Current Affairs: 22 November 2016

Published on Tuesday, November 22, 2016

India becomes an Associate Member of CERN

• India on Monday became an Associate Member of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the world's largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory. 
• CERN's Director General said that India's membership will open opportunities for Indian industries to participate directly in CERN projects. As a member nation, CERN requires India to make an annual contribution of approx Rs.77 crore.

World Television Day is observed on November 21

• The United Nations has designated November 21 as 'World Television Day', recognising that television plays a major role in presenting different issues that affect people. 
• It seeks to celebrate the philosophy of television, a tool which represents a symbol for communication and globalisation in the contemporary world. On November 21-22, 1996 the UN held the first World Television Forum. 

Ariana wins Artist of the Year at American Music Awards

• Singer Ariana Grande was named 'Artist of the Year' at the 2016 American Music Awards (AMAs).
• While Selena Gomez won the AMA for 'Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock', Justin Bieber won the award in the male category.
• Bieber also won the 'Video of the Year' award for his track 'Sorry'. Further, Drake was named 'Favorite Artist - Rap/Hip-Hop'.

NASA launches most advanced weather satellite into space

• NASA successfully launched GOES-R, claimed to be the world's most advanced weather satellite, on Saturday from Florida. 
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration teamed up with NASA to rocket the spacecraft, which is the first in a series of four high-tech satellites initiative, valued at $11 billion. GOES-R is missioned to provide faster and more accurate weather forecasts for the US.

China launches world's longest quantum communication line

• China launched a 712-km quantum communication line on Sunday, stated to be the world's longest secure telecommunications network. 
• Linking Hefei to Shanghai, the line is equipped with ultra-high security systems and is claimed to be hack-proof. 
• It is part of a 2,000-km Beijing-Shanghai communication line, which will be connected to China's quantum satellite for the space-to-Earth communication network.

Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar wins Indonesia Open

• Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar on Monday won the $300,000 (₹2 crore) BANK BRI-JCB Indonesia Open for the second time in his career. 
• Two-time Asian Tour number one Jeev Milkha Singh finished tied-second in the tournament, which was his best result since 2012. 
• It was Bhullar's overall seventh Asian Tour victory and the second title this season.

India's longest expressway from Agra to Lucknow inaugurated

• Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav inaugurated India's longest expressway from Agra to Lucknow on Monday. 
• The 302-km expressway, completed in a record time of 23 months, would reportedly reduce the Lucknow-Delhi journey time by almost half to 5-6 hours. 
• The inaugural event saw Indian Air Force fighter jets perform simulated landings on the expressway, a first for any road launch.

Andhra Pradesh CM commissions 5 MW solar power plant

• Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday commissioned a 5 MW solar power plant in Gollagudem village of the West Godavari district. 
• The plant, set up at a cost of ₹37.58 crore, will produce 8.06 million units of power annually. 
• Andhra Pradesh had also commissioned India's first solar park with a capacity of 250 MW in Ananthapuramu district.

Quikr buys home rental startup Grabhouse in all-stock deal

• Bengaluru-based classified advertising platform Quikr on Monday acquired home rental startup Grabhouse in an all-stock deal reportedly worth Rs.68 crore ($10 million). 
• As it struggled to grow, Sequoia Capital and Kalahari Capital-backed Grabhouse was looking for a buyer and was in talks with NestAway and Oyo for the buyout. In December 2015, Grabhouse fired 100 employees following a restructuring.

Humana Wins Two Stevie® Awards for Women in Business

• Humana Inc. a leading health and well-being company, has won two Stevie® Awards – one for its Workplace Voluntary Benefit (WVB) well-being benefit and one for Sharon Parsons, Humana’s integration product category leader – in the 13th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business 
• Humana’s Workplace Voluntary Benefit (WVB) well-being benefit won a Bronze Stevie Award in the Best New Product or Service of the Year - Business Products and Services category. Meanwhile, Sharon Parsons received a Bronze Stevie Award in the Employee of the Year - Business - All Other Industries category.