Current Affairs: 15 November – 21 November, 2020
Delhi Government reduces wedding guests to 50
Delhi Government Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during a media briefing on November 17, 2020 announced to reduce the number of wedding guests to 50, from 200 earlier. The Government also announced that it might lockdown a few markets in the national capital in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases.
Nitish Kumar sworn-in as Bihar Chief Minister
Nitish Kumar, Chief of Janata Dal United (JDU), took oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar on November 16, 2020 for the 7th time. Kumar was administered the oath by Governor Phagu Chauhan in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and National BJP President JP Nadda at Raj Bhavan in Patna.
Bharat Biotech begins COVAXIN phase III trials
Bharat Biotech on November 16, 2020 announced the beginning of third phase of trials of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, COVAXIN. The COVAXIN clinical trials are conducted by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Chapare Virus can be transmitted from human to human: CDC
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States recently announced that the Chapare Virus can transmit from human to human. The deadly virus causes haemorrhagic fever like Ebola.
Chapare hemorrhagic fever (CHHF) is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by infection with Chapare virus. The Chapare virus is in the arenavirus family. Arenaviruses are usually spread to people through direct contact with infected rodents or indirectly through the urine or feces (droppings) of an infected rodent.
FIFA cancels U-17 Women’s World Cup 2021; India to host tournament in 2022
India will now host the U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2022. The development comes after the Bureau of FIFA Council cancelled the U-17 Women’s World Cup 2021 on November 17, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bureau has also cancelled the Women’s U-20 World Cup.
First Gaganyaan flight to be launched by end of 2021
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently announced that the first crewless Gaganyaan Flight will be launched by end of 2021. The first Gaganyaan flight was set to be launched in 2020, however, the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic delayed its launch. ISRO also looks forward to launch 2nd crewless Gaganyaan Flight in 2022.
Pakistani Court sentences jail term of 10 years to Hafiz Saeed
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Pakistan recently sentenced 10 years jail term to Hafiz Saeed, the Chief of Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD), for his involvement in two terror funding-related cases. Currently, Saeed is lodged at the Kot Lakhpat Jail, Lahore.
Oxford COVID-19 vaccine likely to be available for public by April 2021
The Oxford COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be available for general public by April 2021, as per the announcement made by Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India, on November 19, 2020. Moreover, every Indian is likely to get vaccinated by 2024 against the COVID-19 pandemic.
ICC postponed Women’s T20 World Cup 2022 to 2023
The ICC has postponed the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2022 to February 9-26, 2023. Earlier, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup was scheduled to be held in 2021; however, the tournament got postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
UK Booker Prize 2020 awarded to Douglas Stuart for his novel ‘Shuggie Bain’
UK’s Booker Prize 2020 has been awarded to British writer Douglas Stuart for his debut novel ‘Shuggie Bain’. The UK Booker Prize 2020 winner was announced virtually on November 19, 2020 during a live-streamed award ceremony in London.
ICC introduces minimum age policy, says player must be 15 years old to play international cricket
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board announced a minimum age policy for International cricket on November 19, 2020. As per the policy, a player must be at least 15-years-old to play cricket globally. The ICC Board stated that the minimum age policy has been introduced for international cricket to improve the safeguarding of players. The policy will apply to all cricketing events including ICC events, bilateral cricket and U19 cricket.
State’s consent must for Centre to extend CBI jurisdiction: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has announced that the state government’s consent is mandatory for the CBI probe in its jurisdiction as it is in tune with the principle of federalism. The higher court also added that the central government will not be allowed to extend the agency’s jurisdiction in the state without its consent. The verdict by the Supreme Court has come in the light of eight non-BJP states- Kerala, Jharkhand, Bengal, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Punjab- who withdrew general consent for CBI to probe fresh cases in the state’s jurisdiction.
Government to amend law to stop manual-sewer cleaning, make mechanised-cleaning must
The government announced two major decisions on November 19, 2020 for ending the hazardous practice of manual cleaning of septic tanks and sewer lines and making the mechanised cleaning must.
While the Ministry of Social Justice will be amending the law for making machine cleaning mandatory, a ‘Safaimitra Suraksha Challenge’ was launched by the Ministry of Urban Affairs for ensuring that no person needs to enter septic or sewer tanks.
Asia’s first solar powered Textile Mill to come up in Maharashtra’s Parbhani district
The first solar powered Textile Mill in Asia will come up in Parbhani district, Maharashtra. The Jai Bhawani women’s cooperative textile mill will become the first Solar Powered textile mill in Asia. The Chairman of Jai Bhawani Women cooperative textile mill announced on November 17, 2020 that the mill will soon operate on solar power.
Centre draws up five years plan to save vultures
The Union Government has released a five-year action plan for the conservation of vultures. They are nature’s scavengers which feed on the animal carcasses keeping the surrounding clean. The step has been taken in light of a substantial decline in the population of vultures in India. The plan released by the government includes instituting a system that will automatically remove a drug from veterinary use, such as Diclofenac which is found to be toxic for the vultures. The system implemented with the help of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) will ensure preventing the poisoning of principal food of vultures.
