Current Affairs 3rd November 2017

Current Affairs 3rd November 2017 - Important Points

• WEF releases Global Gender Gap Report 2017 on - 2nd November 2017
• Indo-Kazakhstan bilateral military exercise PRABAL DOSTYK 2017 began on - 2nd November 2017
•  Kidambi Srikanth achieves career-best World ranking of No. - 2
• Fake news' named Word of the Year 2017 by Collins Dictionary on - 2nd November 2017
• Ecosystem to use nanotechnology across verticals to be created by - Karnataka
• Kenneth Juster confirmed as US Ambassador to India on - 27th October 2017
•  Haryana government signs Rs 20,000 Cr worth MoU to set up trading hub on  - 2nd November 2017

Current Affairs 3rd November 2017 - Details

WEF releases Global Gender Gap Report 2017 on - 2nd November 2017

The World Economic Forum on 2nd November 2017 published the Global Gender Gap Report 2017. The report classifies 144 countries on the basis of their progress for gender parity and then enlists them as per in its Global Gender Gap Index.
These 144 nations are ranked on the basis of four themes- Health and Survival, Educational Attainment, Economic Participation and Opportunity, and Political Empowerment. This year, the Global Gender Gap Index 2017 is lead by Iceland, while India earned rank 108, slipped 21 places in comparison with its 87 position in 2016.

Highlights of the Global Gender Gap Index 2017-

• The report explains the year 2017 as the bad year in a decade of slow and steady progress as the equality between the sexes came to a stop with the widening of global gender gap for the 1st time since 2006, when WEF released the report for the 1st time.
• A sum of 68% of the world’s gender gap is now closed. However, this percentage has decreased in comparison with the years 2016 and 2015, when the gap was 68.3 and 68.1% respectively.
• Currently, the global gender gap will take 100 years to be close as compared to 83 previous years.
• Gender parity is worst in according of workplace gender divide, which, as approximately, will take 217 years to close.
• 27 nations closed gender gap in Educational Attainment; 34 nations closed their Health and Survival gender gaps; 13 nations closed 80% of their gender gap in Economic Participation; where only Iceland closed 70% of the gap in Political Empowerment.
• Iceland still is the world’s most gender-equal country, placed at 1st position. The nation closed nearly 88% of its gender gap.
• Other top 10 nations in the year 2017 Global Gender Gap Index are Norway at rank 2, Finland at rank 3, Rwanda at rank 4 and Sweden at rank 5, Nicaragua at rank 6 and Slovenia at rank 7, Ireland at rank 8, New Zealand at rank 9 and the Philippines at rank 10.
• Among the G20 group of nations, France is ranked top on gender parity with 11 positions, followed by Germany at 12, the United Kingdom at 15, Canada at 16 positions, and South Africa at 19 and Argentina at 34 positions.
• The US slipped 4 places to 49, however, ranks above China at rank 100, India 108, Japan 114, Republic of Korea 118, Turkey 131 and Saudi Arabia at rank 138.
• Western Europe is still the highest-performing area in the Index with an average remaining gender gap of 25%, followed by North America with remaining gender gap of 28%.
• Eastern Europe and Central Asia closed on average 71% of their gender gap. Three nations from the region rank in the top 20 such as Slovenia (7), Bulgaria (18) and Latvia (20).
• South Asia has an average remaining gender gap of 34%. Bangladesh (47) is the only country in the region to feature in the top 100, with India placed 108 and Pakistan placed 143.
  India's rank in Global Gender Gap Index 2017
• India slipped to 21 places at 108 positions in the Global Gender Gap Index 2017. India’s this year ranking is even lower than its position in 2006.
• As per the WEF Global Gender Gap Report 2017, India has closed 67% of its gender gap, which is less in comparison with other nations and its neighbors such as Bangladesh, which is ranked 47th while China was placed at 100 rank.
• The reason behind the decrease down in India's ranking is the less participation of women in the economy, their low salaries, weak healthy life expectancy and illiteracy. On an average, over 60% of women’s work in India is unpaid, compared to 12% of men’s.
• Luckily, India succeeded in filling its primary and secondary education gender gaps for the 2nd year in a row and for the 1st time it has nearly covered its tertiary education gender gap.

Indo-Kazakhstan bilateral military exercise PRABAL DOSTYK 2017 began on - 2nd November 2017

The bilateral military relations between India and Kazakhstan 'PRABAL DOSTYK 2017' began on 2nd November 2017 at Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh.
Literally known as ‘Robust Friendship’, ‘Prabal Dostyk 2017’ is 2nd edition of the joint military training program between both Nations.
The 1st edition of program was held in Karaganda region of Kazakhstan in September 2016.
Highlights of PRABAL DOSTYK 2017

• The 14 day PRABAL DOSTYK is focused at enhancing the military relations between the two nations for achieving interoperability between the two forces.
• It also focuses to acquaint both armies with each other’s operating operations in the backdrop of counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations under UN directions.
• The training group comprise of platoon strength from the 11th Gorkha Rifles of Indian Army and same strength of Kazakhstan force.

 Kidambi Srikanth achieves career-best World ranking of No. - 2

India's shuttler Kidambi Srikanth has attained his career-best World Number 2 position.
The 25-year Kadambi Srikanth grabbed the spot after jumping up 2 places in the latest BWF levels. He was earlier placed 4th after Korea’s Son Wan Ho and China’s Lin Dan, both of them have slipped down by one position.
The second-to-top position is a result of Srikanth’s sensational victories this season. He played five finals this year, securing four titles so far. He won continuously titles at Australia, Indonesia, Denmark and France.
His total scorecard read 73,403 points, 4527 points behind World Champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, who leads the ranking list with 77,930 points.
Rankings of other Indian Players

• US Open Grand Prix Gold winner HS Prannoy, lifted up one position to reach his career-best ranking of world no. 11.
• An Another Indian shuttler, B Sai Praneeth, who achieved the Singapore Open, however, slipped down a place to be at the 16 position.
• Two other Indians to feature in the world top 25 men’s singles’ ranking list are Sameer Verma and Ajay Jayaram at 18th and 22nd position respectively.
• In the women's singles’ ranking list, P V Sindhu secured her career-best World No. 2 spot while former World No.1 player, Saina Nehwal also remained stable at the 11th position.
• In men’s doubles’ ranking, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty gained 4 spots to be at the 28th place, whereas in women’s doubles Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy dropped two places to be at the 25th position.
• The mixed doubles pair of Pranaav Jerry Chopra and Sikki, however, remained steady at the 16th spot.

Fake news' named Word of the Year 2017 by Collins Dictionary on - 2nd November 2017

The Collins Dictionary on 2nd November 2017 named 'Fake news' as the Word of the Year 2017 due to its wide usage around the world. The term 'Fake news' was popularized by US President Donald Trump.

 'Fake news' takes over the term 'Brexit' which was identified as the definitive word in 2016 after the June 2016 referendum in favor of the UK’s exit from the EU.

Key Highlights-

• UK-based lexicographer discovered that the use of 'fake news' registered a 365% rise in the last one year.
• The term 'Fake news' is explained as ' often sensational, false, information disseminated under the guise of news reporting'.
• Either as a statement of fact or as an accusation, the word 'Fake news' has been inescapable this year, contributing to the undermining the faith of the society  in  reporting of news.
  Other shortlisted words for 2017 Word of the Year-
• 'Unicorn'- It is termed as an imaginary creature as a white horse with one long spiralled horn growing from its forehead, as a symbol of innocence and purity.
• 'Echo chamber'- It is termed as a situation where any statement of opinion is likely to be accepted with approval.
• 'Gig economy' -Economy with very few permanent workers and most jobs are assigned to temporary or freelance employees.
• 'Cuffing season' - It is termed as the season of autumn and winter, when single people looks settled relationships rather than casual relations.
• 'Insta' - It is correlated to the photo-sharing app Instagram.

Ecosystem to use nanotechnology across verticals to be created by - Karnataka

The Karnataka state government would be creating an environment to bring all stakeholders to use nanotechnology across various fields including energy, transport, engineering, medicine and communication.
The news was shared by renowned scientist C N R Rao at a preview of the ‘Bengaluru India Nano 2017’ on 2nd November 2017 in Bengaluru. "Our Endeavour is to provide an environment for bringing research, industry and academia on one platform with the support of state government to utilize nanotechnology and Nano-science across verticals," said Rao.
More about Bengaluru India Nano 2017

• The Bengaluru India Nano 2017 will be organized in Bengaluru from 7- 8th December 2017.
• The program will be organized by the state Department Biotechnology, Department of Information Technology and Science and Technology.
• It is assumed participation from more than 500 delegates from nations including India, Britain, Japan and US.
• The 2 days event would include discussion of different trends of nanotechnology such as nano sensors, nano in energy sector, nano-medicine, nano manufacturing and scalability.
• Various other events include a nano exhibition that will exhibit the emerging technologies and the organizations working on them.
• Apart from this, Nano Excellence Awards is planned be present during the event.
  Current year would be the event’s 9th edition. It would be organize with the basic theme of 'Nano Horizons'.

Kenneth Juster confirmed as US Ambassador to India on - 27th October 2017

Senior White House administrator Kenneth Juster was confirmed as the US Ambassador to India by the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 27 October 2017, through a voice vote system.
Juster will succeed Richard Verma, the 1st Indian-American to continue with this position. Verma resigned from the post on 20th January 2017 with the joining of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States. The position was vacant since then.
More about Kenneth Juster

• Earlier, Juster worked as the Deputy Assistant to the United States President for International Economic Affairs and as a Deputy Director of the National Economic Council in the White House.
• He worked as Deputy Secretary of Commerce in the administration of President George W Bush.
• As a Commerce Secretary, he inaugurate the High Technology Cooperation Group to encourage trade in sensitive dual-use goods and technology.
• He holds a law degree from the Harvard Law School, a post-graduate degree in Public Policy from the John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard, and a graduate in Government from Harvard College.
• Juster is familiar to India very well and was also involved in successful bilateral negotiations between the US and India.
• He was also among the key architects of the ‘Next Steps in Strategic Partnership’ initiative that laid down the foundation for the civil nuclear agreement between the two nations in 2008.

 Haryana government signs Rs 20,000 Cr worth MoU to set up trading hub on  - 2nd November 2017

The Haryana state government on 2nd November 2017 signed a MoU with an integrated trade facilitation services organisation - Verbind - to set up a logistics and trading centre in the state.
Therefore, the state will assist the company in obtaining the necessary favors, registrations and clearances with reference to the projects from related departments, in line with present rules and regulations.
Key Highlights

• The trading centre is expected to be constructed in an area of 600 acres near Gurugram.
• The public-private project will generate employment for around 6 lakh people.
• It is also believed to attract investment worth Rs 20,000 Cr.
• The role of nodal agency for the assignment will be played by the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation.
• The state of Haryana is rated 1st among north Indian states in the context of doing business index of the union government and 6th overall.