• National

NITI Aayog constitutes Himalayan State Regional Council

• NITI AAYOG has created Himalayan State Regional Council to cater the need of holistic development of Himalayan states.
• Council has been constituted to review and implement the identified action points based on the Reports of five Working Groups, which were established along thematic areas to prepare a roadmap for action.
• The Himalayan State Regional Council will be chaired by the Dr VK Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog and will consist of the Chief Secretaries of the Himalayan States as well as the Secretaries of key Central Ministries.

• International

China builds an ‘artificial sun’

• China has built an ‘artificial sun’ that reaches temperature six times that of the core of the sun.
• The reactor named ‘Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak’ (EAST) is designed to replicate the processes of the sun as part of a project to turn hydrogen into cost-effective green energy.
• It involves fusion of hydrogen atoms together to form heavier elements, such as helium.

• International

Tajikistan launched a hydro-electric project

• Tajikistan inaugurated a US$ 3.9 billion ‘Rogun hydro-electric project’ on 16 November 2018.
• It has been built on the Vakhsh River in southern Tajikistan.
• The project will enable Tajikistan to eliminate domestic energy shortages and export electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• The first of six turbines in the Rogun hydroelectric dam went online on 16 November 2018.

• International

Africa’s first ever high speed train unveiled

• French President Emmanuel Macron and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI have inaugurated Morocco’s first high-speed rail line, the first ever such line in Africa.
• The king Mohammed VI named the first line as ‘Al Boraq’.
• It will connect the economic hubs of Tangier and Casablanca.
• The $2 billion project was launched in September 2011.

• Sports

Pankaj Advani wins third straight Billiards title

• India’s ace cueist Pankaj Advani on 15 Nov won his third straight IBSF World Billiards Championship in the 150-up format, taking his overall tally of world titles to 20.
• Advani overcame Nay Thway Oo of Myanmar in the final.
• This win also marks a hat-trick of wins for Advani in the shorter format. He had won in his hometown Bengaluru in 2016 before doing the same in Doha last year.

• Important Days

National Press Day observed on 16 November

• National Press Day is observed on 16 November every year.
• On this day, Press Council of India (PCI) started functioning as a moral watchdog.
• The PCI was first set up in the year 1966 by the Parliament on the recommendations of the ‘First Press Commission’.
• The PCI has been mandated by Parliament to improve the standards of journalism and maintain its freedom.

• Important Days

‘Aadi Mahotsav’ being organised from 16 Nov

• ‘Aadi Mahotsav’, a National Tribal Festival is being organised from 16th to 30th November 2018 in New Delhi by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• The theme of the festival is ‘A Celebration of the Spirit of Tribal Culture, Craft, Cuisine and Commerce’.
• The Mahotsav will comprise of display and sale of items of tribal art and craft, tribal medicine and healers, tribal cuisine etc

• States

Andhra Pradesh gets a State Emblem with Dhamma Chakka

• Andhra Pradesh government has released a new state emblem after 4 years of state bifurcation in 2014.
• The state emblem is inspired by Amravati School of Art.

• States

Two N-E Circuits under Swadesh Darshan Scheme inaugurated in Arunachal

• The Ministry of Tourism has inaugurated two circuits under Swadesh Darshan Scheme at PTSO Lake in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.
• These projects are “Development of North East Circuits: Bhalukpong- Bomdila – Tawang Project & Nafra- Seppa- Pappu, Pasa, Pakke Valleys- Sangdupota- New Sagalee- Ziro- Yomcha Project ”.

• States

Delhi Police Launches E-Learning Portal ‘NIPUN’

• Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik launched the force’s e-learning portal NIPUN and training division website.
• Through the website, Delhi Police will be using advanced technology in imparting in-service training to its personnel.
• The e-learning portal aims to give online training and information through specialized courses designed by experts in the field.

• Miscellaneous

‘Toxic’ declared Oxford Word of the Year

• Oxford Dictionary has declared the adjective ‘toxic’ as the Word of the Year 2018.
• The adjective toxic is defined as ‘poisonous’ and first appeared in English in the mid-seventeenth century from the medieval Latin ‘toxicus’.
• The Oxford Word of the Year is a word or expression that is judged to have lasting potential as a term of cultural significance.