1. 5th Naturopathy Day celebrated across the nation
Tags: National Important Days
Every year Naturopathy Day is observed on 18th November to popularize and make people aware about the benefits of Naturopathy.
Naturopathic medicine is a system that uses natural remedies to help the body heal itself. It embraces many therapies, including herbs, massage, acupuncture, exercise, and nutritional counselling.
The term Naturopathy was used by John Scheel of Germany in 1895 but it was and was popularized by Benedict Lust. Benedict Lust is known as the father of modern-day Naturopathy.
Background to the Day
It was on this day that Mahatma Gandhi founded the All India Nature Cure Foundation trust on November 18, 1945. Gandhi ji is considered the founding figure of Naturopathy in India, as it was largely through his efforts that this practice became popular in India.
The first Naturopathy day was observed in India on 18 November 2018,
Naturopathy Day 2022
The main event was organized at the National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune. On the occasion a special cover envelope was released to commemorate the 5th Naturopathy Day.
Gandhi memento was given to the cycle rallies participants, which originated from New Delhi, Wardha and Hyderabad and converging at Pune. Certificates were given to the Startup Yoga Challenge winners. Students from more than 25 colleges participated in the event with faculties. The program concluded with Mallkhambh presentation.
Theme of the Naturopathy Day 2022
The theme of the Naturopathy day 2022 was: Naturopathy: An Integrative Medicine.
2. APEC summit disrupted in Bangkok due to North Korean ICBM test
Tags: Summits International News
The 29th summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) being held in Bangkok, Thailand was briefly interrupted on 18 November 2022 as they condemned the North Korea for its fresh test of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). ICBM is a land based nuclear capable ballistic missile with a range of 5,600 Km or more.
The two-day (18 & 19 November) summit meeting was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Thailand Prayuth Chan-ocha on 18 November 2022.
The U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris called an emergency gathering of leaders from Australia, Japan, South Korea, Canada and New Zealand on the sidelines of the summit after North Korea carried out the missile test just an hour before its inauguration.
This is the third summit level meeting in the Asia Pacific region within a month after the East Asia Summit in Cambodia and G-20 summit at Bali, Indonesia.
Russia is a member of both G20 and APEC but President Vladimir Putin has stayed away from the summits. First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov is representing him at APEC.
The next Summit meeting will be held in the United States of America in 2023.
India is not a member of APEC.
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum with 21 member economies across Asia-Pacific region.
It was set up in 1989 to promote regional economic integration under a non-legally binding manner and friendly environment.
APEC group countries account for 38% of the global population, 62% of world’s gross domestic product and 48% of the world trade.
21 Member of APEC are:
Australia; Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand; United States, China; Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei(Taiwan), Mexico ,Papua New Guinea ,Chile , Peru; Russia; and Vietnam.
Headquarters: Singapore
3. India fastest growing market for Microsoft owned professional networking site LinkedIn
Tags: Economy/Finance International News
The Microsoft owned business networking service company LinkedIn Chief Executive Officer Ryan Roslansky has said that India has become LinkedIn’s fastest-growing market as more and more companies and advertisers come online, with sales in the country rising at a 50% year-on-year .
He was speaking at the sidelines of the Bloomberg New Economy Forum meeting in Singapore.
He said that LinkedIn is looking for new business opportunities outside the United States as the economic situation in the United States is expected to become worse.
The majority of LinkedIn’s growth is happening outside of the United States, he said, adding that new members are joining the networking site in markets such as India, Indonesia and Western Europe.
LinkedIn is a social network of professionals designed to help people make business connections, share their experiences and resumes, and find jobs.
4. Paralympics-IPC suspends Russian, Belarusian committees with immediate effect
Tags: Sports Sports News International News
The International Paralympic Committee has suspended the National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) of Russia and Belarus with immediate effect on November 17, 2022, dashing the hopes of para-athletes competing in the 2024 Paralympics.
Important facts
Earlier athletes from both countries were barred from competing in the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics in March.
Russia's suspension was passed by 64 votes against 39 at the IPC's Extraordinary General Assembly in Berlin.
The suspension of the NPC of Belarus passed by 54 votes against 45.
Both NPCs have been suspended for "inability to comply with their membership obligations under the IPC constitution".
Due to the suspension, NPC Russia and NPC Belarus lose all rights and privileges of IPC membership, as per the IPC constitution.
The Russian team was also banned from the Rio Paralympics in 2016 over doping.
NPC Russia and NPC Belarus have the right to appeal against this decision.
About International Paralympic Committee
It was established on 22 September 1989 as an international non-profit organisation.
It is an athlete-centred organisation composed of an elected Governing Board, a Management Team and various Standing Committees and Councils.
Its objective is to enable Paralympic athletes to achieve sporting excellence and to inspire and excite the world.
Headquartered - Bonn, Germany
President - Andrew Parsons
5. Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurates Geo Smart India 2022 Summit in Hyderabad
Tags: Summits National News
Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurated the Geo Smart India 2022 Summit in Hyderabad on 15 November, 2022.
Important facts
He said the country is leading the way in socio-economic prosperity driven by state-of-the-art technology and innovation.
He said the country is moving towards an era of sustainable development from the grassroots level and aims to eradicate poverty, combat climate change and improve business and living standards.
He said that the government has issued guidelines to pave the way for the use of geospatial data in various sectors of the economy.
He said that the country is facing a severe water crisis which is becoming an important issue and the government has taken several steps to solve the issue.
The three-day summit was attended by around 2500 delegates from around 500 government, private, organisations working on geospatial technology and so on.
About Geo Smart India Summit
GeoSmart India is the largest conference of Geospatial experts across the globe.
It is an interactive and collaborative platform that reflects the collective and shared vision of the Indian geospatial community.
The conference showcases how geospatial and emerging technologies can have a disruptive impact on Indian businesses.
It also serves as a meeting place for global businesses to understand the ease of doing business in India by connecting with relevant authorities and potential business partners across sectors.
6. India wins Excellence in Family Planning Leadership (EXCELL) Award-2022
Tags: Awards International News
India is the only country to have received the Leadership in Family Planning (EXCELL) Awards-2022 in the 'country category' at the International Conference on Family Planning held in Pattaya city, Thailand.
Important facts
India has made significant progress in adopting modern contraceptive methods, which have helped couples make choices about family planning.
These are reflected in the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) - 5 data.
As per NFHS-5 data, the total contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) in the country has increased from 54 per cent to 67 per cent as compared to NFHS-4.
Similarly, unmet needs for family planning showed a significant decline from 13 percent to 9 percent.
International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP)
It serves as a strategy for family planning and reproductive health worldwide.
It is the world’s largest scientific conference on family planning and reproductive health.
The last conference was held in 2018 at Kigali, Rwanda.
After 2009, this conference organised every two years.
The first conference was held in Kampala, Uganda, in 2009.
It provides an opportunity to engage with civil society, youth organisations, academia, governments, businesses, cities, parliaments, trade unions to disseminate knowledge, celebrate successes and recognize progress made towards universal access to family planning systems, services and products.
7. Army Chief General Manoj Pandey received guard of honour at Les Invalides in Paris
Tags: International Relations Defence International News
Army Chief General Manoj Pande who is on a four-day visit to France, received a Guard of Honour at the Les Invalides in Paris on 17 November, 2022.
Important facts
General Manoj Pande held talks with his French counterpart General Pierre Schille and discussed issues of mutual interest during his visit to the European country.
The Chief of Army Staff is on a visit to France from 14 to 17 November.
Gen Pande left for France on November 14 on a four-day visit with an aim to further strengthen the "bond of trust" between the Indian and French armies amid the rapidly evolving security matrix and geopolitical situation.
General Pande held extensive talks with the top military brass of France including the Chief of the Defence Staff, the Chief of the Army Staff and the Commander of the Land Combat Forces.
About France
France is located on the western edge of Europe
Prime minister: Élisabeth Borne
President: Emmanuel Macron
Capital: Paris
Currency: euro
8. Army Chief General Manoj Pandey received guard of honour at Les Invalides in Paris
Tags: International Relations Defence International News
Army Chief General Manoj Pande who is on a four-day visit to France, received a Guard of Honour at the Les Invalides in Paris on 17 November, 2022.
Important facts
General Manoj Pande held talks with his French counterpart General Pierre Schille and discussed issues of mutual interest during his visit to the European country.
The Chief of Army Staff is on a visit to France from 14 to 17 November.
Gen Pande left for France on November 14 on a four-day visit with an aim to further strengthen the "bond of trust" between the Indian and French armies amid the rapidly evolving security matrix and geopolitical situation.
General Pande held extensive talks with the top military brass of France including the Chief of the Defence Staff, the Chief of the Army Staff and the Commander of the Land Combat Forces.
About France
France is located on the western edge of Europe
Prime minister: Élisabeth Borne
President: Emmanuel Macron
Capital: Paris
Currency: euro
9. MoU signed for exhibition of “Silver Treasures from Denmark and India” in the year 2023
Tags: International News
An MoU was signed between the National Museum, New Delhi and the Danish Museum Kolding for the exhibition “Silver Treasures from Denmark and India” on 17th November, 2022 in New Delhi.
Important facts
The exhibition will showcase the finest collection of silver from Museum Kolding and National Museum in New Delhi in March 2023.
The collaboration and exhibition is under the recently agreed Cultural Exchange Program between India and Denmark for the years 2022 to 2026.
The exhibition "Silver Treasures from Denmark and India" focuses on Danish and Indian silver artefacts, where both the museums will showcase the best silver items from their collections.
A total of 200 best displayed items will be selected in the exhibition.
For the first time, visitors to the National Museum will be able to see the parallel traditions of Indian and Danish silverware.
Major Museums of India
National Museum, New Delhi
National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru
Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata
Asiatic Society, Kolkata
National Museum of Natural History, New Delhi
About Denmark
Denmark is a country in northern Europe. It is made up of the Jutland Peninsula and more than 400 islands in the North Sea.
Prime Minister: Mette Frederiksen
Capital: Copenhagen
Currency: Danish krone
Danish Monarch: Queen Margrethe II
Official Language: Danish
10. India, Australia convene fifth bilateral Cyber Policy Dialogue in New Delhi
Tags: International Relations International News
India and Australia held their fifth bilateral cyber policy dialogue on November 17, 2022 in New Delhi.
Important facts
The Cyber Policy Dialogue was held under the aegis of the India-Australia Framework on Cyber and Cyber-Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation and Action Plan 2020-2025 for Comprehensive and Deepening Cyber Cooperation.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Joint Secretary (Cyber Diplomacy Division) Muanpuii Saiawi from the Ministry of External Affairs.
The Indian delegation consisted of senior officials from the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of Electronics and Information technology (MEITY), the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and CERT-In.
The Australian delegation included senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources and the Australian Federal Police.
Both sides agreed to explore opportunities for collaboration with the private sector and academia, including the Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership.
In addition, India and Australia will jointly organise a Cyber Bootcamp and Cyber and Tech Policy Exchange in collaboration with Indo-Pacific partners and the 6th India-Australia Cyber Policy Dialogue will be held in 2023.
Agenda of Dialogue
The Cyber Policy Dialogue provides a bilateral forum to discuss high-profile issues of mutual interest.
It discussed strategic priorities, cyber threat assessment, capacity building for next generation telecommunications (including 5G technology) and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, and the latest developments in cyber at the United Nations.
About Australia
Prime Minister: Anthony Albanese
Governor-General: David Hurley
Capital: Canberra
Currency: Australian dollar