VINTAGE

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 14^th , 2018

                       IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF NOVEMBER 14^th, 2018

1.      World Diabetes Day.

a.       This day  was introduced in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to the alarming rise of diabetes around the world.

b.       Theme for World Diabetes Day 2018 & 2019 : "The Family and Diabetes"

2.      Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on 2-day visit to Singapore.

a.       During this visit, he will participate in ASEAN-INDIA informal meet,  13th EastAsia Summit and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit. 

b.       PM also to deliver the keynote address at the Singapore Fintech Festival .

c.       Modi today met US Vice President Mike Pence on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit  and held discussions on all aspects of global strategic partnership based on growing convergence of interests on regional and global issues.

d.       Modi also held bilateral meetings with his Singaporean, Australian and Thai counterparts on the margins of East Asia Summit in Singapore.

3.      The 38th edition of India International Trade Fair (IITF) kickstarted at New Delhi's Pragati Maidan today. 

a.       The 14-day annual event was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Culture Mahesh Sharma. 

b.       Theme of 38th IITF : 'Rural Enterprises in India'

c.       For this year's fair, Afghanistan is the Partner Country, while Nepal is the Focus Country while Jharkhand is participating as a Partner State in the event.

d.       Around 800 participants from different States, government departments and domestic and international companies are taking part in the fair.

4.      129th birth anniversary of 1st Prime Minister of the country Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru is being observed as Children's Day today. 

5.      By the end of this year, the Indian Railways is going to install at least 100-foot-tall national flags on the premises of 75 of the busiest stations in the country.

6.      India's second-largest heavy truck maker Ashok Leyland today announced the resignation of its Managing Director and CEO Vinod K Dasari effective March 31 next year. 

a.       He has worked at Leyland for nearly 14 years, first as Chief Operating Officer and then as CEO and MD. 

7.      The Indian Space Research organisation (ISRO) today successfully launched GSAT-29 satellite from Sriharikota. 

a.       Important Note : This is India's heaviest satellite. 

b.       It is boosted by two powerful strap-on solid rocket motors, the nearly 143-foot-tall (43.5-meter) Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk.3 (GSLV Mk.3). 

c.       GSAT-29 carries Ka and Ku band high throughput transponders intended to meet the communication requirements of users, including in the North East and in Jammu and Kashmir.

8.      Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and D V Sadananda Gowda got charge of additional portfolios today, following the demise of Union Minister Ananth Kumar. 

a.       Sadananda Gowda - Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers

b.       Tomar - Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

9.      US President Donald Trump has nominated Indian-American lawyer Neomi Rao to replace Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

10. The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has appointed Siddharth Tiwari as the Chief Representative for Asia and the Pacific.

a.       He is going to replace Eli Remolona, who was Chief Representative of the Asian Office from 2008 to 2018. 

11. Asian Games gold medalist Hima Das to be appointed as UNICEF India’s Youth Ambassador at a special event today.

a.       In her role as a Youth Ambassador, Hima would work towards raising awareness about the rights and needs of children, and help amplify the voices of children and young people as active participants in decision making, thus contributing to their holistic development.

12. Young writer-critic Dr Debabhuson Borah has been honored with the prestigious Munin Barkotoki Literary Award 2018 in Assam for his book on literary criticism titled 'Nirbochon'.

a.       The annual Award, named after renowned writer, critic and journalist Munin Barkotoki, was instituted to encourage young and promising writers in Assamese.

b.       The award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000 along with a citation and a plaque, a release of the Trust said here.

13. Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was declared the Spanish football league's best player of the 2017-18 campaign by Marca at an awards ceremony in Barcelona today. 

a.       Messi also won the Pichichi Trophy at the ceremony, an award given to the top scorer in La Liga each year. 

b.       Atletico Madrid's goalkeeper Jan Oblak was named the goalkeeper of the year.

14. The Indian women's football team today qualified for the Olympic Qualifiers second round for the first time.