18th November 2017 Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs of 18th November 2017

International Current Affairs

Iraqi forces today captured Rawa, the last ISIS-held town in the country.
- Officials added that Iraqi forces would now focus on routing the militants who fled into the desert and exert control over Iraq's borders.
- Note : The US-led coalition supported the operation to retake Rawa with intelligence, air strikes and advisers.
India and China today held their first meeting on border consultation and coordination mechanism in Beijing after the Doklam standoff.
- Both sides reviewed the situation in all sectors of India-China border and agreed that maintenance of peace and tranquility in the border areas is important for growth of bilateral relations.
At least 15 nations today joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance to phase out the use of coal by 2030.
- They are Britain, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, New Zealand, Ethiopia, Mexico and the Marshall Islands.
- Led by the UK and Canada, the alliance was launched at the UN climate summit in Germany.
- Some of the world's biggest emitters such as China, Germany, India, and Russia, did not join the pact.

National Current Affairs

The Punjab Cabinet has approved an act which will allow the properties of convicted drug offenders to be attached, seized, and forfeited.
- The move will empower the state to crack down on properties acquired through illicit trafficking of drugs.
Microsoft Founder Bill Gates who met Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath today, has agreed to help the state in tackling the problem of Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain, caused by infection or an allergic reaction) through his Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Gates also expressed willingness to work towards strengthening anganwadi centres to fight child malnutrition.

New Appointments

Britain's Queen Elizabeth today approved the appointment of Sarah Clarke as the country's first female Black Rod, in over 650-year history of the office.
- She will formally take on the duties as Lady Usher of the Black Rod next year.
- Note : The Black Rod is responsible for controlling access to and maintaining order within the UK's House of Lords.

Banking, Business & Economic Affairs

Qatar has been named the World's Richest Country with a GDP of over ₹81 lakh per person.
- Luxembourg stood at the 2nd Spot with GDP of nearly ₹71 lakh per person, Singapore ranked third with a GDP of ₹58 lakh per person.
- Note : India has been placed below 100 countries on the list, with a GDP of over ₹4 lakh per person.
The Unique Identification Authority of India today announced that NRIs and PIOs are not required to link bank accounts and other services with Aadhaar.

MOUs & Agreements

US-based high-speed transport technology startup Virgin Hyperloop One has signed MoUs with governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka to conduct feasibility study of routes in the states.
- Hyperloop said it could reduce commute time between Pune and Mumbai to about 14 minutes.
- Citizens could commute 10 times farther in the same amount of time by connecting regions in Karnataka, Hyperloop added.

Awards & Honors

Acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan will be honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be held during 20th to 28th November 2017 at Goa.

Sports Current Affairs

Indian wrestlers Sakshi Malik and Geeta Phogat won Gold medals in their respective weight categories at the National Wrestling Championship today.
- Geeta won gold in the 59 kg category while Sakshi clinched the top spot in the 62 kg category.
Two-time Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar, who made a return to wrestling after a gap of three years also won a Gold medal at the National Wrestling Championship after receiving walkovers in the quarterfinal, semifinal and final.
Australia defeated England in the first T20I to retain the Women's Ashes, a seven-match points-based multi-format series.

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