{"id":66826,"date":"2021-01-21T15:07:33","date_gmt":"2021-01-21T15:07:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/?p=66826"},"modified":"2021-01-21T15:07:33","modified_gmt":"2021-01-21T15:07:33","slug":"current-affairs-january-21-2021-top-pakistan-current-affairs-for-ppsc-test-preparation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/current-affairs-january-21-2021-top-pakistan-current-affairs-for-ppsc-test-preparation\/","title":{"rendered":"[Current Affairs] January 21, 2021 Top Pakistan Current Affairs for PPSC Test Preparation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Today\u2019s top Pakistan current affairs January 21, 2021 with download link available in pdf. These are the latest breaking news about Pakistan which will be helpful for aspirants in test preparation of current affairs, Pakistan affairs, General knowledge for NTS, PPSC, CSS, FPSC, <\/strong><strong>KPPSC, SPSC, BPSC, AJKPSC, OTS, PTS, and other Govt Jobs, exams &amp; MDCAT, ECAT Entry test preparation.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>One Liner<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">Kamala Harris sworn in as America\u2019s first woman vice president.<\/span> Former California Senator Kamala Harris was sworn in as vice president of the United States on Wednesday, the first woman ever to hold the post.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">69 doctors lost their battle against COVID-19 in Pakistan.<\/span> As many as 69 doctors have so far lost their battle against COVID-19 in the country, highlighting the dangers posed to the frontline workers while dealing with the pandemic<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">ECC approves tax reduction on sugar import.<\/span> In a bid to bring down prices of sugar in the country, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet on Wednesday approved a reduction of withholding income tax on commercial import of white and raw sugar form 5.5 percent to 0.25 percent and removal of value-added sales tax on import of white sugar<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">China to gift 0.5mn doses of Sinopharm vaccine to Pakistan by Jan 31: FM Qureshi.<\/span> China will provide 500,000 doses of its Sinovac coronavirus vaccine to Pakistan by January 31, said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, thanking \u201cfriend\u201d Beijing for its generosity.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">Govt Increases Electricity Charges By Rs 1.95.<\/span> Planning Minister Asad Umar says economic indicators are showing significant improvement, especially the large scale manufacturing witnessed an overall surge of 15 percent in last November.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">The University of Peshawar cancels all physical exams.<\/span> The students of the University of Peshawar were elated after the varsity canceled all of its on-campus exams for the Fall semester.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">Multan students block the road while protesting against in-person exams.<\/span> Students of Multan\u2019s NFC Institute of Engineering and Technology have blocked Khanewal Road while protesting against the university\u2019s decision to hold in-person examinations.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">Punjab University Finally Agrees to Conduct Online Exams.<\/span> Punjab University (PU) has granted permission to students to appear in online examinations instead of on-campus examinations amid the Coronavirus pandemic.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\">Passenger With Fake COVID-19 Report Caught at Peshawar Airport.<\/span> A passenger was briefly detained at the Bacha Khan International Airport, Peshawar for attempting to board a flight by producing a fake negative COVID-19 test report.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Spotlight by\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thenewsrun.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The NewsRun<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\"><strong>1. COVID-19 IN PAKISTAN<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>24-hour count:\u00a0<\/strong>Pakistan reported<strong>\u00a02,363\u00a0new cases<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>54\u00a0deaths<\/strong>\u00a0in the past 24 hours. Pakistan also conducted<strong>\u00a043,744\u00a0tests\u00a0<\/strong>in the span of 24 hours (P.S. this data was last updated on January 21\u00a0at 8:00am).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p class=\"m_1280984797371112205size-18\" lang=\"x-size-18\"><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\"><strong>2. PM Khan congratulates the new US president<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s going on?\u00a0<\/strong>Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the US. Kamala Harris was sworn in as the 49th Vice President of the US. Harris made history as the nation&#8217;s\u00a0first woman, first black, and first South Asian Vice President (P.S. she is the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/uk-fact-check-harris-did-not-switch-raci\/fact-check-kamala-harris-did-not-switch-from-identifying-as-indian-american-to-black-idUSKBN25H1RC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-ahrshy-iluykthdp-t\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1611325331778000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGIc6E_ndQgayHCGU8D44RsubICsQ\">daughter<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0late Shyamala Gopalan, who was Indian-American, and Donald Harris, who is Jamaican-American). The\u00a0ceremony took place at Capitol Hill,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/inauguration-day-live-updates\/2021\/01\/20\/958736520\/watch-biden-takes-the-oath-of-office\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-ahrshy-iluykthdp-i\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1611325331778000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGq5--VJ3-7aFtrbk7TQASBuRYwFA\">two weeks after<\/a>\u00a0pro-Trump rioters breached\u00a0the building\u00a0to block\u00a0the certification of Biden&#8217;s election victory. The in-person audience was limited due to COVID-19, and strict\u00a0security measures were in place. Former Vice President Mike Pence attended the inauguration, but departing\u00a0former President Donald Trump was\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2021\/01\/19\/us\/politics\/presidents-who-skipped-inaugurations.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-ahrshy-iluykthdp-d\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1611325331778000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEUWaHPwL6WGofLkIopCya6kseeEA\">a no-show<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Tell me more:\u00a0<\/strong>PM Khan wrote a congratulatory tweet to Biden a few minutes after he took the oath of office.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div align=\"center\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci6.googleusercontent.com\/proxy\/6EWOD_2O0Iaz-9Mi81B1DDI2BmuAfemSAVCXkBPfdjAqORuQfFSuwusuTrX3Tr5lV8F6xnMqXJUk0eAOfU1LQaTo-CT0YuJTZj3jnM1zQeBfvUyUPveQPLne5B3tb8NECORm1_PCpzONnfwwXDKCLgtN7fhvYqzePtcy93Q=s0-d-e1-ft#http:\/\/i2.cmail19.com\/ei\/j\/39\/8F0\/186\/155245\/csfinal\/Screenshot2021-01-20at10.39.30AM-a8858acc2269d585.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"439\" \/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Looking ahead:\u00a0<\/strong>On his first day as president,\u00a0Biden\u00a0signed 17\u00a0executive actions, including an order that will\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/2021\/01\/20\/958517263\/legacy-of-president-trumps-travel-ban-will-be-hard-for-biden-to-erase\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-ahrshy-iluykthdp-h\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1611325331779000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFwFFcw9u92kX6Hi3JfvwscAGQphg\">freeze<\/a>\u00a0the Trump administration&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/edition.cnn.com\/2021\/01\/16\/politics\/joe-biden-executive-orders-paris-climate-accord-muslim-ban\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-ahrshy-iluykthdp-k\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1611325331779000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGpt24H8PrePyJ-zL4Q0rgmsK8KSQ\">travel ban<\/a>. The travel ban\u00a0barred entry for refugees and residents of seven Muslim-majority countries (not including Pakistan).\u00a0A final revision of the travel ban included some non-Muslim countries as well.\u00a0The Trump administration\u00a0cited national security concerns to justify\u00a0the travel ban, even though US citizens and permanent residents reportedly carried out a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/news\/asian-america\/psychological-trauma-stress-lasting-impact-muslim-ban-n1254789\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-ahrshy-iluykthdp-u\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1611325331779000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFEZ8xB807WzFSKyD-8I1GdueyOMQ\">large majority<\/a>\u00a0of terrorist attacks in the country\u00a0since September 11, 2001.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>What about US-Pak relations?<\/strong>\u00a0During his\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/tribune.com.pk\/story\/2280681\/us-defence-secretary-elect-terms-pakistan-essential-partner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-ahrshy-iluykthdp-o\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1611325331779000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFU79L2S1ZIEiYyhZOrr7J_eMF4sg\">confirmation hearing<\/a>\u00a0as secretary of defense, retired four-star Army General, Lloyd Austin, acknowledged Pakistan&#8217;s role in supporting the Afghan peace process. Long story short, he wants to continue building relationships with Pakistan&#8217;s military, and work with Pakistan on improving regional stability. This hope for regional stability involves cracking down on militant organizations. Austin said\u00a0he\u00a0would urge Pakistan to make sure militant groups don&#8217;t use its territory as a safe haven.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Something to know:\u00a0<\/strong>Austin is the former head of US\u00a0Central Command, the military&#8217;s top command post that\u00a0oversees US military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. He is Biden&#8217;s\u00a0pick to lead the Pentagon.\u00a0If\u00a0confirmed,\u00a0Austin will be the first\u00a0Black secretary of defense. However, there is a law that says officers have to be out of uniform for at least seven years before serving as\u00a0Pentagon chief (P.S this law is meant to ensure civilian control over the military). Austin doesn&#8217;t meet that requirement, since he left the service in 2016.\u00a0That&#8217;s why both the Senate and House have to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2021\/01\/20\/jack-reed-backs-lloyd-austin-defense-460722\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-ahrshy-iluykthdp-b\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1611325331779000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHcLx3dAuTT2YnXKvITuwkf2Ui28w\">approve a waiver<\/a>\u00a0before Austin can\u00a0take the job.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>The bottom line:\u00a0<\/strong>Based on Austin&#8217;s\u00a0statement, it sounds like US-Pak relations will primarily\u00a0focus on security &#8211; for now. The US will\u00a0also keep an eye on Pakistan&#8217;s efforts to shut down militant activity. At the same time, Pakistan wants to work with the US in several areas outside of security (e.g. trade, economy, climate change, public health).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"background-color: #ffff00;\"><strong>3. Former military general becomes Saudi envoy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Pakistan\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aljazeera.com\/news\/2021\/1\/20\/pakistan-appoints-former-military-general-as-saudi-envoy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-ahrshy-iluykthdp-p\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1611325331779000&amp;usg=AFQjCNEncjR7qdd8HqoVFdsvsKPat_ciWg\">appointed<\/a>\u00a0recently retired Army General, Bilal Akbar, as its ambassador to Saudi Arabia. He&#8217;s\u00a0replacing career diplomat\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1602478\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/newsletter.thenewsrun.com\/t\/j-l-ahrshy-iluykthdp-x\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1611325331779000&amp;usg=AFQjCNGw43Z74DV0UOytH4bGIjXbc2CB8w\">Raja Ali Ejaz<\/a>. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia haven&#8217;t been on the best terms lately, and Pakistan is trying to rebuild ties with its Gulf ally. This isn&#8217;t the first time a former military officer has served as head of Pakistan&#8217;s high commission in Riyadh. Akbar&#8217;s appointment suggests the army wants to take the lead in rescuing\u00a0bilateral relations\u00a0with Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong>Backstory:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Very long story short, Pakistan wanted the Saudi-led Organization of Islamic Cooperation to help more with the Kashmir dispute. Pakistan and India claim Kashmir in full, but only control parts of it. Pakistan repeatedly accuses\u00a0India&#8217;s govt of oppressing Kashmiris in India-controlled Kashmir.\u00a0Pakistan&#8217;s foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said to Saudi Arabia, &#8216;if you can&#8217;t do more, i&#8217;ll ask PM Khan to organize\u00a0a meeting with Islamic countries that are ready to step up.&#8217; Saudi Arabia didn&#8217;t appreciate this ultimatum, and asked\u00a0Pakistan to repay $3 billion in loans.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[dkpdf-button]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today\u2019s top Pakistan current affairs January 21, 2021 with download link available in pdf. These are the latest breaking news about Pakistan which will be helpful for aspirants in test preparation of current affairs, Pakistan affairs, General knowledge for NTS, PPSC, CSS, FPSC, KPPSC, SPSC, BPSC, AJKPSC, OTS, PTS, and other Govt Jobs, exams &amp; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":52815,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-66826","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-current-affairs"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66826"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66826\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prepistan.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}