PM Modi Receives Highest Civilian Honour 'Order of Excellence' of Guyana
President of Guyana Dr. Irfaan Ali conferred the Order of Excellence, the country's highest civilian honour, on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Georgetown, Guyana. The award recognised Modi's visionary statesmanship, championing the rights of developing nations, exceptional service to the global community, and his commitment to strengthening India-Guyana relations. He is the only fourth foreign leader to be conferred with the highest civilian award of Guyana.
PM Narendra Modi Honoured with Top Civilian Honour of Dominica
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the 'Dominica Award of Honour', the top civilian honour of Dominica by Dominican President Sylvanie Burton during the India-CARICOM Summit. He received this honour for his contributions to the Caribbean nation during the Covid-19 pandemic and his dedication to enhancing the bilateral partnership between India and Dominica. The award also recognises India's support for Dominica in healthcare, education and information technology under Modi's leadership and his role in promoting climate resilience-building initiatives and sustainable development on a global level.
Sonu Sood Named Brand Ambassador of Thailand Tourism
Sonu Sood, renowned Bollywood actor and philanthropist, has a new feather in his cap as he was in November 2024 appointed as the brand ambassador and honourary advisor for Thailand tourism. Known for roles on screen and loved for his humanitarian work, especially during the pandemic. Sood's new role is set to further strengthen Thailand's image as a preferred travel destination for Indian tourists.
India Retains Women's Asian Champions Hockey Trophy 2024
Defending champion, Indian Women's Hockey team defeated China 1-0 in the final at Rajgir, Bihar to retain the Women's Asian Champions Hockey Trophy 2024. India's Deepika scored the only goal of the final to hand India its third Women's Asian Champions Hockey title, making India join most successful team with South Korea in terms of title triumphs of the Women's Asian Champions Hockey event.
ISRO's Communication Satellite GSAT-N2 Launched into Space by SpaceX
Elon Musk-owned SpaceX successfully launched the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)'s communication satellite GSAT-N2 aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The event marks the first of many commercial collaborations between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and SpaceX.
The GSAT-N2 is a communication satellite jointly developed by ISRO's Satellite Centre and Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. With 48 Gbps data transmission capacity, this high-throughput satellite will enhance broadband services and provide in-flight connectivity nationwide. It will continue the GSAT series of communication satellites and add data transmission capacity to the communication infrastructure required for India's Smart Cities Mission. The satellite is equipped with 32 user beams, comprising 8 narrow spot beams over the Northeast region and 24 wide spot beams over the rest of India. These 32 beams will be supported by hub stations located within mainland India.
The Ka-Band HTS communication payload provides a throughput of approximately 48 Gbps. GSAT-N2 has been designed to support the growing demand for high-speed internet, especially in areas where connectivity has traditionally been limited. The satellite has a lift-off weight of 4,700 kg and a mission life of 14 years.
PM Narendra Modi Conferred 'Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger'
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred the national award 'Grand Commander of the Order of Niger' on PM Shri Narendra Modi for his statesmanship and stellar contribution to fostering India-Nigeria ties.
Odisha Wins 14th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2024
Odisha emerged champion of the 14th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2024, defeating two-time champion Haryana 5-1 in its first-final appearance on November 16, 2024 at Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium, Chennai. Shilanand Lakra was the hero for Odisha in the final as he scored 3 goals in quick succession to strengthen Odisha's position in the final. Raj at Akash Tirkey and Pratap Lakra also scored early goals for Odisha. Joginder Singh scored only goal for Haryana in the final.
Victoria Kjaer Theilvig of Denmark Crowned Miss Universe 2024
21-year-old Victoria Kjaer Theilvig from Denmark was crowned Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico City, beating 125 contestants across the globe in the 73rd edition of the Miss Universe beauty pageant. The first runner-up is Nigeria's Chidimma Adetshina, and the second runner-up is Mexico's Maria Fernanda Beltran. Victoria was crowned the winner by her predecessor, Miss Universe 2023, Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua. Victoria is the first beauty from Denmark to win this crown. She is a European and World Championship dancer, beauty entrepreneur, mental health and animal protection advocate, and an aspiring lawyer.
Arvinder Singh Sahney Appointed Chairman and MD of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.
Arvinder Singh Sahney was appointed Chairman and Managing Director of state-run Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) with immediate effect. In his previous role, Sahney headed the petrochemicals division of the company. He succeeded V. Satish Kumar, the Director (marketing) who was handling the additional charge of CMD since September 1, 2024. Mr. Arvinder will head the IOCL for 5 years with effect from the date of his assumption of charge of the post, or till the date of his superannuation, or until further order, whichever is the earliest.
British Writer Samantha Harvey Wins Booker Prize 2024 for Space Story "Orbital'
Britain's Samantha Harvey won the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel 'Orbital', a story about a single day aboard the International Space Station which she wrote during COVID-19 lockdowns. The award-winning novel, Harvey's Fifth, was the top-selling book on the shortlist of six finalists and has sold more copies than the past three Booker Prize winners combined.
Justice B.R. Gavai Appointed as Executive Chairman of NALSA
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, Judge of the Supreme Court of India was appointed as the new Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) by the President of India Droupadi Murmu. Justice Surya Kant has been appointed as Chairman Supreme Court's Legal Service Committee. Justice Gavai's appointment follows the convention that the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court occupies the position of the NALSA Executive Chairman. He succeeds Chief Justice of India Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was previously the Executive Chairman of NALSA. Before being appointed as Executive Chairman, Justice Gavai served as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC). In his new role, Justice Gavai will lead NALSA's efforts in advancing access to justice and providing legal aid to marginalized and underprivileged communities across India.
UNESCO Recognizes 24 Coastal Villages in Odisha as 'Tsunami Ready'
Twenty-four coastal villages in Odisha were recognized by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO as Tsunami Ready' during the 2nd Global Tsunami Symposium held in Indonesia on November 11, 2024. These villages are located in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Ganjam districts in Odisha. Besides, the Tsunami Ready Recognition Certificates were renewed for two villages in the state. These villages are Noliasahi in Jagatsinghpur district and Venkatraipur in Ganjam district. They were recognized as Tsunami Ready in 2020.
Pankaj Advani Wins IBSF World Billiards Championship 2024
India's star cueist Pankaj Advani emerged as champion of the IBSF World Billiards Championship 2024 title as he prevailed over Robert Hall of England 4-2 in the final in Doha, Qatar. It was Advani's record 28th world title triumph. It also happened to be his seventh world title in a row, a streak that began in 2016.
Tayyab Ikram Re-elected President of FIH
Tayyab Ikram from Pakistan was re-elected the President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) at the 49th FIH Statutory Congress in Muscat, Oman. His election to the post of FIH President was unanimous as Ikram was the lone candidate in the fray after completion and approval of nominations. The current term will be his first full four-year term.
NTPC launches world’s first CO2-to-Methanol Plant
NTPC, India’s largest power producer, inaugurated the world’s first CO2-to-methanol conversion plant at its Vindhyachal facility on Friday, coinciding with its 50th Raising Day celebration. The company has also developed and tested the ‘first Indigenous catalyst’ for Methanol Synthesis and made substantial progress with hydrogen, carbon capture, and other innovative technologies.
India, France elected president, co-president of International Solar Alliance for two years
India and France have been elected President and Co-President of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for the two-year term from 2024 to 2026. India ran unopposed for the presidency, while France emerged victorious in the contest with Grenada for the Co-Presidency. The ISA Assembly also elected eight vice presidents for the standing committee, with two representatives from each of ISA’s four regional categories. Ghana and Seychelles were selected as Vice Presidents for the Africa region, Australia and Sri Lanka for Asia and the Pacific, Germany, and Italy for Europe and Others, and Grenada and Suriname for Latin America and the Caribbean. The election of the president and co-president follows a process aimed at ensuring equitable geographic representation, with ISA members divided into four regional groups: Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Others, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Israeli researchers develop software enabling in-memory processing, bypassing CPU
Israeli researchers have developed software that enables computers to process data directly in memory, bypassing the need for the central processing unit (CPU), according to a statement from the Israel Institute of Technology. This innovation addresses the energy- and time-intensive data transfers between memory and the CPU, which have increasingly become bottlenecks in modern computing. By performing some computations in memory, this approach reduces dependence on the CPU, leading to significant time and energy savings. The researchers aim to tackle the “memory wall” problem, where increases in processor speeds and memory capacity outpace data transfer rates.
Gujarat becomes India’s first state to implement a dedicated semiconductor policy
The Gujarat government has introduced India’s first ‘Gujarat Semiconductor Policy 2022-2027.’ Led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, this ambitious policy aims to solidify Gujarat’s position as a leader in semiconductor self-reliance, supported by the newly created ‘Gujarat State Electronics Mission.’ Marking a milestone under this policy, CM Patel recently laid the foundation stone for Micron’s advanced semiconductor assembly, test, mark, and pack (ATMP) plant in Sanand, a project valued at over Rs 22,500 crore. In Dholera’s emerging ‘Semicon City,’ Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL) and Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) are establishing India’s first AI-enabled semiconductor fabrication facility with an investment exceeding Rs 91,000 crore. In further expansion, CG Power and Renesas will set up a state-of-the-art Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility in Sanand, a project totaling more than Rs 7,500 crore. The government has also approved Kaynes Semicon’s facility in Sanand, anticipated to produce around 6 million chips daily with an investment of Rs 3,300 crore. These projects, supported by the Gujarat Semiconductor Policy, are set to generate thousands of high-skilled jobs across the state.
Australia proposes ban on social media for children under 16
The Australian government will legislate for a ban on social media for children under 16, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday, in what it calls a world-leading package of measures that could become law late next year. Australia is trialing an age-verification system to assist in blocking children from accessing social media platforms, as part of a range of measures that include some of the toughest controls imposed by any country to date.
India makes formal bid to host 2036 Olympics
India has officially submitted its bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as reported by ANI, citing a source from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. A formal ‘Letter of Intent’ was sent by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) Future Host Commission on 1 October, expressing India’s interest in hosting the event, the report said. India recently concluded its campaign at the Paris Olympics, bringing home a total of six medals - five bronze and one silver.
Kannada short film ‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’ qualifies for Oscars 2025
Kannada's short film ‘Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know’, directed by Chidananda S. Naik, has qualified for the 2025 Oscars in the Live Action Short Film category. Produced by the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), this film has already garnered international acclaim, winning the first prize at the Cannes Film Festival’s La Cinef Selection earlier this year. Filmed entirely at night, the 16-minute short film invites viewers into the rich tapestry of the Indian landscape, connecting them with its unique culture and atmosphere. The film presents a poignant narrative centered on an elderly woman who steals the village rooster, leading to an unexpected cessation of sunlight and resulting in turmoil within the community. In a desperate attempt to restore harmony, a prophecy is invoked, leading to the exile of the woman’s family as they embark on a mission to reclaim the rooster.
First Asian Buddhist Summit Held in New Delhi
The Union Ministry of Culture and the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) organized the 1st Asian Buddhist Summit in New Delhi from 5th to 6th November 2024. The summit's theme was "Role of Buddha Dhamma in Strengthening Asia" aligning with India's Act East Policy and Neighbourhood First Policy. It saw participation from 32 countries with over 160 international participants.
Vipin Kumar Assumes Charge as Chairman of AAI
Vipin Kumar, a 1996-batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre, took charge as the Chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Before this appointment, Mr. Kumar was serving as Additional Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India. He served in many key positions during his service as an IAS in Bihar. He was also the Chairman of Bihar Bridge Construction Corporation; Managing Director of Bihar Milk Cooperative Federation (SUDHA) and Director, of Mid-Day Meal Scheme-Bihar.
Actor Chiranjeevi Felicitated with Akkineni Nageshwara Rao (ANR) National Award 2024
Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan felicitated Telugu actor Chiranjeevi with the prestigious Akkineni Nageshwara Rao (ANR) National Award in Hyderabad. The ANR Award, founded in 2005 by the Akkineni International Foundation, recognizes outstanding contributions to Indian cinema. Amitabh Bachchan received the same award in 2014. Previously, Dev Anand, Lata Mangeshkar, S.S. Rajamouli, Hema Malini, Shy am Benegal, Sridevi B. Kapoor, Rekha, Shabana Azmi, Anjali Devi, Vyjayantimala Bali and B alachan de r have received the award. This year, the event commemorated the 100th birth anniversary of Telugu cinema legend and actor Nagarjuna's father, Akkineni Nageshwara Rao.
Rodri and Aitana Bonmati Win Men's and Women's Ballon d'Or Award 2024
Spanish midfielder Rodri won the Men's Ballon d'Or Award 2024, the prestigious soccer honour at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. The 28-year-old Rodri won the prestigious award for the first time after helping Manchester City win the Premier League and being a key player in Spain's European Championship triumph. He succeeded eight-time winner Lionel Messi of Argentina. Rodri pipped Brazil’s Vinicius Jr. and England's Jude Bellingham, both of Real Madrid, to the prestigious prize.
Barcelona's Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati won the Women's Ballon d'Or award this year. Bonmati won the Women's Ballon d'Or for the second consecutive year while compatriot Jennifer Hermoso was awarded the Socrates Award for her role in the fight for women's rights in football and her courageous stance against sexism in sport.
Spiritual Leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Gets Top Civilian Honour of Fiji
Eminent spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has conferred the title of 'Honorary Officer of the Order of Fiji', the top civilian honour of Fiji by the President of the Republic of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame M. Katonivere at a ceremony for his tireless contribution to the upliftment of the human spirit and connecting diverse communities in peace and harmony. Fiji has become the sixth country to confer the highest civilian award upon Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, recognizing the vast scope of his humanitarian work globally through his 'The Art of Living Foundation'.
'The Art of Living Foundation' was set up by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in 1981 with the purpose of spreading happiness and harmony through its multifarious service initiatives in areas of mental health, education, environment, women and youth empowerment and stress relief and meditation programmes. Today, the volunteer-based humanitarian and non-governmental organization (NGO) has its centres operating in more than 180 countries.
Deepak Agarwal Appointed MD of NAFED
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed Deepak Agarwal, a 2000-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer, as the regular Managing Director (MD) of National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) for a period of five years. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and consisting of Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah as its only other ministerial member, is responsible for appointing senior officials to significant positions within the Central government, public sector undertakings (PSUs) and autonomous bodies.
Justice Sanjeev Khanna appointed as Chief Justice of India, effective November 11
The central government has officially notified the appointment of Justice Sanjeev Khanna as the next Chief Justice of India, set to take effect on November 11. This appointment comes in the wake of the retirement of the current Chief Justice, DY Chandrachud, on November 10. Justice Khanna will become the 51st Chief Justice of India. The Ministry of Law and Justice issued a notification confirming that, under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution, the President has appointed Justice Sanjeev Khanna, currently serving as a Supreme Court judge, as the new Chief Justice.
New Zealand crowned Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 champions after beating South Africa in final
The White Ferns clinched their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup title, overcoming South Africa by 32 runs in a thrilling final. Star allrounder Amelia Kerr led from the front, top-scoring with 43 runs and taking 3/23, steering her team to a historic victory at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Put in to bat first, New Zealand’s innings began steadily, with veteran opener Suzie Bates contributing 32 runs at the top of the order. In doing so, Bates also set a new record, becoming the most-capped player in Women’s Internationals.
Deepika Kumari bags sixth Archery World Cup medal with silver in Mexico
Indian archer Deepika Kumari captured her sixth World Cup medal, winning silver after a 0-6 defeat to China’s Li Jiaman in the championship round. The 2010 Commonwealth Games champion delivered an outstanding performance in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, defeating Li’s teammate Yang Xiaolei 6-0 and then overcoming eventual bronze medallist Alejandra Valencia 6-4 in a close contest on her home turf.
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