1.Miscellaneous
National Press Day: 16th November
National Press Day is observed around the country on 16th November every year.
The commemorates the day the Press Council of India started functioning as a moral watchdog to ensure that the press maintains high standards and is not constrained by any influence or threats.
The day celebrates free and responsible press in India.
The Press Council of India was formed in 1966 under the Press Council Act of 1978.
Quick Fact: the First Press Commission planned to form a Press Council in 1956.
2.National Affairs
Keetham lake added to Ramsar sites
The Keetham lake in Agra of Uttar Pradesh has been added to the list of Ramsar sites.
The lake is also known as Sur Sarovar.
The water of the lake is obtained from Agra Canal, which originates from Okhla barrage on River Yamuna in Delhi.
The main objective of the Ramsar list is to develop and maintain an international network of wetlands which are important for the conservation of global biological diversity and for sustaining human life
3.International Affairs
Tristan da Cunha becomes the largest Marine Protection Zone of Atlantic Ocean
Tristan da Cunha was declared as the largest fully protected Marine reserve of the Atlantic Ocean.
The declaration will prohibit sand extraction, bottom trawling fishing and deep-sea mining in more than 90% of waters of the territory.
Tristan da Cunha is a small chain of islands inhabited by less than 300 humans and is located at 6,000 miles from London in the South Atlantic Ocean.
The island is also home to World Heritage sites such as Gough and Inaccessible Islands.
4.Sports
F1 Turkish Grand Prix 2020 won by Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-Great Britain) won the Turkish Grand Prix 2020.
Turkish Grand Prix 2020 was held at Istanbul Park, Turkey.
Sergio Perez (Racing Point-BWT- Mexico) stood second while Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari finished third.
With this win, Hamilton claimed the seventh Formula One championships title of his career to equal the record of Michael Schumacher.
5.Person in News
Bengali Actor ​Soumitra Chatterjee​ passes away
The legendary Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee has passed away.
He gained fame after his collaborations with Oscar-winning film director Satyajit Ray, with whom he worked in fourteen films.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2004.
He won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest award for cinema, in 2012.
Quick Fact: He became the first Indian film personality to be conferred with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France’s highest award for artists.
6.Miscellaneous
International Day for Tolerance: 16th November
International Day for Tolerance is celebrated every year on November 16.
The day is observed by the UNESCO and several other international organizations.
The day is celebrated in order to increase awareness about importance of tolerance in the society.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution to observe the International Day for tolerance in 1996.
Quick Fact: According to UNESCO, tolerance is an attribute that helps people to live together peacefully.
7.Sports
Government of India is set to incentivize 500 private sports academies
The Government of India is set to incentivize 500 private academies under Khelo India scheme.
The announcement was made by the Union Minister of State for Sports, Kiren Rijiju.
Under this model, the private academies are to be graded into different categories based on the quality of achievement of the players.
In the first phase of implementation, monetary assistance is to be provided to 14 Olympic sports disciplines.
Quick Fact: The Khelo India programme was launched in 2018.
8.National Affairs
World’s First Tram library for children launched
World’s first library on the tram for children was launched in Kolkata, West Bengal.
The library was launched on the occasion of Children’s Day.
The tram is to run on Shyambazar-Esplanade and Esplanade-Gariahat routes, spanning across north and south Kolkata, every day from morning to evening.
Quick Fact: The tram has been jointly developed by the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) and Apeejay Anand Children’s Library
