By: D.K Chaudhary
1. World Diabetes Day: 14 November
i. The World Diabetes Day (WDD) was observed globally on 14 November. The theme for 2017 WDD is ‘Women and diabetes – Our right to a healthy future’.
ii. Diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death in women globally, causing 2.1 million deaths each year.
News In-a-Line:
World Diabetes Day– 14 November– theme ‘Women and diabetes – Our right to a healthy future’.
World Diabetes Day– 14 November– theme ‘Women and diabetes – Our right to a healthy future’.
- The World Diabetes Day 2017 theme aims to promote affordable access to the essential diabetes medicines and technologies for all women.
2. 31st ASEAN Summit 2017 Highlights
i. The 31st ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit was held in Manila, Philippines. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte chaired the summit. The Summit, with the theme “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World”.
ii. The ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) 2017 is a 3-day conference of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) being held from November 12 to November 14.
ii. The ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) 2017 is a 3-day conference of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC) being held from November 12 to November 14.
Important Excerpts from the Visit of PM Modi to Philippines and 31st ASEAN Summit-
Meetings Held/Agreements Signed-
1. ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council Meeting held,
2. 16th ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Council Meeting held,
3. 20th ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) Meeting held,
4. The Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity (MPAC) 2025 Videos were launched,
5. Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Ministerial Meeting (RCEP MM),
6. Signing of the Side Agreements of the ASEAN-Hong Kong Investment Agreement (AHKIA),
7. Signing of the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China (AHKFTA) Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
India’s Meetings/Bilateral Talks-
1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in Philippines. The institute is working towards developing better quality of rice seed and addressing food scarcity issues.
2. Indo-US Bilateral Talks- PM Modi and US President Donald Trump held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Manila. Both leaders discussed a range of key issues including defence and security. They have resolved that “two of the world’s great democracies should also have the world’s greatest militaries”.
3. Four agreements were signed by India and Philippines- in areas including Defence Cooperation and Logistics, agriculture, Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises-MSME and forging closer relations between the Indian Council of World Affairs and the Philippines Foreign Service Institute.
4. Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks with his Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbul. In their brief meeting, both sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest, including bilateral, regional and international issues.
- Philippines Capital- Manila, Currency- Philippine peso.
- President- Rodrigo Duterte.
- In July 2017, the PM Modi’s cabinet approved a proposal for IRRI to set up its South Asia Regional Centre at Varanasi.
3. 37th India International Trade Fair Begins in New Delhi
i. 37th India International Trade Fair (IITF) has begun at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The 14-day annual event has been organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO). It was inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind.
ii. This year the theme of the fair is “Startup India Standup India”. Vietnam is the Partner Country, while Kyrgyzstan is the Focus Country. Jharkhand is participating as a Partner State in the event.
News In-a-Line:
37th India International Trade Fair (IITF)- in New Delhi- organised by the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO)- under theme “Startup India Standup India”- Vietnam- Partner Country.
- Vietnam Capital- Hanoi, Currency- Vietnamese dong.
4. 10th South Asia Economic Summit Begins in Nepal
i. The 10th South Asia Economic Summit (SAES) has begun in Kathmandu, Nepal. The theme of 3-day summit is “Deepening Economic Integration for Inclusive and Sustainable Development in South Asia”.
ii. The summit is being organised by National Planning Commission and Ministry of Commerce of Nepal and South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment, Nepal.
ii. The summit is being organised by National Planning Commission and Ministry of Commerce of Nepal and South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment, Nepal.
News In-a-Line:
3-day long- 10th South Asia Economic Summit (SAES)– held in Kathmandu, Nepal– under theme ‘Deepening Economic Integration for Inclusive and Sustainable Development in South Asia’.
- Nepal Capital- Kathmandu, Currency- Nepalese rupee.
- PM Nepal- Sher Bahadur Deuba, President- Bidhya Devi Bhandari.
5. India, Philippines Inks Four Agreements in Various Fields
i. Four agreements were signed by India and Philippines in areas including Defence Cooperation and Logistics, agriculture, Micro, Medium and Small Enterprises-MSME and forging closer relations between the Indian Council of World Affairs and the Philippines Foreign Service Institute.
ii. The bilateral meeting was held between PM Modi and the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.
ii. The bilateral meeting was held between PM Modi and the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.
News In-a-Line:
India-Philippines- signed 4 agreements- on Defence Cooperation and Logistics, agriculture, MSME and forging closer relations between the Indian Council of World Affairs and the Philippines Foreign Service Institute- led by PM Modi and the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.
- Philippines Capital- Manila, Currency- Philippine peso.
- President- Rodrigo Duterte.
6. Government Launches BharatNet Phase 2 Project
i. To provide high-speed broadband service in all Gram Panchayats by March 2019, government has launched its second and final phase of BharatNet project. It will be implemented at an outlay of around 34 thousand crore rupees.
ii. The project was launched at a function in New Delhi. Department of Telecommunications (DoT) signed MoUs with states for the implementation of the second phase of BharatNet. Under this phase, broadband connectivity will be provided in remaining 1.5 lakh Gram Panchayats in the country.
News In-a-Line:
Govt of India- launched- second phase of BharatNet project– to provide high-speed broadband service in all Gram Panchayats by March 2019.
- Communication Minister- Manoj Sinha,
- Electronics and IT Minister- Ravi Shankar Prasad.
7. For first time, Mumbai to Host Asian Bankers Association Summit
i. For the first time, the nation’s financial capital- Mumbai will host the 34th annual conference of the Asian Bankers Association (ABA).
ii. The two-day conference will be held with the theme ‘Asia’s turn to transform’. The event is expected to see the presence of over 160 domestic as well as international bankers.
ii. The two-day conference will be held with the theme ‘Asia’s turn to transform’. The event is expected to see the presence of over 160 domestic as well as international bankers.
News In-a-Line:
Mumbai- hosts 34th annual conference of the Asian Bankers Association (ABA)- for the 1st time- under theme ‘Asia’s turn to transform’.
- Asian Bankers Association (ABA)- founded in 1981.
8. Air India Gets Rs 1,500-cr Loan from Bank of India
i. Debt-laden Air India has received a loan worth of Rs 1,500 crore from Bank of India to meet urgent working capital needs less than a month after floating a tender in this regard.
ii. For the second time in recent months, the flagship carrier has received loans from a public sector lender. Prior to that, the airline had borrowed around Rs 3,250 crore as short tenure loans from two lenders IndusInd Bank and Punjab National Bank.
ii. For the second time in recent months, the flagship carrier has received loans from a public sector lender. Prior to that, the airline had borrowed around Rs 3,250 crore as short tenure loans from two lenders IndusInd Bank and Punjab National Bank.
News In-a-Line:
Air India- received a loan worth of Rs 1,500 crore– from Bank of India.
- Air India CMD- Rajiv Bansal.
- MD & CEO of Bank of India- Dinabandhu Mohapatra, Headquarters- Mumbai, Maharashtra.
9. President Gives Away National Child Awards 2017 on Occasion of Children’s Day
i. The President Shri Ram Nath Kovind gave away the National Child Awards 2017 on the occasion of Children’s Day (14 November) in New Delhi.
ii. This year, the President honoured 16 children, out of which one child was given a gold medal and 15 children were given silver medals. Master Akash Manoj from Tamil Nadu was the only child winning gold for Innovation.
ii. This year, the President honoured 16 children, out of which one child was given a gold medal and 15 children were given silver medals. Master Akash Manoj from Tamil Nadu was the only child winning gold for Innovation.
- Minister of State for Women & Child Development – Dr. Virendra Kumar.
10. UP Tops in Mobilising Jan Dhan Accounts
i. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) which was launched to further the financial-inclusion process in the country have gathered momentum in some northern States post demonetisation. With its area and size of population, Uttar Pradesh tops in opening new PMJDY accounts.
ii. In fact, one-fifth of the more than five crore new PMJDY accounts in the Indian banking system came from Uttar Pradesh alone. Bihar, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal cumulatively added another 2.2 crore new accounts in the last one year.
News In-a-Line:
Uttar Pradesh- tops in Mobilizing Jan Dhan Accounts- Bihar second.
- PMJDY- was launched in 2014.
11. Sujoy Ghosh Resigns as Jury Head of 48th International Film Festival of India
i. Filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh has resigned as Head of the jury of the Indian Panorama of the 48th International Film Festival of India (IIFI).
ii. His resignation came following the elimination of the two films “Sexy Durga” and “Nude” from the final list of films. Instead of Nude, the Hindi movie Pihu by Vinod Kapri was finalised as the opening film of the festival.
ii. His resignation came following the elimination of the two films “Sexy Durga” and “Nude” from the final list of films. Instead of Nude, the Hindi movie Pihu by Vinod Kapri was finalised as the opening film of the festival.
News In-a-Line:
Filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh- resigned as jury head- of the Indian Panorama of the 48th International Film Festival of India (IIFI).
Filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh- resigned as jury head- of the Indian Panorama of the 48th International Film Festival of India (IIFI).
12. Bangladesh Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha Resigns
i. Bangladesh Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha has resigned about six weeks after he went on leave amid criticism by the government over a Supreme Court verdict which scrapped Parliament’s power to remove judges on grounds of misconduct and incapacity.
ii. Justice Sinha’s term was scheduled to expire in January 2018. He is the first top judge of the country to step down.
News In-a-Line:
Bangladesh Chief Justice- Surendra Kumar Sinha- Resigns- after criticism by the government over a Supreme Court verdict.
Bangladesh Chief Justice- Surendra Kumar Sinha- Resigns- after criticism by the government over a Supreme Court verdict.
- Bangladesh Capital- Dhaka, Currency- Taka.
- PM- Sheikh Hasina, President- Abdul Hamid.
13. Italy Fail to Qualify for FIFA World Cup 2018
i. In Football, Italy has failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1958. The four-time champions failed to make the cut after they lost the World Cup Qualifying European play-off against Sweden, 0-1.
ii. Italy has now joined the Netherlands, US, Chile, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon in the list of big nations that have failed to qualify to tournament which will be held in Russia in June 2018.
ii. Italy has now joined the Netherlands, US, Chile, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Cameroon in the list of big nations that have failed to qualify to tournament which will be held in Russia in June 2018.
News In-a-Line:
Italy- failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2018– for the first time since 1958– to be held in Russia 2018.
- Italy Capital- Rome, Currency- Euro.
- FIFA World Cup 2018– in Russia
14. Pankaj Advani Lifts IBSF World Billiards Championship
i. Ace Indian cueist Pankaj Advani lifts the IBSF World Billiards Championship. Pankaj Advani clinched his 17th world title at Doha, Qatar after defeating his arch-rival Mike Russell of England 6-2 to defend the 150-up format title which he won in Bengaluru 2016.
ii. Advani is the winner of maximum number of world titles in any sport by an Indian.
ii. Advani is the winner of maximum number of world titles in any sport by an Indian.
News In-a-Line:
Pankaj Advani- won IBSF World Billiards Championship- 17th world title at Doha, Qatar- defeated Mike Russell of England.
- Qatar Capital- Doha, Currency- Qatari riyal.