ICC teams up with Google
The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced its partnership with Google. The partnership is to offer the fans a great viewing experience of the upcoming semifinals and final of the ICC Women’s World T20. This partnership includes enabling the casting of video content from the ICC mobile app on cast-enabled devices, like Chromecast and Google Home Hub. International Cricket Council (ICC): Motto: Cricket for good ♦ Type: Federation of national associations ♦ Formation: 15 June 1909 ♦ Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates ♦ Membership countries: 104 members ♦ Chairman: Shashank Manohar ♦ CEO: David Richardson ♦ Official languages: English
Indian Navy issued LoR to the U.S. for multi role U.S. copters
Indian Navy has issued the Letter of Request (LoR) to the U.S., under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route, for the purchase of 24 MH-60R Multi-Role Helicopters (MRH) in a deal estimated at $2bn. This is among a series of defence procurements and inductions from the U.S. and Russia in the last two months. The Navy is presently facing a critical shortage of helicopters and several frontline warships are plying with empty helicopter decks. These helicopters are being procured as a replacement for 15 Sea King ASW helicopters de-inducted from service in 1991 and one Sea King 42B MRH lost in an accident. The current MRHs in service, Sea King 42Bs, were inducted in the 1980s.
Swami Vigyananda launches Hindu Economic Forum in New Zealand
Hindu Economic Forum New Zealand (HEFNZ) was officially launched by Swami Vigyananand on Sunday, 18 November 2018 in Auckland, with the vision “Grow Together; Share Together”. Hardik Desai and Raj Tyagi will be taking the lead in organizing the HEF New Zealand. Swami Vigyananda also announced that the first New Zealand Hindu Economic Conference to be organized by Hindu Economic Forum New Zealand in 2019.
Open Forum at International Film Festival of India to begin in Goa
It provides a platform to filmmakers, actors, jury members, senior government officials, an organizers of film festivals from India and abroad to exchange their views in a free and frank manner. The topic for today’s Open Forum is the role of film festivals in promoting film culture and the need for spreading film festivals across the country. The Speakers include veteran filmmaker Rahul Rawail, IFFI Head Chaitanya Prasad, Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) Vice Chairman Rajendra Talak, OSD to IFFI Senthil Rajan and Karnataka Chalchitra Academy Chairman N Chandrasekhar.
Jammu and Kashmirs civil secretariat to become plastic free
Jammu & Kashmir’s Civil Secretariat would soon be made plastic-free and its use would be discarded absolutely in the secretariat premises. The Chief Secretary of J&K assured that Secretariat would soon be made free from plastic and a notification to that effect will be issued soon. The announcement was made by the Secretary during the celebrations of World Toilet Day, 2018. He also assured that Estates, Hospitality, and JKTDC shall be directed not to use plastic bottles, cups etc. in meetings or otherwise in the Secretariat. The move of the J&K’s secretariat appeals to all the government departments to shun the use of plastic in their respective meeting halls so that an example is set for the public to emulate.
Jai Ram Thakur to launch different developmental schemes in Palampur
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur will be visiting Palampur on November 23. During his visit, he will be launching different developmental schemes worth crores of rupees. Thakur will first attend a state-level academic conference on free and compulsory education for all and then inaugurate a double-lane bridge at Kalu-De-Hatti on Maul Khad. He will also be laying the foundation stone for a drinking water supply scheme in Ghuggar and then attend a function organized at Gurudwara Sahib, Palampur on the occasion of Prakash Utsav of Guru Gobind Singh.
Twelve childrens books were shortlisted for 2019 Goodbooks Awards
Twelve children’s books have been shortlisted for The Hindu Young World-Goodbooks Awards. This awards will recognize the children’s books published in India. The books were categorized into 4 categories (i) Best Picture Book (Story), (ii) Best Picture Book (Illustration), (iii) Best Book (Fiction) (iv) Best Book (Non-Fiction). Under every category, three books have been shortlisted. The awards are being given for the fourth consecutive year. The winners will be announced at The Hindu Lit for Life in January 2019.
I&B Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore inaugurates multi-media digital exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi at IFFI
Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore today inaugurated a multi-media digital exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi at the International Film festival of India (IFFI) in Panaji, Goa. Titled “Mahatma on Celluloid”, the exhibition provides a state-of-the-art digital experience to the viewers who can relive the life and times of Mahatma, and draw inspiration from his ideas and work.
The Sentinelese, an endangered tribe
The Sentinelese, a negrito tribe who live on the North Sentinel Island of the Andamans, have remained fiercely hostile to outsiders. Researchers say the inhabitants are connected to the Jarawa tribe on the basis of physical, as well as linguistic similarities. Based on carbon dating of kitchen middens by the Anthropological Survey of India (ASI), the presence of the Sentinelese can be confirmed in the islands to 2,000 years ago. Genome studies indicate that the Andaman tribes could have been on the islands even 30,000 years ago. It is also argued that the Sentinelese have been mostly left alone even from colonial times, unlike other tribes such as the Onges, Jarawas and Great Andamanese, because the land they occupy has little commercial attraction. From 1901 to 1921 they were estimated to be 117 people. In 1931, the number dropped to 50, a figure used for the 1961 Census too. In 1991 their headcount was put at 23. Census 2001 counted 39 inhabitants.
Wasim Jaffer becomes first Indian to touch 11,000-run milestone in Ranji Trophy
Veteran first-class cricketer Wasim Jaffer became the first Indian batsman to touch the 11,000-run figure in the Ranji Trophy. The Vidharbha batsman achieved the milestone during the third-round match against Baroda here at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA). The cricketer, who had made his first-class debut in 1996-97, emerged as one of the legends of the Indian domestic cricket.
Jammu and Kashmir governor dissolved the State Assembly
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved the State Assembly. The dissolution of assembly is because the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peoples Conference (PC) separately staked claim to form a government. The Governor has passed an order in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by clause (b) of subsection (2) of Section 53 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir to dissolve the Legislative Assembly. The sudden decision to form the government came just a day after a senior PDP leader and MP Muzaffar Hussain Baigh publicly supported Mr.Lone and the BJP-backed third front, triggering hectic political parleys among the three parties.
Standard definitions of kilogram, Ampere, Kelvin and mole changed after 130 years
The changes were done after representatives from 60 countries voted to redefine the International System of Units (SI) for weight, current, temperature and amount of chemical substance. This decision was made at the General Conference on Weights and Measures, held from November 13-16 2018, in Versailles, France, organized by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in France. Now, all SI units will be defined in terms of constants that describe the natural world. The changes will come into effect on May 20, 2019.
Interpol elected South Korean Kim Jong-yang as Next President
Interpol’s 94 member states elected South Korea’s Kim Jong-yang as Interpol’s next president in Dubai. The 57-year-old will serve until 2020 and succeeded Meng Hongwei. He is serving as Interpol’s acting president since Meng resigned and was a vice-president representing Asia.
Kerala government alerted people on the spread of H1N1
The Health Department of Kerala has issued an alert on H1N1, which has been showing a spike in the State since September. There have been 494 confirmed cases of H1N1 this year to date, including 24 deaths. People can avail Oseltamivir for free in all government hospitals. Cases are spread throughout districts, with 175 cases and nine deaths being reported in the month of November alone. As H1N1 has been on the rise in all south Indian States the Doctors should necessarily follow the ABC guidelines and standard treatment protocols for H1N1 when treating patients with cold and fever.
A National Institute of Inter-Faith Studies to be set up in Punjab to commemorate 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Government
The Yearlong Celebration starting November 23rd this year will include a number of commemorative as well as construction activities will be taken up during the commemoration period. A number of religious activities like kirtan, katha, prabhat pheri, langar and educational activities such as seminars, workshops, lectures etc. will be organized. SGPC, Amritsar will be the knowledge partner of the Government of India. Commemorative coin and postage stamp will also be released.
Mapletree to buy SP Infocity for Rs. 2,500 crore
Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd., Singapore-headquartered firm, acquires SP Infocity, Tamil Nadu for Rs.2,500 crore. SP Infocity is jointly owned by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Shapoorji Pallonji Investment Advisors Pvt. Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of Shapoorji Pallonji and Company Private Limited. The SP Infocity is spread over 2.7 million sq. ft., SP Infocity, an IT park on MGR Salai, houses some of the big corporate names from across the globe. Automobile firm Ford runs its global business services from its premises. Other tenants include Amazon, HSBC and BNP Paribas. Freshworks, a start-up, has over 1,000 employees working out of the facility. As on 31 March, Mapletree owns and manages Singapore $46.3 billion worth properties. It also manages four real estate investment trusts and six private real estate funds, which hold a diverse portfolio of assets.
NMCG approved 10 composite Sewerage Projects in Agra worth Rs. 1573.28 Crore to help reduce pollution in Yamuna
The project for Rehabilitation / Renovation of Agra Sewerage Scheme (Interception & Diversion Works) conceived at a total cost of Rs. 857.26 crore including the O&M cost for 15 years. The major components of the project include tapping of 61 nalas/drains, construction of 3 Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP’s) of total capacity 166 MLD, construction of 10 decentralized STPs of 9.38 MLD and renovation of 2 existing STPs, laying of rising main of 17.61 km, renovation of Sewage Pumping Station (SPS), renovation of STPs renovation of interception work, upgradation of STPs (for chlorination), and operation & maintenance for 15 years.
KSEEB decided to enter marks for SSLC through an online software
Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB) has decided to ask evaluators to enter the marks through an online software. The measure is to reduce human error while collecting the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC). Online mark porting software will be used by evaluators to enter the marks after the answer script is evaluated for the SSLC March 2019 examination. The State has made an arrangement for the evaluators. They would be trained in the new process and there would be a helpline dedicated to answering calls. Each evaluator will get a login and password to enter the marks. So far, due to errors, the board would receive several requests for re-totalling, and photocopy of answer scripts. For the exams held in March 2018, the board got 67,895 requests for photocopies and 11,596 requests for re-totalling and re-evaluation.
