Mount Aso volcano in Japan, erupted on October 20, 2021 and emitted a giant column of ash to about thousands of metres into the sky.

Highlights

• No injuries were reported immediately and People were warned not to go towards volcano as it ejected hot gas and ash.
• The volcano ejected gas and ash up to the height of 3,500 metres.
• Pale grey torrents of ash rushed down the slopes of the 1,592-metre mountain.

Background

Mount Aso last erupted in the year 2016. The Japan Meteorological Agency had then raised its warning for Mount Aso to the level that was reported on October 20.

About Mount Aso

Mount Aso is the largest active volcano in Japan and one among the largest across the world. The volcano stands on the island of Kyushu, in Aso Kuju National Park in Kumamoto Prefecture. Its peak is 1,592 meters above sea level. It has a fairly large caldera, having a circumference of about 120 km. The caldera dominates the island Kyushu, where it is a popular tourist draw.

Technology giant, Microsoft, has launched a programme called “AI Innovate Programme”, to nurture and scale start-ups.

Key Points

• The programme was launched in its efforts of supporting the start-up ecosystem in India.
• Programme will support those start-ups that are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI).

About Microsoft AI Innovate

• It is a 10-week initiative to support and help start-ups in India in driving innovations, scaling operations, and building industry expertise.
• To participate in the initiative, both B2B and B2C start-ups coming from diverse industries such as healthcare, financial services, education, space, agriculture, retail, manufacturing & logistics and e-commerce are invited.
• It is supported by TiE Mumbai.
• Launch cohort of the initiative will kickstart in November 2021.

National Police Commemoration Day is observed every year on October 21, in India. This day is dedicated to the sacrifices of ten policemen, who died in Chinese firing in the year 1959.

Background

On October 21, 1959, Chinese troops threw grenades and opened fire at twenty Indian soldiers in Ladakh. Out of them, ten brave police personnel attained martyrdom while seven others sustained injuries in that incident. A month later, on November 28, 1959, dead bodies of the martyred policemen were handed over to India by the Chinese troops. Their cremation was held at the Hot springs in North Eastern Ladakh, with full Police honours. Since then, October 21 is observed as “Police Commemoration Day”.

Police Commemoration Day parade

National level Police Commemoration Day Parade is held at the Police Memorial, Chanakyapuri, since the year 2012.

Significance of the Day

The day has become more significant in the aftermath of Covid-19 pandemic. Ever since the COVID-19 outbreak in India in 2020, Indian police officers have been on the frontline along with healthcare officials. Several police officers lost their life while discharging their duties

Second UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference was recently concluded, in which India strongly opposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and CPEC projects of China.

Key Points

• The UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference was held between October 14 to October 16 in Beijing, China.
• During the conference Indian side noted that, India shares the desire of international community of enhancing physical connectivity. It believes that, physical connectivity should bring huge economic benefits for all in a balanced and equitable manner.

Belt and Road initiative (BRI)

The BRI is a multi-billion-dollar initiative which was launched in the year 2013, by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The project was launched with the aim of enhancing China’s influence. It aims to link Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, Europe and the Gulf region with a network of land and sea routes.

About China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

CPEC is USD 60 billion project that connects Gwadar Port in the Balochistan region of Pakistan with the Xinjiang province of China. It is the flagship project under the BRI.

Why India is against CPEC?

Though, expansion and strengthening of physical connectivity is the integral part of economic & diplomatic initiatives of India. But India has been affected by China’s BRI and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects because these projects impinge on India’s sovereignty. India has been opposing this project because it is being laid through the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The United Kingdom (UK) and India are set to launch their biggest joint military exercise called “Konkan Shakti”.

Key Facts

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalty on two payment system operators viz., Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PBBL) as well as Western Union Financial Services Inc.

Key Points

• RBI levied a penalty of Rs 1 crore on PBBL. Penalty was imposed because of an offence related to Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (PSS Act).
• It levied a penalty of Rs 27.78 lakh on Western Union Financial Services, which is a cross-border in-bound service operator. Fine was imposed for non-compliance with certain directions that were issued by the central bank.

Offense by PBBL

In the application for issue of final Certificate of Authorisation (CoA) of PBBL, RBI observed that PPBL had submitted information which did not reflect the factual position. This was an offence of the nature in accordance with Section 26 (2) of the PSS Act.

Offense by Western Union

Western Union reported the case of breach in ceiling of 30 remittances per beneficiary during 2019 and 2020. It filed an application for compounding of the violation.

Western Union Company

It is an American multinational financial services company. It is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The company was founded in the year 1851 as “New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company”. In the year 1856, company changed its name to the Western Union Telegraph Company.

Paytm Payments Bank (PBB)

The Indian payments bank called PBB was founded in 2015. It is headquartered in Noida. PBB received the license to run a payments bank from RBI in 2015. It was finally launched in November 2017.

The Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation (PaTCoF) has won the “Earth Guardian Award” which was instituted by the NatWest Group.

Key Points

• PaTCoF is a non-profit organisation under forest department which seeks to facilitate conservation of tiger and biodiversity in the Parambikulam tiger reserve.
• Eight winners of the award were felicitated by secretary general of “UN Convention on International Trade in the Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora”, Ivonne Higuero in a virtual ceremony on October 20, 2021.

About Earth Guardian Award

These awards were instituted by NatWest Group India. They are part of an initiative which recognises the efforts of individuals and institutions that are working to subvert the climate change by conserving & preserving biodiversity in India.

Parambikulam Tiger Reserve

Parambikulam Tiger Reserve also includes erstwhile Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, which is spread across 391 square kilometres. It is a protected area in Palakkad district of Kerala. It was established in 1973. The sanctuary lies in the Sungam range of hills in between Anaimalai Hills and Nelliampathy Hills. Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a part of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in 2010. Tiger reserve implements the Participatory Forest Management Scheme (PFMS).

Is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

The Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary is currently under consideration for selection as World Heritage Site, by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

Indigenous Peoples

The sanctuary is home to four different tribes of indigenous peoples namely, Malasar, Kadar, Mala Malarsar and Muduvar. These people are settled in six colonies. People of these tribal colonies are working as guides for treks and safaris. They are provided employment through several eco-tourism initiatives.

• IMF’s Chief Economist Gita Gopinath will leave her job in January next year and return to Harvard University’s Economics Department, according to the global financial institution.
• The 49-year-old Indian-American economist had joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the Chief Economist in January 2019.
• She was the John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University when she joined the Washington-based global lender. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Tuesday announced that the search for Gopinath’s successor would begin shortly.
• Mysuru-born Gopinath is the first-ever woman Chief Economist of the IMF. She was also the Director of the Research Department of the IMF.
• Will return to Harvard varsity
• Gita Gopinath will leave her job in January next year and return to the prestigious Harvard University’s Economics Department, according to the IMF
• The 49-year-old prominent Indian-American economist had joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the Chief Economist in January 2019

• Devi is currently ranked 50th in the world and is top-ranked fencer from India.
• Fencer Bhavani Devi, who made history at the Tokyo Olympics by becoming the first Indian to compete in the sport at the Games, has won the Charlellville National Competition in France in the individual women’s sabre event.
• “Won the Charlellville National Competition, France in the Women’s Sabre individual. Many thanks to coach Christian Bauer, Arnaud Schneider, and all teammates. Congratulations to all for a great start of the season,” she tweeted after winning the competition.
• At the Tokyo Olympics, she won her round of 64 match 15-3 against Tunisia’s Nadia Ben Azizi before going down to eventual bronze-medallist, Manon Brunet of France in the round of 32.
• She is currently ranked 50th in the world and is the top-ranked fencer from India.
• She is eyeing a good show at the 2022 Asian Games and has started preparing for the multi-discipline sporting extravaganza.