Coronavirus News, Updates, Chhath Puja date, UNSC, PM Modi

18 November 2020

• Covid-19 Updates: WHO lauds Yogi Govt. for COVID-19 management 

  The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has earned appreciation for its COVID-19 management strategy from the World Health Organization (WHO). The Yogi Adityanath government has stated by Roderico Ofrin, WHO Country Representative, which says that the state's strategic response of boosting contact tracing efforts to mitigate coronavirus spread is exemplary. 

• Delhi govt declares public holiday for Chhath Puja on Nov 20 

  Delhi government today declared a public holiday on November 20 in Delhi on account of ‘Chhath Puja’ which is celebrated by thousands of people in the capital. Chhath Puja takes place every year on the Shashti Tithi in Kartik Shukla month after Diwali and it has been counted among the sixth biggest festivals in India. It will be celebrated on 20 November and this festival plays a special significance in North India especially in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand. 

• India doesn't even qualify for UNSC seat says Pak to UNGA 

  Pakistan has once again expressed its disregard over India's qualification for a seat on the 15-member UN Security Council (UNSC), stating that New Delhi does not even qualify for the seat due to "ongoing unrest" and "violations of UNSC's resolutions" in Jammu and Kashmir. Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan's representative at the UN highlighted Islamabad's concern over the addition of new permanent member in the UNSC. 

   

• Tension, shutdown in Tripura's Kanchanpur over refugees' resettlement 

  Normal life was crippled in northern Tripura's Kanchanpur sub-division for the 3rd day on Wednesday with tensions running high. This follows the Joint Movement Committee called shutdown for an indefinite period to protest the government's decision to rehabilitate thousands of tribal refugees, who had fled to adjoining Mizoram 23 years ago following ethnic strife in the state. 

• Nishank to get prestigious literary award on Nov 21 

  Union Education Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' will receive the prestigious literary honour: the International Vatayan Summit Award, on November 21. Nishank is a noted author and has published several books. The Minister is the recipient of several literary honours in the country and abroad in the past. The Vatayan international awards are mostly given at the House of Lords or the Nehru Centre, London, but this year the function will be held virtually. He will be given this award for his outstanding service to literature at the annual awards ceremony of Vatayan. 

• Bangla poet Alokeranjan Dasgupta passes away at 87 

  Sahitya Academy award winner Bengali poet Alokeranjan Dasgupta, 87, has passed away at his residence in Germany. The news of his demise was confirmed by his wife Elizabeth. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her condolence on the celebrated poet's death on Tuesday night.  

  "Saddened at the passing away of Sahitya Academy award-winning poet and translator Alokeranjan Dasgupta. My condolences to his family and admirers," the Chief Minister said. 

• PM Modi condoles deaths in Vadodara accident 

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed deep sadness over the deaths in an accident at Vadodara. In a tweet, Modi said “Saddened by the accident in Vadodara. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones. Praying that the injured recover soon. The administration is providing all possible assistance at the site of the accident.” 

• Trump terminates election official who contradicted him 

  Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (Cisa) chief Chris Krebs was fired by Donald Trump for contradicting the US president's claims of voter fraud. Trump said he "terminated" Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (Cisa) chief Chris Krebs for his "highly inaccurate" remarks on vote integrity, the BBC reported.  Trump has refused to concede the US election and has made unsubstantiated claims of "massive" voter fraud. Election officials said the vote was the "most secure" in US history.