Daily Current Affairs, 07th November 2018

1) Diwali being celebrated across the country

•Festival of lights Diwali is being celebrated across the country with traditional fervour and gaiety today. The festival, which marks the victory of good over evil, is celebrated by lighting up houses, temples and other public places. People also worship the Goddess of wealth Lakshmi on the occasion. 

2) India re-elected as member of ITU council till 2022

•India has been elected as a member of the International Telecommunications Union-ITU Council for another four-year term from 2019 to 2022. The elections to the Council were held during the ongoing ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2018 at Dubai.

•India secured 165 votes and ranked third among the 13 countries elected to the council from the Asia-Australasia region, and eighth among the 48 countries elected to the council globally. The ITU has 193 member states who elect representatives to the Council.

3) IFFI to commence in Goa from November 20

•The 49th International Film Festival of India, IFFI 2018 will be held in Goa from 20th to 28th of November. The festival will showcase 212 films from over 68 countries which reflects the diversity of taste. International Competition section has 15 films out of which three are Indian.

•Information and Broadcasting Ministry stated that Festival will open with World Premiere of The Aspern Papers with international star cast. The Aspern Papers tells a story of obsession, grandeur lost and dreams of Byronic adventures. Malayalam film Olu will be the opening film at the Film Festival. While in the Non-Feature film category Marathi film Kharvas will be the opening film.

4) US exempts India from certain sanctions for development of Chabahar port in Iran

•The United States has exempted India from imposition of certain sanctions for the development of the strategically-located Chabahar Port in Iran, along with the construction of the railway line connecting it with Afghanistan. 

•The decision by the Trump administration is being seen as a recognition by Washington of India's major role in the development of the port on the Gulf of Oman, which is of immense strategic importance for the reconstruction of war-torn Afghanistan. 

5) US: Democrats retake control of House, Republicans hold Senate majority

•In the United States Midterm elections, opposition Democrats have captured the House of Representatives while President Donald Trump's Republican Party retains its majority in the Senate. 

•Breaking the Republican monopoly on power, Democrats had already picked up over two dozen seats in the House- more than the 23 needed to take control of the 435 member House for the first time in eight years. 

•By capturing the House of Representatives, the Democrats may exert a major institutional check on Trump and break the Republican monopoly in Washington.