21st December 2014 - Important Current Affairs updates

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International Affairs

• The United States has dismissed a call by North Korea for a joint investigation into the hacking of Sony Pictures and wants China to help block cyber attacks from Pyongyang.
• Washington blames North Korea for a breach of cyber security at Sony Pictures that led to the release of embarrassing emails and prompted executives to halt the release of “The Interview.” 
• The movie, which was due to open on Christmas Day, is a madcap romp about a CIA plot to kill leader Kim Jong Un, infuriating the secretive state.
• Pakistan authorities have planned counseling sessions on post traumatic stress management for hundreds of children who survived the school massacre, Peshawar, that killed 148 people, mostly students, a report said today.
• Soon after an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Pakistan issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah, Pak High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit said that they are also planning to challenge the bail order of 26/11 accused Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

National Affairs

• Delhi‬ govt is planning to install CCTV cameras in orange cluster buses plying in the national capital to enhance the security of the women.
• It has already completed first phase of installation of CCTV cameras in 200 DTC buses
• CBI‬ will soon file its final report in the alleged irregularities in the sale of land near the high-security Srinagar airport worth crores of rupees by the then Defence Estate Officer Ajay Chowdhury and others.
• Centre is working to make around 6 lakh 'ASHA' workers digitally educated and well connected for better healthcare of mother and new born children, Union Information Technology minister Ravishankar Prasad said today.

Banking & Economy

• Today is 104th foundation day of India's first SWADESHI BANK 'Central Bank of India".

• Central Bank of India was completely owned and founded by Indians with out any Britishers share.
• It was established on 21 December 1911 by Sir Sorabji Pochkhanawala with Sir Pherozeshah Mehta as Chairman.
• Sorabji Pochkhanawala is the only banker in who's honour postage stamp was released by the President of India.
• Inmates of ‎Delhi‬'s high-security Tihar‬ jail will soon get life and accidental insurance cover as the prison administration, in collaboration with Indian‬ Bank, has decided to get their accounts opened under Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Yojna.
• As per the scheme, the inmates will come under accidental insurance cover of 1 lakh rupees and a life insurance cover of 30,000 rupees even while serving their sentence.

Science & Technology

• Unavailability of blood in emergency situations such as accidents or battlefield trauma will no longer be a problem as a Delhi University‬ department has claimed to have developed a safe and portable blood substitute which can be used irrespective of blood groups.
• A team of researchers at Delhi University's department of Biochemistry, led by professor Suman Kundu, has applied for a patent for laboratory-made haemoglobin which, according to them, enjoys several advantages as a blood substitute.
• The team said, the lab developed haemoglobin is a safe and portable blood substitute.

Education

• The Syndicate of Panjab University today approved the fee hike of five per cent for all courses of the varsity from the next academic session.
• The fee hike will be subject to a minimum increase of Rs 500 and maximum of Rs 1,200 for all courses of the varsity teaching departments and its regional centres for the session 2015-16.

Sports

• Pak's all-rounder Shahid Afridi today announced to retire from one-day internationals after 2015 World Cup in Australia & New Zealand.

• Read Current Affairs updates of 20th December 2014 from here
• Read Current Affairs updates of 19th December 2014 from here
• Read Current Affairs updates of 18th December 2014 from here
• Read Current Affairs updates of 17th December 2014 from here

Read more Daily Current Affairs updates from here

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