18 November 2017 Current Affairs
Shagun Chowdhary crowned National Women’s Trap Champion
Shagun Chowdhary bagged a National Champion Crown when she won the women’s trap event at the 61st National Shooting Championship. Representing ONGC, Chowdhary is the first Indian woman trap shooter to win an Olympic berth, overcame the challenge from Punjab’s Rajeshwari Kumari to prevail 41-38 in the final.
Nicaraguas Sergio Ramirez wins Spains Cervantes Prize
Nicaraguan author and former politician Sergio Ramirez Mercado won the 2017 Cervantes Prize, the Spanish-speaking world’s highest literary honor. He has written more than 20 novels, including “Margarita, esta Linda la mar” (Margarita, How Beautiful the Sea), which won Spain’s prestigious Alfaguara award in 1998. The award consists of 125,000-euro ($148,000). The prizes are presented each April 23 on the anniversary of the death of Miguel de Cervantes, author of “Don Quixote”.
VP receives first copy of book on law and women
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu received the first copy of the book ‘Journey of Women Law Reforms and The Law Commission of India Some Insights’, from the Author former Joint Secretary, Dr. Pavan Sharma. The author has made an excellent analysis and more such studies can help focus nation’s attention to important areas like matrimonial laws, property laws, laws relating to inheritance, succession, guardianship as well as NRI marriages and issues of sexual violence.
India, France agree to deepen Security Co-operation
India and France have agreed to deepen security cooperation, bilaterally and in the multilateral fora, and strengthen strong commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. After holding delegation-level talks with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Jean Yves-Le Drain, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj stated both countries have vowed to get rid of the menace of terrorism.
Child Care activist Gopinath R. selected for Prof. Yashwantrao Kelkar Youth Award 2017
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) which is the largest student organization has selected Gopinath R. for Prof. Yashwantrao Kelkar Yuva Puraskar 2017. Gopinath R. is a known child care activist from Bengaluru and has been taking care of at least 400 deprived children. He is selected a known child care activist from Bengaluru Gopinath R. for Prof. Yashwantrao Kelkar Yuva Puraskar 2017 amongst the various nominations received this year from all over the country. The selection committee of Yuva Puraskar 2017 has selected nomination of Gopinath R. in appreciation of his work for “Childcare, protection, and development”.
Maharashtra CM launches initiative to curb Childhood Obesity
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched a new initiative against childhood obesity, which will directly benefit over 6,000 children in Pune alone by making them aware of their Body Mass Index (BMI). As per the initiative, a BMI dialer will be given to the schools through which children will be able to know their BMI. India is the diabetes capital of the world and by 2025 is expected to be the second-largest country with childhood obesity, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The initiative was taken by Rotary Club of Koregaon Park with JT Foundation. The campaign will ensure that childhood obesity will not hamper the growth or development of our future generations. This is a positive movement and the government will ensure support to spread this across Maharashtra.
India’s first Mega Coastal Economic Zone to come up in Maharashtra
The government has given the go-ahead for setting up India’s first mega coastal economic zone (CEZ) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Maharashtra as part of a plan to develop 14 such industrial clusters to spur manufacturing and generate jobs. About 45 companies across telecom, auto and IT sectors will soon bid for 200 hectares of land to set up manufacturing units in the zone. The plan envisages a total investment of Rs 15,000 crore in the first phase and creation of more than 1.5 lakh jobs.
Iraqi forces successfully liberated town of Rawa from ISIS
The US-backed Iraqi forces has reclaimed the town of Rawa from the most dangerous terrorist organization Islamic State (ISIS). Notably, the town of Rawa is located in Anbar province in the Euphrates valley and was the last known Iraqi town still held by ISIS terrorists. The Iraq’s Joint Operation Command (IJOC) said in a statement read that the Iraqi national flag was hosted in the town of Rawa, which was reclaimed from ISIS terrorist organize easily.
Yes Bank ties up with Centre Denmark India for fintech collaboration
Private sector lender Yes Bank has signed an MoU with Innovation Centre Denmark India (ICDK India), a partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science to bring fintech innovations and startups from Denmark to India, and facilitate entry of Indian startups to the region. The partnership aims to build bridges to promote innovation and assist fintech companies in India and Denmark to expand into each other’s markets.
AVPS Chakravarthi appointed World Packaging Organisation Ambassador
Ecobliss India managing director AVPS Chakravarthi has been appointed as the ambassador of World Packaging Organisation at its 99th board meeting held in Rio de Geneiro, Brazil. He has served as chairman of Indian Institute of Packaging, Hyderabad and has been on the board of Indian Institute of Packaging for over a decade. He has won Worldstar award for packaging excellence for five years in a row.
NASA launches Joint Polar Satellite System-1 into space
NASA launched a next-generation satellite into space designed to monitor weather around the world and help improve forecasts. The satellite, called the Joint Polar Satellite System-1, is a joint venture between the US space agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which provides weather reports and forecasts. The satellite will orbit the Earth 14 times each day from one pole to the other at 824 kms above the planet, providing scientists full global coverage twice a day.
China Opens World’s Coolest Library
China unveiled one of the world’s coolest library with more than one million books to readers. It took an innovative step and built the world’s most beautiful and modern library. It has a giant spherical auditorium in the middle that looks just like a giant eye. It has near about 1.2 Million Books. It is located in the Binhai Cultural District in Tianjin, China.
India’s Manushi Chillar crowned Miss World 2017
India’s Manushi Chillar won the coveted Miss World 2017 pageant, 17 years after Priyanka Chopra won the title in 2000. Chillar competed against 108 contestants from various countries at a glittering event held at Sanya City Arena in China. Apart from the title, Chillar also won the Beauty with Purpose award. In the final round, she was asked, “Which profession deserves the highest salary and why?” Manushi’s winning answer was, “A mother deserves the highest respect..when you talk about salary, I don’t think it’s just about cash but the love and respect you give to someone”. She added that mothers deserve the highest salary, respect and love.
Sri Lankan author bags 2017 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature
Sri Lankan author Anuk Arudpragasam’s “The Story of a Brief Marriage” – a touching tale of a young man trapped on the frontlines between the Sri Lankan Army and the Tamil Tigers – has bagged the $25,000 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2017.
Former SC Judge V Khalid passes away
Retired Supreme Court judge V. Khalid died in Kannur. Justice Khalid was 95 years old. He had served as the judge in the Kerala High Court and as Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. He began his career as a lawyer at the Kannur munsiff court in 1948 and moved to the Thalassery bar in 1949.
First Namami Barak festival held in Assam
The first ever Namami Barak festival was held at Silchar in Assam. It was inaugurated by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The event was organised at 3 locations in Barak Valley also known as Southern Assam. Silchar is main event area while other two locations are Hailakandi and Karimganj district.