CURRENT AFFAIRS CAPSULE (OCTOBER 2020) INTERNATIONAL Pakistan, China, Russia Win Seats On UN Rights Body Pakistan along with China, Russia and Cuba won seats 12th BRICS Summit to be held virtually on November on the UN Human Rights Council despite strong 17 opposition from activist groups over their abysmal The 12th BRICS Summit will be held on 17th November human rights records 2020 via video conference. The theme of the Meeting is “BRICS Partnership for Global Stability, Shared Security WHO hails India's ‘Aarogya Setu’ App for its role in and Innovative Growth”. The Summit this year is being identifying COVID-19 clusters held under the Chairmanship of Russia. WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed India's COVID 19 tracking App Aarogya Setu for its role Kyrgyz Central Election Commission annuls results in helping the authorities to identify cluster areas and of parliamentary elections expand testing in a targeted way. The Kyrgyz Central Election Commission declared the COVID 19 pandemic: World Bank to propose 25 results of the parliamentary elections void amid violent billion in extra funding for poorest countries protests. Demonstrators broke into parliament overnight World Bank has called for emergency financing of 25 and clashed with police, demanding a new vote be held. billion dollar to help the world’s poorest countries grapple Kuwaiti govt resigns ahead of November general with the massive challenges of the COVID 19 pandemic. elections Kuwait's government, chaired by Prime Minister Sabah Putin proposes Moscow, Washington extend their Al Khalid Al Sabah, has submitted its resignation to Emir New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah in anticipation of the Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed that upcoming general elections. Moscow and Washington extend their New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) that expires in Nearly 40 nations criticize China's treatment of February. He proposed to extend the accord for at least minority groups a year without imposing any conditions. Nearly 40 countries criticized China's treatment of minority groups, especially in Xinjiang and Tibet, in a New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern's Labour Party joint statement read at a meeting of the General registers landslide victory in general elections Assembly's human rights committee. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern won in New Zealand’s general elections. Ardern’s Labour Party won a landslide King of Jordan Abdullah II names his policy adviser victory with 49 per cent support, heading to its biggest country's new PM share of the vote since the 1930s. Jordan's King Abdullah II has designated his chief policy adviser Bishr al-Khasawneh to form a new government Israel, Bahrain formally establish diplomatic ties amid criticism of the previous government's handling of following US brokered deal the virus pandemic. Israel and Bahrain have formally established diplomatic relations after signing the US brokered deal in Arab China formally joins WHO led COVAX initiative on country's capital Manama. COVID-19 vaccine China has formally joined COVAX, the global initiative for WHO lends support to IP-waiver proposal from COVID-19 vaccine by signing an agreement with Gavi, South Africa, India the Vaccine Alliance. The COVAX facility, led by the The World Health Organisation (WHO) has lent its World Health Organization (WHO), aims to deliver at support to a proposal from South Africa and India to the least 2 billion doses of vaccines by the end of 2021. World Trade Organization (WTO) seeking a waiver on Armenia, Azerbaijan agree on ceasefire in Nagorno- certain intellectual property (IP) provisions that could Karabakh come in the way of access to medicines, vaccines and devices developed to tackle the novel coronavirus. Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a cease-fire in Nagorno-Karbakh. The top diplomats from the two UAE delegation reaches Israel for first time in history countries said in a statement that the truce is intended to In an historic first visit by a Gulf Arab nation, a United exchange prisoners and recover the dead, adding that Arab Emirates delegation reached Israel. It was specific details will be agreed on later. accompanied by top US officials to cement the normalization of ties between the two nations. Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen appeals to China to de-escalate military tensions Thai PM may lift emergency as rival rallies rock Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has appealed to her nation Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to de-escalate military Thailand’s embattled premier Prayut Chan-o-cha tensions and live up to his promise to never seek announced that he might lift an emergency decree that hegemony. has failed to stifle a growing protest movement demanding his resignation and also reforms to the monarchy. Bangladesh cabinet approves capital punishment for rape India, 4th Most Powerful in Asia, Cedes Strategic Bangladesh Cabinet had approved a draft law to include Ground To China: Report death penalty as the highest punishment for rape. The India stands as the fourth most powerful country in Asia decision to amend the Prevention of Women and Children but falls just short of the major power threshold in 2020, Repression Act-2000 was announced after the Cabinet according to the Sydney-based Lowy Institute's Asia meeting Chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka. Power Index for 2020. Triumphant Institute of Management Education Pvt. Ltd. (T.I.M.E.) HO: 95B, 2nd Floor, Siddamsetty Complex, Secunderabad – 500 003. Tel : 040–40088400 Fax : 040–27847334 email : [email protected] website : www.time4education.com 1 Bolivia’s Presidential Election: Arce’s victory is BRICS Parliamentary Forum to be held in virtual legitimate format International observers declared Bolivia’s presidential The BRICS Parliamentary Forum will be held in virtual election transparent and Luis Arce’s incoming leftist format and will be chaired by Chairman of Russian government legitimate. Parliament, Vyachaslav Volodin. Speakers and members of five BRICS Parliaments - Brazil, Russian, India, China Sri Lankan Parliament passes 20th Amendment and South Africa will participate in the Forum. Sri Lanka’s parliament approved a constitutional amendment that will concentrate power with the President and allow duel Pakistan Minister admits Islamabad's role in citizens to hold political office, which could strengthen Pulwama terror attack President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s familial political clout. Pakistani minister Fawad Chaudhry has admitted his country’s role in the Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and US approves sale of weapons systems worth around Kashmir. This is for the first time a Pakistan minister has 1.8 billion dollars to Taiwan admitted what India has long maintained that Islamabad US State Department has approved the sale of weapons directly and indirectly encourages and supports terror systems worth around 1.8 billion dollars to Taiwan. The groups that target India. deal comprised three weapons systems, including rocket launchers, sensors and artillery. Foreign Ministers of Central Asian Countries welcome one-billion-dollar Line of Credit by India for Brazil's President Bolsonaro rejects purchase of development in region coronavirus vaccine from China The Foreign Minister of Central Asian Countries welcomed Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has decided to cancel the provision by India of one billion US dollar Line of Credit the purchase of Coronavac, a COVID-19 vaccine in for priority developmental projects in fields such as phase-3 clinical trials by Chinese firm Sinovac. energy, IT, healthcare, education and agriculture in the Sudan becomes third Arab state this year to set region. aside hostilities with Israel India, Mexico to further work on strengthening Israel and Sudan have agreed to take steps to normalize ‘Privileged Partnership’ relations in a deal brokered with the help of the United The 8th India-Mexico Joint Commission Meeting was States, making Khartoum the third Arab government to held through Videoconference. The two sides agreed set aside hostilities with Israel in the past two months. that given their respective economic strengths, growing Pakistan to remain in grey list of global terror regional and global profile, India and Mexico will further financing watchdog- FATF till February 2021 work on strengthening their ‘Privileged Partnership’. Pakistan will remain on the grey list of global terror financing watchdog, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as it has not been able to fulfil six out of the 27 mandates NATIONAL to check terror funding. The FATF strongly urged Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by Unlock 5 Guidelines: Cinemas Permitted With 50% February 2021. Seating, States To Decide On Schools Schools and colleges, shut since March as lockdown European countries re-imposing restrictions due to was announced across the country, will be allowed to re- second wave of COVID-19 open from October 15, the Centre said while announcing A second wave of COVID-19 has returned to Europe, the next phase of lifting of coronavirus-related forcing many countries to reimpose curfews, partial restrictions. The government also gave a go ahead to lockdowns and other restrictions. Countries across cinema halls, multiplexes, and exhibition halls, but their Europe are implementing new measures to combat the reopening will be tempered with certain restrictions spread of coronavirus, as infections surge and new cases hit record highs in the European Union. India establishes Air Bubble arrangement with