NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Cabinet approves Rs 1810 cr
investment for 210 Mega Watt Luhri Stage-I Hydro Power Project in Himachal
Pradesh: The Cabinet Committee on Economic
Affairs, CCEA approved 1 thousand 8 hundred 10 crore rupees investment proposal
of 210 Mega Watt Luhri Stage-I Hydro Power Project on river Satluj which is
situated in Shimla and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh. The project will be
commissioned within 62 months and it will lead to reduction of 6.1 lakh tonne
of carbon dioxide from the environment annually. The project is being
implemented by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited, SJVNL on
Build-Own-Operate-Maintain basis with active support from the Centre and State
Government.
2. DMC launched “Plastic Lao MASK LE
JAO” initiative: In Uttarakhand, Dehradun Municipal
Corporation (DMC) has launched an initiative named Plastic Lao MASK LE JAO to
fight against the menace of plastic waste and contain the spread of Covid-19.
It has distributed Five thousand face masks in exchange for plastic waste.
Municipal commissioner of Dehradun, Vinay Shankar Pandey, who was the first to
bring plastic waste from his house and get a face mask, and create awareness in
the public against plastic waste and also the importance of masks.
Note:
Governor of Uttarakhand: Baby Rani Maurya; Capitals of Uttarakhand: Dehradun
(Winter), Gairsain (Summer); Chief Minister of Uttarakhand: Trivendra Singh
Rawat.
3. IIT Roorkee develops world 1st
biosensor to detect harmful detergent pollutant: A five-member team of researchers at the Indian Institute of
Technology (IIT) Roorkee have developed the world’s first specific reliable
bacterial biosensor to detect the presence of common environmental pollutant-
Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate /Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SDS). The IIT Roorkee team has
developed a whole-cell biosensor using Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 strain as a
framework (chassis). The system involves a highly specific regulator along with
a fluorescent protein that is produced only when SDS is present in the sample
4. Chacha Chaudhary becomes the
Brand Ambassador for NamamiGange Project: The
iconic Indian superhero, Chacha Chaudhary, whose brain works faster than a
computer has now come forward to join hands with the NamamiGangeProgramme.
Diamond Toons will conceptualize and publish this new ‘Talking Comics’ with
Chacha Chaudhary spreading awareness on the cultural and spiritual significance
of River Ganga and deploy best available knowledge across the masses for Ganga
rejuvenation. The teaser was released during Ganga Utsav 2020.
5. Syska Group announces Rajkummar
Rao as its new brand ambassador: Fast
Moving Electrical Goods (FMEG) company Syska Group, has roped in actor
Rajkummar Rao as the new face of the brand. Rao will work closely with the
company to promote the Syska products across LED and fan segments. The
partnership will also see Syska Group launch a new ad campaign with Rajkummar
focusing on LED and fans. The company aims to leverage the actors strong connect
with urban audiences, as well as with those from Tier 2 and 3 markets, which
make up the large segment of its target groups.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. United States Formally Exits
Paris Climate Accord: The United
States has officially withdrawn from the Paris climate accord on 04 November
2020. With this, the US has now become the only country to formally pull out of
the deal since it was adopted in 2015. The landmark Paris climate agreement was
signed in 2015 to protect the planet from the worsening impacts of the climate
crisis. As per the rules of the agreement, a country cannot officially leave
before one full year of notifying the UN of its intent to withdraw. The United
States notified the United Nations of its withdrawal on November 4, 2019.
Reasons
for withdrawal: Under the Paris pact, developed countries are under obligation
to mobilize at least $100 billion every year from the year 2020 in climate
finance meant for the developing world. The amount was set to be revised
upwards after five years. US President, Donald Trump was opposed to this move
and called it “unfair” and hence the withdrawal.
Paris
Climate Agreement: In December 2015, 195 Countries adopted the Paris Climate
Agreement to combat global warming and actions to intensify actions for low
carbon growth at the 21st Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC in Paris,
France. It is an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) and is effective since November 2016.
Note:
UNFCCC Executive Secretary: Patricia Espinosa; UNFCCC Headquarters: Bonn,
Germany.
2. Tanzania President John Pombe
Magufuli wins 2nd term: The President
of Tanzania, John Pombe Magufuli has been sworn for a second five-year term. He
took the oath of the office on 05 November 2020. Magufuli won 84% of the total
votes in elections held on October 28. He was elected as the fifth President of
Tanzania and is in office since 2015. CHADEMA party candidate Tundu Lissu took
the second position.
Note:
Tanzania Capital: Dodoma Currency: Tanzanian shilling.
3. NDDB Chairman Dilip Rath elected
to IDF: National Dairy Development Board
(NDDB) Chairman, Dilip Rath has been unanimously elected to the board of global
dairy body International Dairy Federation (IDF). He has been associated with IDF
for the last 10 years as Member Secretary of Indian National Committee and as a
member of the Standing Committee on Dairy Policy and Economics. Rath has played
a key role in signing the Dairy Declaration at the IDF World Dairy Summit in
Rotterdam in October 2016 between IDF and the Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO). India ranks first among the world’s milk-producing nations and has the
largest bovine population in the world.
About
International Dairy Federation: IDF is an international non-governmental,
non-profit association having members from national committees constituted by
dairy organisations in each country.
Note:
International Dairy Federation Established: 1903; International Dairy
Federation President: Piercristiano Brazzale; International Dairy Federation
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
4. World Urbanism Day: 8th November:
World Urbanism Day, also known as
“World Town Planning Day”, is celebrated on 8 November globally, to recognise
and promote the role of planning in creating livable communities. WUD is
organised by the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISOCARP).
The day was founded in 1949 by the late Professor Carlos Maria Della Paolera of
the University of Buenos Aires, to advance public and professional interest in
planning. World Urbanism Day provides an opportunity to look at planning from a
global perspective, in order to draw attention to the environmental impact
resulting from the development of cities and territories.
5. International Day of Radiology:
8th November: International Day of Radiology is
observed globally on 8th November every year. The day is celebrated to promote
the awareness of the value that radiology contributes to safe patient care and
improving public understanding of the vital role radiologists and radiographers
play in the healthcare continuum.
In
2020, the International Day of Radiology will therefore be dedicated to all
imaging professionals and their essential role in fighting the COVID-19
pandemic making an indispensable contribution to the diagnosis and treatment of
COVID-19 patients. The motto of International Day of Radiology 2020:
‘Radiologists and radiographers supporting patients during COVID-19’. The day
also marks the anniversary of the discovery of x-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen in
1895. World Radiology Day was first celebrated in the year 2012.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Ritu Phogat wins third straight
MMA title: Former Indian wrestler and now a
Mixed Martial Arts star, Ritu Phogat won her third consecutive MMA championship
title in Singapore. 26-year-old Phogat defeated Cambodia’s Nou Srey Pov with a
technical knockout win in the second round. The match was part of ONE
Championship’s ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX event that featured four exciting World
Championship contests at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. NABARD sanctions over Rs 8,504.30
lakh under RIDF scheme to Govt. of Goa during 2020-21: According to the Ministry of Rural Development, NABARD has
sanctioned loans worth Rs8504.30 lakh under Rural Infrastructure Development
Fund (RIDF) to the Government of Goa for various Social Infrastructure Projects
in the State. With this, NABARD achieved 100% of the target fixed for sanction
to the State Government during 2020-21. RIDF was instituted in NABARD with the
sole objective of giving low-cost support to State Governments and State-owned
Corporations for quick completion of projects related to medium and minor
irrigation, soil conservation and others forms of rural infrastructure.
2. HDFC ERGO implements AI enabled
solution to automate motor claim settlements: HDFC ERGO General Insurance, India’s third-largest non-life
insurance company in the private sector, announced the launch of the AI tool
IDEAS (Intelligent Damage detection Estimation and Assessment Solution) for
motor claim settlements. The IDEAS module uses Neural Network image processing
and Analytics, Machine Learning and Natural Language that supports instant
damage detection as well as calculation of the claims estimate for the
surveyors to help in motor claims settlement in real-time. The IDEAS module,
which is trained using more than 3,00,000 images over the last 2 years and is
agnostic to vehicle makes and models has been integrated in the surveyor mobile
app.
3. RBL Bank and Visa launch instant
payouts for fintechs: India-based
private sector lender RBL Bank has launched instant payouts for fintech firms
by partnering with payments giant Visa. Under this partnership, the bank will
leverage Visa’s real-time push payments platform Visa Direct, across the
country. It will allow RBL Bank to create technology-led banking solutions
catering to the growing needs of merchants and partners. Further, this will
enable fintech firms to create digital payment solutions for the end customer.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1. HAL inks Rs 400-crore pact with
Tech Mahindra for project Parivartan: Hindustan
Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) said the company signed a contract worth Rs 400 crore
with Tech Mahindra for implementation of enterprise resource planning (ERP) to
support its project Parivartan. As a system integrator, Tech Mahindra will
implement project Parivartan over a period of nine years at a cost of Rs 400
crore. Project Parivartan is a
comprehensive business transformation exercise initiated by HAL through
technology enhancement and centralised ERP.
2. Nestlé acquires healthy meals
startup Freshly for up to $1.5 bn: Nestlé
USA announced that it has acquired Freshly for $1.5 billion — $950 million plus
potential earnouts of up to $550 million based on future growth. Founded in
2015, Freshly is a New York City-based startup that offers healthy meals
delivered to your home in weekly orders, which can then be prepared in a few
minutes in your microwave or oven.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Hariharan wins JC Daniel award
for lifetime contributions in Malayalam cinema: Noted filmmaker Hariharan has been selected for the JC
Daniel Award, the state government’s highest honour for lifetime contributions
to Malayalam cinema. The award carries a purse of Rs 5 lakh, a citation, and a
sculpture. Hariharan was chosen for the prestigious award by a jury chaired by
MT Vasudevan Nair with director Harikumar, actor Vidhubala, State Chalachitra
Academy chairman Kamal and Cultural Department Secretary Rani George as
members. Hariharan, who initially skilled with cinematographer U Rajagopal in
Madras, later assisted administrators M Krishnan Nair, AB Raj, and JD Thottanm
for seven years. In 1972 he directed the film ‘Girls Hostel’. Later he got here
up with a few of the evergreen films in Malayalam.
OBITUARIES
1. Legendary Australia swimming coach Don Talbot passes away: Don Talbot, the foundation director of the Australian Institute of Sport and one of the country’s greatest coaches, has died. He was 87. Talbot was the driving force behind Australia becoming a swimmer powerhouse in the 1960s and 1970s, and also spent time coaching in Canada and the United States during his career.
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