Daily Current Affairs - 24 Nov 2020

Daily Current Affairs Capsule

24th November 2020

International

China's new moon mission to return the first lunar samples since 1976

China’s Chang’e-5 lunar mission will become the first probe in over four decades to attempt to bring back samples of lunar rock from a previously unexplored portion of the Moon.

1. The spacecraft is set to return to Earth around December 15.
2. Chang’e-5 probe is the Chinese National Space Administration’s (CNSA) lunar sample return mission that is set to launch on November 24 from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on Hainan Island in China.
3. The mission comprises a lunar orbiter, a lander and an ascent probe that will lift the lunar samples back into orbit and return them back to Earth.

Malaysia hosts APEC Summit

The 2020 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

1. This was the first time that all 21 APEC Economic Leaders met virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
2. The theme of the APEC Malaysia 2020 was “Optimising Human Potential Towards a Resilient Future of Shared Prosperity: Pivot. Prioritise. Progress”.

National

Martyrdom Day of Guru Tegh Bahadur being observed across country

Martyrdom Day of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru of Sikhs, is being observed across the country.

1. It was on this in 1675, Gurur Tegh Bahadur sacrificed his life to protect religion, human values, ideals and principles.
2. The youngest son of Guru Hargobind, he was publicly killed in1675 on the order of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Delhi for refusing to convert to Islam.
3. Gurudwara sis Ganj Sahib and Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi are sites of his execution and cremation.

Foreign Secretary H V Shringla to visit Nepal on Nov. 26 & 27

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will pay an official visit to Nepal on 26 and 27 November 2020.

1. This will be the first visit of the Foreign Secretary to Nepal since he assumed charge.
2. The visit is in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and the priority India attaches to its relations with Nepal.

Ravi Shankar Prasad launches international version of UMANG App

To mark the occasion of 3 years of UMANG and 2000 plus services milestone, an online conference was organized under the chairmanship of Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ravi Shankar Prasad.

1. On this occasion, Mr Prasad launched UMANG's international version in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs for select countries that include USA, UK, Canada, Australia, UAE, Netherlands, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
2. It will help Indian international students, NRIs and Indian tourists abroad, to avail Government of India services, anytime.

Odisha Assembly passes ‘Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Amendment Bill-2020’

Odisha Essential Services (Maintenance) Amendment Bill-2020 was passed by the state assembly.

1. The bill seeks to amend the existing Act of 1988 to prohibit strikes by employees of essential services in the state.
2. Expanding the ambit of essential services, the bill includes services like fire service, excise, forest, prison reforms, electronics and Information and Communication departments.
3. According to the provisions of the amended bill, persons resorting to or found instigating or funding illegal strikes may face imprisonment upto one year or a fine upto Rs five thousand or both.
4. Trade unions too have opposed it as a ploy to divest the workers of their democratic right to protest.

Indian Coast Guard averts ecological disaster off Nicobar Islands by towing oil tanker to safety

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) towed a fuel tanker back to safe waters.

1. The tanker was dangerously drifting towards the pristine Katchal Island in Nicobar due to power failure.
2. The vesel, which had 24 crew onboard, experienced total power failure since November 19.
3. Katchal is one of the Nicobar Islands, India.

KSCDL declared winner at ET Govt Global Smart Cities Forum 2020

In Nagaland, Kohima Smart City Development Limited, KSCDL has been declared Winner at the ET Government Global Smart Cities Forum 2020 under the category Best Digital Initiative of the Year (Technology) for Kohima City Wifi Phase-I Project.

1. The main objective is to provide internet access for the masses in public locations at a cheaper cost and instant access to data for emergency services with real-time s with better coverage for emergency services.
2. IT infrastructure will enable the Internet of Things and establish a platform for smart city with innovative smart solutions such as pan-city fire emergency solutions, smart offices, entertainment, smart street lighting, smart Kiosks, smart traffic management and others.
3. KSCDL has activated Wi-Fi Hotspots in 51 locations of Kohima along with two smart Kiosks as part of the Kohima Wi-Fi Phase 1 Project.

Deaths

Former CM of Assam Tarun Gogoi passes away

Former Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi passed away in Guwahati.

1. He was undergoing treatment for the past few days in Gauhati medical college and hospital following post COVID-19 complications.
2. Born in 1934, Mr. Gogoi served as the Chief Minister of Assam from 2001 to 2016.
3. He is the longest serving Chief Minister of the state.
4. He represented Jorhat and Kaliabor constituencies in Lok Sabha. Mr. Gogoi also served in various capacities in the Congress party.

Sahitya Academy award winner Shaik Khaja Hussain passes away

Noted Telugu poet, journalist, scriptwriter, and Kendra Sahitya Academy award winner Shaik Khaja Hussain, passed away.

1. He was popularly known as Devi Priya.
2. He bagged the Sahitya Akademi Award 2017, for his book Gaali Rangu.
3. Apart from penning poetry, he has also written several lyrics for Telugu movies.
4. He authored several books including Gareebi Geetaalu, Amma Chettu Chepa Chiluka, and others.
5. During his journalism stint, Devipriya was instrumental in making noted Telugu poet Sri Sri to write his autobiography.