The Twelfth Session of the World Urban Forum WUF12, convened by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), took place in Cairo, Egypt, returning to the African continent after more than 20 years after its inception in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2002.
WUF12 focussed on localising the Sustainable Development Goals, shedding light on the local actions and initiatives required to curb the current global challenges affecting the daily life of people, including unaffordable housing, rising living costs, climate change, the lack of basic services, and ongoing conflicts.
Alix Didier Fils-Aime is Haiti's New Prime Minister
Alix Didier Fils-Aime, a businessman, became Haiti's new Prime Minister, taking the reins in a nation rocked by lawlessness and political discord.
His predecessor, Garry Conille, was appointed in May, but just five months into his term was dismissed by the transitional council, a body thrust into power after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, which left the country without a sitting parliament or leader — following an extended power struggle.
After operating for nearly 10 years, full service carrier Vistara flew into the sunset operating its last flight from the national capital to Singapore.
Vistara, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, has now merged with Air India, creating an enlarged entity that is now the country's largest international carrier and second-largest domestic carrier.
Vistara was based in Gurgaon, with its hub at Indira Gandhi International Airport. The carrier, a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, commenced operations in January 2015.
Hindalco Tops Global Sustainability Rankings for 5th Year
Hindalco Industries Ltd., the metals arm of the Aditya Birla Group, secured the top position as the world's most sustainable aluminium company for the fifth consecutive year, according to the 2024 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) rankings. The company earned a total score of 87 points, improving by 9 points from 2023, and surpassed its closest competitor by 22 points.
Quanhai Li Re-Elected as World Sailing President for Second Term
At the World Sailing General Assembly held in Singapore, Quanhai Li was re-elected as president for a new four-year term. The only Chinese president of an Olympic International Federation, Li's re-election marks a significant achievement for both him and the sport. He received 55 votes, securing a decisive victory over his competitors, Rodion Luka (UKR) with 2 votes and Philippe Rogge (BEL) with 29 votes. Li's leadership has been central to the growth and stability of World Sailing in recent years, and his continued role signals the future direction of the sport globally.
Tayyab Ikram Re-elected FIH President
Tayyab Ikram was re-elected as the President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for a second consecutive term, a significant achievement for Pakistan's hockey. At the 49th FIH Congress in Muscat, Oman, Ikram secured 79 votes out of 126, surpassing his competitor, Marc Coudron of Belgium, who received 47 votes. His re-election not only signifies personal recognition but also reinforces Pakistan's growing influence in global hockey.
The FIH President's and Honorary Awards were also presented. Recognized for their significant contributions were individuals such as Gill Gemming (NZL), Chaiyapak Siriwat (THA), and Marissa Langeni (RSA), along with the French Hockey Federation and the Uganda Hockey Association for their exceptional governance and developmental efforts.
Chennai Grandmasters 2024: Aravindh Chithambaram Clinches Title
GM Aravindh Chithambaram, buoyed by a stunning turn of fortunes in the last two rounds walked away with the Chennai Grand Masters title. On an action packed day at the Anna Centenary Library, the Masters category witnessed a three-way tie between Aravindh, Levon Aronian and Arjun Erigaisi. It led to a play-off, where Aravindh defeated Aronian. He won the first blitz and drew the second with black pieces to be crowned champion of the second edition.
India's First Solar Power Storage Plant to Come Up in MP's Morena
India's first solar power storage plant will be set up soon in Madhya Pradesh's Morena. The work for constructing the storage plant, which can supply electricity during the night as well, will begin from next year and the plant will be functional by 2027. The cost of this 600 MW capacity plant, which will be built in an area of around 3,000 hectares in Morean, is expected to be around Rs. 3,500 crore.
This plant is expected to reduce the cost of electricity borne by the government to provide power for the farmers during the Rabi crop season (November to April) in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh respectively.
Foreign Secretary Misri Granted Extension
The tenure of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was extended till July 2026. He was scheduled to retire on November 30. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension in service to Misri, a 1989-batch IFS officer. Misri had assumed charge as the Foreign Secretary on July 15. He has held important positions in the past. He has served both in the MEA and the PMO.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Launches State's First Double-Decker Electric Bus
In a significant step toward modernising public transport and promoting eco-friendly travel, Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, launched the state's first double-decker electric bus at the Aakanksha Haat programme held at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan.
This initiative aims not only to tackle the growing traffic problems in urban areas but also to contribute toward environmental conservation. The launch event, marked by the CM's announcement of discounted fares for women passengers, was met with immense enthusiasm, underlining the state government's commitment to promoting sustainable transportation solutions
India's First Ever Tri-service Space Exercise Antariksha Abhyas Begins in Delhi
In a first, the tri-service exercise 'Antariksha Abhyas 2024', a three-day exercise aiming to secure India's national strategic objectives in space, was held in Delhi.
The exercise was conducted by the Defence Space Agency of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff.
The exercise helped secure national strategic objectives in space and integrate India's space capability into military operations.
Specialist branches under Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff viz Defence Cyber Agency, Defence Intelligence Agency and Strategic Forces Command were also active participants in the exercise. Representatives from the ISRO and the DRDO also took part in this exercise.
Launch of India's First C-295 Full Motion Simulator
The country's first and only C-295 full motion simulator was launched at the Agra Air Force Station. Training related to the C-295 aircraft will be done at the Agra Air Force Station itself. It is equipped with many state-of-the-art facilities.
Central Air Command, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit inaugurated the Indian Air Force C-295 Full Motion Simulator (FMS) facility in Agra.
This simulator enables pilots to train in a nearly realistic environment by simulating multiple missions such as tactical shift, para-dropping, para-trooping, medical evacuation and disaster relief. This facility will significantly enhance the operational capability of the C-295 fleet.
Noted Tamil actor 'Delhi' Ganesh, renowned for his remarkable versatility in over 400 films, passed away at the age of 80.
He started his film carrier in 1976 in the movie Pattina Pravesam directed by K. Balachander.
Delhi Ganesh's contributions to Tamil cinema span across a remarkable variety of roles, and his performances were deeply appreciated by audiences across generations.
He received the Tamil Nadu State Film Award Special Prize (1979) and Kalaimamani Award (1994).
World Pneumonia Day, observed on November 12 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness about pneumonia, a life-threatening but preventable and treatable respiratory illness. The day emphasises the impact of pneumonia, especially among children under five and the elderly, who are most vulnerable.
World Pneumonia Day was established in 2009 by the Global Coalition against Child Pneumonia, a collective of public health organisations determined to address the lack of awareness about pneumonia's severity and the fact that it claims the lives of over 800,000 children each year.
The theme for World Pneumonia Day in 2024 is "Every Breath Counts: Stop Pneumonia in Its Track." This theme emphasises the critical importance of each breath and highlights the urgent need to combat pneumonia through timely detection, effective treatment, and preventative measures.
Kunal Dalal Honoured at Education World India School Rankings 2024
Kunal Dalal, Managing Director of JBCN Education, was honoured as the Education Leader of the Year at the Education World India School Ranking Awards 2024-2025 held in Gurgaon. This prestigious recognition celebrates his visionary leadership and dedication to building a progressive network of international schools.
JBCN Education received this prestigious title for the second consecutive year.
The recognition reflects JBCN's commitment to delivering innovative, holistic education that promotes critical thinking, creativity, and overall learner development.
IIT Madras Partners with ISRO to Establish Research Centre to Study Spacecraft
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras collaborated with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to create a Centre of Excellence specialising in research on 'Fluid and Thermal Sciences.' ISRO would provide seed funding of Rs. 1.84 crore towards establishing this centre.
This Centre will act as a nodal centre for spacecraft and launch vehicle-related thermal management research activities of ISRO. Thermal problems regarding the design, analysis and testing of various components could be done by leveraging the expertise of IIT Madras faculty.
An MoU for this collaboration was signed at IIT Madras by Professor Manu Santhanam, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), IIT Madras and Victor Joseph. T, Director, Directorate of Technology Development & Innovation (DTDI), ISRO, in the presence of Project coordinator Prof. Arvind Pattamatta, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras, and other stakeholders from IIT Madras and ISRO.
Shriya Pilgaonkar Returns as Goodwill Ambassador for India's Largest Environmental Film Festival - ALT EFF
Popular actress and passionate environmentalist Shriya Pilgaonkar joined hands with the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) as the Goodwill Ambassador for its 2024 edition to be held from Nov 22 - Dec 8, 2024, in Mumbai. She is known for her powerful performances in film and web series, as well as her steadfast commitment to environmental protection.
Bollywood actress and environmental activist Dia Mirza was appointed as a jury member for the All Living Things Environmental Film Festival (ALT EFF) 2024. The festival will showcase 72 films, including 38 India premieres, focusing on critical environmental issues like climate change and wildlife conservation.
The tourism sector in Kerala got a boost with the launch of a new seaplane service. This initiative commenced at Bolgatty Waterdrome in Kochi. The inaugural flight operated from Bolgatty to Mattupetty Dam in the Idukki district. The service is part of the Udan scheme, which aims to enhance regional connectivity through air travel.
The primary goal of the seaplane service is to improve connectivity between Kerala's airports and its numerous water bodies. This initiative is crucial for the tourism sector, which relies heavily on accessibility. The service aims to attract more tourists by providing unique travel experiences over the scenic landscapes of Kerala.
Justice B. R. Gavai Nominated as Executive Chairman of NALSA
President of India Droupadi Murmu nominated Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai of the Supreme Court as the new Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).
The position was previously held by Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who took over as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI).
The CJI is the NALSA's Patron-in-Chief, according to the Legal Services Authority Act of 1987.
The President of India, in collaboration with the Chief Justice of India, appoints an active or retired Supreme Court judge as Executive Chairman.
As per convention, the post of Executive Chairman of NALSA is occupied by the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court.
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