GK Snapshots on 20 November 2021

World Heritage Week 2021 – November 19 to 25

World Heritage Week is annually observed across India from 19th to 25th November to promote the conservation of the heritage and the culture of monuments. The week-long celebration aims to create awareness about the importance of culture and traditions and the need to protect them.

Heritage sites in India:

i.In India, around 3691 monuments are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India(ASI) and among these monuments around 143 sites and monuments are ticketed.

ii.At present, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number (745) of ASI protected monuments.

iii.40 heritage sites across India are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites which include 32 cultural, 7 Natural, and 1 Mixed site.

iv.Recently the UNESCO World Heritage Committee has inscribed the Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana and Dholavira: A Harappan City, Gujarat on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

v.At present Maharashtra has 5 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the highest among all the Indian states and UTs.

Women’s Entrepreneurship Day 2021 – November 19

The Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) is annually observed globally on 19th November every year to celebrate, empower and support the Women Entrepreneurs in business across the world. The first day was held on November 19, 2014, and was observed in 144 countries that year.

• The inaugural event was held in New York City at the United Nations

• The day is organized by the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organisation (WEDO) or #ChooseWomen

• Nasdaq, Google For StartUps, MIT Innovation Labs, WEGate – European Commission and the Girls Scouts have all joined as partners with WEDO to celebrate the day.

Aim:

i.To recognise and support women in business, who continue to be underrepresented as founders.

ii.To bring awareness and empowerment to the 4 billion women worldwide, thereby favouring to achieve the 6 – United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

iii.To support Sustainable Development Goals of ,

Goal 1 – No poverty

Goal 4 – Quality Education

Goal 5 – Gender Equality

Goal 8 – Decent work and Economic growth

Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities

Goal 17 – Partnerships for the Goals

World Toilet Day 2021 – November 19

United Nations(UN)’s World Toilet Day is annually observed across the globe on November 19th to create awareness about the importance of sanitation for all. The day also highlights the importance of sanitation and hygiene in driving improvements in public health, gender equality, education, economic development and environmental protection.

• The World Toilet Day is organised by the UN-Water, the UN’s coordination mechanism on water and sanitation and Taskforce which includes the World Health Organisation(WHO).

The theme of World Toilet Day 2021 is “Valuing toilets”.

International Men’s Day 2021 – November 19

International Men’s Day is annually observed across the globe on November 19th to celebrate men and their contribution to the household, community and society. The day aims to address the issues relevant to men and boys in a gender-inclusive way and to focus on the health and well being of men. The theme of International Men’s Day 2021 is “Better relations between men and women”.
Significance: The day aims to create awareness about men’s mental health and the important aspects of their life including social, emotional, physical and spiritual. It also recognises the intersection between gender and other factors, such as race and sexuality, that compound the inequalities affecting men and boys.

Sourav Ganguly appointed as the new Chairman of ICC Cricket’s Committee

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President and former cricketer Saurav Ganguly was appointed as the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Cricket Committee. He succeeded Anil Kumble, a former Indian cricketer who stepped down after serving a maximum of three continuous, 3-year terms.

Other decision taken by the ICC Board:
i.The ‘ICC Women’s Committee’ will be known as the ‘ICC Women’s Cricket Committee’ and will assume all decision making responsibility for women’s cricket reporting directly to the CEC (Chief Executives Committee) .

• Johnny Grave, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cricket West Indies has been appointed to the ICC Women’s Cricket Committee.

ii.The ICC Board also approved ‘first-class status’ and ‘list A classification’ to women’s cricket to align with the men’s game.

iii.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Ramiz Raja will be a part of the ICC Working Group appointed by the Board to review the status of cricket in Afghanistan.

• The group comprises Imran Khwaja (Chairman), Ross McCollum, Lawson Naidoo and Ramiz Raja.

Russia successfully test fires ‘Zircon’ Hypersonic Cruise Missile & Anti-Satellite Missile

On 18th November 2021, Russian Navy successfully test fired the ‘Zircon’ Hypersonic Cruise Missile from Frigate – Admiral Gorshkov warship, that rightly hit the test target placed in the Russian Arctic waters. Previously, Russia also successfully conducted similar tests using the ‘Zircon’ missile from the Nuclear Submarine – Severodvinsk in the Barents Sea.

Zircon Missile Capacity:

• Targets – Capable of hitting targets in Land & Sea

• Speed – 9 times the Speed of Sound

• Range – 1,000 kilometres (620 miles)

South Africa Cricketer AB de Villiers Announced Retirement from All Forms of Cricket

South Africa Cricketer Abraham Benjamin de Villiers (AB de Villiers) (37 years old) has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on 19th November 2021. He hails from Pretoria, South Africa.

• In May 2018 he retired from international cricket.