower budgets and tougher conditions for handouts.
• At the start of what she said was probably the `decisive` third day of the extraordinary summit, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said there were still many divisions among the leaders.

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6. First trial begins in Italy over `migrant pushback` to Libya

• The captain of an Italian flagged ship is to be tried for allegedly forcing migrants back to Libya, in the first such case in Italy, documents show.
• The Asso 28 supply ship picked up 101 migrants near an oil and gas rig in international waters, before taking them to the port of Tripoli and handing them over to the Libyan coast guard, according to prosecutors in Naples.
• The captain and a representative of the Augusta Offshore company that owns the ship are accused of violating international laws that forbid the forced return of people to countries where they or their rights are at risk

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7. Explosion hits Iran`s thermal power plant

• An explosion hit a power plant in the central Iranian province of Isfahan on July 19, 2020, state news agency IRNA reported, saying it was triggered by faulty equipment and caused no casualties.
• A `worn out transformer… at Isfahan`s Islamabad thermal power plant exploded at around 5am today, the managing director of Isfahan`s electricity company Said Mohseni told the agency.
• The facility returned to normal working conditions after about two hours and Isfahan`s power supply was uninterrupted, he added.

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8. China blasts dam to release floodwaters, 1.8m evacuated

• Authorities in central China blasted a dam on July 19, 2020 to release surging waters behind it amid widespread flooding across the country that has claimed scores of lives.
• State broadcaster CCTV reported the dam on the Chuhe River in Anhui province was destroyed with explosives early on Sunday morning, after which the water level was expected to drop by 70 centimeters (more than 2 feet).
• Water levels on many rivers, including the mighty Yangtze, have been unusually high this year because of torrential rains.

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9. Syrians vote for new parliament amid war, economic turmoil

• Syrians go to the polls July 19, 2020 to elect a new parliament as the Damascus government grapples with international sanctions and a crumbling economy after retaking large parts of the war-torn country.
• More than 7,400 polling stations will open at 7.30am (0430 GMT) in government-held parts of Syria, including for the first time in former opposition strongholds.
• President Bashar al-Assad’s Baath party and its allies are expected to take most of parliament’s 250 seats in the third such polls to be held since the war started nine years ago.

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10. Hamilton wins in Hungary to take championship lead

• A masterful Lewis Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix in dominant style and for a record eighth time on July 19, 2020 to wrest the Formula One championship lead from Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas.
• Max Verstappen took second for Red Bull, the Dutch youngster awarded ‘drive of the day’ after crashing on the way to the grid in early drama that had his mechanics scrambling to fix the damage before the start. Bottas, now five points behind Hamilton after three races, finished a close third after battling back from a botched start off the front row. Hamilton’s 86th career victory, from his 90th pole position and collecting a bonus point at the end for fastest lap, left the six-times world champion five short of Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of 91 wins.

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