Current Affairs November 16, 2017
Current Affairs November 16, 2017
NATIONAL
Andhra Pradesh hosting its first ever hot-air balloon festival:
Andhra Pradesh is hosting its first Hot Air Balloon Festival in Araku Valley. The three-day festival, which features a line-up of 16 balloons from 13 countries, has para-motoring shows by pilots and a light and colour show with inflated balloons.
The participating countries are India, Australia, USA, Brazil and South Korea. The Hot Air Balloon Festival is organized by SkyWaltz and supported by Andhra Pradesh tourism.
Andhra Pradesh
- Capital: Amaravati
- Chief Minister: Chandrababu Naidu
- Governor: E. S. L. Narasimhan
India’s First wave-powered Navigational Buoy Launched:
A wave-powered navigational buoy, developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), to guide ships in and out of ports, was launched.
The buoy, deployed at Ennore Kamarajar Port, would help ships, moving in and out of the harbour, navigate through a designated channel.
According to the NIOT, the buoy’s beacon, for guiding ships, is powered by wave energy while conventional ones use solar power. The buoy stores energy generated by waves in a battery.
The buoy was launched by Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences M Rajeevan on the eve of the 33rd executive committee meeting of International Energy Agency-Ocean Energy Systems Collaboration Programme (IEA-OES).
INTERNATIONAL
Syria Signs up Paris Agreement on Climate Change:
Syria has officially signed up to the Paris Agreement, the UN, leaving the United States as the only country to reject the global climate-rescue pact.
War-torn Syria became the 169th of 196 countries that are members of the UN climate convention to take the legal step of ratification.
Syria
- Currency: Syrian pound
- Capital: Damascus
Saudi recognises Yoga as Sports:
The Saudi Arabian government has approved the practice of yoga as a sports activity, claimed a social media post of Nouf Marwaai, founder of the Arab Yoga Foundation in the Saudi kingdom.
Saudi Arabia
- Capital: Riyadh
- Currency: Saudi riyal
BANKING & BUSINESS
RBI Rejects HDFC Bank’s Request to Declassify HDFC as FII:
The Reserve Bank of India has reportedly rejected HDFC Bank’s plea to declassify its parent Housing Development Finance Corporation Limited (HDFC) as a foreign institutional investor (FII).
Mukesh Ambani Topped Forbes List of Asia’s Richest Families:
Mukesh Ambani family has topped the list of Asia’s 50 Richest Families with a net worth of $44.8 billion, up $19 billion from the previous year, Forbes said.
Despite dropping to the No. 2 spot, Korea’s Lee family still saw their wealth soar by $11.2 billion to $40.8 billion this year, as shares of Samsung Electronics are up 75 percent over the past year.
India second highest Bingers:
Binge watching in public is the new trend in India, and Indians are the second-highest public bingers in the world, just behind Mexico, according to a survey.
The survey, released by online streaming platform Netflix, shows how most Indians are binge watching in public — with 71 per cent more people doing so this year than the last, read a statement.
Indians are the second-highest public bingers in the world (88 per cent), just behind Mexico (89 per cent).
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNS
RBI Governor Urjit appointed to Financial Stability Institute Advisory Board:
RBI Governor Urjit Patel has been appointed to the Financial Stability Institute Advisory Board or the Bank of International Settlement (BIS). Bank for International Settlements is an international financial organisation owned by 60-member central banks across the world.
The Financial Stability Institute (FSI) of the BIS assists financial sector authorities worldwide in strengthening their financial systems. Since the beginning of 2017, the FSI has been implementing a new strategy that includes achieving closer interaction with central banks and financial supervisory agencies.
Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) appoints S Ravi as its new chairman:
Eminent chartered accountant Sethurathnam Ravi has been appointed as the Chairman of the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Ravi, who was a public interest director at the BSE, replaces Dhirendra Swarup.
AWARDS
Indonesia wins Miss International 2017:
Indonesia’s Kevin Lilliana was crowned Miss International 2017 at an event held at the Tokyo Dome City Hall.
Indonesia
- Currency: Indonesian rupiah
- Capital: Jakarta
OBITUARY
Veteran Hindustani vocalist Jagdish Mohan passes away:
Noted Hindustani vocalist of Kirana Gharana Jagdish Mohan died. He was 87.
He hailed from Uttarakhands Haridwar and was born on March 4, 1930.
Mohan was awarded the title of Sangeet Sartaj by Pracheen Kala Kendra, Chandigarh and was a regular performer at the All India Radio and Doordarshan.
HISTORIC EVENT OF THE DAY
National Press Day: November 16:
India celebrated the National Press Day on November 16 as the Press Council of India started functioning as a responsible body overlooking the works of the press body on this day.
