IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 20, 21, 2016

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 20, 21 ,2016

• On November 21, 2016 World Hello Day was observed.
• Aim : To express that conflicts should be resolved through communication rather than the use of force.
• This day began in 1973 in response to the conflict between Israel and Egypt and since then over 180 countries have taken part in the event.
• On November 21, 2016 World Television Day was observed.
• The United Nations has designated this day, recognising that television plays a major role in presenting different issues that affect people. 
• It seeks to celebrate the philosophy of television, a tool which represents a symbol for communication and globalisation in the contemporary world. 
• 21st of November has been chosen for this day because on November 21-22, 1996 the UN held the first World Television Forum.
• US President Barack Obama has ruled out drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic Ocean to save the "fragile and unique" Arctic ecosystem from "significant risks". 
• This comes after US President-elect Donald Trump vowed to "lift the Obama-Clinton roadblocks" against large fossil fuel projects. 
• The ban will be in effect from 2017 to 2022.
• India is going to operationalise an all-in-one national emergency response system phone number 112 by January 2017.
• The 112 phone number will be on the lines of America’s 911 emergency services number. 
• After its launch, all calls to 100 will also come on 112 and the control room will also receive calls about fire and ambulance services.
• Union textile Minister Smriti Irani launched a scheme of ‘Pehchan’ identity cards to artisans in Ahmedabad. 
• She also inaugurated thematic handicrafts exhibition. 
• The upgraded ‘pehchan’ cards were distributed to artisans from five clusters of Gujarat namely Jamnagar, Naroda, Surendranagar, Amreli and Kalol. 
• Besides, minister also announced that to give tool kits and safety equipment women and BPL artisans for metal craft for free of cost in a bid to encourage women.
• In a move to ban commercial surrogacy, a bill was On November 21, 2016 introduced in the Lok Sabha which also seeks to protect women from exploitation and ensure the rights of the child born through surrogacy. 
• Once approved by Parliament, there will be a complete ban on commercial surrogacy, but altruistic surrogacy will be permitted for needy infertile couples under strict regulations.
• Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav inaugurated India's longest expressway from Agra to Lucknow On November 21, 2016. 
• The 300-km expressway, completed in a record time of 23 months, would reportedly reduce the Lucknow-Delhi journey time by almost half to 5-6 hours. 
• Singer Ariana Grande was named 'Artist of the Year' at the 2016 American Music Awards (AMAs). 
• While Selena Gomez won the AMA for 'Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock', Justin Bieber won the award in the male category. 
• Bieber also won the 'Video of the Year' award for his track 'Sorry'. 
• Further, Drake was named 'Favorite Artist - Rap/Hip-Hop'.
• Music composer-singer AR Rahman's song 'Vande Mataram' was launched in virtual reality at the 10th edition of NFDC Film Bazaar in Goa. 
• The 360° film was shot on 4k stereoscopic and features Rahman's tribute concert to Bharat Ratna M S Subbulakshmi, which he performed at the United Nations in New York earlier this year.
• Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was honoured with an international peace prize for his efforts in ensuring world peace. 
• The 'Dr Nagendra Singh International Peace Award' was given to him by Home Minister Rajnath Singh. 
• The award has been instituted in the memory of Dr Nagendra Singh, an Indian judge at International Court of Justice, The Hague.
• India successfully conducted twin trials of the indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile from Chandipur in Odisha On November 21, 2016. 
• The test was carried out by the specially formed Strategic Forces Command and monitored by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. 
• The surface-to-surface missile has a range of 350 kms and can carry 500-1000 kgs of warheads.
• Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar On November 21, 2016 commissioned the indigenously designed and constructed destroyer INS Chennai. 
• The ship is armed with supersonic surface to surface 'BrahMos' missiles and is also capable of undersea warfare.
• Following the completion of additional systems on the ship, it will be placed under the administrative and operational control of the Western Naval Command.
• China launched a 712-km quantum communication line On November 21, 2016, stated to be the world's longest secure telecommunications network. 
• Linking Hefei to Shanghai, the line is equipped with ultra-high security systems and is claimed to be hack-proof. It is part of a 2,000-km Beijing-Shanghai communication line, which will be connected to China's quantum satellite for space-to-Earth communication network.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will produce 10 pilotless aircrafts like Rustom-II to boost "India's development programme for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)", DRDO Director S Christopher said On November 21, 2016. T
• This comes after DRDO successfully completed the maiden flight of the indigenously developed combat-capable drone, which can also conduct surveillance for the armed forces.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) On November 21, 2016 announced that all overdraft and cash credit holders will now be able to withdraw up to ₹50,000 in a week. 
• This will be applicable to accounts which are at least three months old.
• Further, the ₹50,000 withdrawals may be disbursed predominantly in ₹2,000 denomination bank notes.
• The government On November 21, 2016 allowed farmers to purchase seeds with old demonetised ₹500 currency notes from centres or/and outlets belonging to the Central government or the State government. 
• To support farmers for the current Rabi crop, the seeds will be provided to them from the PSUs, seeds corporations, agricultural universities and the ICAR, on showing a valid proof of identity.
• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu On November 21, 2016 commissioned a 5 MW solar power plant in Gollagudem village of the West Godavari district.
• The plant, set up at a cost of ₹37.58 crore, will produce 8.06 million units of power annually. 
• Note : Andhra Pradesh had also commissioned India's first solar park with a capacity of 250 MW in Ananthapuramu district.
• A mailbox that is situated roughly 33 feet underwater in Susami Bay in Japan's Wakayama prefecture, is world's deepest underwater postbox. 
• The postbox, which is officially recognised as a mail collection point, receives up to 1,500 water-resistant postcards each year. 
• As seawater corrodes the box, two of them are used in rotation every six months.
• Britain's Andy Murray clinched the ATP World Tour Finals title, after defeating Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the final in London. 
• With this win, Murray ended the 2016 season as the world number one. 
• It was for the first time in the history of the 46-year-old tournament that the title match decided the year-end World number one.
• Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar On November 21, 2016 won the $300,000 (₹2 crore) BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open for the second time in his career.
• The All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel On November 21, 2016 announced that India will bid for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, to further develop the game in the country. 
• Note : India will be hosting the FIFA U-17 World Cup next year.
• Kenya’s Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge has won the men’s racein 9th Delhi Half Marathon. 
• Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa won the women’s title.