Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 07 November 2016

:: National ::

India to host a special event during Climate Change Conference

India will host a special side event during the UN Climate Change Conference opening at Marrakech, Morocco, on the 12 Himalayan States that face the impact of a changing climate.
The Himalayas provide water to 1.3 billion people in Asia, but have been inadequately represented over the past three decades in climate change discussions, an expert said.
Currently, the Himalayas are not spoken about even at discussions in international forums on mountain countries.
Centre has asked the G.B. Pant Institute to represent the 12 Himalayan States at the Conference of the Parties (CoP 22) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change being held.
The Hindu Kush region was represented at UNFCCC by the Nepal-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.
At the CoP on November 17, the impact of climate change on disasters, biodiversity, livelihood, and agriculture will be highlighted.

Freedom is not above nation’s interest says Govt

Freedom is not above nation’s interest and views cannot be promoted as news, said Union Information and Broadcasting Minister.
Mr Naidu asked the mediapersons to remember that they are citizens first and journalists next. News should not promote hatred between groups and religions or anti-nationalism.
“Confine your views to the editorial and the edit page articles and report the news as it is,” he said expressing regret at the growing tendency of mixing views and news.
At the same time he said the Government was committed to the Freedom of the Press. There are more restrictions from the managements of the media than the Government, he added.
Criticising the sensationalism in the electronic media, he advised them to be close to the truth and not solely depend on sensationalism. In a lighter vein he compared electronic media to a film heroine and print media to a housewife.
Mr Naidu said time has arrived to promote regional languages and Government was committed to promote Urdu.Doordarshan has dedicated Urdu news bulletins and the duration of the bulletin is likely to be increased soon.

Laws on conservation of agro-biodiversity should be protected says PM (Register and Login to read Full Ne

U.S.’s “partnership with India will continue to deepen (Register and Login to read Full News..)

:: International ::

Banners come in support of Pak army general

Mysterious banners have appeared in Pakistan urging the country’s powerful Army chief General Raheel Sharif, who is set to retire this month, to contest elections, a media report has said.
The banners put up on electricity poles in Rawalpindi urged Gen. Sharif to contest election in 2018.
Since government officials cannot enter politics for at least two years after leaving service, the banners urged that the mandatory period should be reduced in case of Gen. Sharif.
In July, posters were seen in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and several other major cities, urging the general to impose martial laws instead of retiring.

:: Business and Economy ::

India is o raise visa concerns with U.K.

India will raise its concerns over restrictions on the movement of foreign skilled workers for short-term duration work with Britain and Canada, as these curbs are affecting the Indian IT industry.
Canada, the U.K., the U.S, Germany and Switzerland are the top five markets for Indian IT firms.
The annual revenue of Indian IT firms from the U.K. and Canadian markets is about $18 billion and $3 billion respectively, according to industry body Nasscom’s estimates.
The Commerce Ministry has also been briefed about the IT sector’s concerns. Mr. McCallum is likely to be joined by Laura Albanese, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Ontario, and Lena Diab, Minister of Immigration, Nova Scotia.
Discussions with the U.K. will be at the level of the India-U.K. CEO Forum and other official meetings on the sidelines of the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting British Prime Minister Theresa May.
The Centre and Nasscom are expected to take up the issue of Canada’s plan to introduce a new short-duration work permit exemption for inter- and intra-company transferees and experts, among others, for work up to 30 days annually.
The IT industry feels this 30-day limit does not serve a purpose as it is “too short a time frame” for the sector.
Under the ‘specialised knowledge’ category to avail exemption from Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in Canada, the employer will have to demonstrate that the employee (foreign worker) has the specialised skill and the requisite proprietary knowledge to carry out a certain task.
He said the introduction of measures will help Canadian businesses and their customers plan with confidence to fill local skill shortages.

:: Sports ::

Andy Murray becomes top ranking tennis player

Andy Murray celebrated his new world No. 1 ranking with a first Paris Masters title after defeating American John Isner 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-4 in the final.
Murray, 29, will replace Novak Djokovic at the top of the rankings on Monday and claimed his eighth title of a remarkable season after extending his winning run to 19 matches.
It is the Briton’s fourth title in succession after wins in Beijing, Shanghai and Vienna and his 14th career Masters 1000 triumph.
Murray entered his Tour-leading 12th final of the year having won all seven previous meetings with Isner, including straight-sets wins at Roland Garros in May and last week in Vienna.