National News
US Returns $10 Million Worth of Looted Antiques to India
1. How much are the looted artifacts returned by the US to India worth? answer: $10 million
2. Which notable artifact among the returned items was smuggled from central India to London? answer: Celestial dancer sandstone sculpture
International News
Typhoon Man-yi Strikes Northern Philippines
3. What is the local name for Super Typhoon Man-yi in the Philippines? answer: Pepito
4. Which island did Typhoon Man-yi strike in the Philippines? answer: Luzon
State News
University of Wollongong Opens India Campus at Gujarat’s GIFT City
5. Which Australian university has opened a campus at Gujarat’s GIFT City? answer: University of Wollongong
6. What type of degrees does the University of Wollongong offer at its GIFT City campus? answer: Master’s degrees and a Graduate Certificate in Financial Technology
Odisha’s 24 Coastal Villages Recognised as ‘Tsunami Ready’ by UNESCO
7. How many coastal villages in Odisha have been recognised as ‘Tsunami Ready’? answer: 24 villages
8. During which event were the Odisha villages recognised as ‘Tsunami Ready’? answer: 2nd Global Tsunami Symposium in Indonesia
Defence News
India’s Hypersonic Missile Test A Leap in Defense Technology
9. What type of missile did India successfully test for the first time? answer: Long-range hypersonic missile
10. What does the successful hypersonic missile test signify for India’s defense capabilities? answer: It places India among the elite nations with hypersonic weapon technology
Banking News
Karnataka Bank Launches Innovative Financial Products for Students
11. What are the names of the two financial products introduced by Karnataka Bank for students? answer: ‘KBL Peak’ and ‘KBL Genius’
12. What is the maximum loan amount offered under the ‘KBL Peak’ product by Karnataka Bank? answer: ₹2 crore
Business News
Moody’s Optimistic About India’s Economic Growth Despite Volatility
13. What GDP growth rate has Moody’s projected for India in 2024? answer: 7.2%
14. Which factors support Moody’s positive economic outlook for India? answer: Strong household consumption, increased rural demand, robust investment, manufacturing activity, government infrastructure spending, and rising capacity utilization
Galaxy Health Insurance Launches ‘Galaxy Promise’ to Tackle Rising Healthcare Costs
15. What is the name of Galaxy Health Insurance’s first product? answer: ‘Galaxy Promise’
16. What is the range of sum insured options offered by ‘Galaxy Promise’? answer: Rs 3 lakh to Rs 1 crore
Tata Acquires Majority Stake in Pegatron’s iPhone Plant in Tamil Nadu
17. What percentage stake did Tata acquire in Pegatron’s iPhone plant in Tamil Nadu? answer: 60%
18. How many iPhones does the Pegatron plant in Tamil Nadu produce annually? answer: 5 million iPhones
Important Days News
World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW), 18-24 November
19. When is World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week observed? answer: 18-24 November
20. What is the primary objective of World AMR Awareness Week? answer: To raise awareness and understanding of AMR and encourage best practices to mitigate drug-resistant infections
World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence 2024
21. When is the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence observed? answer: November 18
22. What is the focus of this observance day? answer: Raising awareness about child sexual abuse and violence, and promoting global action to prevent abuse and provide healing
Appointments News
Harbhajan & Sania Mirza Named Dubai Sports Council Ambassadors
23. Which two Indian sports icons have been named as Sports Ambassadors by the Dubai Sports Council? answer: Harbhajan Singh and Sania Mirza
24. What is the aim of appointing these sports ambassadors by the Dubai Sports Council? answer: To enhance Dubai’s reputation as a global sports destination, attract international events, nurture local talent, and promote sports tourism
Valdecy Urquiza Elected New Secretary General of Interpol
25. Who has been elected as the new Secretary General of Interpol? answer: Valdecy Urquiza
26. Where was Valdecy Urquiza elected as the new Secretary General of Interpol? answer: 92nd General Assembly in Glasgow, Scotland
Summits and Conferences News
UAE Unveils Energy Efficiency Alliance at COP29
27. At which event did the UAE announce the establishment of the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance? answer: COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan
28. What is the goal of the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance? answer: To double annual global energy efficiency rates by 2030
Awards News
Victoria Kjaer Theilvig Becomes Denmark’s First Miss Universe
29. Who was crowned Denmark’s first Miss Universe? answer: Victoria Kjaer Theilvig
30. At which Miss Universe pageant was Victoria Kjaer Theilvig crowned? answer: 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico
PM Honored with “Grand Commander of the Order of Niger”
31. Which country awarded Prime Minister Narendra Modi the “Grand Commander of the Order of Niger”? answer: Nigeria
32. Who presented the “Grand Commander of the Order of Niger” award to PM Modi? answer: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Science and Technology News
NASA Partners with Microsoft to Simplify Access to Earth Science Data
33. What is the name of the AI-driven chatbot created by NASA and Microsoft? answer: “Earth Copilot”
34. What is the purpose of the Earth Copilot chatbot? answer: To democratize access to complex Earth Science data using plain-language queries
SpaceX to Launch India’s Communication Satellite GSAT-20
35. Who will launch India’s communication satellite GSAT-20? answer: SpaceX
36. Where will GSAT-20 be launched from? answer: Cape Canaveral, USA
18th November Current Affairs 2024
National News
US Returns $10 Million Worth of Looted Antiques to India
In a significant development, the United States has repatriated over 1,400 looted artifacts valued at $10 million to India. This initiative aims to return stolen cultural items from South and Southeast Asia. Among the returned items is a celestial dancer sandstone sculpture, which was illegally taken from central India, smuggled to London, and sold to a patron of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.
International News
Typhoon Man-yi Strikes Northern Philippines
Super Typhoon Man-yi, locally known as Pepito, has made a second landfall on Luzon, the Philippines’ main island, bringing severe winds, heavy rains, and dangerous storm surges. The storm has caused significant damage, especially in Cantanduanes, where it uprooted trees, destroyed buildings, and disrupted power supplies.
State News
University of Wollongong Opens India Campus at Gujarat’s GIFT City
Australia’s University of Wollongong (UOW) has inaugurated its India campus at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) in Gandhinagar. The new campus offers Master’s degrees and a Graduate Certificate in Financial Technology, aligning with India’s growing fintech sector. This move follows Deakin University’s campus opening in GIFT City earlier in July 2024.
Odisha’s 24 Coastal Villages Recognised as ‘Tsunami Ready’ by UNESCO
In a remarkable achievement, 24 coastal villages from six districts in Odisha have been recognised as ‘Tsunami Ready’ by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. This recognition was granted during the 2nd Global Tsunami Symposium in Indonesia on November 11, 2024, marking a major milestone in disaster preparedness and resilience in tsunami-prone areas.
Defence News
India’s Hypersonic Missile Test A Leap in Defense Technology
India has successfully conducted a flight trial of its first long-range hypersonic missile. This significant achievement enhances India’s defense capabilities, placing it among the elite nations with hypersonic weapon technology.
Banking News
Karnataka Bank Launches Innovative Financial Products for Students
Karnataka Bank Ltd. has introduced two new financial products aimed at students: ‘KBL Peak’ and ‘KBL Genius’. Launched on World Prematurity Day, ‘KBL Peak’ offers education loans up to ₹2 crore, while ‘KBL Genius’ provides a student savings account with free cyber insurance. These products are designed to support students’ academic goals and financial management, strengthening the bank’s ties with educational institutions.
Business News
Moody’s Optimistic About India’s Economic Growth Despite Volatility
Moody’s Ratings has maintained a positive outlook for India, projecting a 7.2% GDP growth for 2024. Despite signs of slowing urban demand and mixed corporate results in Q2, strong household consumption, increased rural demand, robust investment, and manufacturing activity support this forecast. Government infrastructure spending and rising capacity utilization further bolster the economic outlook.
Galaxy Health Insurance Launches ‘Galaxy Promise’ to Tackle Rising Healthcare Costs
Galaxy Health Insurance has launched ‘Galaxy Promise’, its first product offering comprehensive family health coverage with flexible sum insured options ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 1 crore. This product aims to provide affordable healthcare solutions amidst rising medical costs, catering to diverse customer needs.
Tata Acquires Majority Stake in Pegatron’s iPhone Plant in Tamil Nadu
Tata Electronics has acquired a 60% stake in Pegatron’s only iPhone plant in India, located in Tamil Nadu. This partnership strengthens Tata’s position as a key Apple supplier and shifts the geopolitical supply chain dynamics, with India becoming a crucial hub for iPhone manufacturing. The joint venture involves Tata managing day-to-day operations while Pegatron provides technical support. The plant employs around 10,000 people and produces 5 million iPhones annually.
Important Days News
World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW), 18-24 November
World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week is observed annually from 18-24 November. The campaign aims to raise awareness of AMR and promote best practices to prevent drug-resistant infections. It involves stakeholders from the One Health sectors, including human, animal, plant, and environmental health.
World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence 2024
Observed on November 18, this day focuses on raising awareness about child sexual abuse and violence. It promotes global action to prevent abuse, provide healing, and uphold the rights and dignity of affected children.
Appointments News
Harbhajan & Sania Mirza Named Dubai Sports Council Ambassadors
Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh and renowned tennis player Sania Mirza have been appointed as Sports Ambassadors by the Dubai Sports Council. This initiative aims to enhance Dubai’s reputation as a global sports destination and attract prestigious international events, nurture local talent, and promote sports tourism.
Valdecy Urquiza Elected New Secretary General of Interpol
Valdecy Urquiza, a Brazilian Federal Police Commissioner, has been elected as the new Secretary General of Interpol. He was elected at the 92nd General Assembly in Glasgow, Scotland, and will succeed Jurgen Stock on November 7, 2024.
Summits and Conferences News
UAE Unveils Energy Efficiency Alliance at COP29
At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the UAE announced the establishment of the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance. This initiative aims to double global energy efficiency rates by 2030, aligning with the UAE’s goals to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable resource use. The alliance emphasizes international collaboration, knowledge sharing, and investment in energy efficiency.
Awards News
Victoria Kjaer Theilvig Becomes Denmark’s First Miss Universe
Victoria Kjaer Theilvig was crowned Denmark’s first Miss Universe at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant held in Mexico. The 21-year-old from Søborg won against 125 participants, including India’s Rhea Singha. Victoria’s intelligence, elegance, and advocacy have made her an inspiration globally.
PM Honored with “Grand Commander of the Order of Niger”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the “Grand Commander of the Order of Niger” by Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House. This prestigious award recognizes Modi’s leadership, transformative governance, and efforts to strengthen India-Nigeria ties and support the Global South’s aspirations.
Science and Technology News
NASA Partners with Microsoft to Simplify Access to Earth Science Data
NASA and Microsoft have collaborated to create “Earth Copilot,” an AI-driven chatbot designed to simplify access to complex Earth Science data. Leveraging Microsoft’s Azure cloud and advanced AI capabilities, Earth Copilot makes NASA’s extensive geospatial data accessible through simple, plain-language queries, allowing users to assess the impact of hurricanes or monitor climate change effects.
SpaceX to Launch India’s Communication Satellite GSAT-20
SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, will launch India’s heavy communication satellite GSAT-20 from Cape Canaveral, USA, on November 19, 2024. Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the 4,700 kg satellite will provide essential communication services, including internet connectivity to remote areas. This launch marks a significant milestone in India’s space endeavors.
