Daily Current Affairs – 17-11-2025
Sports News
Deaflympics 2024: India Shines With 4 Medals in Shooting
India delivered an impressive performance at the Japan Deaflympics, securing four medals in shooting — one gold, two silver and one bronze.
In the men’s 10m air rifle final, Dhanush Srikanth won gold with a world-record score of 252.2, while compatriot Murtaza Vahora claimed silver with 250.1. South Korea’s Paek Seyunghak took the bronze.
Earlier, Dhanush (630.6) and Murtaza (626.3) topped the qualification round to enter the final.
In the women’s 10m air rifle individual final, Mahit Sandhu bagged silver with 250.5, and Komal Wakde won bronze with 228.3. Ukraine’s Violetta Vitkova captured the gold with 252.4 points.
Mahit (623.4) and Komal (622) had finished second and third in the qualifiers.
Portugal Seal 2026 World Cup Spot
Portugal stormed into the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals with a commanding 9–1 victory over Armenia on Sunday, despite the absence of suspended star Cristiano Ronaldo. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) and Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain) powered the hosts with stunning hat-tricks as Roberto Martinez’s side secured the top spot in Group F.
In another Group F clash, Ireland booked their place in the World Cup play-offs with a thrilling 3–2 win against Hungary at the Puskas Arena in Budapest. Troy Parrott, who recently struck a brace against Portugal, delivered again with a sensational hat-trick to guide Ireland to a crucial victory.
Northern Ireland’s McIlroy Wins Race to Dubai; England’s Fitzpatrick Claims Tour Championship
In Golf, Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy secured the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai crown on Sunday — his seventh overall and fourth straight season. However, the World No. 2 fell short in the $10 million Tour Championship, which was won by England’s Matt Fitzpatrick.
Tamil Nadu News
Keerthy Suresh Appointed UNICEF India Ambassador
Actress Keerthy Suresh has been named the new UNICEF India Ambassador to support child rights campaigns. UNICEF said Keerthy, known for her Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam films, will help raise awareness on mental health, education and gender equality.
UNICEF India Representative Cynthia McCaffrey said her strong public influence will help reach vulnerable children.
Keerthy said she was honoured, adding that “children are our greatest responsibility and hope.”
UNICEF Headquarters: New York, USA
UNICEF Executive Director: Catherine Russell
National News
BHU Scientists Revive Rare ‘Adam Chini’ Black Rice With High-Yield Innovation
Farmers in eastern Uttar Pradesh are set to benefit from the successful revival of Adam Chini, a traditional aromatic black rice variety, thanks to breakthrough research by agricultural scientists at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The team has enhanced the crop’s height, maturity time and yield—without altering its signature aroma or grain quality.
Adam Chini, known for its sugar-crystal-like grains and rich fragrance, traditionally suffered from a tall height (up to 165 cm), long maturity period (155 days), and low yields, making it prone to lodging and less viable for large-scale farming despite strong export demand from countries such as Australia and New Zealand.
Led by Professor Shravan Kumar Singh, BHU researchers used mutagenesis after 14 years of study to develop 23 improved mutant lines. These include shorter plants (105 cm), quicker maturity (120 days), and significantly higher yields (30–35 quintals per hectare).
The upgraded variety—now officially branded by the Uttar Pradesh government as “Vindhya Black Rice”—has been welcomed by farmers across districts such as Chandauli, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra and parts of Varanasi.
Army Sets Up Three New Garrisons Near Siliguri Corridor
To strengthen security around the sensitive Siliguri Corridor, the Indian Army has established three new garrisons in Dhubri (Assam), Kishanganj (Bihar), and Chopra (West Bengal), all close to the India–Bangladesh border.
Officials said the move comes amid changing regional dynamics in Bangladesh and China’s growing activity near the corridor — India’s only land link to the Northeast. The new stations will enhance surveillance and boost coordination with the Border Security Force.
Eastern Command chief Lt.-Gen. R. C. Tiwari inspected the locations, appreciated the troops’ quick deployment, and laid the foundation stone for the Lachit Borphukan Military Station in Assam. The Army also thanked the Assam government for its support.
The development comes as India increases military activity in the Northeast, including major IAF displays and exercises in Arunachal Pradesh. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s naval visit to Bangladesh and China’s diplomatic outreach in the region continue to draw strategic attention.
Chandrababu Naidu Seeks LG Partnership to Build India’s First AI University in Amaravati
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held discussions with Yunjo Ko, Chief Sustainability Strategy Officer of LG Chem, during the 30th CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. During the meeting, Mr. Naidu shared his vision of setting up India’s first dedicated AI University in Amaravati and expressed interest in collaborating with LG’s AI Research division.
A senior A.P. government official told The Hindu that a team will soon visit the LG subsidiary to explore the proposal further.
Earlier this year, Mr. Naidu had interacted with LG Chem Vice-Chairperson and CEO Hak Cheol Shin at the World Economic Forum 2025 in Davos. His Ministers also traveled to Seoul in September to invite Mr. Shin to the summit and discuss potential investment avenues.
According to the official, the State government is actively seeking private-sector participation and global collaborations for the AI University project. The talks with LG, he said, mark an important early step.
In parallel, the A.P. government had already signed an MoU with California-based NVIDIA to build an AI ecosystem and the upcoming university.
International News
China Patrols Near Japan’s Senkaku Islands Amid Growing Tensions
China Coast Guard ships sailed near the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands on Sunday, describing the mission as a “rights enforcement patrol.” The move comes after Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response, angering Beijing.
China, which claims Taiwan and the disputed islands, demanded that the Japanese PM retract her remarks. Japan has not commented yet.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry reported spotting 30 Chinese military aircraft and 7 naval vessels around the island in the past 24 hours, citing another “joint combat patrol” by China.
Jaishankar Meets Qatar PM; Discusses Energy, Trade and Strategic Cooperation
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in Doha on Sunday to review key areas of the India-Qatar partnership, including energy, trade, investments and people-to-people ties. He also called on Qatar’s Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Mr. Jaishankar emphasised India’s commitment to strengthening ties with Qatar and appreciated the Amir’s guidance on expanding collaboration. India-Qatar bilateral trade stood at $14.08 billion in 2023-24.
According to Russia’s Foreign Ministry, Mr. Jaishankar will lead the Indian delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Prime Ministers meeting on Tuesday. Pakistan will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, though no India-Pakistan bilateral meeting is scheduled.
Kremlin sources said President Putin is also set to meet SCO leaders during the event.