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January 20, 2021: National / International Current Affairs
1. Let down by UAE firm, Pakistan seeks two LNG cargoes
• The government has sought urgent tenders for liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries in third and fourth week of February to fill the gap arising out of a default by Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) on its supply commitment.
• A senior official at the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) confirmed that two cargoes had been sought from the international market using emergency provisions of the procurement rules. He said Pakistan LNG Limited (PLL)-the state-run entity responsible for import of LNG-had approached prospective suppliers for LNG delivery on Feb 15-16 and Feb 23-24
2. Gen Akbar appointed ambassador to Saudi Arabia
• The government has nominated retired Lt Gen Bilal Akbar as the new ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
• Gen Akbar would replace Ambassador Raja Ali Ejaz, who is retiring from service in May. Mr Ejaz, a career diplomat, has been the ambassador in Riyadh since January 2019.
• The ambassador`s position in Riyadh has often been held by retired military officers, reflecting the fact that defence ties form the bedrock of the strong bilateral ties, although the posting has at times remained with diplomats from the foreign service as well
3. Border trade ranking improves to 111th: FBR
• Pakistan`s rank on the trading across border index jumped by 31 positions from 142nd to 111th due to considerably improved implementation of several measures, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said on January 19, 2021.
• The improvement is linked with the ongoing reforms that led to huge improvements in trading across the borders index.
• The announcement of the FBR did not mention the year in which the index was calculated
4. Biden picks transgender woman as assistant health secretary
• President-elect Joe Biden has tapped Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine to be his assistant secretary of health, leaving her poised to become the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the US Senate.
• A pediatrician and former Pennsylvania physician general, Levine was appointed to her current post by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in 2017, making her one of the few transgender people serving in elected or appointed positions nationwide. She won past confirmation by the Republican majority Pennsylvania Senate and has emerged as the public face of the state`s response to the coronavirus pandemic
5. Trump gives rare award to Bahrain king on last day in office
• US President Donald Trump bestowed a rare award on King Hamad of Bahrain on January 19, 2021, acknowledging the Gulf state`s normalisation of ties with Israel on his last full day in office.
• Trump, who sees Arab recognition of Israel as a key overseas achievement of his presidency, already conferred the same award on King Mohammed VI of Morocco last week for his move to restore ties.
6. Iran nuclear deal at `critical juncture`, warns EU
• EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has warned the Iran nuclear deal is at a `critical juncture` as Tehran`s moves to breach it threaten efforts to get the US back on board.
• `We have seen very concerning developments on the nuclear side as well as new rounds of US sanctions, Borrell wrote to EU foreign ministers in a letter
7. Thai woman gets 43-year sentence for insulting king
• A court in Thailand on January 19, 2021 sentenced a former civil servant to a record prison term of 43 years and six months for breaching the country`s strict law on insulting or defaming the monarchy, lawyers said.
• The Bangkok Criminal Court found the woman guilty on 29 counts of violating the country`s lese majeste law for posting audio clips to Facebook and YouTube with comments deemed critical of the monarchy, the group Thai Lawyers for Human Rights said
8. Washington guarded by military as Biden takes oath today
• Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on January 20, 2021 in a ceremony protected by 25,000 troops and face masks to ward off two potentially lethal enemies an unrelenting virus and a f renzied mob.
• Even before the inauguration begins, the incoming rulers start bragging about how many supporters they would bring to Washington to celebrate their victory.
9. Haroon Malik named new PFF NC chairman, three members replaced
• Only one member of the Pakistan Football Federation Normalisation Committee that was announced in September 2019 remains after FIFA made wholesale changes to the body in an attempt to freshen up the process to put the game in the country back on track.
• Haroon Malik has been named chairman of the committee in place of Humza Khan, who resigned from the post in December last year. Muneer Sadhana, who took the role of acting chairman following Humza`s resignation, will return to being a member on the committee alongside three new members
10. Brilliant India shock Australia at Gabba to clinch series 2-1
• Rishabh Pant unleashed a batting maelstrom to blast India to an incredible three-wicket win in the fourth Test decider on January 19, 2021 as Ajinkya Rahane`s injury ravaged tourists humbled Australia with a 2-1 series triumph.
• The pugnacious Pant timed his innings to perfection, ramping up the aggression in a stellar 89 as India stormed to a record 328-run chase at the Gabba
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