1. Europe announces name of world's first disabled astronauts
Tags: Science and Technology International News
The European Space Agency announced the name of the first "parastronaut" on 23 November in a major step towards allowing people with physical disabilities to work and live in space.
Important facts
The 22-nation European Space Agency said it selected former British Paralympic runner John McFall as part of a new generation of 17 recruits selected for astronaut training.
He will participate in a feasibility study designed to allow ESA to assess the conditions needed for people with disabilities to participate in future missions.
Five new astronauts have been roped in to take part in the training after ESA replenished its astronaut ranks for the first time since 2009.
The EAS received 257 applications for the role of an astronaut with a disability, designated a "parastronaut".
McFall, who lost his right leg due to a motorcycle accident at the age of 19, won a bronze medal in the 100 metres at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.
2. Pre-launch celebration of International Year of Millets held in New Delhi
Tags: Festivals National News
A pre-launch celebration of the International Year of Millets held on 24 November in New Delhi.
Important facts
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) are hosting this special event.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar attended the event.
During the event, both the ministers shared the government's vision for the successful conduct of the International Year of Millets 2023.
High Commissioners and Ambassadors of over 60 countries attended the pre-launch ceremony.
Its main objective is to spread awareness about Indian Millets and associate with other countries for the successful global celebration of the International Year of Millets in 2023.
Recently at the G20 summit in Bali, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the benefits of millet saying that millet can solve the problem of global malnutrition and hunger.
He also highlighted that India is promoting natural farming and re-popularizing nutritious and traditional food grains like millets for sustainable food security.
3. AYUSH market grows from US$ 3 billion to US$ 18 billion
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
Union AYUSH Minister Sarbananda Sonowal addressing the 6th Confederation of Indian Industry-CII, AYUSH Conclave 2022 in New Delhi on November 23, 2022 said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi AYUSH market will grow from USD 3 billion to USD 18 billion level.
Important facts
He was addressing the gathering at the 6th Confederation of Indian Industry, CII, AYUSH Conclave 2022 in New Delhi.
He emphasised on how AYUSH can play a vital role in realising the dream of 'New India' by providing holistic health care and medical care to its citizens.
Sonowal pointed out that several reforms are underway in research strategies, nature of practice and education, which will lead to growth in this field.
He urged the new generation to study AYUSH systems in depth.
The Ministry of AYUSH, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), has established a number of standards for the AYUSH system.
These benchmarks will be beneficial for all the stakeholders, especially the industry related to AYUSH systems.
6th CII Ayush Conclave 2022
The 6th CII Ayush Conclave 2022 was organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with the support of the Ministry of Ayush in New Delhi.
Key stakeholders of the AYUSH system discussed topics such as regulatory roadmap, research and development in the AYUSH sector, branding, promotion and marketing of AYUSH products.
Confederation of Indian Industries (CII)
It is a business lobby group of top business houses in India.
It was set up in 1895.
It works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the growth of industry in India, partnering industry and government alike through advisory and consultative processes.
Headquarters: New Delhi
President: Sanjiv Bajaj
4. JNPA inaugurates Continuous Marine Water Quality Monitoring Station
Tags: Environment National News
One of the best performing Continuous Marine water Quality Monitoring Station (CMWQMS) in India at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) in collaboration with the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Madras was inaugurated on 21 November 2022.
Important facts
Along with this, the Electric Driven Environment Monitoring Vehicle (EV) was formally launched.
JNPA is committed to achieving sustainability and creating value for the business, which is reflected in economic, social and environmental parameters.
The continuous water quality system and electrically powered monitoring vehicle will assist in sea water and air quality management in the port area and improve the environmental quality within the port area.
JNPA will be able to reduce green-house gas emissions from vehicles.
Apart from this, it will also be possible to monitor the compliance of environmental quality around the port estate.
This work will be done through water quality station data, water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, conductivity, nitrate, salinity, TDS of sea water etc.
The TDS of seawater is based on the sea water quality database.
This is essential for maintaining sanitary standards in the marine environment.
E-Vehicles will also monitor the existing air and noise level in JNPA.
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA)
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) located in Navi Mumbai is the major container handling port in India.
Commissioned on 26 May 1989, the port has grown from a bulk-cargo terminal to a major container port in the country in three decades.
JNPA is connected to over 200 ports in the world and is ranked 26th in the list of top 100 Container Ports globally.
5. Ayush Ministry to set up an Academic Chair in Ayurvedic Science at Western Sydney University, Australia
Tags: National International News
The Union ministry of Ayush announced the setting up of an Ayurveda Academic Chair based at Western Sydney University’s NICM Health Research Institute, with tenure for a period of three years.
Dr. Rajagopala S., Associate Professor & Head (Department of Kaumarabhritya) All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi has been selected for the post of Academic Chair in Ayurvedic Science at Western Sydney University, Australia.
In order to promote Ayurveda and Yoga the Ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 16 foreign countries for the setting up of Ayush Chair.
The Academic Chair will undertake academic and collaborative research activities in Ayurveda, including herbal medicine and yoga, as well as design academic standards and short-term/medium-term courses and educational guidelines. It will provide academic leadership in demonstrating and fostering excellence in teaching, research and policy development related to Ayurveda.
Union Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homoeopathy)
- The Ministry of AYUSH was set up on the 9th of November 2014 to revive the knowledge of traditional Indian systems of medicine.
- It focuses on education and research in the fields of Ayurveda, Yoga Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy.
- Minister of AYUSH: Sarbananda Sonowal
6. Canada’s Brampton city gets first turbaned Sikh Harkirat Singh as deputy mayor
Tags: Person in news International News
Brampton city in the Canadian province of Ontario got its first turbaned Sikh deputy mayor with the appointment of Harkirat Singh .A release by the Brampton City Council said that Harkirat Singh, who represents wards 9 and 10, has been appointed deputy mayor from 2022-26. The deputy mayor presides at council and other committee meetings and assumes ceremonial and civic event duties on behalf of the mayor if the mayor is absent or unavailable.
Prior to his role as councillor, he served a four-year term as school trustee at the Peel District School Board.
In the present Canadian Parliament there are 18 Sikhs members.Currently Harjit Sajjan, Bardish Chagger are the two Sikhs who are ministers in the Justin Trudeau government in Canada.
7. Over 60 people dead in the Indonesian earthquake
Tags: place in news Science and Technology International News
A 5.6-magnitude earthquake killed more than 60 people and injured hundreds in Indonesia's West Java province on 21 November 2022. However the death toll is likely to rise further as many are still trapped under the rubbles.
The epicentre was near the town of Cianjur in West Java, about 75 km (45 miles) southeast of the capital, Jakarta.
Indonesia lies across the "Pacific Ring of Fire", a highly seismically active zone, where different plates on the Earth's crust meet and create a large number of earthquakes and volcanoes.
In 2004, a 9.1 magnitude quake off Sumatra Island in northern Indonesia triggered a tsunami that struck 14 countries, killing 226,000 people along the Indian Ocean coastline, more than half of them in Indonesia.
Earthquake
Earthquakes happen when the plates of the earth collide with each other. The earth's lithosphere consists of 7 major plates and they float over the molten surface of the upper mantle. When they collide energy waves are released which causes vibration on the surface of the Earth known as Earthquake.
The location below the earth’s surface where the earthquake starts is called the hypocenter, and the location directly above it on the surface of the earth is called the epicenter.
Earthquakes are recorded by instruments called seismographs. The recording they make is called a seismogram.
The scale for measuring earthquakes is called the Richter scale. It is a mathematical scale used to measure the intensity of earthquake waves. It ranges from 0 to 9. However it can be more than 9.
8. New Zealand Supreme Court rules voting age of 18 is discriminatory in the country
Tags: International News
The Supreme Court of New Zealand has in a decision delivered on 21 November 2022 ruled that the country's current voting age of 18 was discriminatory. The Supreme Court found that the current voting age of 18 was inconsistent with the country's Bill of Rights, which gives people a right to be free from age discrimination when they have reached 16.
The case which was filed by the advocacy group Make It 16 in 2020 welcomed the ruling of the court and termed it historic.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the government would draft legislation to reduce the age to 16, which could then be put to a vote in parliament.
Voting age in the world
Maximum country in the world allow voting rights to citizens after completion of 18 years. However there are certain countries in the world which allows 16 years to vote. They are: Brazil, Ecuador, Austria, Cuba, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Malta, Nicaragua and Scotland.
Voting age in India
The voting age in India was 21 years since the promulgation of the constituting in 1950. However by 61st constitution amendment act 1988 the voting age was reduced to 18 years.
New Zealand
It is an island country in South Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people of New Zealand are called Maoris.
The island was discovered by Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman in 1642.
New Zealand is famous for its flightless bird Kiwi.
Its economy is dominated by agriculture (sheep raising).
It is a constitutional monarchy with the King of Britain being its Head of the State.
Prime Minister: Jacinda Ardern
Currency: New Zealand Dollar
Capital: Wellington
9. India emerges as a top investment destination for Sovereign investors
Tags: Economy/Finance International News
According to a report of the American Asset Management company Invesco, India has emerged as the second most preferred investment market after the United States for sovereign wealth funds and public pension’s funds in 2022.
The Invesco Global Sovereign Asset Management Study is based on the opinion of 139 Chief investment officers of the sovereign wealth funds and public pension’s funds.
According to Invesco, the United States remained the top destination for the sovereign wealth funds and public pension’s funds but to balance the risk many fund manager wants to invest in the emerging markets. The most beneficiaries of this shift to the emerging market is India.
Among emerging markets India has overtaken China as the most popular emerging market. This year China has been ranked at 6th place.
One main reason has been that many funds are reducing their exposure in China and they are attracted to India due to its positive economic reforms and strong demographic profile.
According to the report Sovereign investors manage some $33 trillion in assets. Average annual returns for sovereign investors over the past decade stood at 6.5%. However, 2022 could prove to be a turning point with higher inflation and tighter monetary policy hitting long-term expected returns.
Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF)
Sovereign means Government of a country. Thus sovereign wealth fund (SWF) is a fund owned by a Government of a country. It is normally a surplus money which a government has and it is used to invest in the stock or debt market of other countries for a better return on investment.
It is managed either by a company set up by the government or it is managed by the central bank of the country.
There has been proposal to set up an SWF in India but till date no such fund has been set up.
SWF are considered as long term investors.
Some of the famous and largest SWF are:
Norway Government Pension Fund Global, China Investment Corporation, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
10. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan re-elected as President
Tags: Person in news International News
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan has been re-elected as the President of Kazakhstan. According to the Kazakhstan Election Commission he has won 81.31% of the votes polled in the Presidential election held on 20 November 2022.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev became the President of Kazakhstan on 29 March 2019 after the resignation of the first President of Kazakhstan Nur Sultan Nazarbayev.
On 6 September 2022 the Kazakhstan constitution was amended and the term of the President was extended to 7 years from 5 years and a person can become the president of Kazakhstan only once. Since the constitutional amendment is being considered a new constitution, Tokayev became eligible to contest the Presidential election held on 20 November 2022. His earlier term as President is not being counted.
Kazakhstan was part of the Soviet Union which gained Independence on 16 December 1991, after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
It lies in Central Asia. It is the largest country in central Asia and 9th largest country in the world.
Capital: Astana
Currency : Tenge
