The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm)-2015 Queen Elizabeth II opened the Commonwealth summit of leaders of the 53 Commonwealth nations in Malta on 27 November. The meeting will focus on climate change and the threat of extremist violence. The theme of the 2015 summit is ‘The Commonwealth – Adding Global Value’. On behalf of India External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj attended the summit. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm), held every two years, will focus on climate change, with talks on security issues also expected. UK Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to set up a Commonwealth unit to target the “scourge” of extremism.
Pankaj Saran -New envoy to Russia Pankaj Saran on 27 November 2015 selected as India’s new ambassador to Russia. Currently he is the high commissioner of Bangladesh. He will replace PS Raghavan in Moscow. Saran is a 1982 Indian Foreign Service batch officer.
Commonwealth’s new Secretary General- Patricia Scotland Dominica-born British lawer Patricia Scotland has been elected as the new Secretary General of the commonwealth. She becomes the first woman and also the first British citizen elected for this post. She will succeed Kamelesh Sharma from India in April 2016.
Agni-I test fired successfully India on 27 November, 2015 successfully test fired Agni-I ballistic missile from Dr. Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast. The neclear capable surface to surface missile can destroy targets nealry 700 Km away. The missile is 15 m long and powered by solid and liquid propellants at a speed of 2.5 km per seconds. It weighs around 12 tonnes and can carry both convensional and nuclear payload of about 1000 Kg. It is equipped with sophisticated navigation system.
China launched latest Yaogan-29 satellite China on 27 November, 2015 launched latest Yaogan Weixing series satellite called ‘Yaogan-29′ (YG-29) by a Long March -4C launch vehicle from the LC-9 launch complex at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre (TSLC). It was reported as the 219th launch of the rocket family known as the Chang Zheng in Chinese. The satellite will be used for experiments, land surveys, crop yield estimates and disaster relief.
Harika won the FIDE online Chess Championship Indian Grand Master Harika Dronavalli won the title of FIDE World Online Women Blitz Championship held on 26 November in Rome, Italy. More than 300 chess players from 39 countries took part in the preliminary tournaments. Total 10 players participated in the finals. Among these Harika from India and Nana Dzagnidze of Gerogea stood at first place with 13.5 points each. With better tie brake score, Harika won the title.