Daily Current Affairs Notes with pdf - 21 November

21th November - Daily Current Affairs Notes with pdf | AspirantsWave

Sustainable Trade Index 2024

Purpose: Evaluates and ranks countries based on their sustainable trade practices.

Produced By: Hinrich Foundation – Advocates for sustainable and ethical global trade.

IMD (International Institute for Management Development).

Focus Areas:

Economic Growth
Societal Progress
Environmental Resilience

Top 10 Most Sustainable Trade Economies (2024)

New Zealand: Leading for the third consecutive year with a perfect score. Excels in economic, social, and environmental resilience.
United Kingdom: Strong societal and environmental performance despite an economic ranking drop.
Australia
Singapore
Japan
South Korea (Tied with Hong Kong)
Hong Kong
Canada
Taiwan
United States

*India ranks 23rd.

*New Zealand secures the top position for the third year in a row.

55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI)

The 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is underway in Goa from November 20 to November 28, 2024. This nine-day cinematic event not only celebrates excellence in global filmmaking but also highlights Goan culture.

Film Selections at IFFI 2024:

Category	Details
Total Films	Over 180 films from 81 countries.
Premieres	- 16 World Premieres - 43 Asian Premieres - 109 Indian Premieres
Country of Focus	Australia
Diversity	Features 47 films directed by women and 66 by young filmmakers.

Opening Film and Awards

Event	Details
Opening Film	“Better Man,” a biopic on Robbie Williams.
Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award	To be conferred upon Philip Noyce, a celebrated Australian director.
New Award	Best Indian Debut Director Award introduced to support emerging talent.

Key Industry Participation

Masterclasses & Panels: Over 25 sessions featuring industry stalwarts like AR Rahman and Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

Bharat National Cyber Security Exercise (Bharat NCX 2024)

Organizers: National Security Council Secretariat and Rashtriya Raksha University.
Duration: November 18–29, 2024 (12 days).
Objective: Enhance India’s cyber defense capabilities and train professionals for managing cyber threats and crises.

Rafael Nadal Retires Post Davis Cup Defeat

Spanish tennis legend Rafael Nadal has announced his retirement.
His decision follows Spain's loss in the Davis Cup.
Nadal has won 22 Grand Slam titles during his career, including 14 French Open titles.

India to Host Inaugural Kho-Kho World Cup in 2025

India will host the first-ever Kho-Kho World Cup in 2025.
The event is expected to feature teams from various countries to promote the indigenous sport globally.
Organized under the aegis of the International Kho-Kho Federation.

India's Unemployment Rate Drops to 6.4% in Q2

India’s unemployment rate decreased to 6.4% in the second quarter of 2024.
This marks an improvement from 7.1% in the same period last year.
Female labor force participation has also increased during this quarter.

Indian Army Completes 'Sanyukt Vimochan 2024' Exercise

The Indian Army concluded the "Sanyukt Vimochan 2024" disaster relief exercise.
It aimed to enhance coordination during natural calamities, involving multiple agencies.
Scenarios included earthquake and flood rescue operations.

Global Hunger and Poverty Alliance Launched by Brazil's President Lula

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva launched the Global Hunger and Poverty Alliance.
This initiative aims to address hunger and poverty globally, focusing on sustainable development.
Supported by various nations and international organizations.

SBI Horniman Circle Celebrates 100 Years of Legacy

The iconic SBI branch at Horniman Circle, Mumbai, marks its centenary.
Established in 1924, it is one of India’s oldest and most historic bank branches.
A commemorative event was held to celebrate its legacy.

Mahimkar & Prisha Shah Clinch Double Titles at Maharashtra State Open Badminton

Prisha Shah won both the U-15 girls' singles and doubles titles at the Maharashtra State Open Badminton Championship.
This event showcased young badminton talent from the state.
The championship concluded on a high note, highlighting emerging players.

Tata Power & Druk Green Power Collaborate on 5,000 MW Green Energy Project in Bhutan

Tata Power and Bhutan's Druk Green Power Corporation signed an agreement for a 5,000 MW green energy project.
This project focuses on hydropower and renewable energy development.
It strengthens India-Bhutan energy cooperation while promoting sustainability.

Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development 2023

Awarded to Daniel Barenboim and Ali Abu Awwad on November 19, 2024.

Awarded To:

Daniel Barenboim – Pianist and Conductor, for promoting peace through music across cultures.
Ali Abu Awwad – Palestinian Peace Activist, for advocating non-violence and Israeli-Palestinian dialogue through his organization, Roots.

Ceremony:

Virtual event with key speeches by Shiv Shankar Menon and Hamid Ansari.

Award Recognized For:

Contributions to peace, disarmament, and development globally.

Monetary Reward:

₹25 lakh and a citation.

Award Categories:

Peace: Fostering global peace and conflict resolution.
Disarmament: Efforts toward reducing arms and nuclear disarmament.
Development: Promoting socio-economic progress.

Criteria:

Recognizes sustained global contributions positively impacting international challenges.

About the Prize:

Established in 1986 by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust to honor peace and development efforts.

Connection to Indira Gandhi:

Reflects her values and commitment to global peace and humanity amidst adversities.

G20 Rio Summit 2024 - Key Highlights

Location:

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio Declaration Key Focus Areas:

Climate Action: Stressed funding from diverse sources but lacked clear commitments.
War Resolution: Divisions on Ukraine war with Russia warning of retaliation over US missile supplies.
Economic Inequality: Emphasis on multilateralism and inclusive growth.

Global Challenges Addressed:

Climate Change: UN climate talks stalled; Brazil's wildfire crisis underscored urgency.
Ukraine War: Split between G20 members on conflict resolution.
Global Security: Called for ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon, highlighted UN Security Council reform.

Social Justice:

Brazilian President Lula proposed taxing billionaires to curb inequality.
A new Global Alliance Against Poverty and Hunger aims to feed 500 million people by 2030.

Environmental Efforts:

Biden visited the Amazon in a symbolic gesture during his diplomatic farewell.

Notable Leaders and Outcomes:

Russia: President Putin skipped due to ICC warrant.
US: President Biden’s influence seen as waning.
China: Xi Jinping positioned as a defender of international order.
Opposition: Argentina's President Milei voiced concerns over Lula's agenda but signed the declaration.

Major Takeaways:

While some consensus on social justice was reached, significant divides persisted on climate and geopolitics.

‘One Day One Genome’ Initiative

Key Highlights:

Launch Date & Occasion: 9th November 2024, BRIC’s 1st foundation day.
Organized By: Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and BRIC.
Coordinated By: BRIC-NIBMG (National Institute of Biomedical Genomics).
Launched By: Amitabh Kant, India’s G-20 Sherpa.
Location: National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi.

Objective:
Genome sequencing of unique bacterial species to unlock India’s microbial wealth for environmental, agricultural, and healthcare advancements.

Applications:

Environment: Microbial role in ecosystems, pollutant breakdown, nutrient cycles.
Agriculture: Nitrogen fixation, pest control, soil fertility.
Health: Insights into digestion, immunity, and antimicrobial resistance.

Significance: