NATIONAL NEWS
17th AEC Council Meeting held in Singapore
The 17th ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council Meeting was held in Singapore as part of the 33rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summit Meetings. Apart from taking stock of regional economic integration efforts during the year, it also reiterated ASEAN’s commitment to free and open trade by deepening the integration of its economies and realising the AEC Blueprint 2025. The blueprint seeks sustained and long-term growth for the ASEAN region.
- The meeting was attended by the ASEAN Economic Ministers and AEC Ministers. They signed the ASEAN Agreement on e-Commerce, Concluded the ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement (ATISA) and Finalised the Fourth Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA).
- The agreements will help create a more conducive environment for the growth of e-Commerce in the region through advancing trade rules in e-Commerce and building up greater digital connectivity in ASEAN.
Indo-Russian military exercises from November 18
India and Russia will hold joint military exercises in Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh from November 18.
"Exercise Indra 2018" will begin at the Babina Field Firing Ranges.
- The aim of the exercise is to practice joint planning and conduct enhance interoperability of the two Armies in peace keeping and enforcement environment under UN aegis.
Indian-Indonesian Navy Bilateral Exercise ‘Samudra Shakti’ begins
The first bilateral naval exercise named “Samudra Shakti” between the Indian and the Indonesian Navies was inaugurated in Surabaya, Indonesia giving further momentum to bilateral strategic partnership.
- These bilateral naval exercises will be conducted in Java Sea and would last until 18 November. Both sides underscored he importance of increased cooperation between two close maritime neighbours for ensuring maritime safety and security.
Government sets up state of-the-art National Data Repository
The Government has set up a state of -the-art National Data Repository. Disclosing this at the DG Carbons Roadshow programme in Abu Dhabi Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan said it is a database of all the geo-scientific data of hydrocarbon resources in the country.
- National Data Repository is equipped with cutting-edge technology and provides ready access to interested companies. With the introduction of National Data Repository in Indian E&P regime, India has joined the league of countries like UK and Norway which have a National Data Repository for the upstream sector.
Two day Global Cooling Innovation Summit inaugurated in New Delhi
The Global Cooling Prize, an international competition to incentivise the development of a residential cooling technology that will have at least five times (5x) less climate impact than the standard Room Air Conditioning (RAC) was announced at the inaugural session of the two day Global Cooling Innovation Summit in New Delhi.
- The coalition will drive and support incubation, commercialisation, and ultimately mass adoption of the breakthrough technology, starting in India and expanding to other countries around the world.
- There are currently 1.2 billion room air conditioning units in service around the world. It is estimated that the number of units will increase to at least 4.5 billion by 2050. India alone will see over 1 billion air conditioning deployed in the market by 2050.
7th RCEP Inter-Sessional Ministerial Meeting concludes in Singapore
The two-day RCEP Inter-Sessional Ministerial Meeting concluded in Singapore. Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu led the Indian delegation to the meeting.
- The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, RCEP is a mega-regional free trade agreement being negotiated amongst 16 countries, comprising 10 ASEAN countries and six ASEAN Free Trade Agreement partners.
- Extra info.:
The ASEAN countries include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
North East's first 'water handloom hut' inaugurated in Manipur
North East's first 'floating water handloom huts' were inaugurated at Loktak Lake in Bishnupur district of Manipur. The five handloom huts were inaugurated by Tripura's Forest and Tribal Welfare Minister, Mevar Kumar Jamatia.
- The handlooms huts including looms were gifted to people of the region on an experimental basis. The motive behind the experimental venture is to attract more tourists and to promote handloom weavers.
Mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta scales Mt Giluwe in Papua New Guinea
Indian mountaineer Satyarup Siddhanta became the first Indian to climb Mt Giluwe, the second highest mountain in Papua New Guinea. Satyarup reached the summit of the mountain which is at an elevation of 4,367 metres.
- Satya now has scaled 5 of the 7 volcanic summits. In a few days, the Bengal's pride will now set out to summit Mt Wilhelm, the highest mountain of Papua New Guinea.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
World's largest brain-like supercomputer switched on for first time
The world's largest supercomputer designed to work in the same way as the human brain has been switched on for the first time. The newly formed million-processor-core Spiking Neural Network Architecture (SpiNNaker) machine is capable of completing more than 200 million million actions per second, with each of its chips having 100 million transistors.
- The SpiNNaker machine, designed and built in The University of Manchester in the UK, can model more biological neurons in real time than any other machine on the planet.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Binny Bansal resigns as Flipkart CEO
Indian e-tail major Flipkart Group's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Binny Bansal resigned from the post. Bansal's decision to quit the e-commerce company came after an independent investigation by Flipkart and Walmart into an allegation of "serious personal misconduct" against him.
- Kalyan Krishnamurthy will remain the CEO of Flipkart, which will now include the Group's online fashion portals Myntra and Jabong, continuing to operate as separate platforms within the company's business.
SPORTS
AIFF to set up high-performance centre in Odisha
The Odisha government and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see the coastal state hosting several youth teams of the national team and academies including the setting up of a high-performance centre in Odisha.
- The historic deal was signed in the presence of AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das and Indian National Team Director Abhishek Yadav.
- A football academy for girls with a fully dedicated residential facility will also be set up by the AIFF in the state.
AWARDS
Dr Debabhuson Borah gets Munin Barkotoki Literary Award
The prestigious Munin Barkotoki Literary Award 2018 in Assam has been given to young writer-critic Dr Debabhuson Borah for his book on literary criticism titled 'Nirbochon'.
- The Munin Barkotoki Memorial Trust announced the annual Award instituted to encourage young and promising writers in Assamese. The award was named after renowned writer, critic and journalist Munin Barkotoki.
- The Munin Barkotoki Literary Awards for the years 2017 and 2018 will be given away at a function to be held in Guwahati in February next.
OBITUARIES
Former Supreme Court judge, SN Phukan passes away
Former Supreme Court Judge and Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh and Odisha High Courts Sailendu Nath Phukan passed away in upper Assam's Jorhat district. He was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court in 1999 from where he retired on April 1, 2002.
- Justice Phukan was associated with several organisations, including Child Care Organisation known as Helpline till the time of his demise.
Eminent economist T.N. Srinivasan passes away
Eminent economist, TN Srinivasan, known for being one of the key advocates of the 1991 economic reforms passed away in Chennai at the age of 85.
- Srinivasan, a Professor of Economics and International Area Studies Emeritus at Yale University, had been a mentor of macroeconomics to current RBI governor, Urjit Patel.
Eminent Odia singer Chitta Jena passes away
Eminent Odia singer Chitta Jena passed away at a hospital in Cuttack following a brief illness. He was 76. Known for his versatility and talent, Jena had made his debut as a playback singer in the movie Mana Akasha in 1974. He was honoured with the prestigious Prafulla Kar Samman for his outstanding achievement in the field of music.
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