Daily GK Updates: 15th November 2016

Moon came close to Earth after 1948

i. The moon arrived at its closest point to the Earth since 1948. 

ii. The 'supermoon' reached its brightest in Asia on 14 November 2016. 

iii. The Moon was closest, only 2 lakh 21 thousand 524 miles (356509 km) away at 11:21 GMT.

Demonetisation: RBI sets up panel to oversee ATM recalibrations

i. To oversee recalibration of ATM machines after the country introduced new banknotes to replace old 500 rupee and 1,000 rupee notes, RBI will set up a task force under Deputy Governor SS Mundra. 

ii. Panel will provide "direction and guidance" for recalibrating ATM machines to dispense the new notes.

President Mukherjee inaugurates the India International Trade Fair in Delhi

i. President Pranab Mukherjee on 14th November has inaugurated the India International Trade Fair at Pragati Maidan, New delhi which will see participation of over 150 companies from 27 countries.

ii. This year's edition of the mega trade fair with 'Digital India' theme is being held between November 14-27.

India and US launch $95 million clean energy projects 

i. As part of its efforts to continue the global transition to zero-and-low carbon energy sources, the United States (US) has announced two financial projects worth 95 million US dollars for India. 

ii. The projects announced on 14 November 2016 aims at bringing more energy-efficient appliances to rural sector of the country.

Thiruvananthapuram becomes country's 'breast cancer capital'

i. Thiruvananthapuram has been termed as the country's breast cancer capital, with cases at a record high of 40 per lakh of population.

ii. 9 lakh women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.

iii. The revelation was made during the Kerala Chapter of Indian Radiological and Imaging Association (IRIA) Conference.

India's first Cherry Blossom Festival starts in Meghalaya

i. Meghalaya on Monday became the first state to start India's first Cherry Blossom Festival, which is widely celebrated in Japan.

ii. The four-day festival will also provide opportunities to showcase the unique beauty of pink and white cherry blossoms as well as Meghalaya's traditional arts, culture and cuisine to the naturalists and tourists.

iii. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma inaugurated India's first Cherry Blossom Festival in this state capital of Meghalaya, where cherry blossoms are in full bloom in several parts of the city and the suburbs.

Australia to introduce Hindi language in Pre-Schools from 2018

i. Australia announced an online program for its pre-schools to learn foreign languages, including Hindi from 2017.

ii. In order to teach foreign languages in Australia a program named Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA), was launched in the 2015-16, with five languages namely Chinese (Mandarin), Japanese, Indonesian, French and Arabic. These were taught to the children using seven apps.

Bulgarian PM resigns after losing presidential election

i. The Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov gave resignation of his cabinet after his party’s candidate Tsetska Tsacheva , failed to win the country’s presidential election on November 14, 2016.

ii. Right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party candidate Tsetska Tsacheva, speaker of parliament ,  was defeated by Socialist Party-supported independent candidate Rumen Radev .

Golfer Chawrasia wins first Asian Tour title outside India

i. Indian golfer SSP Chawrasia clinched the $1 million (Rs. 6.8 crore) Resorts World Manila Masters in the Philippines, his first ever Asian Tour title outside India. 

ii. Chawrasia beat Malaysian Nicolas Fung and American Sam Chen on the final day of the tournament.

UK’s First Indian-Origin Sikh Judge Dies

i. Mota Singh, an Indian-origin Sikh, who became UK’s first-ever ethnic minority judge to sit on the English Bench wearing a turban instead of a horse-hair wig, died.

ii. He was 86.

iii. Mota Singh, a Ramgarhia Sikh, was born in 1930 in Nairobi, Kenya.