By: D.K Chaudhary
1. India’s Manushi Chhillar crowned Miss World 2017
i. India’s Manushi Chhillar has won the coveted Miss World 2017 crown at a grand event in China, bringing to an end the country’s dry spell of 17 years at the top pageant contest. The first and the second runners-up were Miss England Stephanie Hill and Miss Mexico, Andrea Meza.
ii. The 20-year-old from Haryana, who is a medical student, edged out top five contestants from England, France, Kenya and Mexico. Chhillar was presented the crown by Stephanie Del Valle, the last year’s Miss World winner from Puerto Rico at the event in Sanya City Arena in China which was televised live globally.
- Chhillar is the sixth Indian to win the coveted crown.
- Reita Faria- 1966
- Aishwarya Rai- 1994
- Diana Haydon- 1997
- Yukta Mookhey- 1999
- Priyanka Chopra- 2000
2. Former PM Manmohan Singh to get Indira Gandhi Peace Prize
i. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh will receive the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development this year for his leadership of the country between 2004 and 2014 and for enhancing India’s stature globally.
ii. The award, comprising a cash prize of Rs.25 lakh and a citation, was instituted by the Indira Gandhi Memorial trust in 1986 and previous recipients include the former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Havel, and organisations such as the United Nation’s Human High Commissioner for Refugees and ISRO.
- Dr Manmohan Singh- India’s fourteenth Prime Minister
- Born- 26th September 1932 in Punjab province of undivided India.
- He was also former Governor of RBI.
3. Qaumi Ekta Week Observed Across Country
i. The Qaumi Ekta Week is being observed across the country from 19th November to foster and reinforce the spirit of communal harmony and national Integration. As part of the week-long programmes, today’s (19th November 2017) day is being observed as National Integration Day.
ii. The last day of the Qaumi Ekta Week will be observed as Conservation Day and several meetings and functions will be organized to emphasize the growing need for awareness and action to conserve the environment.
4. 19th November: World Toilet Day
i. In a bid to help break taboos around toilets and make sanitation for all a global development priority, the United Nations General Assembly designated 19 November as World Toilet Day. World Toilet Day has previously been marked by international and civil society organizations all over the world. However, it was not formally recognized as an official UN day until 2013.
ii. 2017 theme: Wastewater
World Toilet Day 2017 continues the theme from World Water Day earlier this year, with the focus on wastewater.
5. Centre Hikes Import Duty on Edible Oils to Help Farmers
i. The Centre has raised import duty on crude palm oil to 30 percent from 15 percent and on refined oil to 40 percent from 20 percent in a bid to curb cheaper shipments and boost local prices for supporting farmers and refiners, according to a notification.
ii. Import duty on soyabean oil, sunflower oils, canola/mustard oils — both crude and refined format — has been raised, the notification released by the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC). Import duty on Soyabean has also been increased.
6. Nation Pays Homage to Former PM Indira Gandhi on her 100th Birth Anniversary
i. A grateful nation is paying homage to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 100th birth anniversary. A commemorative programme to mark the anniversary of Gandhi held at Shakti Sthal, New Delhi.
ii. Indira Gandhi was the only female Prime Minister of the country. She served as Prime Minister from 1966 to 1977 and from 1980 until her assassination in 1984.
- Indira Gandhi was born on- 19th November 1917
- Assassination- 31st October 1984
- shakti Sthal- Memorial to Indira Gandhi
7. Yuki Bhambri beats Ramkumar Ramanathan to win ATP Challenger
i. India’s tennis star Yuki Bhambri clinched his first title of the 2017 season on the ATP Challenger Tour following a come-from-behind win over compatriot Ramkumar Ramanathan in the final of the KPIT-MSLTA Challenger in Pune.
ii. Yuki, country’s top singles player, overcame Ramanathan 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a little over two hours at Balewadi Sports Complex.
8. Ethiopians Birhanu Legese, Almaz Ayana win Delhi Half Marathon
i. Ethiopians Birhanu Legese and Almaz Ayana won the Delhi Half Marathon, 2017. In the Men’s section, Legese clocked 59 minutes 46 seconds to claim the first spot, while his countryman Andahmlak Belihu finished second and Kenyan-American Leonard Korir came third. India’s Nitendra Rawat finished 10th.
ii. In the Women’s section, it was a clean sweep for Ethiopia, with world recorded holder Almaz Ayana finishing at the top of the podium. She clocked one hour, seven minutes and 11 seconds. Ababel Yeshaneh claimed the second spot, with Netsamet Gudeta coming third.
