Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 17-08-2020

Useful compilation of Civil Services oriented - Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 17-08-2020

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. COVID-19 – 2,94,000 in 24 hours is highest global increase in cases: WHO – The WHO has reported that the number of confirmed global coronavirus cases has increased by more than 2,94,000 in 24 hours — the highest figure so far. More than 21 million people are known to have been infected with the virus globally. More than 7,71,000 people have died. The highest death toll has been reported by US at almost 1,70,000, out of more than 5 million cases. The US added 47,813 cases. Deaths topped 1,000 for the fifth consecutive day. South Korea reported 279 new cases in the highest daily jump since the 367 cases reported on March 8. Meanwhile, Victoria, the epicenter of Australia’s outbreak, extended a state of emergency till September 13 as the death toll from the disease surpassed 300.
2. COVID-19 – U.S. FDA nod for rapid, inexpensive saliva test – In what could prove a game-changer in the global battle against COVID-19, a new, rapid diagnostic test for the novel coronavirus that uses saliva samples was granted an emergency use authorisation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on August 15. The inexpensive test, called SalivaDirect, has high sensitivity and can detect the virus even when the number of virus copies in the saliva sample is as low as 6-12 copies per microlitre. In contrast, tests using nasopharyngeal swabs lead to false negative results due to errors at the time of sample collection. The sensitivity of the new test was about 93%.
3. World – Pentagon to set up task force under US Navy to investigate UFO sightings – The Pentagon said it was setting up a new task force under the US Navy to investigate UFO sightings. With the creation of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), the Defense Department hopes "to improve its understanding of, and gain insight into, the nature and origins of UAPs." Rather than little green alien invaders, the US military is actually concerned about "unidentified aerial phenomena" connected with its terrestrial adversaries. Washington is particularly concerned about China's spying capabilities, using drones or other airborne means. The Pentagon take "any incursions by unauthorized aircraft into our training ranges or designated airspace very seriously and examine each report.” The US Senate intelligence committee in June said it wanted to regulate a Pentagon UFO program, confirming the existence of an informal working group which was revealed by the New York Times in 2017. In December 2017, the Pentagon acknowledged funding the secret multi-million-dollar program to investigate sightings of UFOs, although it said it had ended in 2012.
4. COVID-19 – ‘India hit 50k toll in 156 days, US in 23’ – Fewer patients are dying in India from Covid-19 compared to the rest of the world as the fatality rate continues to decline, touching 1.9% , health ministry said even as deaths due to the disease have crossed 50,000. USA crossed 50,000 deaths in 23 days, Brazil in 95 days and Mexico in 141 days. India took 156 days to reach this national figure. Data shows case fatality rate in other countries including Italy (14%), Mexico (10.9%), Iran (5.7%), Indonesia (4.4%), Brazil (3.2%), US (3.2%) and Chile (2.7%) as much higher than of India. While death rate due to Covid-19 has witnessed a steady decline from 3.3% in mid-June to below 2% in mid- August, the recovery rate is also rising constantly to reach 72% as over 18.6 lakh patients have recovered.
5. World – India dispatches over 30 tonnes of technical equipment to help Mauritius contain oil spill – India has dispatched over 30 tonnes of technical equipment and material on board an Indian Air Force (IAF) Aircraft to Mauritius to help the island nation deal with the oil spill on its south-east coast. The MEA said that the Mauritius government had requested assistance in dealing with the environmental crisis after a Japanese bulk carrier MV Wakashio struck a coral reef off the coast in late July resulting in an oil spill of over 1,000 tonnes into the Indian Ocean. On August 15, Mauritian authorities said the ship broke apart in two pieces.
6. Society – Govt. may review the age of marriage: PM – The government may re-look at the age of marriage of women in its bid to fight malnutrition, PM Modi said in his Independence Day speech. This follows from Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget Speech on February 1, 2020, when a task force was proposed to look into the “age of a girl entering motherhood” in order to lower maternal mortality rates and improve nutrition levels. A study showed that children born to adolescent mothers (10-19 years) were 5 percentage points more likely to be stunted (shorter for their age) than those born to young adults (20-24 years), and 11 percentage points more stunted than children born to adult mothers. Children born to adolescent mothers also had 10 percentage points higher prevalence of low weight as adult mothers.
7. Economy – NREGS work demand slows, gives hope against blowout – Even as MGNREGA continues to turn over record performance in the pandemic year as compared to previous financials, the demand for work has actually dipped over the last two months after the initial sharp spike. The “work demand from households” under the job scheme is a significant parameter of employment needs on the ground. The households that are provided actual employment is much less. According to the scheme performance, 3.08 crore households sought work in July while the figure stood at 4.07 crore in June. By mid-August, 1.48 crore households have demanded work, which is in line with the July trend. This is in contrast with the graph for April and May. As many as 3.33 crore households sought work in May which was part of the rise following the opening up.
8. Economy – Self-reliant Bharat to see SEZs in rural areas, says PM – PM Modi made the call for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ the central theme of his seventh Independence Day speech, seeking to pitch the country as a manufacturing hub, with “Make for World” as the mantra so that that local value additions help the country make the switch from a supplier of natural resources and raw materials and importer of finished products. On Saturday, the PM indicated that the government intends to integrate rural industry and the farm sector into the overall strategy, promising to set up special economic zones in rural areas.
9. Economy – Coronavirus: Japan suffers its biggest economic slump on record – The Japanese economy has shrunk at its fastest rate on record as it battles the coronavirus pandemic. The world’s third largest economy saw gross domestic product fall 7.8% in April-June from the previous quarter, or 27.8% on an annualised basis. Japan was already struggling with low economic growth before the crisis.
10. World – Indian Tricolour Hoisted for First Time at New York's Times Square in Historic I-Day Celebrations – For the first time, the tricolour was hoisted at the iconic Times Square in New York on Saturday to celebrate India's 74th Independence Day. India’s Consul General in New York, Randhir Jaiswal hoisted the Indian flag during a special commemoration of the Independence Day at Times Square, organised by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), the leading umbrella diaspora organisation in the US. Addressing the gathering, Jaiswal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outlined India's way forward and the aspirations to build a new India, and “we are committed to taking our country forward on the basis of those aspirations.”

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	EdCIL  Ltd	Project Manager, Consultant	12	B.E/ B.Tech, PG , Ph.D	AUG-23-2020	http://www.edcilindia.co.in/Default/ViewFile/?id=1597318937998_Detailed%20requirement%20for%20post%20-%20e-Vidya%20-%20TSG_2.pdf&path=TCareer
2	IIOR	Jr Research Fellow, Project Asst	8	Degree M.S,with NET	AUG-19-2020	http://icar-iior.org.in/media/docs/employment/2020/dbt-niger.pdf
3	IIOR	Research Associate, Jr Research Fellow, Project Asst	11	B.Sc, M.Sc, Ph.D	AUG-19-2020	http://icar-iior.org.in/media/docs/employment/2020/dbt-saff.pdf
4	North East Frontier Railway	Act Apprentice	4499	10th Class, ITI	SEPT-15-2020	http://www.freejobalert.com/north-frontier-railway/39257/#Act-Apprentice-2020
5	Tezpur University	District Level Financial Management Specialist	21	M.Com	AUG 28,2020	http://www.tezu.ernet.in/notice/2020/August/Web_Notification_Revised_10_August_2020.pdf
6	Bihar Police	Constable (Sports Quota)	120	12th Class	AUG-24-2020	http://biharpolice.bih.nic.in/recruitment/RECRUITMENT-SPORTS-CONSTABLE-02-2020.pdf
7	Bihar Police	Sub Inspector (Sports Quota)	20	Any Degree	AUG-24-2020	http://biharpolice.bih.nic.in/recruitment/RECRUITMENT-SPORTS-SI-01-2020.pdf

 

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• SECTION 2 - DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

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• 1. CONSTITUTION AND LAW (Prelims, GS Paper 2, Essay paper)

1.1 Not Available Today

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• 2. ECONOMY (Prelims, GS Paper 3, Essay paper

2.1 Trump issues orders banning TikTok and WeChat from operating in 45 days if they are not sold by Chinese parent companies

• Key point -  

1. President Trump has issued executive orders that would ban the social media app TikTok and WeChat from operating in the US in 45 days if they are not sold by their Chinese-owned parent companies.

• Highlights – 

1. The twin executive orders cited national security concerns.
2. The orders will bar any transactions with WeChat or TikTok by any person or involving any property subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
3. The order would exclude any contract entered into before the 45 days elapse, opening up a possible reprieve for TikTok, which is in talks to be acquired by Microsoft.
4. Tensions between the United States and China have already escalated to levels not seen in decades, over rifts in geopolitics, technology, and trade.
5. In the announcement, President Donald Trump accused WeChat, made by Tencent, and TikTok, made by ByteDance, of providing a channel for the Chinese Communist Party to obtain Americans’ proprietary information, keep tabs on Chinese citizens abroad and carry out disinformation campaigns to benefit China’s interest.
6. Much remains unclear about the scope of the ban, including precisely which transactions would be severed. But it appears to have even more severe consequences for WeChat than for TikTok, which is already in talks with an American suitor.
7. The order comes in the middle of talks between TikTok and at least three other American companies, including Microsoft, regarding a potential acquisition of TikTok’s business.
8. The threat of an outright ban on transactions is a serious blow for ByteDance and Zhang Yiming, the company’s chief executive, whose goal for years has been to connect the world through his various consumer apps.
9. Nicknamed the “app factory” in China, ByteDance is home to more than 20 apps, including personal financial apps and productivity programs.
10. But TikTok has far and away been the crown jewel of ByteDance’s portfolio. Used by more than 800 million people globally, TikTok grew popular for its short, catchy videos that spread quickly and virally over social media channels. 

2.2 Weekly Round-up – Banking and Finance

• RBI provides additional monetary support to housing, rural and priority sectors - The Reserve Bank of India has announced a set of additional developmental and regulatory policy measures on August 6, 2020 to improve flow of money and provide further support to the financial system, in the wake of COVID-19. Here is a summary of the announcements.
• You can now borrow more against Gold and Jewellery - To mitigate impact of COVID-19 on ordinary citizens, RBI has decided to allow loans for non-agricultural purposes, against gold and jewellery, to be granted up to 90 per cent of the pledged value of gold ornaments and jewellery. This relaxation of the limit, up from current limit of 75%, shall be available till March 31, 2021.
• Sharper Focus on Inclusive Development, through greater Priority Sector Lending - Banks will now be incentivized to address regional disparities in flow of priority sector lending. The weightage given for fresh credit given to priority sectors will be adjusted based on current credit flow of districts. Start-ups too will now get this type of credit support; green energy sectors will now get higher lending under the framework.
• Additional credit support for housing and rural sectors - A special liquidity facility of ₹ 5,000 crore is being provided to National Housing Bank, to improve fund flow to the housing sector. A ₹ 5,000 crore fund has been earmarked for NABARD too, to improve fund availability for Non-Banking Finance Companies and Micro Finance Institutions.
• Relieving stress of borrowers - To address the heightened debt burdens being faced by borrowing firms, RBI has decided to enable lenders to implement a debt resolution plan for eligible corporate debts as well as personal loans. This shall be done without any change in ownership, while classifying such exposures as standard assets, subject to specified conditions. An Expert Committee chaired by K. V. Kamath is being constituted to make recommendations on the parameters for such debt resolution plans. Other members of the committee are former SBI executive Diwakar Gupta, current Canara Bank chairman TN Manoharan, consultant Ashvin Parekh and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) CEO Sunil Mehta.
• Further support for MSME sector - In addition to the debt restructuring framework in place for MSMEs, RBI has announced that stressed MSME borrowers will be made eligible for restructuring their debt under existing framework, provided their accounts with the concerned lender were classified as standard as on March 1, 2020. This restructuring will have to be implemented by March 31, 2021.
• Reduced Capital Charge for Market Risk - The capital charge on banks for holding Mutual Fund /Exchange Traded Fund will be brought in harmony with the charge for directly holding a debt instrument. The Governor has said that this will result in substantial capital savings for banks and boost the corporate bond market.
• Banks get more flexibility in managing liquidity and cash reserves - RBI is introducing an automated mechanism in e-Kuber system, its core banking solution, to provide banks more flexibility/discretion in managing their liquidity and maintenance of cash reserve requirements.
• Safeguards to bring in better credit discipline - RBI is bringing in safeguards for opening of current accounts and cash credit (CC)/overdraft (OD) accounts, for borrowers availing credit facilities from multiple banks. This has been done in view of the concerns emanating from use of multiple operating accounts by borrowers.
• Powering Responsible Financial Innovation - RBI will set up an Innovation Hub in India, to further promote and facilitate an environment that can accelerate innovation across the financial sector.
• Cheque Payments to be Safer - To improve safety of cheque payments, a mechanism of Positive Pay is going to be introduced, for all cheques of value ₹ 50,000 and above. This will cover approximately 20 per cent of total cheques, and 80 per cent of total cheques by value.
• Monetary Policy Review: RBI leaves interest rates unchanged - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on August 6, 2020 opted for a status quo and left interest rates unchanged, but maintained an accommodative stance. The benchmark repo rate was left unchanged at 4%, Governor Shaktikanta Das said while announcing the decisions taken by the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Consequently, the reverse repo rate will also continue to earn 3.35% for banks for their parked deposits kept with the RBI. Repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends to commercial banks, and reverse repo is the rate at which it borrows from them.
• Liquidator’s fee to ‘depend’ on the work done: IBBI - A liquidator can claim fees only on the basis of the amount of work they have done during the liquidation process of a company, be it in terms of the amount realised or distributed, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) said in a notification on August 5, 2020. When a company goes into liquidation under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), generally, the committee of creditors (CoC) appoints a liquidator and decides on a fixed fee to be paid for their services. However, in the absence of a fixed fee, IBBI regulations stipulate the liquidator’s fee as a percentage of the amount realised and distributed through the liquidation process. To address uncertainties in such cases involving multiple liquidators, the IBBI has amended the liquidation process regulations.

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• 3. ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY (Prelims, GS Paper 3, Essay paper)

3.1 Not Available Today

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• 4. FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Prelims, GS Paper 2, Essay paper)

4.1 Lukashenko wins Belarus election marred by protests

• Key point –

1. The Opposition in Belarus rejected official election results handing President Alexander Lukashenko a landslide re-election victory on Monday (August 10), saying the poll was rigged and that talks needed to begin on a peaceful transfer of power.
2. Earlier, the central election commission said Mr. Lukashenko, in power for more than a quarter of a century, won 80% of the vote in Sunday’s election, while Svetlana Tikhanouskaya, who emerged from obscurity to become his main rival, took just 9.9%.

• Elections since 1995 –

1. Foreign observers have not judged an election to be free and fair in Belarus since 1995, and the run-up to the vote saw authorities jail Mr. Lukashenko’s rivals and open criminal investigations into others who voiced opposition.
2. Events are being closely watched by Russia, whose oil exports run through Belarus to the West and which has long regarded the country as a buffer zone against NATO, and the West, which has tried to lure Minsk from Moscow’s orbit.
3. The streets in the capital and other cities were quiet after violence on Sunday night, when riot police used force to disperse thousands of protesters who had gathered to denounce what they said was an electoral farce.
4. Ms. Tikhanouskaya told reporters that she considered herself the election winner. She said the poll had been massively rigged.
5. Her campaign rallies have drawn some of the biggest crowds since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
6. The Opposition now wants a vote recount at polling stations where there were problems, her aides said, adding that protests which turned bloody on Sunday, would continue. They said they were ready to hold talks with authorities.
7. There was no immediate response to that offer from Mr. Lukashenko, a former Soviet collective farm manager who has ruled Belarus since 1994.
8. Once dubbed Europe’s last dictator by Washington, he faces his biggest challenge in years to keep his grip on power amid discontent over his handling of the economy, COVID-19, and human rights abuses. But Mr. Lukashenko signalled that he would not step down.

• EU condemns violence –

1. The European Union’s foreign policy chief and its commissioner for enlargement said the election had been marred by “disproportionate and unacceptable state violence against peaceful protesters”.
2. Rights groups say more than 1,300 people were also detained in the pre-election crackdown, including independent election observers and members of Ms. Tikhanouskaya’s campaign team.

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• 5. GOVERNMENT SCHEMES (Prelims, GS Paper 2, GS Paper 3)

5.1 Not Available Today

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Weekly Round – Defence

• Defence ministry approves procurement of weapons and basic trainer aircraft worth Rs. 8,722 crore -

1. In a move to boost 'Atma Nirbhar Bharat' initiative of the government, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved acquisitions of various indigenous military equipment and platforms required by the Indian Armed Forces worth Rs 8,722.38 crore.
2. Important details –
3. The DAC approved procurement of 106 basic trainer aircraft from state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to address the basic training requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
4. The defence council also approved procurement of an upgraded version of Super Rapid Gun Mount (SRGM) which is fitted as the main gun onboard Navy and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) warships from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).
5. The upgraded version of SRGM has enhanced capability to perform against fast manoeuvring targets like missiles and Fast Attack Crafts and increase the maximum engagement range.
6. Besides, the DAC also approved procurement of 125 mm Armour Piercing Fin Stabilised Discarding Sabot (APFSDS) ammunition for Indian Army as a 'design and development case'.
7. The ammunition being procured will have 70 per cent indigenous content.
8. It also gave approvals that are likely to speed up the procurement of AK 203 and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle upgrades.
9. In July 2020, the DAC had signed a Rs 557 crore deal with state-owned Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) for procurement of 1,512 mine ploughs for Tank T-90 S/SK. The contract has Buy and Make (Indian) categorisation with a minimum of 50 per cent indigenous content in make portion of the contract.

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launches Naval Innovation and Indigenisation Organisation (NIIO) to foster self-reliance in defence production.
• Indian Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel ‘Sarthak’ launched; built by Goa Shipyard.

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Awards and Honours

• Gallantry Awards –

1. President approved 84 awards and decorations to the Armed Forces personnel and members of the Paramilitary Forces. 
2. The awards include one Kirti Chakra, nine Shaurya Chakras, five Bar to Sena Medals (Gallantry), 60 Sena Medals (Gallantry), four Nao Sena Medals (Gallantry)and five Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). 
3. Kirti Chakra, country’s second highest peacetime gallantry award was awarded posthumously to Abdul Rashid Kalas, Head Constable, J&K Police.
4. Shaurya Chakra is the third highest peacetime gallantry award while Ashok Chakra is the highest peacetime gallantry award 

• Police Awards – 

1. A total of 926 Police personnel has been awarded Medals. 
2. Police Medals for Gallantry (PMG) have been awarded to 215 police personnel for their conspicuous gallant action.
3. President’s Police Medals for Distinguished Service has been awarded to 80 police personnel. 
4. Police Medal for Meritorious Service awarded to 631 police personnel.

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• 8. SOCIAL ISSUES (Prelims, GS Paper 1, GS Paper 2)

8.1 International Youth Day 2020

• Key Point –  

1. International Youth Day was designated by the United Nations (UN) in the year 1999, in an attempt to raise awareness regarding the cultural and legal issue concerning youth.
2. The first IYD was observed on 12 August 2000 and has been observed annually ever since.
3. In 1999, the General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made the ‘World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth’, and subsequently International Youth Day came to be celebrated annually.
4. From the Covid-19 pandemic that has brought the world to a standstill, to the Black Lives Matter Movement – the youth, globally, is unabashedly representing their ideologies and beliefs for better living and societal conditions.
5. In observance of the day, the UN has launched a social media campaign, #31DaysOfYouth, that is celebrating young people all throughout the month of August, leading up to and following International Youth Day.
6. It is meant to spread awareness and initiate conversations surrounding ‘Youth Engagement for Global Action’.

• Highlights –

1. This day is meant to signify and highlight the importance of young people, not just as a future generation, but also as the current driving force of change in the world.
2. Various activities like concerts, workshops, cultural events and meetings are organised to engage the youth and in order to bring their voices, actions, and initiatives to the mainstream.
3. This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the UN is commemorating IYD with a podcast-style discussion that will be hosted by the youth for the youth.

• Theme –

1. The theme for 2020 is ‘Youth Engagement for Global Action’, and this has never been of more significance, than during the current conditions.
2. The theme seeks to shed light on “the ways in which the engagement of young people at the local, national and global levels is enriching national and multilateral institutions and processes.”
3. It highlights the importance of the influence that youth can have over where the future is headed and how their political and social involvement can aid in creating better, more sustainable policies for the world as a whole.

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• 9. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (Prelims, GS Paper 3)

9.1 Weekly Round-up

• NHAI signs MoU with IIT Delhi for setting up CoE on use of AI - The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on August 6, 2020 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi to set up a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Use of Artificial Intelligence in Data Driven decision making and Advance Data Management System for Highways.
• Serum Institute gets DGCI’s nod for Phase-2 and 3 trials of Oxford’s Covid vaccine - The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given approval to Serum Institute of India, Pune to conduct second and third phase clinical trials of the Oxford University-Astra Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine Covishield, a health ministry statement said.
• 2 U.S. astronauts return to earth from ISS in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon “Endeavor” - U.S. astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, who flew to the International Space Station in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon “Endeavor”, splashed down in the capsule in the Gulf of Mexico on August 2, 2020 after a two-month voyage that was NASA’s first crewed mission from home soil in nine years. They had undocked from ISS on August 1.”

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• 10. FACTS, CHARTS, RANKINGS and EDITORIALS (Prelims + GS Mains)

10.1 Not Available Today

10.2 Daily dose of  FIVE Facts -

• Maharashtra announced that it had decided to scrap the pension scheme for those who fought against the Emergency (1975-77).
• The World Day Against Trafficking in Persons was observed on July 30.
• Paytm is acquiring general insurance company Raheja QBE.
• IOC will set up terminal to import liquefied petroleum gas in Bangladesh in a joint venture with Beximco LPG.
• India has become a founding member of an Alliance for Poverty Eradication launched by the President of the UN General Assembly.

10.3 Today's best editorials to read

• We offer you 7 excellent editorials from across 10 newspapers we have scanned. 

CLICK HERE TO OPEN AND READ!

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• SECTION 3 - MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)

Solve the online quiz given, right now. Check scores, and relative performance!

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