NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India Set to Extend Rice Export Bans Through 2024: India, the world’s top rice exporter, is expected to maintain its curbs
on overseas sales well into 2024, a move likely to hold the staple grain at
close to its highest price levels since the food crisis of 2008. Lower prices
and ample stockpiles have helped make India one of the top shippers globally
over the past decade, recently accounting for almost 40% of the total. African
nations like Benin and Senegal are among the top buyers.
2. Ladakh secures 4th GI tag for Sea Buckthorn: In
Ladakh, after GI Tag for Apricot (Raktsey Karpo), Pashmina, and Ladakhi
Wood Carving, the Geographical Indication Registry, operating under the
Ministry of Commerce & Industry, has officially granted the GI tag
to the Department of Industries & Commerce, Ladakh and approved it as
the Registered Proprietor for ‘Ladakh Sea Buckthorn’ in Class 31. Farmers
of Kargil are very excited for this special recognition for Sea Buckthorn, one
of the most profitable crop of UT Ladakh having 90 % production from Ladakh in
India.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Argentina Elects ‘Shock Therapy’ Libertarian Javier
Milei as President: Argentina elected right-wing
libertarian Javier Milei as its new president. Milei is pledging economic
shock therapy. His plans include shutting the central bank, ditching the
peso, and slashing spending, potentially painful reforms that resonated with
voters angry at the economic malaise. Milei has been particularly popular among
the young, who have grown up seeing their country lurch from one crisis to
another.
2. Universal Children’s Day is observed on 20th November
2023: World Children’s Day is
observed on November 20 every year and is dedicated to the little ones who make
our life beautiful. Wishes, images, messages to share. The day is to raise
awareness around children rights and improving their welfare. The theme for
World Children's Day for the year 2023 is 'For every child, every right.'
3. World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims: World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic
observed on 20th November 2023 to spread to a growing number of countries on
every continent. The Day has become an important tool in global efforts to
reduce road casualties. This year's theme is 'Accelerating Change' The
objectives of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims are to
provide a platform for road traffic victims and their families
4. India Ranks Third In Global Unicorn Rankings With 72
Unicorns: India ranks third with 72
unicorn companies, with a total valuation of $195.75 billion. The
country’s unicorns make a substantial 5 per cent contribution to the total
global unicorn valuation, according to research by Journalistic Org. The
first Indian company to make an appearance in global rankings is BYJU’s, which
stands at 36th place with a valuation of $11.50 billion. The US has the highest
and over three times more than China in second place (172).
5. BofA Survey Highlights Japan and India as Preferred
Markets in Asia Pacific: Japan and India are the most favored markets in the Asia Pacific region,
reveals the fund manager survey (FMS) conducted by Bank of America (BofA). Japan
(net 45 percent overweight) cements its place at the top of the preference
stack, followed by India (25 percent), while Thailand (net 13 percent
underweight), China, and Australia. The net overweight figure is the percent of
fund managers saying overweight minus the percent saying underweight.
6. WHO and Ministry of Ayush signed the Traditional and
Complementary Medicine: The Ministry of Ayush and World Health
Organization (WHO) have signed the Traditional and Complementary
Medicine ‘Project Collaboration Agreement’ in Geneva. The main objective of
this agreement is to standardize Traditional and Complementary Medical Systems,
integrate their quality and safety aspects into the National Health System, and
disseminate them at the international level. Through this cooperation
agreement, efforts will be made to connect Traditional and Complementary
Medical Systems with the mainstream of the National Health System. To fulfil
this objective, Traditional Medicine Global Strategy 2025-34 will be prepared
by WHO with the support of the Ministry of Ayush. Other major objectives of the
agreement include efforts to strengthen the system of training and practice in
the field of Complementary Medicine System ‘Siddha’, formulation of guidelines
for the listing of Traditional and Complementary Medicines, safety and related
efforts, etc.
7. France test-fires long-range ballistic missile ‘M51.3’ :
France has successfully test-fired an
M51.3 long-range ballistic missile, boosting the credibility of France’s
nuclear deterrence capabilities. The missile, which did not carry a nuclear
weapon, was fired from the French army’s Biscarosse missile testing site in
southwest France and landed in the North Atlantic, “hundreds of kilometres from
any coastline. The M51.3 missile is an upgraded version of the M51, a three-stage
sea-land strategic ballistic missile designed to be launched from French Navy
submarines. The M51 was first test-fired from a ground base in 2006 and from a
submarine in 2010, the year it was commissioned. The new M51.3 missile, which
is expected to enter service around 2025, is developed by aerospace firm
ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Arbus (AIR.PA) and French defence group
Safran (SAF.PA) Ballistic missiles are similar to rockets and follow elliptic
trajectories after launch, often leaving the earth’s atmosphere to reach lower
space, unlike cruise missiles, which typically follow straight trajectories at
low altitudes, powered by continuous thrust until they reach their target.
8. 19 November – World Toilet Day: World Toilet Day is observed every
year on 19 November. The main objective of celebrating this day is to make
people aware of the cleanliness of toilets.
On
this day people are told about the importance of using toilets and cleanliness.
This day is also used to create awareness about the cleanliness of toilets and
also to stop people from defecating in the open.
9. 20 November – Africa Industrialization Day: Africa Industrialization Day is
celebrated on November 20 each year. It’s a period when governments and
organizations in several African countries consider how to accelerate the
continent’s industrialization. It’s also an opportunity to draw international
media attention to Africa’s industrialization concerns and challenges. A
geographical representation of Africa, including the island of Madagascar, is a
popular symbol of Africa Industrialization Day. Flags of African international
organizations, including the African Union, as well as a variety of national
flags, are hoisted in celebration. In July 1989, the Organization of African
Unity (O.A.U.) conducted its 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of
State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Africa Industrialization Day was
announced on November 20 during this session. Africa Industrialization Day was recognized
by the United Nations General Assembly on December 22, 1989, and on November
20, 1990, it was celebrated for the first time.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Australia lifts ICC Men’s Cricket world cup beating
India: Australia lifted the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup
2023 defeating India by six wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi
Stadium in Ahmedabad. Virat Kohli was awarded with the "player
of the tournament" title for his exemplary performance. He
scored a total of 765 runs in 11 innings, the highest-ever runs
scored by a batter in a single edition of the World Cup. Mohammed
Shami finished as the leading wicket taker of the World Cup 2023.
2. Virat Kohli earns the “Player of the Tournament” title
in the Cricket World Cup 2023: Indian
star batter Virat Kohli has been awarded with the “player of the
tournament” title in the ICC World Cup 2023 for his exemplary performance.
Kohli scored a total of 765 runs in 11 innings, the highest-ever runs scored by
a batter in a single edition of the World Cup. He averaged at 95.62, and ended
up with a strike rate of 90.3 The former Indian skipper also added 6 fifties
& 3 centuries to his name.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. India’s GDP Surpasses $4 Trillion Mark: A Historic
Milestone: India's economy achieved a historic milestone when
its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) crossed the $4 trillion-mark in nominal terms
for the first time ever. Neither the finance ministry nor the National
Statistical Office have officially confirmed whether the mark has been
breached. The milestone was hailed by billionaire and Adani Group Chairman
Gautam Adani, two union ministers and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister
Devendra Fadnavis.
2. Kotak Mahindra Bank Appoints Ashok Vaswani As MD &
CEO: Kotak Mahindra Bank has
appointed Ashok Vaswani as its managing director (MD) and chief executive
officer (CEO) from January 1, 2024. The bank's board has appointed
Vaswani for a period of three years, subject to the approval of the members of
the bank, according to an exchange filing. The appointment of Vaswani follows
the conclusion of Dipak Gupta’s term as the Managing Director and CEO of the
bank
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Perumal Murugan wins JCB Prize for Literature: Tamil writer Perumal Murugan won the coveted JCB Prize for
Literature for his novel, Fire Bird, an English translation of his Tamil novel
Aalanda Patchi. The award carries ₹25 lakh cash prize. The translator is Janani
Kannan and the work was published by Penguin. The prize aims to celebrate
Indian writing and to help readers across the world discover the very best of
contemporary Indian literature. It makes significant awards also to
translators; without whose work no reader can appreciate the scale and
diversity of literature written in over 20 languages.
2. Sheynnis Palacios crowned Miss Universe 2023: Nicaragua’s Sheynnis Palacios has been
crowned Miss Universe for the year 2023, marking her country’s first win
at the international beauty pageant. The 72nd edition of the Miss Universe
pageant was held at the Jose Adolfo Pineda Arena in San Salvador, El Salvador. Miss
Thailand Anntonia Porsild emerged the first runner-up and Miss Australia Moraya
Wilson was named the second runner-up at the event. Palacios was crowned by
USA’s R’Bonney Gabriel, who held the title of Miss Universe for the year 2022. According
to Miss Universe, Palacios is a 23-year-old mental health activist and
audiovisual producer from Managua, Nicaragua. Palacios bested entrants from 83
other countries, including Miss India Shweta Sharda, who was called into the
list of top 20 contestants. Erica Robin, who was crowned the first ever Miss
Universe Pakistan 2023, also made it to the top 20.
OBITUARIES
1. Former RBI Governor S. Venkitaramanan Passed Away At
92: S Venkitaramanan, the former Governor of the Reserve Bank of
India (RBI), passed away early this morning due to a brief illness. He was
92 years old. According to The Business Line, he is survived by his two
daughters, Girija and Sudha, along with their respective families. S
Venkitaramanan was the 18th Governor of the RBI, serving for two years from
1990 to 1992. Prior to this, he was Finance Secretary in the Ministry of
Finance from 1985 to 1989.
