Current Affairs - November 18, 2019 Current Affairs

Sri Lanka's controversial wartime defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the hotly contested presidential election, defeating the ruling party candidate Sajith Premadasa by more than 13 lakh votes, marking the return of the powerful Rajapaksa dynasty known for its pro-China tilt.

Pakistan becomes the first country to introduce WHO approved typhoid vaccine. The Vaccine is to be used in southern Sindh province as more than 10,000 cases of Typhoid were documented since 2017.

Finland qualified for a major tournament for the first time by defeating Liechtenstein 3-0 to book its place at Euro 2020. Delighted fans flooded the pitch at full-time of the Group J fixture at the Telia 5G Arena in Helsinki as Finland guaranteed second place behind Italy.

Two tea varieties of Darjeeling were registered under "Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999". It includes Green Tea and White Tea of Darjeeling. Darjeeling produces 85 lakh kilograms of tea. Of this Green Tea constitutes 10 lakh kilo grams and White Tea constitutes 1 lakh kilo grams.

Acclaimed Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has been conferred the Italian Golden Sand Art Award, 2019 at a ceremony in Rome, becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious award for his contribution to sand art.

India signed off with 12 medals in the event with bronze coming from Arundhati Choudhury (69kg), Komalpreet Kaur (+81kg), Jaismine (57kg), Satender Singh (91kg) and Aman (+91kg).

National Press Day is celebrated on 16th November 2019. It is celebrated every year. The day marks the presence of free and responsible press. On this day, the Press Council of India started functioning as a moral watchdog.

The United States Senate has unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the historical, cultural and religious significance of the 550th birthday of Sikhism founder Guru Nanak Dev, besides the Sikh's contributions in the US' growth.

According to a Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) study, Mumbai ranks the highest in the quality of water among capital cities in states where samples of tap water were tested. In Mumbai, all 10 samples of tap water passed the BIS test.

Senior journalist Rajat Sharma on November 16 resigned from the post of President of Delhi & Districts Cricket Association (DDCA), citing his inability to continue amidst "various pulls and pressures" within the organisation.

Renowned Rabindra Sangeet exponent from Bangladesh Rezwana Choudhury Bannya has conferred the ICCR distinguished alumni award in Dhaka.

India's celebrated para high-jumpers Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thangavelu qualified for next year's Tokyo Paralympics after claiming the silver and the bronze medal respectively in the World Para-Athletics Championships in Dubai.

Acclaimed author and Infosys Foundation chairman Sudha Murty has launched her much awaited book The Daughter from a Wishing Tree Unusual Tales about Women in Mythology

India on November 11, 2019, conducted its first night-trial of AGNI II missile successfully. It is the first night trial being tested by the country.

Branko Lustig was a Croatian film producer best known for winning Academy Awards for Best Picture for Schindler's List and Gladiator. He is the only person born in the territory of present-day Croatia to have won two Academy Awards.