Current Affairs November 29, 2017

NATIONAL

‘Fish Pond Yojana’ scheme launched in Odisha

Fish Pond Yojana scheme was launched by the Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The objective of the scheme is to boost fish production in the state. The budget allocated is 96 crore rupees in Bhubaneshwar.

The scheme also aims to create additional 2,200 hectares of fresh water aquaculture farming with 50 per cent financial assistance to farmers.

The chief minister has also launched an animal ambulance service in Berhampur and Cuttack urban areas to provide emergency assistance to sick and injured animals.

Odisha

Capital: Bhubaneshwar

Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik

Governor: S.C Jamir

Coinome launches as a cryptocurrency exchange in India

To offer trade in Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash, Indian online payments firm BillDesk-owned Hatio Innovations has launched cryptocurrency exchange ‘Coinome’ in India.

Using Aadhaar number users can register in coinome. Coinome is an open order book cryptocurrency exchange which enables direct deals between buyers and sellers.

Coinome

Headquarters: Mumbai

CEO: Vivek Steve Francis

Two-day Korea Tourism Festival 2017 opens in Gurugram, Haryana

Korea Tourism Organisation (KTO) inaugurated a two-day Korea festival showcasing Korea’s rich art, culture and heritage. It showcased famous South Korean tourist destinations, delicacies, art, culture and the country’s heritage.

An MoU between leading Korean companies such as LG, Hyundai, Samsung and KTO was signed. The MoU aims to promote the tourism by organising MICE groups to Korea for their employees and dealers. MICE is an acronym for the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions tourism segment.

Haryana

Capital: Chandigarh

Chief Minister: Manohar Lal Khattar

Governor: Kaptan singh solanki

Health Ministry and ICMR launches IHMI

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had launched India Hypertension Management Initiative (IHMI).

Smt Preeti Sudan, Secretary (HFW) and Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Secretary, DHR and DG, ICMR, launched the India Hypertension Management Initiative (IHMI).

The IHMI aims to reduce disability and death related to cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in India.It also aims to strengthen CVD component of Health Ministry’s National Program for Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS).

First Edition of INSPIRE 2017 begins in Jaipur

The first edition of International Symposium to Promote Innovation & Research in Energy Efficiency (INSPIRE 2017) begins in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

It is organized by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) in partnership with The World Bank, and Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE).

It provides a platform for energy efficiency community to discuss energy efficiency policies, market transformation strategies, emerging technologies, delivery and business-model driven transformations.

Rajasthan

Capital: Jaipur

Chief Minister: Vasundhra Raje

Governor: Kalyan Singh

IFFI: World’s First 3D Sanskrit Film Anurakthi Screened at 2017 in Goa

World’s first Sanskrit 3D film ‘Anurakthi’ was screened in 3D category at the International Film Festival of India in Panaji in Goa.The movie is directed by Asokan PK.

The film is not a commercial in nature, but its significance is to create an art of living. The movie is expected to be released in February 2018.

INTERNATIONAL

North Korea successfully tested intercontinental ballistic missile

North Korea has successfully tested a intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach the whole of the continental United States. The missile reached an altitude of 4,475 kilometers and flew 950 kilometers for 53 minutes.

The intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) , Hwasong-15, was launched and it landed in Japanese waters but flew higher than any other missile the North has previously tested.

North Korea

Capital: Pyongyang

Currency: North Korean Won

Supreme Leader: Kim Jong-un

AWARDS AND HONOURS

3rd ICCR Distinguished Indologist Award: Professor Hiroshi Marui

Japan’s Professor Hiroshi Marui honoured with the 3rd Indian Council for Cultural Relations(ICCR) Distinguished Indologist Award. It is conferred by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Professor Marui has spent over 40 years working on Indian philosophy and Buddhist Studies. He is President of Japanese Association of Indian and Buddhist Studies and has made significant contribution to Indology in Japan.

Aung San Suu Kyi stripped of Freedom of Oxford Award

Suu Kyi studied as an undergraduate student at the Oxford University, where she was granted the honour in 1997 for her “struggle for democracy”. Now Oxford City Council in London voted unanimously to permanently remove the honour given to her.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been stripped of the Freedom of Oxford award over her “inaction” in handling the raging Rohingya refugee crisis and turning a “blind eye to violence” in the country that forced over 600,000 people to flee to Bangladesh.

BUSINESS

Paytm Payments Bank launched by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

A new Payments Bank ‘Paytm Payments Bank’ was launched by the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.Paytm Payments Bank provides free personalised RuPay digital debit card. Every online transaction (such as IMPS, NEFT, RTGS, UPI) will be free of charge and also customers can withdraw cash from any ATM.

There are four Payments Bank including Paytm Payments Bank in India. The other three Payments Bank are Airtel Payments Bank, India Post Payments Bank and Fino Payments Bank.

In a Payments Bank, customer can open a savings bank account in them and have deposits of up to Rs. 1 lakh. These banks cannot, however, lend money to their customers.

APPOINTMENTS

Badri Narain Sharma appointed as Chairman of NAA

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has appointed Badri Narain Sharma as Chairman of National Anti-Profiteering Authority.

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved setting up of five-member NAA, to ensure the benefits of GST rate reduction.

SPORTS

7th World Military Games will be held at Wuhan in China

The 7th international military games will be held at Wuhan city in the central China’s Hubei Province. The International Military Sports Council (CISM)’s  Military World Games is a top sport event for military personnel.

The emblem consists of a dove, a star, ribbons and the Mascot is Bing Bing. Its design is based on the Chinese sturgeon, a critically endangered fish known as the “panda in water” and the Slogan is Military glory, world peace.

The game was inaugurated in Rome in 1995, is a multi-sport event organised every four years by the CISM.

CSIM

Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium

President: Abdul Hakeem Al Shino

Asian Kabaddi Championships 2017 : Indian Men’s and Women’s Teams clinched Gold Medal

The Indian men’s and women’s kabaddi teams are the champions of Asia. The event held at Gorgan, Iran. Indian Men’s team beat Pakistan and Indian women’s team beat South Korea in their final.

The captain of Indian men’s kabaddi team is Ajay Thakur and the captain of Indian women’s kabaddi team is Mamatha Poojary.

Iran

Capital: Tehran

Currency: Iranian rial

President: Hassan Rouhani

Serene Valtteri Bottas beats Lewis Hamilton at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Valtteri Bottas won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix beating his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel got third place. The event held at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Valtteri Viktor Bottas

Nationality: Finnish

2017 team: Mercedes