Daily GK Updates - 5th November, 2018

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. 1st India-Nepal passenger train : The first passenger train to run on ‘broad gauge’ between India and Nepal is likely to run from December 2018.The train will run from Jayanagar in Bihar to Kurtha in Dhanusa district in south-eastern Nepal.An immigration check-post is likely to be established at Jayanagar station.No visa will be required for Indian and Nepalese nationals crossing the border through this stretch.

2. AR Rahman launched his biography : AR Rahman released his biography, ‘Notes of a Dream: The Authorized Biography of AR Rahman’, in Mumbai on 3 November 2018.

The book has been written by author Krishna Trilok.AR Rahman has won six National Film Awards, two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and fifteen Filmfare Awards

3. Ayurveda Day celebrated on 5th November : Ayurveda Day was observed on 5th November 2018.Ministry of AYUSH observes Ayurveda Day every year on ‘Dhanawantari Jayanti’ (Dhanteras).On this occasion, Ministry is organising a ‘National Seminar on Entrepreneurship and Business Development in Ayurveda’ in association with NITI Aayog on 4th & 5th November 2018.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. India to extend USD 310 m loan for Zimbabwe : India would extend a US$ 310 million loan to Zimbabwe to finance a rehabilitation project for a thermal power plant that would entail upgrading the station and extending its lifespan.Hwange is Zimbabwe’s second biggest power plant with an installed capacity of 920 MW.The decision was taken during a meeting between Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

2. Changsha declaration’ signed in China : More than 20 countries have committed to ‘Changsha declaration’ on agricultural and rural development in Changsha, China on 2 November 2018.The ‘Changsha Declaration’ aims to ramp up the efforts towards South-South Cooperation, an initiative working to eliminate hunger and malnutrition through the mutual sharing and exchange of good practices, resources.

3. India ranked 12th in web-borne threats : According to a recent report by Kaspersky Lab, India is ranked 12th worldwide when it comes to the dangers associated with surfing the web.In the third quarter (July- September), 32.8% of the users were attacked by web-borne threats in India.Kaspersky Lab products detected 48,093,743 Internet-borne malware incidents on the computers of KSN participants in India.

4. World Tsunami Awareness Day observed on 5 Nov : The ‘World Tsunami Awareness Day’ is observed on 5 November.The day is observed in order to raise tsunami awareness and share innovative approaches to risk reduction.In 2018, World Tsunami Awareness Day will align with the International Day for Disaster Reduction and the ‘Sendai Seven Campaign’. 

5. India, Zimbabwe signed six agreements : India and Zimbabwe signed six agreements on 3 November 2018.The agreements were signed on mining, Information and communications technology (ICT), visa waiver and traditional medicine.MoUs were also signed between the two countries on cooperation in the field of arts, culture and heritage.India also accepted Zimbabwe’s request to supply 10 ambulances to the African nation.

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING/FINANCE:

1. RBI starts process to set up PCR : The Reserve Bank has initiated steps to set up a wide-based digital Public Credit Registry (PCR).PCR will capture details of all borrowers, including wilful defaulters and also the pending legal suits in order to check financial delinquencies.PCR will also include data from entities like market regulator SEBI, the Corporate Affairs Ministry and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:

1. NASA grants $7 Million For new life detection : NASA has awarded nearly $7 million for a fresh interdisciplinary project to detect new, non-Earth-like life on Mars, Jupiter and Saturn’s icy moons.The Laboratory for Agnostic Biosignatures (LAB) will lay the groundwork for characterising potential biosignatures, or signs of life.The LAB is a consortium of 15 team members from universities and institutions around the world.

SPORTS:

1. Subhankar Dey won SaarLorLux Open : In Badminton, Subhankar Dey has won the SaarLorLux Open at Saarbrucken in Germany on 5 November 2018.He defeated Rajiv Ouseph of Britain in finals.This is Subhankar’s first title of 2018.In March 2018, he had finished runner-up in the Kabal International tournament at the Czech Republic.

2. Lilima Minz received ‘Ekalabya Puraskar’ : Woman Hockey player Lilima Minz was honoured with the prestigious ‘Ekalabya Puraskar’ on 4 November 2018.She was part of the squad that represented the country in the 2016 summer Olympics.The award comprises a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh along with a citation.The Ekalabya Puraskar has been instituted by ‘IMPaCT’, the social wing of the Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys.