- Virginia elects first US transgender state legislator
A transgender Virginia politician has been elected to the state legislature, unseating one of the state’s longest serving and most socially conservative lawmakers.
The Democrat Danica Roem, a former journalist for the Gainesville Times, beat the Republican Bob Marshall, who sponsored a bill this year that would have required transgender people to use bathrooms corresponding with the sex on their birth certificate.
- Second meet of Island Development Agency in Delhi
The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired the second meeting of Island Development Agency (IDA) in New Delhi.
The Island Development Agency reviewed the concept development plans and detailed master plans for holistic development of 09 islands (four in A&N Islands i.e. Smith, Ross, Long, Avis) and (five in Lakshadweep i.e. Minicoy, Bangaram, Thinnakara, Cheriyam, Suheli).
The project being steered by NITI Aayog aims at promoting and implementing development based on sustainable approach to building a thriving maritime economy of the project islands.
- Chennai named UNESCO Creative City for contribution to music
Chennai is the third Indian city on the list of UNESCO Creative Cities list after Jaipur and Varanasi.
They join a network at the frontline of UNESCO’s effort to foster innovation and creativity as key drivers for a more sustainable and inclusive urban development. This network also attracts growing interest from local authorities.
Earlier this week, 64 cities from 44 countries have been designated as UNESCO Creative Cities by Director-General, Irina Bokova.
- Second Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) of India established
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, has signed an Institutional agreement with Anna University.
The Agreement aims to establish India’s second Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) at the Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR), Anna University, at Chennai, under the World Intellectual Property Organizations (WIPO) TISC program.
- SHe-Box launched for both public and private sector
The Minister of Women & Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi launched an online complaint management system titled Sexual Harassment electronic–Box (SHe-Box) for registering complaints related to sexual harassment at workplace in New Delhi
The complaint management system has been developed to ensure the effective implementation of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (the SH Act), 2013.
- India at 7th position in business optimism ranking: Report
India has slipped in ‘business optimism’ index to the 7th position in the September quarter, from the 2nd slot in the previous three months, showing clear signs of lag in the economy, says a survey.
Indonesia is at the top, followed by Finland (2nd), the Netherlands (3rd), Philippines (4th), Austria (5th) and Nigeria (6th), as per Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR).
According to the quarterly global survey on business optimism, Indian businesses have expressed low confidence over revenue expectations in the next 12 months.
- Indian Navy to use CATOBAR AIRCRAFT LAUNCH System on Aircraft Carrier
The Navy is likely to go with an advanced catapult-based aircraft launch mechanism (CATOBAR) from the U.S. for its second indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC-II), which is on the drawing board.
For some time, India has been exploring the possibility of installing the U.S. electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS).
The Navy envisages the IAC-II to be around 65,000 tonnes and capable of carrying over 50 aircraft. While the Navy is keen on nuclear propulsion, which would give it unlimited range and endurance.
- India to contribute $100M to India-UN Development Partnership fund
India announced its decision to significantly scale up its contribution to the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, managed by UNOSSC, through a multiyear contribution of $100 million.
India and the UNOSSC launched the India-UN Development Partnership Fund on the 8 June 2017. The collaborative initiative is aimed at reducing poverty and hunger, improving health, education and equality, and expanding access to clean water, energy and livelihoods.
- India Signs Loan Agreement with World Bank for OHEPEE Project
India has signed a financing agreement for IBRD loan of US$ 119 million (equivalent) for the “Odisha Higher Education Programme for Excellence & Equity (OHEPEE) Project” with the World Bank.
The objective of the project was to improve the quality of ‘students’ equitable access to selected institutions and enhance governance of the higher education system in Odisha.
- USA To Grant $500K to NGO to promote religious freedom in India
The US has announced a grant of nearly USD 500,000 for a non-governmental organisation to come up with proposals to develop early warning systems for “reducing religiously-motivated violence and discrimination” in India. The US State Department also announced a similar grant for Sri Lanka.
The Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, in its notice of funding opportunity, said through its USD 493,827 India programme, it seeks to “reduce religiously-motivated violence and discrimination in India”.
- Hong Kong world’s most visited city for 9th consecutive year
London has jumped two spots to become the second most visited city in the world, according to an annual study that tracks international arrivals.
Britain’s capital overtook Bangkok and Singapore with a total of 17.3million foreign visitors, but was a distant second behind Hong Kong (27.7million), which claimed top spot for the sixth consecutive year.
Singapore jumped one spot to third, while Bangkok dropped to fourth and Paris rounded out the top five.
- Guinea becomes new member of International Solar Alliance
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held a meeting with Guinea’s Foreign Minister, Mamady Toure, during the course of which the latter handed over his country’s instrument accession to the India-initiated International Solar Alliance (ISA).
According to a statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry, Sushma Swaraj and Toure exchanged views on a broad range of subjects covering bilateral friendship and cooperation.
- Mary Kom wins Gold at Asian Boxing Champion
Mary Kom, who will be turning 35 on November 25, won the gold medal in the Asian Boxing Championships in the Light Flyweight category, defeating DPR Korea’s Kim Hyang Mi in the final bout 5-0 by unanimous judges decision.
Mary Kom’s last medal came in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, where she became the first Indian woman boxer to win gold in the Women’s Flyweight (51 kg) category.
- Saina beats Sindhu to become national champion for 3rd time
Saina Nehwal beat PV Sindhu 21-17, 27-25 in the blockbuster final of Senior National Badminton Championships in Nagpur to lift her third nationals title.
Saina, who has played nationals thrice to win the tournament all three times, led the first game from the very beginning.
- Astronaut Richard Gordon, who flew around Moon, dies aged 88
Former Apollo 12 astronaut Richard Gordon, one of a dozen men who flew around the moon but didn’t land there, has died aged 88. Richard ‘Dick’ F. Gordon Jr. was a test pilot chosen in NASA’s third group of astronauts in 1963.
He flew on Gemini 11 in 1966, walking in space twice. During Apollo 12 in November 1969, Gordon circled the moon in the command module Yankee Clipper while Alan Bean and Charles Conrad landed and walked on the lunar surface.
********************************
