Daily Current Affairs, 14th November 2018

1) World Diabetes Day: 14 November

•The World Diabetes Day is organized on 14 November throughout the world. The theme for World Diabetes Day 2018 and 2019 is ‘The Family and Diabetes’.

•The primary aim of the World Diabetes Day and World Diabetes Month 2018–19 campaign is to raise awareness of the impact that diabetes has on the family and to promote the role of the family in the management, care, prevention and education of the condition.

2) PM Modi Addresses World’s Largest Financial Technology Festival Fintech In Singapore

•Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the world’s largest financial technology festival Fintech in Singapore. Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister stated Fintech is a celebration of belief in the spirit of innovation and power of technology.

•Mr Modi is the first Head of Government to deliver his address at Singapore in the event. About 30 thousand people attended the keynote address of Mr. Modi at this Festival.

3) 38th India International Trade Fair Begins in New Delhi

•The 38th India International Trade Fair (IITF) has begun at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The 14-day annual event will continue till 27th of November. This year the theme of the fair is ‘Rural Enterprises in India’.

•Afghanistan is the Partner Country, while Nepal will be the Focus Country. Jharkhand is participating as a Partner State in the event. Around 800 participants from States and government departments, domestic and international companies are taking part to showcase their product.

4) ISRO Launches GSAT-29 Communication Satellite From Andhra Pradesh

•GSAT-29 communication satellite, which is being carried by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-Mk III) was launched into space. The satellite aims at solving the communication barriers faced by Village Resource Centres (VRCs), which are responsible for providing space-based services to ISRO from rural areas.

•The launch took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The GSAT-29 is a communication satellite with a weight of 3,423 kg. According to ISRO, this will be the second developmental flight of GSLV-Mk III rocket with a rated carrying capacity of four tonnes. GSAT-19 was the first of the series that was sent up into the orbit in June 2017.

5) Ministers Sadananda Gowda and Narendra Singh Tomar Gets Additional Charge

•After the demise of Union Minister Ananth Kumar, Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda has got the additional charge of the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers and Narendra Singh Tomar was assigned the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

•Currently, DV Sadananda Gowda holds the portfolio of Statistics and Programme Implementation, while Narendra Singh is Minister of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Mines. Mr Ananth Kumar passed away recently due to multiple organ failure.

6) Government Appoints Sanjay Mishra As New Enforcement Directorate Chief

•Indian Revenue Service officer Sanjay Mishra was appointed as the new Enforcement Directorate Director (ED) in an additional capacity for three months. He has replaced Karnal Singh. He has also been appointed as the Principal Special Director in the same agency.

7) Kochi signs MoU with Vilnius

•As part of the European Union (EU) project ‘International Urban Cooperation’, Kochi Corporation and Vilnius, Lithuania, have signed an MoU. The primary focus of cooperation would be urban planning, corporate planning, transport, solid water management and water management.

•The MoU was signed during the visit of Kochi Corporation delegation which included deputy mayor T.J. Vinod, standing committee chairmen P.M. Haris, K.V.P Krishna Kumar and opposition leader K.J. Antony to Vilnius.

8) UP Cabinet Approves Renaming Of Faizabad As Ayodhya, Allahabad As Prayagraj

•The Uttar Pradesh government has approved renaming of Faizabad and Allahabad divisions as Ayodhya and Prayagraj respectively. The decision was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

•Earlier, the government renamed the Mughalsarai Railway station, another historic spot, as Deen Dayal Upadhyaya junction.

9) 2-Day Annual Meeting of WEF Global Future Councils Held in Dubai

•The two-day annual meeting of World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Future Councils was held in Dubai, the UAE. Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended the opening session.

•The gathering was addressed by World Economic Forum President Borge Brende. The objective of the Annual Meeting of the Global Future Councils is to convene the world’s best network of experts to identify new ideas and models that can be applied to critical global challenges.

10) Dr. Martha Farrell Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

•Late Dr. Martha Farrell has been honoured with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the 6th Indian Social Work Congress in New Delhi. Dr. Farrell was recognized for her lifelong work towards gender equality, women’s empowerment and prevention of sexual harassment at workplace.

•She was among 14 people killed in a terrorist attack on a guest house in Kabul, Afghanistan on May 13, 2015. Suheil Tandon, Martha’s son along with the team of Martha Farrell Foundation received the award.