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Current Affairs - 21 October 2020

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1. National Police commemoration Day is observed on October 21
  • Every year National Police commemoration Day is observed on October 21. The day is observed to pay homage to the CRPF personnel who lost their lives during an ambush by the Chinese troops in 1959 in the hot spring area of Ladakh region.
  • On October 21 1959, at a height of 10500 feet, a small CRPF petrol was ambushed by the Chinese army. The Chinese army threw grenades and opened fire at twenty CRPF personnel. 7 were taken as prisoners and ten of them died. The day is commemorated to honour these personnel. Since 1961, around 33000 police personal have sacrificed their life in their service to the country.
  • In order to honour the police personnel, police commemoration parade is held at the National Police Memorial located in in Chanakya Puri. This is being conducted since 2012.
Foot Notes:
About CRPF:
Headquarters: New Delhi
Minister responsible: Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs
Founder: Parliament of India
Director-General: A P Maheshwari
 
2. Govt bans gas, CBM producers from buying their own produce
  • The government has banned natural gas and coal-bed methane (CBM) producers from buying their own produce in the newly notified gas marketing freedom guidelines.
  • The reforms give producers the freedom to discover the market price of gas through a standard e-bidding process. 
  • As per the notified guidelines, producers have the liberty to market or sell the gas produced to anyone including affiliates but the producer or any member of its gas field consortium cannot bid and buy the fuel.
3. Indian Vice Chief of Army visits US Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii
  • Vice Chief of Army Lt Gen SK Saini on Tuesday visited the US Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii and held talks with senior American military commanders on ways to enhance strategic cooperation between the two forces.
  • The US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), comprising over 3,75,000 military and civilian personnel, is one of the largest unified formations of the US armed forces and it is tasked to protect Washington's interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • The visit by the Vice Chief of Army Staff to the command comes in the backdrop of renewed efforts between India and the US to bolster cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, which has been witnessing growing Chinese muscle-flexing.
Foot Notes:
About US:
President: Donald Trump 
Capital: Washington, D.C.
Currency: US dollar
 
4. Kati Bihu festival celebrated across Assam
  • Assam's third Bihu festival, known as Kati Bihu or Kongali Bihu, was being celebrated across the state.
  • Assam Governor Jagadish Mukhi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal extended their prayers and best wishes to the people of the state on the occasion of Kati Bihu hoping that the festival will bring in peace and prosperity in the state, an official release said here.
  • On the occasion of Kati Bihu, women, both in urban and rural areas, try to ward off evil and pray for a rich harvest by lighting earthen lamps.
Foot Notes:
About Assam:
Capital: Dispur
Chief Minister of Assam: Sarbananda Sonowal
Governor: Prof. Jagdish Mukhi

5. Sweden bans Huawei, ZTE from 5G, calls China biggest threat
  • Sweden is banning Chinese tech companies Huawei and ZTE from building new high-speed wireless networks after a top security official called China one of the country’s biggest threats.
  • The Swedish telecom regulator said that four wireless carriers bidding for frequencies in an upcoming spectrum auction for the new 5G networks must not use equipment from Huawei or ZTE.
  • Wireless carriers that plan to use existing telecommunications infrastructure for 5G networks must also rip out any existing gear from Huawei or ZTE, the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority said.
Foot Notes:
About Sweden:
Capital: Stockholm
Currency: Swedish krona
Prime Minister: Stefan Löfven
 
6. IDBI Bank launches banking services on WhatsApp
  • IDBI Bank announced the launch of banking services on WhatsApp.
  • The WhatsApp Banking service is being offered through a dedicated WhatsApp verified number ensuring end-to-end encryption, the Bank stated.
  • The facility will enable IDBI Bank customers to avail various essential services such as account balance information, last five transactions, request for a cheque book and an email statement, interest rates, as well as details of IDBI Bank branches/ATMs in the vicinity, to begin with.
Foot Notes:
About IDBI Bank:
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
CEO: Rakesh Sharma
 
7. UAE delegation reaches Israel for first time in history
  • In an historic first visit by a Gulf Arab nation, a United Arab Emirates delegation reached Israel.
  • It was accompanied by top US officials to cement the normalisation of ties between the two nations.
  • As part of the US-brokered deal, four agreements were signed relating to investment, scientific cooperation, civil aviation and visa exemptions, during the visit.
Foot Notes:
About UAE:
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham
President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
 
8. Uttar Pradesh Governor launches Safe City Project, a women's safety campaign, in Lucknow
  • Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel inaugurated the 'Safe City Project'. It is a 180-day-long campaign under which the police and other departments will work towards the safety of women.
  • The Governor flagged off 100 pink scooties and 10 four-wheeler police vehicles as part of the campaign.
  • Lucknow is among eight cities in the country selected for the 'Safe City Project'.
  • The central government has approved the project for Lucknow at a total cost of Rs 194 crore with an aim to strengthen security of women in public places.
  • The projects will be financed under Nirbhaya Fund at a cost of INR 2919.55 Crores.
Foot Notes:
About Uttar Pradesh:
Governor: Anandiben Patel
Capital: Lucknow
Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
 
9. Elavenil wins gold, Shahu Mane silver in Sheikh Russel International Air Rifle Championship
  • World number one Indian Elavenil Valarivan won a gold medal and Shahu Tushar Mane bagged a silver in the Sheikh Russel International Air Rifle Championship. The championship was organised by Bangladesh Shooting Sport Federation (BSSF).
  • In the 60-shot competition in which shooters from six nations participated, including hosts Bangladesh and India, Elavenil shot a modest 627.5 to come out on top.
  • Shiori Hirata won the silver with 622.6, while Indonesian Vidya Toyyiba took the bronze with 621.1.
  • Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju Attends Y20 Summit Virtually.
Foot Notes:
About Bangladesh:
Capital: Dhaka
Currency: Bangladeshi taka
Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
 
10. Founder of UAE state-run WAM news agency dies at 78
  • Ibrahim al-Abed, the founder of the United Arab Emirates’ state-run WAM news agency and a pioneering media figure as the oil-rich nation grew into a regional power died. He was 78.
  • Al-Abed long served as the head of the country’s National Media Council, a government regulatory body. He also was a de facto government spokesman, with his phone number the first rang by foreign journalists for decades as Abu Dhabi and Dubai grew into the skyscraper-studded cities they are today.
Foot Notes:
About UAE:
Capital: Abu Dhabi
Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham
President: Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
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