Daily GK Updates - 2nd November, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Jharsuguda Airport renamed as “Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda” : The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved renaming of Jharsuguda Airport (in Odisha) as “Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda”.Veer Surendra Sai was an Indian freedom fighter and tribal leader who sacrificed his life fighting against the British East India Company.It will fulfil the long-pending demand of the Odisha Government, which reflects the sentiments of the local public of the respective area.

2.PM Modi launches Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Support and Outreach Programme : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Support and Outreach Programme in New Delhi.The MSME Outreach Programme will run for 100 days covering 100 Districts throughout the country. The Union Ministers are likely to visit these districts to appraise the entrepreneurs about various facilities being extended to MSME sector by the Government and financial institutions.

3.  The fourth NITI Aayog- DRC Dialogue held in Mumbai : The Fourth Dialogue of the NITI Aayog - Development Research Centre (DRC) of the State Council, Peoples' Republic of China was held in Mumbai.The Chinese delegation was led by Mr. Li Wei (President of DRC) and the Indian delegation was led by Dr Rajiv Kumar (Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog).

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Malayalam film Olu to be the opening film at 49th IFFI : According to Jury for the Indian Panorama, Malayalam film Olu will be the opening film at the 49th ternational Film Festival of India (IFFI) -2018 in Goa.The Feature Film Jury of thirteen members was headed by acclaimed film director and screenwriter, Rahul Rawail.July also selected the Marathi film Kharvas directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale as the Opening non-feature film.

2. Pather Panchali' is only Indian movie to feature in BBC's 100-best foreign language films : Satyajit Ray's epic masterpiece 'Pather Panchali' has been included by BBC's 100 best foreign language films (only film from India) to feature in the  list.Pather Panchali released in 1955, was placed at number 15 in the list, which has been topped by Akira Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai'.27 of the highest-rated films were in French, followed by 12 in Mandarin, and 11 each in Italian and Japanese

3. Netherland to be partner country for 25th DST-CII technology Summit 2019 : According to Union Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Netherlands will be the Partner Country of 25th DST – CII Technology Summit to be organized in 2019.There is a great scope to explore a closer partnership between the two countries to leverage emerging digital technologies.India and the Netherlands are addressing unmet needs and opening new collaborative avenues together in areas such as water, health, agriculture, high tech systems and IT.

OTHER UPDATES:

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1.China launches the new high-orbit satellite : China successfully launched a high orbit satellite to boost its home-grown BeiDou global satellite navigation system being built to rival United States Global Position System (GPS).The satellite was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the southwestern Sichuan Province.It is the first BeiDou-3 satellite in high orbit (36,000 km) above the Earth, meant to serve countries in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

DEFENCE:

1. India-Japan military exercise Dharma Guardian-2018 begins in Mizoram : First-ever two-week-long India-Japan military exercise ‘Dharma Guardian-2018’ has begun at a jungle warfare school in Mizoram’s Vairengte. The Japanese contingent is represented by 32nd Infantry Battalion, while the Indian side by 6/1 Gorkha Rifles.It will be to enhance tactical skills against global terrorism and increase interoperability between the two forces.

3. Decommissioned carrier INS Viraat to become a floating museum : The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the conversion of decommissioned carrier INS Viraat into a floating museum.It will make the new generation familiar with the glorious history of INS Viraat.The carrier will be housed on a concrete foundation near Nivati Rocks in Sindhudurg in Konkan region of the state.The project worth 852 crore rupees will be implemented through public-private-partnership (PPP).

SPORTS:

1. Mary Kom named as brand ambassador of women’s world C’ship : Olympic medallists Mary Kom has been named as the brand ambassador of the upcoming 10th edition of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Women World  hampionship. The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) also unveiled the logo and anthem at the launch of the 2018 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, to be held at the IG Stadium in New Delhi (from November 15-24)