16th November 2014 - Important Current Affairs updates

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International Affairs

• Today (16th November 2014) is the International Day for Tolerance & Peace.
• Declared by UNESCO in 1995 to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance.
• G-20 summit concludes with a commitment to work for economic growth and to strengthen global institutions.
• In a communique, G-20 pledges to enhance the group's GDP by additional two percent; targets adding more than two trillion dollars to the global economy to create job opportunities. Strong measures to reduce global average cost of transferring remittances to five per cent also committed.
• Russia faces criticism from Western leaders for role in Ukraine crisis.
• PM Narendra Modi unveils Mahatma Gandhi's Statue in Brisbane (Australia).
• United Arab Emirates (UAE) bans 5 Pakistan-based outfits among 86 terror groups, including the dreaded Haqqani network and the LeT. 

National Affairs

• Nation pays tributes to Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha (24 May 1896 – 16 November 1915), a national martyr on his 99th martyrdom. 
• He was executed in Lahore central jail on November 16th, 1915. Kartar Singh was member of Gadhar party whose aim was to get freedom for the country in the early years of 20th century.
• He was only 19, when he attained martyrdom for his role in the national movement.
• Today is National Press Day
• In consonance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Digital India' project, the New Delhi Municipal Council today launched Public Wi-Fi services in Connaught Place, the business hub of New Delhi.
• It will cover about 4.5 Square kilometer inner and outer circle of the area.
• The visitors can avail the facility by filling in details like email ID and mobile number.
• After the free usage time is exhausted, they will have to conduct a recharge using scratch cards which will be available at various shops in the market area.
• Punjab government has ordered intensive vigil on the functioning of the ultrasound centres to keep a check on the female foeticide and infanticide in the state.
• Health and Family Welfare Minister of Punjab, Mr. Surjit Kumar Jayani today issued directions to all the Health officers including the Civil Surgeons to keep an eye on the ultra sound centres allegedly indulging in sex determination tests.
• Government has initiated a move to bring a bill in Parliament to make marriage laws more women friendly and allow both parties to file for divorce on the ground of irretrievable breakdown of marriage.
• The Law Ministry has circulated a draft Cabinet note on Marriage Laws (Amendment) Bill for inter-ministerial consultations.
• Gujarat government announces incentives to boost Information Technology sector; Targets one billion dollar turnover in IT Sector in next five years.
• With a view to prevent fleecing of foreign tourists and creating a safe and secure environment for them, Tourism Ministry is set to roll out red carpet at airports to receive guests with garlands in a true 'Atithi Deva Bhavo' style.
• A comprehensive plan is being worked out to provide end-to-end service to overseas tourists, new Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma said. 
• For the first time in India's history, a special squad of women troops has been deployed deep inside jungles of Jharkhand and Chattisgarh to undertake active and prolonged operations against Maoists.

MOUs

• India and Nepal are likely to sign an agreement for the construction of a 900 MW power project and another one for starting a direct bus service between Kathmandu and New Delhi during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the upcoming SAARC summit at Khatmandu.

Deaths

• Ian Craig, Australia's youngest Test cricket captain, has died aged 79.

People in News

• Cricketer and MP Sachin Tendulkar adopted a remote village Puttamraju Kandriga in Nellore district of coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Science & Technology

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch Aditya in 2017, its first satellite aimed at studying the sun.
• The satellite will be placed 1.5 million km away from the earth, at the Langrangian point of the Sun-Earth system.
• Commercial operations of the first 1,000 MW unit of Kudankulam nuclear power project is expected to start by January 22, 2015, as an earlier deadline could not be met due to technical problems.

Sports

• China Open 2014
• Kidambi Srikanth beat home favorite Lin Dan of China to record the biggest win in his career and win the prestigious China Open Super Series men's singles title 2014
• Indian badminton star Saina Nehwal beat Japan's Akane Yamaguchi to win the China Open Women's singles Title 2014

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