19th November, 2021 Current Affairs
NATIONAL
Vice President, PM pay tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary
- Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu today paid tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary. In a tweet, Mr Naidu said, she will be remembered for her contribution to nation-building.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi today paid tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her birth anniversary.
Government has decided to repeal all three farm laws, says PM Modi
The Government has decided to repeal all three farm laws.
- The laws will be repealed in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.
- The three laws were in farmers' benefit but Government couldn't convince a section of farmers despite best efforts.
- The goal of three farm laws was to empower farmers, especially the small farmers. He appealed to protesting farmers to call off their agitation and return to their homes.
Guru Nanak Jayanti: Check Date and More Details!
- Guru Nanak Jayanti or Gurpurab is being celebrated with religious fervour across India and the world today. It marks the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak DevJi, who laid the foundation of Sikhism. This year marks the 552nd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak DevJi.
- On this day, devotees around the world offer prayers. The Golden temple in Amritsar celebrates Gurpurab with much aplomb. In his Mann Ki Baat program, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that he is deeply inspired by the noble ideals of Guru Nanak Dev. Prime Minister Modi said, the world over, the influence of Guru Nanak Devji is distinctly visible.
INTERNATIONAL
India gets re-elected to UNESCO Executive Board
- On November 17, 2021, India was re-elected to the executive board of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) for the term of 2021-2025.
- India was re-elected with 164 votes.
- Among Group IV Asian & Pacific States, Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, Cook Islands and China were also elected.
- UNESCO Executive Board is one among the three constitutional organs of the UN agency. It is elected by the General Conference. The board acts under the authority of General Conference. It examines the programme of work for organisation and corresponding budget estimates, which is submitted by Director-General. The board comprises of 58 member-states, each having a four-year term of office.
US considering diplomatic boycott of 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in China
US President Joe Biden has said that his administration is considering a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.
- Asked about the possibility of the boycott during an Oval Office meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, Biden responded that it is something we are considering. Under a diplomatic boycott, the US will not send an official government delegation to the Games but will still allow US athletes to compete.
- Human rights advocates have been urging countries to hold China accountable for its record on human rights by skipping the Games, calling the Beijing Olympics the genocide games. Chinese government officials have warned of a robust Chinese response to any potential boycotts.
Lawmakers in Pakistan approve new anti-rape legislation
Lawmakers in Pakistan approved on Wednesday new anti-rape legislation that would allow speedy convictions and severe sentences, including chemical castration, for rapists.
- The bill is a response to a public outcry against a recent surge in incidents of rape of women and children in the country and growing demands for effectively stemming the crime.
- The government will be required to establish special courts across Pakistan to expedite trials of rape suspects and decide cases of sexual abuse expeditiously, preferably within four months.
- Under the bill, a nationwide register of sex offenders will also be maintained with the help of the National Database and Registration Authority.
- Those found guilty of gang rape will be sentenced to death or imprisoned for the rest of their lives, and repeat offenders could be subjected to chemical castration.
- Critics say fewer than 4 per cent of sexual assault or rape cases in Pakistan result in a conviction.
- The circumstances often discourage women from seeking justice for fear of being shamed or persecuted by police or even their own relatives in the largely conservative Pakistani society.
UN adopts consensus resolution on Rohingyas and other minorities in Myanmar
The UN General Assembly third committee adopted a consensus resolution asking to ensure accountability for human rights violations against the Rohingya and other minorities in Myanmar. The resolution jointly sponsored by the European Union (EU) and Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) called for structural reforms to address the root cause of discrimination against the minorities in the country. A total of 107 countries co-sponsored the resolution which is the highest since 2017.
- The resolution calls on Myanmar to lift restrictions on providing access to UN human rights representatives all over the country including in the conflict areas. The resolution commends Bangladesh for hosting the Rohingyas and for providing humanitarian assistance to them.
- Bangladesh permanent representative to the UN Rabab Fatima called the adoption of the Rohingya resolution for the first time by consensus as demonstration of the international community’s strong resolve to end the crisis.
WTO needs to reassess the way it has been conducting its affairs: Union Minister Piyush Goyal
The WTO needs to reassess the way it has been conducting its affairs. Pointing out that certain countries don’t give market access equitably and openly, and extend hidden subsidies
- The developed countries should do more and meet their obligations such as providing clean and green technology to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and achieve Climate goals and meet the needs of billions of people.
- The world is looking at India’s contribution to Innovation and Sustainability. He said India is a land of disruptive ideas and our industries will play a critical role in growing our global footprint as we undertake bold reforms for achieving aggressive targets.
WHO Global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2025
World Health Organisation, Global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025
World Health Organisation (WHO) published the 4th edition of Global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025.
- As per the report, South-East Asia Region achieved the fastest rate of decline in use of tobacco. Average prevalence of smoking among men decreased to 25% in 2020, as against 50% in 2000.
- In South-East Region, tobacco smoking among women decreased from 8.9% in 2000 to 1.6% in the year 2020.
- India and Nepal are the countries, which is likely to achieve 30% relative reduction in tobacco use in order to meet Global NCD action target plan by 2025.
- WHO report highlights that, if tobacco control efforts continues with the current level, smoking rates in this region can reach as low as 11% in 2025. It will be the second lowest Regional average rate after Africa, that is 7.5% in 2025.
- The South-East Asia Region has highest rates of tobacco use, that is 29 percent of the population. It accounts for 432 million users.
- This region is also the home to 266 million smokeless tobacco users out of 355 million across the globe.
- As per the report, South-East Asia Region achieved the fastest rate of decline in use of tobacco. Average prevalence of smoking among men decreased to 25% in 2020, as against 50% in 2000.
- In South-East Region, tobacco smoking among women decreased from 8.9% in 2000 to 1.6% in the year 2020.
- India and Nepal are the countries, which is likely to achieve 30% relative reduction in tobacco use in order to meet Global NCD action target plan by 2025.
- WHO report highlights that, if tobacco control efforts continues with the current level, smoking rates in this region can reach as low as 11% in 2025. It will be the second lowest Regional average rate after Africa, that is 7.5% in 2025.
- The South-East Asia Region has highest rates of tobacco use, that is 29 percent of the population. It accounts for 432 million users.
- This region is also the home to 266 million smokeless tobacco users out of 355 million across the globe.
Kenya enacts new refugee bill; Check details
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed into law a new refugee bill that allows asylum seekers easier access to education, and opportunities to integrate and earn a living. It comes just six months before a planned shutdown by the authorities of two camps housing more than half a million refugees.
- The authorities say the camps have been used as breeding grounds for terrorists blamed for some of the worst attacks on Kenyan soil. Kenya has been in a protracted struggle with the UN refugee agency over plans to shut down the Kakuma and Daadab refugee camps that for decades, have been home to half a million refugees mainly from Somalia and South Sudan.
- In September, the President rejected an earlier bill that sought to compel the state to provide housing and social amenities to refugees at special transit centres.
Bilateral
India, China agree to find early resolution to remaining issues along LAC in Eastern Ladakh
India and China have agreed to find an early resolution to the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control, LAC in Eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols so as to restore peace and tranquility. The two sides also agreed to ensure a stable ground situation and avoid any untoward incident.
- Accordingly, the two sides had candid and in-depth discussions on the situation along the LAC in Western Sector of India-China Border Areas and also reviewed the developments since the last meeting of the Senior Commanders of both sides which was held on 10th October last month.
- It was agreed that both sides should hold the next 14th round of the Senior Commanders meeting at an early date to achieve the objective of complete disengagement from all the friction points along the LAC in the Western Sector in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements and protocols.
U.S. remains India’s biggest trading partner: Consul General Judith Ravin
- The US Consul General in Chennai Judith Ravin has said that the United States remains India’s biggest trading partner with trade increasing from approximately 20 billion US dollars in 2001 to 145 billion dollors in 2019. She was addressing the members of the United States India Business Council after the opening up of the India US Tech Conclave as part of the Bengaluru Tech Summit.
- She noted that the US-India bilateral relationship continues to expand from collaboration on mitigating the impacts of Covid 19 and climate change to space exploration. She said that both countries have joint commitment towards a free and open Indo-Pacific region. She disclosed that US Trade representative Katherine Tai will be in New Delhi on November 22 to hold discussion with Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on expanding bilateral trade.
Science & Technology
Researchers at IISc Bengaluru identify blood-based biomarkers
The researchers at the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru have analysed tumour and blood samples in persons with brain tumour. The study published in Onco Immunology has identified potential blood based biomarkers that can predict the disease progression in persons with brain tumour.
- The study suggests that the blood based biomarkers present in the immune cells can be used by the clinicians to understand the disease progression.
- Based on the observation of the biomarkers the doctors may choose a more effective treatment regimen. The study found that M2 monocytes were present in larger numbers in the samples collected in persons with grade four acute tumours. The future studies could focus on developing therapies that reduce the numbers of M2 monocytes in the tumour micro environment.