Former Japan PM Yasuhiro Nakasone

Former Japan PM Yasuhiro Nakasone

Yasuhiro Nakasone was one of the longest-reigning Prime Minister

Yasuhiro Nakasone was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1982 to 1987.

 He was a member of the House of Representatives for more than 50 years

Saudi Arabia elected to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee

Saudi Arabia elected to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, member state of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), was elected to the World Heritage Committee for the first time, days after winning the membership in the UNESCO Executive Board.

The announcement comes a week after the Kingdom was elected to the UN heritage body’s executive board for 2019-2023

There are five sites in Saudi Arabia that are currently on UNESCO’s World Heritage List

The World Heritage Committee meets once a year, and consists of representatives from 21 member states to the convention elected by the general assembly.

Sumatran rhinoceros are extinct in Malaysia

Sumatran rhinoceros are extinct in Malaysia

The Sumatran rhinoceros is now extinct in Malaysia. The country’s last rhino, Iman, died of cancer on Saturday

 Tam, Malaysia’s last male rhino, died in May.

The species is down to about 80 individuals, all living in Indonesia.

The Sumatran rhinoceros, also known as Asian two-horned rhinoceros, is a rare member of the family Rhinocerotidae and one of five extant species of rhinoceros.

Lakshya Sen wins Scottish Open title

Lakshya Sen wins Scottish Open title

In badminton, India's Lakshya Sen has won the Scottish Open men's single title, defeating Brazilian Ygor Coelho to seal his fourth title in three months.

Entering the tournament as the top seed, the world number 41 registered an 18-21, 21-18, 21-19 win in 56 minutes to claim the title in Glasgow.

The 18-year-old Indian started his year with a silver medal at the Polish Open International Challenge in March.

Lakshya Sen went on to win the Belgian International in September, his first title of the year.

Within a month, Lakshya won his first BWF Super 100 title at the Dutch Open, with the second one coming soon after, at the SaarLorLux Open in Germany.

He will be next seen in action in the Syed Modi International Championship, starting tomorrow in Lucknow.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Resolution 54/134)

The premise of the day is to raise awareness of the fact that women around the world are subject to varoious forms of violence

furthermore, one of the aims of the day is to highlight that the scale and true nature of the issue is often hidden.

the theme uses the orange colour to symbolize hope and a brighter future without violence against women

Researchers find aquatic environment on Earth with complete absence of any form of life

Researchers find aquatic environment on Earth with complete absence of any form of life

Researchers have found an aquatic environment on the Earth with complete absence of any form of life.

They say the research may lead to an improved understanding of the limits of habitability.

The study, published in the journal, Nature Ecology and Evolution, revealed that any form of microbial life was absent in the hot, saline, hyperacid ponds of the Dallol geothermal field in Ethiopia.

Study co-author Purificacion Lopez Garcia from FECYT said they have verified that there's no microbial life in these salty, hot and hyperacid pools or in the adjacent magnesium-rich brine lakes.

According to the researchers, the study helps in understanding the limits of habitability and presents evidence that there are places even on Earth's surface which are sterile though they contain liquid water.

Rising surface temperature in Pacific for prolonged periods causes El Nino

Rising surface temperature in Pacific for prolonged periods causes El Nino

A study shows, rising surface temperature in the tropical Pacific Ocean for prolonged periods leads to a climate process called the El Nino, which has become more extreme due to human-induced climate change.

The researchers, including the Georgia Institute of Technology in the US, said El Ninos have become more intense in the industrial age, which stand to worsen storms, drought, and coral bleaching.

The major study with physical evidence spanning millennia, compared chemical deposits found on present-day corals that are dependent on water temperature with similar deposits on older coral records representing relevant sea surface temperatures from the past 7,000 years.

The study said the industrial age swings in the tropical Pacific wind and ocean temperatures called El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is 25 per cent stronger than in the pre-industrial records.

The researchers found patterns in ENSO with swings of heating and cooling of the equatorial Pacific waters.

They also found that the recordings of sea surface temperatures registered in the coral chemical deposits were astonishingly accurate.

International Children’s Peace Prize 2019 awarded to Divina Maloum and Greta Thunberg

International Children’s Peace Prize 2019 awarded to Divina Maloum   and Greta Thunberg 

Divina Maloum (14) from Cameroon and Greta Thunberg (16) from Sweden both received the International Children’s Peace Prize 2019 .

Divina received the International Children’s Peace Prize for her peaceful fight against extremist violence and radicalization.

Greta received the prize for her international student climate activism.

The International Children’s Peace Prize is awarded annually to a child who has made a significant contribution to advocating children's rights and improving the situation of vulnerable children

The prize is an initiative of Marc Dullaert, founder of the KidsRights Foundation, an international children's aid and advocacy organisation based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

World Television Day

World Television Day

in December 1996 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 November as World Television Day commemorating the date on which the first World Television Forum was held in 1996

television continues to be the single largest source of video consumption

In 2013, 79% of the world's households owned a television set

The global observance day acknowledges the role of broadcast media. Writers, journalists, bloggers and others associated with the medium come together to promote this day. The interaction between emerging and traditional forms of broadcast creates a great opportunity to raise awareness about the important issues facing our communities

World Children’s Day

World Children’s Day

World Children’s Day was first established in 1954 as Universal Children's Day and is celebrated on 20 November each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare.

November 20th is an important date as it is the date in 1959 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. It is also the date in 1989 when the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Since 1990, World Children's Day also marks the anniversary of the date that the UN General Assembly adopted both the Declaration and the Convention on children's rights.

World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) 2019

World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) 2019

World   Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) will be celebrated this year from 18-24   November 2019.

It is one of the most important global events of the United Nations having included   antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the biggest threats to global health.

This year, #WorldAntibioticAwarenessWeek is raising   awareness on the global effort to address #AMR. 

In Asia and the Pacific, #2019WAAW is calling to improve awareness and   understanding of the risks of AMR, strengthening evidence-based AMR-mitigation strategies through surveillance and research, promoting good practices and prudent use of antimicrobials in food and agriculture.

6th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus held in Bangkok

6th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus held in Bangkok

The 6th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) will be held in Bangkok, Thailand .

Defence Ministers of ADMM-Plus countries will attend the meeting.

The meeting was held on subject of the “Sustainable Security”

The meeting issued a joint statement on advancing partnership for sustainable security.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa won Sri Lanka Presidential election

Gotabaya Rajapaksa won Sri Lanka Presidential election

Sri Lanka's former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa has won the Presidential election.

He is the brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Gotabaya got 52.25 per cent of the total valid votes.

Gotabaya will be sworn in as the new President tomorrow

Lieutenant Colonel Nandasena Gotabaya Rajapaksa, RWP, RSP, psc, GR is a Sri Lankan politician, technocrat, military officer, and the President-elect of Sri Lanka, having gained a majority in the 2019 Presidential election, which he contested from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, which is lead by his brother, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) is an island nation south of India in the Indian Ocean


Capitals: Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Currency: Sri Lankan rupee

International Day for Tolerance

International Day for Tolerance

The International Day for Tolerance is an annual observance day declared by UNESCO in 1995 to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance.

 It is observed on 16 November

In 1995, UNESCO established the Madanjeet Singh Prize for the promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

David villa announced retirement

David villa announced retirement

Former Valencia, Barcelona and Spain striker David Villa has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 37.

David Villa Sánchez is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Japanese club Vissel Kobe.

he played 98 matches for the Spain national team.

He played three World Cups, he was a  member of the Spain team, which was  World Cup winner in 2010

His won 2011 UEFA(Union of European Football Associations) Super Club, 2011 Club World Cup and three La Liga titles with Barcelona.

He scored the highest 59 goals for Spain.

FIFA names Arsene Wenger as global football development chief

FIFA names Arsene Wenger as global football development chief

Veteran coach Arsene Wenger has been named FIFA's Chief of global football development. FIFA said, the former Arsenal and Monaco coach would be responsible for the growth of the game for both men and women around the world and would also be the leading authority on technical matters, including potential changes to the sport's laws.

It added that Wenger, 70, would also be tasked with coach education and aiding a programme designed to help former players enter management.

The new role brings Wenger back to the game for the first time since 2018, when he left Arsenal after 22 years in charge.

Wenger made the Gunners one of the strongest sides in Europe, winning three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups and taking his team to the 2006 Champions League final.

Japanese spacecraft starts year-long journey home from asteroid

Japanese spacecraft starts year-long journey home from asteroid

After departing from a distant asteroid, Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft started its year-long journey home after successfully completing its mission to bring back soil samples and data that could provide clues to the origins of the solar system.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency says the spacecraft left its orbit around the asteroid Ryugu, about 300 million kilometres from Earth.

Hayabusa2 made two touchdowns on the asteroid and successfully collected data and samples during its 1½-year mission since arriving there in June 2018.

The spacecraft is expected to return to Earth in late 2020 and drop a capsule containing the precious samples in the Australian desert.

Scientists hope the samples contain carbon and organic matter that could explain how they are related to Earth.

Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah maintain top positions in ICC ODI ranking

Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah maintain top positions in ICC ODI ranking

In Cricket, Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah have maintained their top spots in the latest ICC ODI Player Rankings.

Kohli is at the top of the rankings for batsmen, followed by his deputy Rohit Sharma.

In the bowlers' rankings, Bumrah maintained his top spot followed by New Zealand's pacer Trent Boult.

Hardik Pandya is the only Indian to feature in the top 10 among all-rounders. He is at number 10.

England's World Cup hero Ben Stokes tops the chart followed by Mohammad Nabi of Afghanistan.

BRICS trade ministers meeting began in Brasilia

BRICS trade ministers meeting began in Brasilia

Ahead of upcoming BRICS 2019 summit, BRICS trade ministers meeting has started in Brasilia.

The meeting will focus on trade facilitation, investment promotion and cooperation in customs among other issues.

Getting through comparative advantages of all the BRICS countries to develop upon shared prosperity in the present global economic situation will be the focus.

MoU on trade and investment promotion between agencies of all the 5 BRICS countries will be signed after the meeting.

the meeting of BRICS power ministers where deliberations will focus on clean energy and harnessing the strengths of each other in the energy sector will be organized later

abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference.

abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference.

ADIPEC 2019 will be held on 11-14 November at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) is located in the capital city’s Diplomatic District

The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) is one of the world’s most influential events for the oil and gas industry .

 the event hosts more than 2,200 exhibiting companies from 135 countries around the world. Situated at a cross roads of east meets west, ADIPEC is the largest oil and gas exhibition and conference in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the MENA region attracting 145,000+ trade professionals across the world.

Cyclone Bulbul

Cyclone Bulbul

Cyclone Bulbul is a Cyclone near Bangladesh

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Bulbul is an active tropical cyclone

 Originating from the remnants of Severe Tropical Storm Matmo over the southern Bay of Bengal in early November, Bulbul slowly intensified into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.

 It is only the fourth tropical cyclone ever recorded to regenerate over the Andaman Sea, having crossed Southeast Asia overland.

In addition, it is only the second to make it to hurricane strength, the last being in 1960

International Day of Radiology

International Day of Radiology

The International Day of Radiology (IDoR) is an annual event promoting the role of medical imaging in modern healthcare.

It is celebrated on November 8 each year and coincides with the anniversary of the discovery of x-rays.

It was first introduced in 2012, as a joint initiative of the European Society of Radiology (ESR), the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), and the American College of Radiology (ACR).

The International Day of Radiology is acknowledged and celebrated by nearly 200 national, sub-speciality, and related societies around the world.

The theme of 2019 is ‘sports imaging’.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan re-elected as President of UAE

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan re-elected as President of UAE

The UAE's Supreme Council of the Union has re-elected Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as its President for a fourth five-year term, in accordance with the provisions of the UAE Constitution.

President Sheikh Khalifa was first elected President of the UAE by the Supreme Council of the Union on 3rd November, 2004.

Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is the current President of the United Arab Emirates, the Emir of Abu Dhabi, the Supreme Commander of the Union Defence Force and the chairman of the Supreme Petroleum Council.

The United Arab Emirates is an Arabian Peninsula nation settled mainly along the Persian (Arabian) Gulf. The country is a federation of 7 emirates consisting of Abu Dhabi (which serves as the capital), Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain

Capital: Abu Dhabi
 Currency: United Arab Emirates dirham

19th Council of Ministers Indian Ocean Rim Association meeting in Abu Dhabi

 19th  Council of Ministers  Indian Ocean Rim Association  meeting in Abu Dhabi

The theme is "Promoting a Shared Destiny and Path to Prosperity in the Indian Ocean."

During this week’s ministerial meeting, the United Arab Emirates will take over from South Africa as IORA Chairman, for a two year period running to 2021. Founded in 1997, the Association, whose headquarters are in Mauritius, is an inter-governmental organisation with 22 member states as well as nine dialogue partners.

These partners are countries situated outside the region but who have interests within it. It seeks to promote sustained growth and balanced development within the region.

Excess amount of lead found in water supply of major cities in Canada

Excess amount of lead found in water supply of major cities in Canada

In Canada, an investigation has found the excess amount of lead in the water supply of major cities.

Out of 12,000 samples taken from 2014 to 2018, one third exceeded the national safety guideline of 5 parts per billion.

The biggest source of lead in Canada's drinking water is antiquated pipes and public service lines that connect people's homes to the main water supply.

Lead contamination has been linked with low IQ in children, hypertension and heart disease.

US formally notifies UN about its withdrawal from Paris Climate Accord

US formally notifies UN about its withdrawal from Paris Climate Accord

The US has formally notified the United Nations that it was withdrawing from the Paris climate accord.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the withdrawal, saying the agreement had imposed what he called an unfair economic burden on the US.

notification begins a one-year process of exiting the global climate change accord, culminating the day after the 2020 US election.

The agreement brought together 188 nations to combat climate change.

It committed them to keeping rising global temperatures below 2 Celsius above pre-industrial levels and attempting to limit them even more, to a 1.5 Celsius rise.

The US contributes about 15 per cent of global emissions of carbon.

Last year, announcing his decision to withdraw from the Paris accord, President Trump said he would exit or re-negotiate any deal which fails to serve America's interests.

14th East Asia and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

14th East Asia and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) summit was held in Bangkok .

The East Asia Summit (EAS) is a unique leader led platform of the Asia-Pacific where they hold discussions on various development aspects in the region.

The agenda for the today’s East Asia Summit is to review the future direction of EAS cooperation and exchange views on regional and international issues.

On the other hand, RCEP is a comprehensive free trade agreement being negotiated between ASEAN nations and ASEAN’s free trade agreement partners that include India and China among others.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and its six FTA partners (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand).

Maisnam Meiraba Luwang wins boys' singles U-19 title

Maisnam Meiraba Luwang wins boys' singles U-19 title

Maisnam Meiraba Luwang clinched the boys' singles U-19 title at the Woncheon Yonex Korea Junior Open Badminton International Challenge 2019 in Miryang, Korea on Friday.

The top seed from Manipur needed just 36 minutes to brush aside the challenge of 15th seed Lee Hak Joo of Korea in a 21-10 21-13 win.

eighth seed, Sathish Kumar Karunakaran, who had bowed out to Luwang 16-21, 22-24 in the semi-final yesterday claimed bronze in the same category.

It is the 16-year-old Luwang's third international title this year following his triumphs at the Russian Junior White Nights 2019 and India Junior International 2019.

Indian women's team wins ACC Emerging Asia Cup

Indian women's team wins ACC Emerging Asia Cup

India claimed the Women’s Emerging Asia Cup 2019 after beating host Sri Lanka by 14 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method.

India A posted 175/9 in 50 overs

India won the Emerging Asia Cup 2019 title at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka

35th ASEAN Summit begins in Bangkok

35th ASEAN Summit begins in Bangkok

The 35th ASEAN Summit began today in Bangkok.

The summit will continue till November 4.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a group of ten member countries that encourages political,economic and social co-operation in the region.

Advancing Partnership for sustainability is the theme of the summit.

During five days summit East Asia summit (EAS)  and Regional Comprehensive Economic Summit ( RCEP)  will be also  held.

Apart from leaders of 10 Asean countries head of  Eight dialogue partner countries including India, USA China, Japan , republic of Korea , Australia and  New Zealand are also participating in the summit.

The summit would  discuss comprehensive and sustainable ASEAN economic development and s on negotiations related to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) including market opening.

The RCEP is a proposed free trade agreement( FTA) between the ten members state of ASEAN and its parter countries.The summit is likely to discuss security and cyber crime.