Daily Current Affairs- 21 November 2024

Daily Current Affairs- 21st November 2024

International

India And Australia firm up clean energy partnership; pushing mega trade pact

• India and Australia sealed an ambitious renewable energy partnership and set their eyes on a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese vowed to significantly ramp up overall bilateral ties.
• A raft of issues including ways to boost ties in areas of defence and security ties, mobility, science and technology and education figured prominently at the second India-Australia annual conclave held on the sidelines of the G20 summit. 

National

Prasar Bharati launches its OTT platform Waves

• Waves’ Prasar Bharati’s OTT was launched today (November 20), during the opening ceremony of the 55th International Film Festival of India. The platform will offer a variety of channels in multiple languages, including news, entertainment, movies, TV shows, and games. 

Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 125th Birth Anniversary of Utkal Keshari, Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab

• President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 125th Birth Anniversary Celebration of Utkal Keshari, Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab in New Delhi today (November 21), During the event, a special commemorative stamp and coin will be released in honour of Dr Mahtab. 

Indian Army’s annual HADR exercise Sanyukt Vimochan 2024 concludes

• The Indian Army has successfully concluded its annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise, Sanyukt Vimochan 2024, with friendly foreign countries.
• The two-day exercise, held on 18 and 19 November 2024, was focussed on Gujarat and was held at Ahmedabad and the Chowpatty beach of Porbandar. 

Nokia wins multi-billion extension deal with Airtel to boost 4G, 5G network

• Telecom equipment supplier Nokia has signed a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar extension agreement with Bharti Airtel to deploy 4G and 5G equipment across Indian cities.
• The agreement is expected to enhance Airtel’s 5G capacity while supporting its network transformation efforts. Nokia and Airtel have a partnership spanning over two decades and recently launched the 'Green 5G Initiative' to improve the energy efficiency of Airtel’s network while cutting carbon emissions, the company said in the filing. 

Sports

Rafael Nadal retires from professional tennis

• Rafael Nadal, one of tennis’s all-time greats, bid farewell to professional tennis at the 2024 Davis Cup in Málaga, Spain. His final match ended in a 6-4, 6-4 loss to the Netherlands’ Botic Van de Zandschulp, marking the end of an extraordinary career. With 22 Grand Slam titles, four Davis Cup victories, and two Olympic golds. 

Summit & MOUs

Tripura govt signs MoA with Tata Technologies to upgrade State it is

• Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said the state government has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Tata Technologies Ltd to upgrade 19 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the northeastern state.
• Of the Rs 683.27 crore upgradation plan, Tata Technologies Ltd will pay 86 per cent while the state government will pay the remaining 14 per cent. Besides, the state will separately spend Rs 107 crore to improve infrastructure in the existing ITIs. The upgrade plan will be implemented in five years. 

SECI signs MoU with H2Global Stiftung to promote green hydrogen initiatives

• State-owned Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has inked an initial pact with H2Global Stiftung to establish a collaborative framework to promote Green Hydrogen initiatives.
• This aims to enhance knowledge exchange on market-based mechanisms and foster cooperation between India and importing countries, thereby contributing to the global advancement of the green hydrogen economy, according to an official statement. 

Global Soil Conference 2024 Inaugurated in New Delhi

• The four-day Global Soils Conference 2024 was inaugurated in New Delhi on 19 November 2024 and will be held from 19 to 22 November 2024. The conference, which is the apex global platform for world soil scientists and stakeholders, provides a platform for the stakeholders- government, scientists, industry leaders, farmers, etc. 

Award & Recognition

PM Modi honoured with Guyana’s highest award, The Order of Excellence

• Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has been conferred with Guyana’s highest national award, The Order of Excellence, for his visionary statesmanship, championing the rights of developing countries on the global stage, exceptional service to the global community and for his commitment to strengthening India-Guyana relations. In a ceremony at Guyana’s State House today, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana conferred this award upon the Prime Minister. 

Coal India Ltd received the Green World Awards 2024

• Coal India Ltd (CIL) won Green World Environment Award in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) category, The award has been given to CIL for Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna for permanent curative treatment of over 600 Thalassemia patients, The award was given by The Green Organization, an independent, non-political, non-prot environment group.