Top Current Affairs of the Week (17 - 23 Oct. 2021)

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: 17 October

• International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is observed on 17th October every year across the globe to raise awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and destitution around the world, particularly in developing countries.
• Theme 2021: Building Forward Together: Ending Persistent Poverty, Respecting all People and our Planet.
• It was held in Paris, France in 1987.
• It was officially recognized by UN General Assembly in December 1992.

China- Russia holds naval drill Joint Sea 2021 in Sea of Japan

• China and Russia joint naval exercises titled as ‘Joint Sea 2021’ kicked off at Russia’s Peter the Great Gulf, in the Sea of Japan, on October 14, 2021.
• The exercise begins on October 14, 2021 and culminated on October 17, 2021.
• During the war game, combined force will practice shooting at targets designed to imitate enemy surface ships and hold air-defence drills.

India re-elected to UN Human Rights Council from 2022 to 2024

• India has been re-elected to United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for sixth term on October 14, 2021 with overwhelming majority.
• This new three year term of India will be effective from January 2022 to December 2024.
• India has received 184 votes of 193 votes cast in the election.
• The elections were held for a total of 18 seats and countries needed a minimum of 97 votes to get elected to the 47 UN member council.
• Headquarters of UNHRC: Geneva, Switzerland.

Hubble finds evidence of persistent water vapour in Jupiter’s moon ‘Europa’

• Hubble Space Telescope Observatory of NASA has revealed the presence of persistent water vapour in ‘Europa’, the icy moon of Jupiter.
• However, presence of water vapour atmosphere is found only in one hemisphere.
• It will further explore whether Europa’s atmosphere could support life.
• It is based upon Hubble observations spanning from 1999 to 2015.
• Europa reflects more sunlight than Ganymede, keeping the surface 60 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than Ganymede. 

India wins 2021 SAFF Championship final title

• India clinched the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship for eighth time defeating Nepal 3-0 in Male, Maldives.
• Sunil Chhetri scored in the 49th minute of the match, which put him level with Lionel Messi on 80 international goals.
• This is the Indian football team's first title triumph under head coach Igor Stimac.
• Stimac also became the third foreign coach after Jiri Pesek (1993) and Stephen Constantine (2015) to clinch the title with the Indian team.

India signed MoU with Russia to buy coking coal

• Ministry of Steel, GoI signed an MoU with Russian ministry of energy for collaboration in the mining and steel sectors, with special focus on coking coal.
• The move is part of India’s National Steel Policy 2017 under which the country is aiming to reach 300 million tonne steel production by 2030.
• The MoU has come at a time when India’s non-power industries are facing severe thermal coal shortage issues.
• Currently, India imports its coking coal largely from Australia. 

Center renamed ‘Mount Harriet’ in Andaman as ‘Mount Manipur’

• Union govt has renamed the Andaman and Nicobar Islands' 'Mount Harriet' as 'Mount Manipur'.
• This was done in honour of Manipur's Maharaja Kulchandra Dhwaj Singh and 22 other freedom fighters were imprisoned here.
• 'Mount Harriet National Park' renamed as 'Mount Manipur National Park’.
• Manipuri war hero Yuvraj Tikendrajit and General Thangal were publicly hanged at Fida in Imphal.
• After that Maharaja and 22 freedom fighters were sent (Kalapani) to Mount Harriet Island.

Russian Crew Lands on Earth After Filming First Movie in Space

• Russian actress Yulia Peresild and film director Klim Shipenko along with cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos returned to Earth after spending 12 days on the International Space Station (ISS) shooting scenes for the movie 'The Challenge', first movie in orbit.
• They departed the ISS in their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft.
• The filmmakers had blasted off from the Russia-leased Baikonur Cosmodrome in ex-Soviet Kazakhstan earlier this month.

Divya Deshmukh becomes India's 21st WGM

• Divya Deshmukh became India's 21st Woman Grand Master after achieving her 2nd International Master in Budapest, Hungary.
• She scored 5 points in the 9 rounds and ended up with a performance rating of 2452 to secure her final WGM norm.
• She also secured her 2nd IM-norm and is now a norm away from becoming an International Master.
• The Nagpur teenager had earned the first two WGM norms at the Velammal International women's round-robin tournament and the Aeroflot Open 2019.

China and Indonesia won Uber Cup and and Thomas Cup Respectively

• China beat defending champions Japan 3-1 in the Uber Cup final 2021.
• This is the 15th time China have won the competition.
• The match pivoted on the longest match in the Uber Cup history when Chen Qing Chan and Jia Yi Fan won their doubles match.
• Indonesia blanked defending champions China 3-0 to win the Thomas Cup title for the first time since 2002.
• It was Indonesia’s 14th overall triumph in the tournament’s history.

Agri waste recycling project wins Prince William’s Earthshot Prize

• An India-based technology that recycles agricultural waste to create fuel was named among the winners of Prince William’s inaugural Earthshot Prize.
• Dubbed as the “Eco Oscars,” the prizes have been created by the Duke of Cambridge and renowned British naturalist David Attenborough.
• Vidyut Mohan led Takachar’s innovation was recognised for its affordable technology to convert crop residues into sellable bio-products.

Sri Lanka seeks $500 million line of credit from India to purchase fuel

• Government of Sri Lanka has sought USD 500 million credit line from India to pay for its crude oil purchases amid a severe foreign exchange crisis in the island nation.
• It is a part of the India-Sri Lanka economic partnership arrangement.
• The facility would be used for purchasing petrol and diesel requirements.
• State-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) owes USD 3.3 billion to the two main government banks: Bank of Ceylon and People's Bank.

UIDAI to host ‘Aadhaar Hackathon 2021’ from 28th to 31st October

• UIDAI is hosting a Hackathon titled as ‘Aadhaar Hackathon 2021’ targeted at young innovators, who are still at various Engineering institutes.
• It will begin from 28th October to 31st October 2021.
• Aadhaar Hackathon 2021 is themed around two topics: Enrolment and Update and Identity and Authentication
• The winners of each theme would be rewarded by UIDAI through prize money and other lucrative benefits.
• It is the first-ever event being conducted by Aadhaar team

Indian Army team wins gold medal in Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2021

• Indian Army has been awarded the gold medal at 2021 Cambrian Patrol Exercise, held at Brecon, Wales, in United Kingdom.
• Indian Army was represented by a team from 4/5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) which competed against 96 teams representing special forces and regiments.
• Ex-Cambrian Patrol is an international event organized by UK Army, in which militaries from across the world take part.
• The drill is sometimes referred as the Olympics of Military Patrolling. 

Civil Aviation Minister virtually flags off 6 routes

• Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia has virtually flagged off 6 routes expanding the aerial connectivity of North-East India: Kolkata – Guwahati, Guwahati – Aizawl, Aizawl – Shillong, Shillong – Aizawl, Aizawl – Guwahati, and Guwahati – Kolkata.
• Flight connectivity on these routes has been a long-pending demand of the natives.
• It will open seamless smooth aerial access option for nature lovers, travellers, tourists etc.

Polar bears could vanish by 2100: Earth's Future study

• According to Earth's Future journal study, if carbon emissions continue at current levels, summer ice will disappear by 2100 and, along with it, creatures such as seals and polar bears will vanish by 2100 as well.
• During summer, when some of the ice melts, winds and currents carry it for great distances some into the North Atlantic, but much of it into the Arctic’s farthest-north coasts, along Greenland and Canadian islands resulting in a rich marine ecosystem.

Fourth General Assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA) organized

• The Fourth General Assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA) has been organized virtually.
• It is being held from 18th to 21st October 2021.
• It is being presided over by President of ISA Assembly RK Singh
• Key initiatives during the Assembly:
• Operationalization of OSOWOG (One Sun One World One Grid) initiative, $1-trillion Solar Investment Roadmap for 2030
• Blended Financial Risk Mitigation Facility approved
• Strategic plan of the ISA for the next five years.

India ranks 71st on 2021 Global Food Security Index

• India has been ranked 71st in the Global Food Security (GFS) Index 2021 among 113 countries with a score of 57.2 points
• GFS Index is published by London-based Economist Impact and is sponsored by Corteva Agriscience
• Top performers: Ireland, Australia, UK, Finland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Canada, Japan, France, US
• Worst performers: Burundi
• China has been ranked 34th, Pakistan ranked 75th, Sri Lanka (77th Position), Nepal (79th position) and Bangladesh (84th position)

Gulzar pens book titled “Actually… I Met Them: A Memoir”

• Legendary Indian poet-lyricist-director Gulzar has come out with his new book title as ‘Actually… I Met Them: A Memoir’.
• It is being published by Penguin Random House India publishing group.
• In this memoir book, Gulzar has shared many interesting unknown facts about legends like Kishore Kumar, Bimal Roy, Ritwik Ghatak, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Mahasweta Devi, among others.

Home Minister Amit Shah flags off ‘Modi Van’

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah has flagged off ‘Five Mobile Medical Vans’ dubbed as Modi Van in Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh.
• Modi vans have been launched under ‘Seva Hi Sangathan’ programme of BJP to commemorate Prime Minister Narendra Modi 20 years as the Head of Government.
• Five Mobile Medical Vans will operate in five Assembly Constituencies in Kaushambi.
• These vans will work under the aegis of Kaushambi Vikas Parishad run by BJP’s National Secretary Vinod Sonkar

WHO releases Global TB Report 2021

• World Health Organization (WHO) has released its annual Global tuberculosis (TB) report 2021 to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of TB epidemic at global, regional and country levels.
• Key findings:
• Number of people dying from TB increased in 2020 due to COVID-19.
• India is among top 30 countries with the highest TB burden.
• Very few people were diagnosed, treated, or provided with TB preventive treatment in 2020 compared with 2019.

India, Israel, UAE, U.S. decide to launch quadrilateral economic forum

• India, Israel, United Arab Emirates and United States have decided to launch new quadrilateral economic forum.
• Quadrilateral builds on ongoing cooperation between U.S., Israel and UAE after the Abraham Accords last year
• This QUAD grouping had decided to establish an international forum for economic cooperation, and discussed possibilities for joint infrastructure projects expanding economic and political cooperation in the Middle East and Asia

Piyush Goyal inaugurates 250mm Seer Water supply scheme in Kashmir.

• Union Minister Piyush Goyal has inaugurated 250mm Seer Water supply scheme during his two day visit to Pahalgam as part of the public outreach programme of the central government.
• It will benefit around 10000 people and will be completed under Jal Jeevan Mission within three months.
• He also inaugurated tourist hut of Pahalgam Development Authority at Golf Course Pahalgam
• Forest Departments Deodar sapling plantation drive was also being conducted under Green JK Drive.

International Chef’s Day: 20 October

• International Chefs Day is being observed every year on 20 October to celebrate and honour the noble profession and educate people around the world about eating healthy.
• Theme of International Chefs Day 2021 campaign: Healthy Food for the Future.
• It is also the day for experienced chefs to pass on their knowledge and culinary skills to the next generation with a sense of pride and commitment.
• It was created by Dr. Bill Gallagher in 2004.

Tourism Minister addresses ‘Tourism in Buddhist Circuits – A way forward'

• Union Minister for Culture & Tourism G Kishan Reddy addressed the inaugural session of Tourism in Buddhist Circuits – A way forward’ at Hotel Royal Residencey in Kushinagar.
• It is a two day conference which will highlight Buddhist Circuit and Buddhist tourism
• On the occasion, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate Kushinagar International Airport on 20th October 2021, whose inaugural flight from Colombo, Sri Lanka will land at the Kushinagar airport.

PM Modi inaugurates Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh

• PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kushinagar International Airport.
• This becomes the 9^th airport in Uttar Pradesh to scheduled passenger flights.
• A charter from Colombo was the first flight to land in Kushinagar with over 100 Buddhist monks and dignitaries.
• Kushinagar International Airport will facilitate pilgrimage to Lord Buddha's mahaparinirvana sthal of Lord Buddha, thereby boosting the economy of the region.
• UP Governor: Anandiben Patel

Police Commemoration Day 2021: 21st October 2021

• Every year, October 21 is celebrated as the Police Commemoration Day, to pay tributes to all police personnel who died in the line of duty.
• Since 2012, the Police Commemoration Day Parade is being held at the National Level at the Police Memorial in Delhi.
• In 2018, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated India's first national police museum in Delhi.
• Handled by the IB and the CAPFs, the museum depicts the history, uniform and gear of central and state police forces in India.

UNESCO prize for world-acclaimed Kung Fu Nuns

• The Kung Fu Nuns of the Drukpa order of Buddhism has won the prestigious Martial Arts Education Prize 2021 from the UNESCO International Centre. 
• The prize recognises the Kung Fu Nuns’ heroic acts of service and championing of gender equality across the Himalayas.
• Through martial arts, the Drukpa nuns empower young girls to defend themselves, build confidence, and take on leadership roles in their communities.
• The Kung Fu Nuns hail from the Drukpa Lineage of Buddhism. 

India more vulnerable to heat extremes: Lancet report

• According to the Lancet Countdown report, India is one of the five countries in the world whose vulnerable populations had the most exposure to extreme heat over the past five years.
• And this exposure is increasing.
• Yet, like many countries, India is under-prepared to prevent, mitigate or treat the health effects of climate change.
• As per the report India has become 15% more vulnerable to extremes of heat than in 1990.

Sri Lanka receives 1st consignment of Nano Urea (liquid) from India

• Sri Lanka has received the first consignment of 3.1 million litres high quality non-harmful Nano Nitrogen liquid fertiliser from India.
• It will help the island nation's Eastern province in the cultivation of maize and paddy.
• Nano Nitrogen Liquid Fertilizer was developed by IFFCO, with the objective of addressing imbalanced and excessive use of conventional Urea.
• It has been developed indigenously, for the first time in the world.

Jailed Russian Opposition leader Alexei Navalny wins EU’s Sakharov Prize

• Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was awarded the EU’s Sakharov Prize 2021
• It European Union's top human rights prize.
• In awarding the Sakharov Prize to Mr. Navalny, the European Parliament praised his “immense personal bravery.”
• The 45-year-old activist was poisoned with a nerve agent last year and promptly arrested upon his return to Moscow from treatment in Germany and later imprisoned.

Imtiaz Ali appointed as ambassador of Russian Film Festival in India

• Director-producer Imtiaz Ali appointed as the ambassador of the Russian Film Festival in India.
• As part of the festival, ten notable Russian films of various genres will be premiered for Indian audiences on Disney+ Hotstar.
• The first-ever online Russian Film Festival in India is organized by ROSKINO with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. 
• The festival was launched in 2020 and has already been successfully held in 14 countries. 

Rupifi partners with Muthoot Finance to provide instant credit to SMEs

• SME lender and fintech Rupifi has partnered with Muthoot Finance to power 15 mn small and medium-sized enterprises with access to instant credit.
• The companies started this partnership earlier this year and are now looking to scale this across different industry verticals in the country.
• Launched in January 2020, Rupifi allows SMEs to flexibly repay their dues as and when required with a per-day interest pricing but without any monthly EMIs.

Drone developer FIXAR ties up with Paras Aerospace to enter Indian market

• European commercial drone and software developer FIXAR announced its entry in the fast emerging domestic unmanned aerial vehicle market in collaboration with Paras Aerospace, a subsidiary of Paras Defence.
• As a first step towards this partnership, the company will launch its flagship fixed wing drone FIXAR007 in the country.
• The initial agreement targets delivery of 150 drones to the operators in India in the next 6-8 months. 

Scorsese & Szabo to be honored with Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award

• Mr Istevan Szabo and Martin Scorsese will be conferred the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at the 52nd International Film Festival of India in Goa.
• Istvan Szabo is one of the most critically acclaimed Hungarian film directors of the past few decades known for masterpieces like Mephisto (1981) Father (1966).
• Martin Scorsese is one of the major figures of the New Hollywood era, regarded as one of the greatest and most influential directors in film history.

Klim Shipenko becomes first to shoot a film in space

• In a historic first, Russian film director Klim Shipenko and actress Yulia Peresild are back on Earth after wrapping up scenes for the first movie shot in space.
• It took around 30 hours to record the material while in space.
• This is the first time a mission has been embarked to ISS to shoot a movie in space.
• The film “The Challenge” is based on the life of a woman doctor who goes to space to save a cosmonaut’s life.

152 SAKSHAM Centres launched in a week as part of Amrit Mahotsav

•  A total of 152 Centres ( across 77 districts of 13 states) for Financial Literacy and Service Delivery (SAKSHAM Centres) have been launched under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission in a week as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• The objective of the centre is to provide financial literacy and facilitate the delivery of financial services to Self-Help Group members and the rural poor.

PM virtually addressed national level Conclave of IAF in Bengaluru

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed the national level Conclave of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
• Earlier, this conclave has been inaugurated by Defence minister Rajnath Singh in Bengaluru.
• The conclave is part of the events organised to celebrate the Swarnim Vijay Varsh, the Golden jubilee of our victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
• Military strategists, diplomats, political analysts and experts from other spheres are participating in the three days conclave.

China and Indonesia won Uber Cup and and Thomas Cup Respectively

• China beat defending champions Japan 3-1 in a thrilling Uber Cup final in Aarhus, Denmark, to reclaim the Uber Cup title. 
• This is China’s 15th Uber Cup title win in 19 finals.
• Indonesia beat defending champion China, 3-0, to win the Thomas Cup final played at the Ceres Arena in Aarhus, Denmark.
• The 2020 Thomas & Uber Cup was the 31st edition of the Thomas Cup and the 28th edition of the Uber Cup.

South Korea launches its first homegrown space rocket

• South Korea has launched its first homegrown rocket, stepping up the country's ambitions in space
• The Korean Satellite Launch Vehicle II (known as Nuri) took off from Goheung, about 500km south of Seoul
• S Korea is locked in an arms race with North Korea, with both recently test-firing new weapons
• Nuri cost South Korea an estimated 2 trillion won $1.6 billion to develop.
• Weighing 200 tonnes and measuring 47.2 metres long, it is fitted with six liquid-fuelled engines

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