Daily GK Updates - 4th November, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1.Delhi's Signature Bridge opens for public : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has inaugurated the iconic ‘Signature Bridge’ over river ‘Yamuna’. in Delhi.The Signature Bridge (675 metres long) is a cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge, spans Yamuna river at Wazirabad section, connecting Wazirabad to East Delhi.The pylon of the Signature bridge is the tallest structure in Delhi and is double the height of Qutb Minar, with 154-metre high viewing box, which acts as selfie points for people.It is the country's first asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge.

2.Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation announces Swachh Bharat World Toilet Day Contest  : The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation has announced Swachh Bharat World Toilet Day Contest for districts and States.The purpose of the Contest is to encourage all districts in India to re-intensify the sanitation movement with a special focus on Open Defecation Free-ODF Sustainability. Top 10 District Collectors, top 3 State Mission Directors and State Secretary in-charge of Sanitation will be recognized and awarded by the Swachh Bharat Mission.The Contest does not apply to the five States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram

3.National Seminar on Entrepreneurship & Business Development in Ayurveda begins in New Delhi : A two-day National Seminar on Entrepreneurship and Business Development in Ayurveda has begun in New Delhi.The seminar has been organised by the AYUSH Ministry.The seminar is expected to develop awareness among stakeholders about business opportunities, encouraging young entrepreneurs to use modern technologies and highlight opportunities at the global level.

4. Noted Malayalam writer M Mukundan wins Ezhuthachan award : Noted Malayalam writer M Mukundan (76- years) has been selected for the highest literacy prize ‘Ezhuthachan Puraskaram 2018’. The award is being given for his overall contributions to the language and literature.

5. Super 30 founder Anand Kumar to be honoured with education award in Dubai : Veteran Mathematician 45-year old Anand Kumar (Super 30 founder) will be awarded for his ‘pioneering’ contribution to the field of education and illuminating the lives of many talented students (on 8^th November).Mr Anand will be honoured with 'Global Education Award' by 'Malabar Gold & Diamonds', a flagship company of Malabar Group, a leading Indian business conglomerate

6.IIT-Madras creates ‘Shakti’, India’s first microprocessor : The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IITM) have designed and booted up India’s first icroprocessor ‘Shakti’.An open-source high-level synthesis language ‘Bluespec’ was used in making the chips.The Shakti microprocessor can be used in low-power wireless systems and networking systems besides reducing reliance on imported microprocessors in communication and defence sectors.It could be used in mobile computing and other devices.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1.18th Indian Ocean Rim Association Council of Ministers Meeting Held in Durban : The 18th Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers Meeting was held in Durban, South Africa. Gen. (Dr.) VK Singh (Retd.), Minister of State for External Affairs, attended the IORA Council of Ministers Meeting.

This meeting took place during the on-going celebrations of the 150th year of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 100th birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela.The Indian Ocean Rim Association is an inter-governmental organisation which was established on 7^th  March 1997.

2.  Indo-French Conclave held in Nagpur : Indo-French Conclave signed 12 agreements worth 200 million euro held in Nagpur, Maharashtra.The Indo-French Conclave was organized by Indo French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI) and the Embassy of France in India.

OTHER UPDATES:

BUSINESS/ECONOMY:

1. Kolkata leads Ease of Moving Index 2018 : The union minister Nitin Gadkari has released the Ola Mobility Institute’s(OMI), India's first Ease of Moving Index, 2018.As part of report findings, Kolkata ranks the highest in terms of affordability of public transportation with 80% of commuters finding Kolkata's public transport reasonable and affordable.Ola Mobility Institute (OMI) is the research and outreach arm of Ola.

DEFENCE:

1. Offshore patrol vessel ICGS Varaha launched : According to Defence Ministry, The Indian Coast Guard has launched a new offshore patrol vessel called ICGS Varaha from a corporate shipyard near Chennai.The vessel has been designed and built indigenously.This is the third in a series of seven similar ships to be handed over to the Coast Guard. The timeline for the delivery of all the vessels is March 2021.ICGS Varaha will soon be fitted with advanced navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machinery.

SPORTS:

1. Indian badminton player Subhankar Dey has won the SaarLorLux Open at Saarbrucken in Germany : He defeated fifth-placed Rajiv Ouseph (Britain), in straight games, 21-11, 21-14.This is Subhankar's first title of 2018.Earlier, he had finished runner-up in the Kabal International tournament at the Czech Republic.