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03 November 2014 National: Actor Sadashiv Amrapurkar passes away Bollywood actor Sadashiv Amrapurkar, who was being ...

GK & Current Affair Updates: November 3-2014









03 November 2014


National:

Actor Sadashiv Amrapurkar passes away
Bollywood actor Sadashiv Amrapurkar, who was being treated for a lung infection at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai, passed away. He was 64. Amrapurkar had won two Filmfare awards. In 1984, he won the award for the best supporting actor for “Ardh Satya” and in 1991, the best villain trophy for his portrayal of a ruthless eunuch in “Sadak”. His other works include “Aankhen”, “Ishq”, “Coolie No. 1” and “Gupt: The Hidden Truth”.

Indian researcher develops new device to track status of heart
An Indian researcher has developed a wearable device that he claims can help one track the status of heart, both in medical and emotional terms. The Inner You (INYU) is a wearable device that helps the user to track and manage his or her physical as well as emotional health. The SmartCardia technology is based on several years of research from the Embedded Systems Laboratory at the Ecole Polytechnique Frale de Lausanne (EPFL). It can be used to track Electrocardiogram (ECG), breathing and key vital signs of users, so that they can get timely feedback from the doctor. The developer of the device intends to price it around Rs 9,000, so that tracking one’s complete health becomes affordable.

Most crimes against women take place at home
Women seem to be most unsafe in their homes while the conviction rate in crimes against women remains very low, a government study has found. Cruelty by husband and relatives continue to have the highest share (38%) of crimes against women, followed by 'assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty' (23%), kidnapping and abduction (17%) and rape (11%). The Central Statistics Office (CSO)'s report 'Women and Men in India 2014'said 5% of total cognizable crime fell under the category of crime against women in 2013 against 4% in 2012. The rate of incidence of crime against women per lakh women was maximum (11% each) in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in 2013, followed by 10% in West Bengal, 9% in Rajasthan and 8% in Maharashtra. Among the states, 13% of rape victims were in Madhya Pradesh, followed by 10% in Rajasthan and 9% each in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.



International:

55 killed in suicide attack at Wagah in Pakistan
At least 55 people, including children and security personnel, were killed and nearly 200 injured in a powerful suicide blast at Wagah in Pakistan, minutes after the popular flag-lowering ceremony at the main Indo-Pakistan land border crossing.

Death for top Jamaat financier
A Bangladesh war crimes tribunal handed death penalty to senior Jamaat leader Mir Quasem Ali for committing crimes against humanity during the country’s Liberation War. Under Ali’s command, local collaborators of Pakistan Army let loose a reign of terror to suppress Bangladesh’s freedom struggle in Chittagong. Ali has also pumped billions into Jamaat-e-Islami since the 1980s. He has been sentenced to death for murder charges and given a total of 72 years jail term for the remaining. Ali was the third most powerful man of the notorious al-Badr force. His sentence came only days after another tribunal handed death penalty to Al-Badr’s main leader and Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami.


Islamic state massacres 322 people of Iraqi tribe in Anbar
Iraq's government says that Islamic State militants have executed 322 members of an Iraqi Sunni tribe in western Anbar province. The country's ministry of human rights said more than 50 bodies were founded in a water well, while 65 members of the Al-Bu Nimr tribe have been kidnapped. The group's latest attack came yesterday morning when militants shot and killed at least 50 of the tribe. ISIS militants, also Sunnis, control large areas of Iraq and Syria. The ministry said that the ISIS is holding the 65 hostages as prisoners of war. It said, the militants also stole livestock from the tribe.

Legendary British Jazz musician Acker Bilk passes away
British Jazz clarinettist Acker Bilk, who personified the trad jazz revival of the 1950s and 60s, has died after a lengthy illness, aged 85. His most famous number Stranger on the Shore was the UK's biggest selling single of 1962 and made him an international star. His last concert was in August 2013. Known for his goatee, bowler hat and fancy waistcoat, Bilk was awarded Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, MBE in 2001 for services to the music industry.

Business & Economy:

Assets of India's financial institutions touch $2.8 trillion
The total value of assets held by India's financial institutions touched nearly USD 2.8 trillion, the third largest among BRICS nations, in 2013. Way ahead, neighbouring China's financial institutions held assets to the tune of USD 34.43 trillion last year, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) has said. BRICS grouping constitutes Brazil, Russia India, China and South Africa. As per the figures compiled by the FSB, the value of assets of financial institutions in India touched USD 2.79 trillion in 2013. After China, among BRICS nations, Brazil is at the second spot with such assets worth USD 4.91 trillion. Russia's financial institutions held assets to the tune of USD 2.75 trillion while that of South Africa touched USD 1.06 trillion. In the report that covers many countries, financial institutions have been classified into as many as seven categories.

Sports:

Hamilton wins US Grand Prix
Race by race and point by point, Lewis Hamilton is tightening his grip on the Formula One world championship and squeezing out Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg. Mercedes had another 1-2 finish in a dominating season that has pushed Hamilton and Rosberg well clear of the pack in the title chase. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo was third for his eighth podium finish on the season. Force India then lost its second car when Nico Hulkenberg retired in the 17th lap.

Delightful knock by Misbah

Pakistan was on the verge of its first series win over Australia in 20 years and victory in the second Test after skipper Misbah-ul Haq rewrote the record books with his belligerent batting in Abu Dhabi. Misbah smashed a 56-ball hundred, equalling West Indian legend Viv Richards’s record made against England at Antigua in 1986, minutes after breaking the mark for the fastest fifty which he made off just 21 balls at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Misbah’s stunning blitz allowed Pakistan to declare its second innings at 293 for three, setting a daunting 603-run target for Australia which suffered another batting collapse before