Monday 31 December 2018

Sheikh Hasina elected prime minister for third term in Bangladesh

Sheikh Hasina elected prime minister for third term in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League has registered a  victory in Parliamentary elections.

 the ruling Awami League-led coalition won more than 260 seats in the 300-member House.


Bangladesh Election Commission is expected to officially declare the results in Dhaka .

Bangladesh, to the east of India on the Bay of Bengal s a South Asian country


Capital: Dhaka

Currency: Bangladeshi taka

Sunday 30 December 2018

first Arab-Europe Summit

first Arab-Europe Summit

The first Arab-European Summit will convene in Egyptian capital Cairo on Feb 24 and 25, the Arab League announced Monday.

An Arab-European ministerial meeting will be held in Brussels on Feb 4 to prepare for the summit,

Consultations are currently underway with the European side with a view to hammering out the upcoming summit’s agenda

In March of last year, participants at an Arab Summit held near Jordan’s Dead Sea agreed to convene an Arab-European summit to discuss means of enhancing cooperation and meeting common regional challenges.

The Arab League, formally the League of Arab States, is a regional organization of Arab states in and around North Africa, the Horn of Africa and Arabia.

It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Kingdom of Egypt, Kingdom of Iraq, Transjordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. 

Headquarters: Cairo, Egypt

Founded: 22 March 1945

Saturday 29 December 2018

Luka Modric was named the Balkan Athlete of the year

Luka Modric was named the Balkan Athlete of the year

croatia captain Luka Modric was named Balkan Athlete of the Year on Thursday, becoming only the second soccer player to win the prize after Bulgaria’s former European Footballer of the Year Hristo Stoichkov in 1994.

Ballon d’Or winner Modric won the Champions League and the Fifa Club World Cup with his Spanish club Real Madrid as well as being instrumental in helping Croatia reach the World Cup final in Russia.

 He was awarded the tournament’s Golden Ball Award.

Luka Modric received 75 points in the 46th poll, organised by Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), beat Serbia’s world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic, who topped the annual poll five times in a row between 2011 and 2015.

Another tennis player, Romania’s Simona Halep, who finished the year as women’s world number one for the second consecutive season, came third in the poll, which is conducted by the state-run news agencies in nine Balkan countries.

The Ballon d’Or winner beat Serbia’s world number one tennis player Novak Djokovic, who topped the annual poll five times in a row between 2011 and 2015.

Friday 28 December 2018

Nepal imposed a monthly limit on the amount of Indian currency its citizen can spend

Nepal caps expenditure of its citizens in India

Nepal on Tuesday imposed a monthly limit on the amount of Indian currency its citizen can spend in India.

 a Nepali citizen would be unable to spend more than ₹1 lakh per month while paying for goods and services in India

the decision was taken to address the country’s current account deficit.

The policy applicable to prepaid, credit and debit cards of Nepali banks came into effect on Tuesday.

the latest measure would however exempt payment in hospitals and pharmacies in India

Thursday 27 December 2018

Japan decides to withdraw from IWC

Japan decides to withdraw from IWC

Japan has decided to withdraw from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and will resume commercial whaling July next year.

Tokyo will officially inform the IWC of its decision by the end of the year, which will mean the withdrawal comes into effect by June 30.

leaving the IWC means Japanese whalers will be able to resume hunting in Japanese coastal waters of minke and other whales currently protected by the IWC.

 Japan will not be able to continue the so-called scientific research hunts in the Antarctic that it has been exceptionally allowed as an IWC member under the Antarctic Treaty.

The withdrawal also means Japan joins Iceland and Norway in openly defying the IWC's ban on commercial whale hunting.

Tokyo argues that whaling is an important part of Japan's traditions, and the withdrawal would allow fishermen to pass country's rich whaling culture onto the next generation.

However, activist groups slammed the decision

The IWC, established in 1946 to conserve and manage the world's whale and cetacean population, introduced a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1986.

Wednesday 26 December 2018

SpaceX launched new GPS satellite for US military

SpaceX launched new GPS satellite for US military

spaceX launched a new breed of GPS satellite for the United States Military on Sunday, marking the private space company's first contracted mission for the US  national security.

A Falcon 9 rocket, carrying U.S. Air Force's first Global Positioning System (GPS) III space vehicle 01 (SV01), was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

The launch was previously scheduled on Tuesday but delayed four times due to technical and weather reasons.

The GPS III satellite, to be deployed to medium Earth orbit, is designed to deliver positioning, navigation, and timing information.

 It is three times more accurate than the previous system and up to eight times stronger in its anti-jamming capability.

Because of mission requirements, SpaceX did not attempt to retrieve the reusable Falcon 9's first stage after launch, according to SpaceX.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., doing business as SpaceX, is a private American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. 

CEO: Elon Musk (2002–)

Founder: Elon Musk

Founded: 6 May 2002

Headquarters: Hawthorne, California, United States

Tuesday 25 December 2018

China-India Yoga College to open 50 branches in China

China-India Yoga College to open 50 branches in China

China's first Yoga college in Yunnan province will open 50 more branches across the country.

The college was set up as part of the cultural exchange programme between the two nations.

The announcement came as the college opened its first branch on Saturday at the Yunnan University in the city of Lijiang

The China-India Yoga College was opened at Yunnan Minzu University in Kunming in 2015

Next to India, a very large number of Chinese yoga enthusiasts take part in the UN's international yoga day every year on June 21.

Monday 24 December 2018

Patrick Shanahan to replace James Mattis as US Defense Secretary

Patrick Shanahan to replace James Mattis as US Defense Secretary

United States  has announced that they  will replace Defence Secretary Jim Mattis with his deputy Patrick Shanahan as acting Pentagon chief on January 1.

 the replacement of the Pentagon chief was announced  two months earlier than Mattis' planned departure.

Patrick M. Shanahan is a former American businessman and the current Deputy Secretary of Defense 

Sunday 23 December 2018

which stock market became 7th largest in the world?

which stock market   became 7th largest in the world?

Options

1) India

2)germany

3)france

4)spain


answer

 1) India


Other details

 India's stock market overtakes Germany to become 7th largest in the world

The Asian giant edged past the equity market of Europe’s largest economy for the first time in seven years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

after the U.K. leaves the European Union in March, the bloc would have only one country , France, among the seven biggest markets.

Germany derives more than 38 percent of its gross domestic product from exports, based on 2017 data from World Bank.

The corresponding ratio for India is only 11 percent, meaning much of the stock-market opportunity in the country comes from domestic consumer stories.



Saturday 22 December 2018

Belgium will end the year as No.1 in FIFA global rankings

Belgium will end the year as No.1 in FIFA global rankings

Belgium will end the year as No. 1 ahead of world champions France in the global rankings released by FIFA  .

Belgium, beaten by France in the World Cup semi-finals, edge Didier Deschamps' team by one ranking point.

Belgium have 1,727 points by FIFA's calculations to 1,726 for France. Brazil are third on 1,676.

Friday 21 December 2018

France fined Uber 400000 euros over huge data breach

France fined Uber 400000 euros over huge data breach

France's data protection agency on Thursday said that it had fined the US ride-hailing group Uber 400,000 euros over a 2016 data breach that exposed the personal data of some 57 million clients and drivers worldwide.

The French Data Protection Authority said the breach would have been prevented, if certain elementary security measures had been in place.

Uber has already paid $148 million to US authorities to avoid a potential court case and vowed to improve its security efforts.

Uber drew the wrath of users and regulators after the company waited a year before revealing in November 2017 that hackers had infiltrated its systems.

Last month, the Netherlands imposed a 600,000-euro fine over the breach and Britain ordered Uber to pay 385,000 pounds.

Thursday 20 December 2018

EU revealed no-deal plans for Brexit

EU revealed no-deal plans for Brexit

The European Commission said it has started to implement its preparations for a no-deal Brexit in case the UK crashes out of the EU without a plan.

It has announced temporary measures to try to reduce the impact, but says it cannot counter all the problems it expects.

As British Prime Minister Theresa May's proposed exit plan flounders in Parliament, both sides are preparing for the worst-case situation.

 the measures are designed to limit disruption in certain key areas, such as finance and transport, if Brexit goes ahead in March without a deal.

 European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said, the plan is an exercise in limiting damage.

a contingency plan was necessary given the continued uncertainty in the UK.

The 14 EU actions include measures to allow UK-EU financial services to continue and a 12-month provision to keep planes flying between Britain and the bloc.

Britain is due to leave the EU on 29th of March, next year, but it remains unclear whether UK lawmakers will approve the agreement Prime Minister Theresa May's government has negotiated with the bloc.

Leaving without a deal risks plunging the British economy into recession and touching off chaos at the borders.

Tuesday 18 December 2018

which country declared 2019 as the Year of Tolerance?

which country declared  2019 as the Year of Tolerance?

Options

1) UAE

2)qatar

3)oman

4)bahrain

answer

1) UAE

Other details

The UAE government announced that 2019 will be officially proclaimed the Year of Tolerance to strengthen the nation’s role of encouraging stability and prosperity in the region.


it was following on from the Year of Zayed in 2018 and the Year of Giving in 2017.

In November, a World Tolerance Summit in Dubai attracted regional leaders and national figures.

UAE announced it will be a global co-ordinator for co-operation within a new Global Tolerance Alliance to promote acceptance around the world.

The Special Olympic World Games, will  be held in Abu Dhabi from March 14-21 in 2019 will be in accordance with  this theme

The Year of Tolerance will focus on five main pillars.

First, to deepen the values of tolerance and co-existence among cultures and peoples by concentrating on teaching the youth the values of tolerance.

second  to solidify the UAE as the global capital for tolerance, via a series of initiatives and projects specialised in tolerance and dialogue between various cultures and civilisations.

Third, enacting multiple cultural programmes and contributions to build tolerant communities.

 fourth  to focus  on legislative and policy-oriented objectives that contribute mandating cultural and religious tolerance, via dialogue.

 fifth  will be promoting tolerance and co-existence via targeted media initiatives and projects.

 

Monday 17 December 2018

who won the BWF World Tour Finals title 2018?

who won the BWF World Tour Finals title 2018?

Options

1)  P V Sindhu

2)Nozomi Okuhara

3)Saina nehwal

4)none of the above

answer

1)  P V Sindhu


Other details

Indian shuttler P V Sindhu won the prestigious season-ending World Tour Finals trophy at Guangzhou, China, .

The Olympic silver medallist defeated Japan's Nozomi Okuhara 21-19, 21-17 in the summit clash.

Sindhu accomplished the feat after losing seven successive summit clashes.

 She had also won silvers at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Championships this year.

 the Badminton Association Of India(BAI) has also announced a cash reward of 10 lakh rupees for P V Sindhu forwinning the women’s singles championship.

BAI also announced a cash reward of 3lakh rupees for Sameer Verma who reached the semifinal in his maiden appearanceat the World Tour Finals.

Sunday 16 December 2018

When is International Tea Day celebrated?

When is International Tea Day celebrated?

Options

1) December 15

2)December 16

3)December 17

4)December 18

answer

1) December 15

Other details

International Tea Day is observed annually on December 15.

 It has been celebrated since 2005 in tea producing countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Uganda, India and Tanzania.

 International Tea Day aims to draw global attention of governments and citizens to the impact of the global tea trade on workers and growers, and has been linked to requests for price supports and fair trade.

After initial discussions, at the World Social Forum in 2004, the first International Tea Day was celebrated in New Delhi in 2005

 with later celebrations organized in Sri Lanka in 2006 and 2008.

 International Tea Day celebrations and the related Global Tea Conferences have been jointly organized by trade union movements.


In 2015, the Indian government proposed expanding the observance of International Tea Day through the UN Food and Agriculture Organization

Saturday 15 December 2018

who was Sondra Locke?

who was Sondra Locke?

Options

1) actress

2)poetess

3)dancer

4)none of the above

answer

1) actress


Other details

Sandra Louise Anderson, professionally known as Sondra Locke, was an American actress and director. 

Friday 14 December 2018

Global debt is at all-time high of USD 184 trillion

Global debt is at all-time high of USD 184 trillion

The International Monetary Fund said that global debt has reached an all-time high of 184 trillion US dollars with the United States, China and Japan accounting for more than half of it.

According to the IMF report, the amount in nominal terms, is the equivalent of 225 per cent of the world GDP in 2017.

On average, the world's debt now exceeds 86,000 dollars per person, which is more than two and half times the average income per-capita.

 IMF said it is striking that the most indebted economies in the world are also the richer ones.  

Since the beginning of the millennium, China's share in global debt has gone up from less than three per cent to over 15 per cent

Thursday 13 December 2018

when is International Day of Neutrality celebrated?

when is International Day of Neutrality  celebrated?

Options

1) 12 December

2)13 December

3)14 December

4)15 December

answer

 1) 12 December


Other details

 On 2 February 2017, the UN General Assembly adopted without a vote resolution 71/275 — introduced by Turkmenistan, recognized by the UN as a permanently neutral state since 12 December 1995 — which noted the link between the preservation of peace and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and declared 12 December as the International Day of Neutrality.

The aforementioned GA resolution also proposes that UN Secretary-General continue to cooperate closely with the neutral states, with a view to implementing the principles of preventive diplomacy and utilizing them in the mediation activities.

 It is aimed at promoting the use of preventive diplomacy, and enhancing public awareness of the value of neutrality in international relations.

Wednesday 12 December 2018

More than 150 UN members adopt global migration pact

More than 150 UN members adopt global migration pact



More than 150 countries adopted the United Nations Global Migration Pact on Monday in Marrakech (Morocco)

The non-binding pact seeks to better manage migration in a safe and orderly manner.


The document still needs to be the subject of a final ratification vote on 19 December at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Some countries announced their withdrawal or the freezing of their decision after approving the text on 13 July in New York.

Tuesday 11 December 2018

Ukrainian  signed law to end friendship treaty with which country?

Options

1) Russia

2)China

3)Japan

4)None of the above

answer

1) Russia


Other details

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed the legislation on ending the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between Ukraine and Russia, the presidential press service said Monday.

The treaty, which has been in place for about two decades, will be terminated on April 1, 2019 amid rising tensions between the two countries.


The bill was approved by the Ukrainian parliament on Thursday, supported by 277 votes, far more than the 226 minimum required.

In September, Poroshenko signed a decree to enforce a decision of the National Security and Defense Council to terminate the friendship treaty with Russia.

Under the agreement, which was signed in 1997 and took effect on April 1, 1999, Kiev and Moscow pledged to respect each other's borders and to peacefully settle disputes.

The agreement includes a clause that it automatically extends each ten years if neither of the parties takes actions to end it.

 

Monday 10 December 2018

Who won the Copa Libertadores 2018?

Who won the Copa Libertadores 2018?

Options

1)Boca Juniors
   
2)River Plate

3)Independiente

4)Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense,


answer

2)River Plate

other details

The 2018 Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores was the 59th edition of the CONMEBOL Libertadores, South America's premier club football tournament organized by CONMEBOL.

River Plate defeated Boca Juniors in the finals by an aggregate score of 5–3 to win their fourth tournament title.

The first leg of the final was played at the Estadio Alberto J. Armando in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 11 November 2018, while the second leg took place outside South America at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain (a neutral venue) on 9 December 2018

 The CONMEBOL Libertadores, named as Copa Libertadores de América, is an annual international club football competition organized by CONMEBOL since 1960.

 It is one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world and the most prestigious club competition in South American football.

Most successful club(s): Independiente; (7 titles)

Qualifier for: Recopa Sudamericana; FIFA Club World Cup

Number of teams: 47 (from 10 associations)

Founded: 1960

Sunday 9 December 2018

where is 2018 World Junior Table Tennis Championships being held?

where is 2018 World Junior Table Tennis Championships  being held?

Options

1) Australia

2)new Zealand

3)south Africa

4)none of the above

answer

1) Australia

Other details

 the 2018 World Junior Table Tennis Championships is being held at Bendigo in Australia

Saturday 8 December 2018

which country will make Public transport free?

which country will make Public transport free?

Options

1) Luxembourg

2)Germany

3)Belgium

4)France

answer

1) Luxembourg


Other details

Luxembourg will become first country to make all public transport free

Luxembourg is set to become the first country in the world to make all its public transport free.

Fares on trains, trams and buses will be removed

govt will prioritize the environment  issues

 Luxembourg City, the capital of the small Grand Duchy, suffers from some of the worst traffic congestion in the world.

Now, from the start of 2020 all tickets will be abolished, saving on the collection of fares and the policing of ticket purchases.

Luxembourg is a small European country, surrounded by Belgium, France and Germany.

Capital: Luxembourg City

Currency: Euro

 

Friday 7 December 2018

Former Indian diplomat elected to UN's Socio-Economic Cultural panel

Former Indian diplomat elected to UN's Socio-Economic Cultural panel

A former senior Indian diplomat, Preeti Saran, has been elected unopposed to an Asia Pacific seat on the UN's Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR).

Saran was elected to the CESCR for a four-year term beginning on the 1st of January next year.

All States are obliged to submit regular reports to the committee on how the rights are being implemented.

The committee examines each report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of concluding observations.

The panel meets in Geneva and holds two sessions per year.

Thursday 6 December 2018

when is International Volunteer Day celebrated?

when is International Volunteer Day celebrated?

Options

1) 5 December

2)6 December

3)7 December

4)8 December


answer

1) 5 December


Other details

The International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development (5 December), more commonly referred to as International Volunteer Day (IVD), is an international observance mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1985.


The theme for IVD 2018 is ‘Volunteers build Resilient Communities’.

Wednesday 5 December 2018

Gautam Gambhir was associated with which sport?

Gautam Gambhir was associated with which sport?

Options

1) cricket

2)tennis

3)football

4)rugby

answer


1) cricket


Other details

Gautam Gambhir is an Indian former cricketer, who played all formats of the game.

He is a left-handed opening batsman who played domestic cricket for Delhi, and captained Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League

he played 58 Tests, 147 one-day internationals and 37 Twenty20s for India, winning the 2007 World Twenty20 and 2011 World Cup.

Gambhir scored 4,154 Test runs, including 11 centuries, at an average of 41.95 between 2004 and 2016, and was named ICC Test Player of the Year in 2009.

He scored 5,238 runs at 39.68 in ODIs.

Gambhir has made 42 first-class centuries

He won the Indian Premier League with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012 and 2014.

Tuesday 4 December 2018

who won the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup ?





who won the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup ?

Options

1) Spain

2)France

3)Germany

4)Italy

answer

1) Spain


Other details


The 2018 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup was the 6th edition of the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, the biennial international women's youth football championship contested by the under-17 national teams of the member associations of FIFA, since its inception in 2008.

The tournament was held in Uruguay from 13 November to 1 December 2018

 North Korea were the defending champions but were eliminated by Spain in the quarter-finals.

The final took place at the Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo between Spain and Mexico a rematch from the group stage in 2016. Spain won their first title, beating Mexico 2–1 in the Final.

The FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup is an international association football tournament for female players under the age of 17. It is organized by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

 The tournament is held in even-numbered years, starting in 2008. 

Monday 3 December 2018

Three astronauts will be launched to ISS tomorrow

Three astronauts will be  launched to ISS tomorrow

Three space travellers, including two astronauts on their first flight, are scheduled to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) tomorrow for a six-and-a-half month mission.

NASA said, the launch comes less than two months after a booster failure forced a Soyuz spacecraft carrying Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin and US astronaut Nick Hague to make an emergency landing.

The incident became the first failure of a manned space launch in modern Russian history.

The three new space travellers -- Anne McClain of NASA, David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency and Oleg Kononenko of Russian space agency Roscosmos are preparing to launch aboard the Soyuz MS-11 spacecraft at 5.31 p.m. from the Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan.

It will be the first flight for both McClain and Saint-Jacques and the fourth for Kononenko.

Kononenko, McClain and Saint-Jacques will officially become the Expedition 58 crew when Gerst, Aunon-Chancellor and Prokopyev depart the station for home on December 20.

Sunday 2 December 2018

George H W Bush was president of which country?

 George H W Bush was president of which country?

Options

1) US

2)UK

3)Australia

4)South Africa

answer

1) US

Other details

 George H W  Bush,  served as the 41st president of the United States

Saturday 1 December 2018

Salome Zurabishvili has been elected as first woman President of which country?

Salome Zurabishvili has been elected as  first woman President of which country?

Options

1) Georgia

2)Turkey

3)Azerbaijan

4)Armenia


answer

1) Georgia


Other  details

Georgia elects Salome Zurabishvili as first woman president

Salome Zurabishvili has won Georgia's presidential election, becoming the first woman to hold the office.

 the French-born ex-diplomat had 59% of the vote

A new constitution is due to come into force, making the role of president largely ceremonial.

Ms Zurabishvili,  was born in Paris

She took up a career in the French foreign service and was posted to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, as ambassador in 2003.

She later gave up her post and the then-president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili, appointed her foreign minister.


Georgia is seeking European Union and Nato membership

Georgia, a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia, is a former Soviet republic

Capital: Tbilisi

Currency: Georgian lari

Friday 30 November 2018

who won the World Chess Championship?

who won the World Chess Championship?

Options

1) Magnus Carlsen

 2)Fabiano Caruana

3)Garry Kasparov

4)Viswanathan Anand

answer

1) Magnus Carlsen

other details

World number one Norwegian Magnus Carlsen has retained his World Chess Championship title, beating US opponent Fabiano Caruana in a tie-breaker event.

He beat Caruana in three time-limited games, ending the American's hopes of becoming the first US champion since Bobby Fischer won in 1972.

This showdown followed a new record, in which all 12 matches of regular play were drawn.

Carlsen, who has won the championship three times before and was the favourite to win the game, took a two-match lead and needed only a draw in the third tie-breaker to seal his victory.

But Caruana resigned in the third


 

Thursday 29 November 2018

EU sets goal to be 'climate neutral' by 2050

EU sets goal to be 'climate neutral' by 2050

The European Union has urged government, businesses, citizens and regions to join it in an ambitious plan to cut emissions and make the bloc carbon neutral by 2050.


EU climate commissioner Miguel Arias Canete said in a press conference in Brussels that block is kicking off a process to determine how Europe's energy and climate policy will evolve between now and 2050.


member states will submit their draft national climate and energy plans to the EU by the end of 2018.

while more homes will be insulated and transport will be modernised, the key plank of any successful strategy will be to reduce fossil fuel use in energy production by 80 per cent by 2050.


Delegations from more than 200 countries are due in Poland next week for the latest COP24 climate summit, aimed at renewing and building on the Paris deal and limiting global warming.

Wednesday 28 November 2018

who won the 2018 davis cup?

who won the 2018 Davis cup?

Options

1) Croatia

2)France

3)germany

4)spain

answer

1) Croatia


Other details

Croatia are the new Davis Cup champions, having beaten France.

Marin Cilic won Croatia’s second Davis Cup title as he beat France’s Lucas Pouille 7-6(3) 6-3 6-3 to give his side a decisive 3-1 lead in the final at Lille’s Stade Pierre Mauroy 

  This is Croatia's second title.

Their maiden victory happened in 2005 when they overcame Slovakia.

The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis.

 It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested annually between teams from competing countries in a knock-out format. 

No. of teams: 16 (World Group); 130 (2016 total)

Most titles: United States (32 titles)

previous champion(s): France (10th title)

Founder: Dwight F. Davis

Founded: 1900

Tuesday 27 November 2018

RIMES terms Titli cyclone ‘rarest of rare’

RIMES terms Titli cyclone ‘rarest of rare’

The Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) for Africa and Asia, a 45-nation international organisation on disaster warning, has termed ‘Titli’, the severe cyclonic storm that devastated Odisha in October, as ‘rarest cyclone’.

More than 200 years of cyclone track history in the Odisha coast reveals that the Titli cyclone is the rarest of rare in terms of its characteristics

it includes recurvature after landfall and retaining its destructive potential after landfall and recurvature away from the coastal areas for more than two days

Earlier, India Meteorological Department had called the formation of Titli as a ‘rarest of rare’ occurrence.

The severe cyclone had changed its path after landfall.


The RIMES has recommended that a detailed risk assessment has to be carried out for Odisha to understand the risks in the light of the Titli devastation.

The Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES) is an international and intergovernmental institution, owned and managed by its Member States, for the generation and application of early warning information.

RIMES evolved from the efforts of countries in Africa and Asia, in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, to establish a regional early warning system within a multi-hazard framework for the generation and communication of early warning information, and capacity building for preparedness and response to trans-boundary hazards.

RIMES was established on 30 April 2009, and was registered with the United Nations on 1 July 2009.

RIMES operates from its regional early warning center located at the campus of the Asian Institute of Technology in Pathumthani, Thailand.

Monday 26 November 2018

Who won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ?

Who won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ?

Options

1) Lewis Hamilton

2)Nico Hulkenberg

3)Fernando Alonso

4)none of the above

answer

1) Lewis Hamilton


Other details

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is a Formula One motor race.

 It was announced in early 2007 at the Abu Dhabi F1 Festival in the United Arab Emirates.

The first race took place on 1 November 2009, held at the Hermann Tilke designed Yas Marina Circuit.

On 25 June 2008 the FIA announced the provisional 2009 Formula One calendar including the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as the 19th and final race of the season

Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton MBE is a British racing driver who races in Formula One for Mercedes AMG Petronas.

he is  A five-time Formula One World Champion
 

Sunday 25 November 2018

who won the ICC Women's World T20 title 2018?

 who won the ICC Women's World T20 title 2018?

Options

1) Australia

2)England

3)India

4)West indies


answer



1) Australia



Other details

   Australia won  their fourth ICC Women's World T20 title against England by eight wickets in the final at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

final score England  105 all out,   lost to Australia  106/2,

The 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 was hosted in the West Indies from 9 to 24 November 2018,[3] during the 2018–19 international cricket season.

It was the sixth edition of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, and the second hosted by the West Indies (after the 2010 edition)

The ICC Women's T20 World Cup is the biennial international championship for women's Twenty20 International cricket.

The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council, with the first edition being held in England in 2009


Saturday 24 November 2018

where will 19th edition of the prestigious ‘Laureus World Sports Awards’ be held?

 where will 19th edition of the prestigious ‘Laureus World Sports Awards’  be held?

Options

1) Monaco

2)Paris

3)Marseille

4)Bordeaux

answer

1) Monaco


Other details

  The 19th edition of the prestigious ‘Laureus World Sports Awards’ will be held in Monaco on 18 February 2019.

The Laureus World Sports Awards is an annual award ceremony honouring individuals and teams from the world of sports along with sporting achievements throughout the year. 

Most awards: Roger Federer (6)



    Tennis player Roger Federer won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award for 2017.

 

Friday 23 November 2018

where will India-UAE Strategic Conclave be held?

where will India-UAE Strategic Conclave be held?

Options

1) Abu Dhabi

2)dubai

3)sharjah

4)none of the above

answer

1) Abu Dhabi


Other details

The second edition of the India-UAE Strategic Conclave will be held in capital city of Abu Dhabi on 27th of this month.

 The day-long conclave will initiate a dialogue to widen the scope of bilateral investments.

Key business leaders and senior government officials will come together to lay the blueprint for greater economic cooperation between the two countries and explore the economic gains through boosting the status of both countries as major trade hubs and key gateways to regional and international markets.

Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Navdeep Suri  will inaugurate the conclave.It is being organized by the Economic Times, India.

Thursday 22 November 2018

when is World Fisheries Day celebrated?

when is World Fisheries Day celebrated?

Options

1) 21 November

2)22 November

3)23 November

4)24 November

answer

1) 21 November


Other details

21st November is celebrated as World Fisheries day every year throughout the world.

fishing communities worldwide celebrate the day through rallies, workshops, cultural programmes and exhibitions highlighting the importance of human lives, of water and the lives it sustains.

The day explores moves towards finding solutions to the increasingly inter-connected problems that the world is facing in order to follow sustainable model.

Fisheries in India makes up to 5.3 percent to the agriculture and allied activities and contributes about 1.07 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

 

Wednesday 21 November 2018

where is Fuego volcano ?

where is Fuego volcano ?

Options

1) Guatemala

2)Honduras

3)Nicaragua

4)El Salvador

answer

1) Guatemala

Other details

Fuego volcano erupted for 5th time this year, in guatemala

4,000 people were taken to temporary shelters as a precaution

Volcán de Fuego  is an active stratovolcano in Guatemala, on the borders of Chimaltenango, Escuintla and Sacatepéquez departments.

 It sits about 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) west of Antigua,

It has erupted frequently

 most recently in June 2018

Guatemala, a Central American country south of Mexico, is home to volcanoes, rainforests and ancient Mayan sites.

Capital: Guatemala City Trending

Currency: Guatemalan quetzal

President: Jimmy Morales

Tuesday 20 November 2018

when is International Men's Day celebrated?

when is International Men's Day celebrated?


Options

1) 19 November

2)17 November

3)18 November

4)16 November


answer

1) 19 November


Other details

International Men's Day is an annual international event celebrated every year on 19 November

International Men's Day is celebrated in over 70 countries

First conceived in the February of 1991, the project of International Men's Day was inaugurated a year later-- in February 1992.

The project of International Men's Day was revived in 1999 in the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

the theme for International Men's Day is positive male role models

Monday 19 November 2018

who won the ATP World Tour Finals?

who won the ATP World Tour Finals?


Options

1) Alexander Zverev

2)Novak Djokovic

3)Roger Federer

4)none of the above


answer

1) Alexander Zverev


Other details


In Tennis, Alexander Zverev upset world number one Novak Djokovic in straight sets to claim the season-ending ATP Finals and earn the biggest victory of his career.

Djokovic was the heavy favourite but outclassed 6-4, 6-3 by the German last night in London.


The 21-year-old Zverev became the youngest champion of the season-ending event since Djokovic claimed the first of his five titles a decade ago and the first from Germany since 1995.

Djokovic was attempting to tie Roger Federer’s record of six titles but followed the same path as the Swiss great, who lost to Zverev in the semi-finals at the O2 Arena.

Zverev also became the first player to beat both Djokovic and Federer in the same ATP Finals. 

Sunday 18 November 2018

ibrahim Mohamed Solih sworn in as seventh president of which country?

ibrahim Mohamed Solih sworn in as seventh president of which country?

Options

1)  Maldives

2)Bangladesh

3)Malaysia

4)none of the above


answer

1)  Maldives

Other details

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, better known as Ibu, is a Maldivian politician who is the current President of the Maldives and assumed office on 17 November 2018.

Solih was first elected to parliament in 1994, aged 30, as the MP from his home atoll of Faadhippolhu.

The Maldives is a tropical nation in the Indian Ocean composed of 26 ring-shaped atolls, which are made up of more than 1,000 coral islands.

Capital: Malé
Currency: Maldivian rufiyaa

Saturday 17 November 2018

which country has build an ‘artificial sun’?

which country has build an ‘artificial sun’?

Options


1) China

2)japan

3)Russia

4)none of the above


answer


1) China



Other details

China has built an ‘artificial sun’ that reaches temperature six times that of the core of the sun.

The reactor named ‘Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak’ (EAST) is designed to replicate the processes of the sun as part of a project to turn hydrogen into cost-effective green energy.

It involves fusion of hydrogen atoms together to form heavier elements, such as helium.





Friday 16 November 2018

When is World Tolerance Day celebrated?

When is World Tolerance Day celebrated?

Options

1) 16 November

2)17 November

3)18 November

4)19 November

answer

1) 16 November


other details

The International Day for Tolerance is an annual observance day declared by UNESCO in 1995 to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance.

It is observed on 16 November.

In 1995, to mark the United Nations Year for Tolerance and the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, UNESCO created a prize for the promotion of tolerance and non-violence.

The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence rewards significant activities in the scientific, artistic, cultural or communication fields aimed at the promotion of a spirit of tolerance and non-violence.

The prize is awarded every two years on the International Day for Tolerance, 16 November.

The Prize may be awarded to institutions, organizations or persons, who have contributed in a particularly meritorious and effective manner to tolerance and non-violence.

Other details

 

Thursday 15 November 2018

UNSC unanimously agrees to lift sanctions against which country?

UNSC unanimously agrees to lift sanctions against  which country?

Options

1) Eritrea

2)Eritrea

3)Djibouti

4)Djibouti

answer

1) Eritrea


Other details

The United Nations Security Council has unanimously agreed to lift sanctions against Eritrea after nine years.

An arms embargo, asset freeze, and travel ban were imposed in 2009

The resolution, drafted by the UK, was backed by the US and its allies.

 Eritrea agreed on a peace deal with Ethiopia in June following two decades of animosity, while the leader of Eritrea and the UN-backed government in Somalia recently signed a joint cooperation agreement.

The leaders of Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia met last week in northern Ethiopia to push for regional economic development.

 Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia in the early 1990s,

 It is an African nation which is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast.

Wednesday 14 November 2018

American comic book writer Stan Lee

American comic book writer Stan Lee

Stan Lee was an American comic book writer, editor, and publisher.

 He was the editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics,  and later its publisher and chairman, leading its expansion from a small division of a publishing house to a large multimedia corporation.

In collaboration with several artists—particularly Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko—he co-created fictional characters including Spider-Man, the Hulk, Doctor Strange, the Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Black Panther, the X-Men,


 and—with his brother, co-writer Larry Lieber—the characters Ant-Man, Iron Man, and Thor.


Lee created the Fantastic Four for Marvel Comics in 1961


Lee was inducted into the comic book industry's Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1995.

 He received a National Medal of Arts in 2008.

Amnesty International revokes highest honour given to Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi

Amnesty International revokes highest honour given to Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi

Amnesty International revoked the Ambassador of Conscience Award given to  Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi. 

she received the honour in 2009, when she was living under house arrest.

The rights group said it was profoundly dismayed at her failure to speak out for the Rohingya minority.

The organisation, which once feted her as a beacon for democracy, announced its decision on the eighth anniversary of Ms Suu Kyi's release from house arrest.

Tuesday 13 November 2018

‘Quad’ to meet in Singapore on 14 November

‘Quad’ to meet in Singapore on 14 November



    Officials from Australia, India, Japan and the United States will hold the third ‘Quadrilateral’ or Quad meeting in Singapore on 14 November 2018.

    The meeting will be held on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit.

    The meeting will focus on infrastructure projects, maritime security cooperation and discuss regional challenges including development.

Monday 12 November 2018

Czech Republic defeated United States to win sixth title in eight years

Czech Republic defeated United States to win sixth title in eight years

The Czech Republic won their sixth Fed Cup title in eight years as  Katerina Siniakova clinched a 3-0 win over the United States with an  victory against Sofia Kenin.

Siniakova defeated Sofia Kenin by 7-5 5-7 7-5.

The victory, which took Siniakova almost four hours, gave the home team an unassailable 3-0 lead in Prague.

Siniakova and Barbora Strycova won Saturday's opening-day singles matches.

 The US were aiming to become the first team to fight back from a 2-0 deficit in a Fed Cup final, but 19-year-old Kenin was unable to take her opportunities at 5-4 to keep the tie alive.

The two most successful countries in the tournament's history were meeting in the final for the first time in more three decades, although both teams were without several of their top players.

Czech top-10 ranked players Karolina Pliskova and Petra Kvitova were sidelined through injury and illness respectively, while Serena and Venus Williams, Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens were all unavailable for the visitors.

  the Americans were represented by Kenin and Alison Riske, ranked as their nation's seventh and eighth best female players, in the singles.

 

Sunday 11 November 2018

World’s First AI News Anchor Unveiled In China

World’s First AI News Anchor Unveiled In China

 Based on the appearances of two  Chinese news presenters, the computerised avatars read out text that is fed into their system, their mouths moving in tandem with the reports.

Calling it a “world first”, Xinhua news agency this week debuted a pair of virtual news anchors amid a state-directed embrace of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).



 the “AI Synthetic Anchors”, one for Chinese and one for English news, were developed along with Sogou Inc, a Beijing-based creator of search engines and voice-recognition technology.

China in 2017 unveiled plans to become a world leader in AI and other high-tech fields,

The digital anchors offer certain advantages over humans, Xinhua said, such as being able to work 24 hours a day and to quickly disseminate breaking news.

The avatars debuted this week during the World Internet Conference, an annual convention in the eastern Chinese city of Wuzhen organised by China's government.

Saturday 10 November 2018

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena dissolves Parliament

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena dissolves Parliament

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has decided to dissolve the Parliament and call for early elections.

The move comes exactly two weeks after the President has appointed Mahinda Rajapaksa as new Prime Minister replacing Mr Ranil Wickremsinghe.

Parliament was to convene on Wednesday and Speaker Karu Jayasurya and group led by ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremsinghe had demanded that Parliament take on vote to decide upon majority on the first day itself.

Earlier, a government spokesman said new government still needed at least eight more votes in the 225 member assembly to reach the required 113 for majority.

Friday 9 November 2018

which company has named Robyn Denholm, chair of the company?

which company has named Robyn Denholm, chair of the company?

Options

1) Tesla

2)Volkswagen

3)ford

4)GM

answer

1) Tesla

Other details

Tesla named Robyn Denholm, chair of the company replacing Elon Musk.

Denholm , was the chief financial officer with Telstra.

She has been an independent director of Tesla since 2014 and heads its audit committee.

Elon Musk had to resigned  as Tesla chairman in September

Tesla, Inc. is an American automotive and energy company based in Palo Alto, California.

The company specializes in electric car manufacturing and, through its SolarCity subsidiary, solar panel manufacturing. 


CEO: Elon Musk (Oct 2008–)  

Headquarters: Palo Alto, California, United States


Founders: Martin Eberhard, JB Straubel, Marc Tarpenning, Ian Wright

Thursday 8 November 2018

Korea Marine Exercise Program was held between Korea and which country?

Korea Marine Exercise Program was held between Korea and which country?

Options

1) US

2)UK

3)France

4)Russia

answer

1) US

other details

About 500 United States and South Korean marines began small-scale military drills on Monday (Nov 5),

The Korean Marine Exchange Program was among the training drills indefinitely suspended in June

Although larger exercises were suspended, the two countries have continued small-scale drills,

 the marines were holding a training round near the southern city of Pohang.

 

Wednesday 7 November 2018

Angad Vir Singh Bajwa wins gold in men's skeet final in 8th Asian Shotgun Championship in Kuwait

 Angad Vir Singh Bajwa wins gold in men's skeet final in 8th Asian Shotgun Championship in Kuwait

In the 8th Asian Shotgun Championship in Kuwait, Angad Vir Singh Bajwa has won a gold with a world record score in the men's skeet final.

He became the first Indian skeet shooter to win a continental or world level event.

Angad shot a perfect 60 out of 60 in the final round to claim top spot ahead of China's Di Jin who shot 58. UAE's Saeed Al Maktoum won bronze with a score of 46.

Earlier in the day, India's 10m rifle mixed team pairing of Elavenil Valarivan and Hriday Hazarika struck gold with a junior world record score.

They finished with a score of 502.1, which is a World and Asian Junior record in the event.

 The Chinese pair finished with 500.9. Mehuli Ghosh and Arjun Babuta won bronze in the same event with the score of 436.9.

The juniors had begun their campaign on Monday with three silver and a bronze medal.

 India has so far won seven medals from the competition with two gold, three silver and two bronze.

Tuesday 6 November 2018

which country announced relaxation of recruitment criteria for Commonwealth nationals to apply for jobs in armed forces?

which country announced relaxation of recruitment criteria for Commonwealth nationals to apply for jobs in armed forces?

Options

1) UK

2)Australia

3)New Zealand

4)South Africa

answer

1) UK


Other details

The UK government on Monday announced relaxation of recruitment criteria for Commonwealth nationals to apply for jobs in its armed forces.

The decision has been taken in order to meet the shortage in its ranks.

Commonwealth is an association of 53 independent states, including India.

 the UK government has now decided to remove the five-year UK residency criterion for Commonwealth citizens and increase recruitment to 1,350 across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force.


This would open up the forces to recruits who have been based in countries like India, Australia, Canada and Kenya.

However, applicants under 18 years of age would not be eligible to apply.


The RAF and Navy have begun recruitment of Commonwealth applicants right away and the Army will accept such applications from early next year.

Special rules already allow citizens of Ireland and Gurkhas from Nepal to join the British armed forces.

The five-year UK residency requirement for Commonwealth recruits was first waived in 1998, before being reintroduced in 2013.

Britain currently employs close to 9000 Commonwealth citizens in its armed forces. 

Monday 5 November 2018

who won the Paris Masters Men's Singles title?

who won the Paris Masters Men's Singles title?

Options

1) Karen Khachanov

2)Novak Djokovic

3)Rafael Nadal

4)Nikolay Davydenko

answer

1) Karen Khachanov


Other details

 Karen Khachanov has won the Paris Masters Men's Singles title with a  win over world number two Novak Djokovic.

In the title clash last night, the 22-year old unseeded Russian defeated Djokovic in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4 to end the Serb's 22-match unbeaten run.

With the victory, Khachanov has become the first Russian since Nikolay Davydenko in 2009 to win a Masters 1000 title.

31-year old Djokovic, a 14-time Grand Slam champion, will still overtake Rafael Nadal at the top of the world rankings  .

Karen Abgarovich Khachanov is a Russian tennis player of Armenian background. He has won four ATP singles titles.

Khachanov achieved his career-high singles ranking of world No. 11 on 5th November 2018, after winning the Paris Masters

The Paris Masters is an annual tennis tournament for male professional players held in Paris, France.

It is played indoors at the AccorHotels Arena,

 The event is part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour.
  

Sunday 4 November 2018

which country won SAFF Under-15 Championship ?

which country won SAFF Under-15 Championship ?

Options

1) Bangladesh

2)Pakistan

3)Nepal 

4)India

answer

1) Bangladesh


Other details

Bangladesh beat Pakistan 3-2 in penalty shoot-out to win SAFF U-15 C'ship

In football, Bangladesh beat Pakistan 3-2 in the penalty shoot out to win the SAFF Under-15 Championship in Lalitpur, Nepal  .

Bangladesh clinched the six-nation SAFF Under-15 Championship title with an all-win record.

The day’s final match was locked  1-1  during the stipulated period. 


India clinched a bronze medal in the SAFF championships, finishing  3rd  by beating hosts Nepal  1-0 . 

Saturday 3 November 2018

when is International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists observed?

when is International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists  observed?

Options

1) 2 November

2)1 November

3)3 November

4)4 November

answer

1) 2 November


Other details

The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists is a UN-recognized day observed annually on 2 November.

The day draws attention to the low global conviction rate for violent crimes against journalists and media workers, estimated at only one in every ten cases

 As these individuals play a critical role in informing and influencing the public about important social issues, impunity for attacks against them has a particularly damaging impact, limiting public awareness and constructive debate.


The date was chosen to commemorate the assassination of two French journalists in Mali on 2nd November 2013.

Friday 2 November 2018

India and other SAFF members pull out of Saudi-led SWAFF

India and other SAFF members pull out of Saudi-led SWAFF

India and six other members of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) on Tuesday pulled out of the newly-formed Saudi Arabia-led bloc with immediate effect in support of the Asian Football Confederation’s President Sheikh Salman Al Khalifa.

Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are the other SAFF nations to severe ties with South West Asian Football Federation (SWAFF) on the eve of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) congress in Kuala Lumpur.

Former Saudi Arabia Football Federation chief Adel Ezzat was made president of SWAFF

The SWAFF was formed in August with 14 member countries in it.

 Ezzat was made president while the AIFF vice-president Subrata Dutta became the vice president of the new regional football body in its first general assembly held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.


The SWAFF is also likely to receive official recognition as one of the regional federations during the AFC Congress tomorrow.

Thursday 1 November 2018

which NASA space telescope retired?

which NASA  space telescope retired?

Options

1) Kepler

2)Ariel V

3)Einstein Observatory

4)Hubble

answer

1) Kepler


Other details

NASA's legendary Kepler space telescope has retired after running out of fuel needed for further science operations.

The US space agency said this brings an end to a prolific nine-and-a-half year mission in which it discovered over 2,600 intriguing exoplanets, some of which may harbour life.

In a statement, NASA said data collected from Kepler's deep space missions indicates our sky is filled with billions of hidden planets - more than the stars.

The US space agency said the unmanned space telescope, which launched in 2009, leaves a legacy of more than 2,600 planet discoveries from outside our solar system, many of which could be promising places for life.

NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington said as NASA's first planet-hunting mission, Kepler has wildly exceeded all expectations and paved the way for exploration and search for life in the solar system and beyond.

Wednesday 31 October 2018

When is World Cities Day celebrated?

When is World Cities Day celebrated?

options

1) 31 October

2)30 October

3)29 October

4)28 October

answer


1) 31 October


Other details

the United Nations has designated every 31st of October as World Cities Day.

The Day is expected to greatly promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world.

The World Cities Day was established on 27 December 2013 by the General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/68/239, in which the General Assembly “decides to designate 31 October, beginning in 2014, as World Cities Day, invites States, the United Nations system, in particular UN-Habitat, relevant international organizations, civil society and all relevant stakeholders to observe and raise awareness of the Day”

The general theme of World Cities Day is Better City, Better Life, while each year a different sub-theme is selected, to either promote successes of urbanization, or address specific challenges resulting from urbanization.

The first World Cities Day was celebrated in Shanghai, China on 31 October 2014, under the theme Leading Urban Transformations.

The theme for World Cities Day 31 October 2018 is Building Sustainable and Resilient Cities and the Global Observation will be celebrated in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Tuesday 30 October 2018

which company bought software company Red Hat?

which company bought software company Red Hat?

Options

1) microsoft

2)apple

3)google

4)IBM

answer

4)IBM


Other details



IBM Corp said on Sunday it had agreed to acquire US software company Red Hat Inc for $34 billion, including debt, as it seeks to diversify its technology hardware and consulting business into higher-margin products and services.

The transaction is by far IBM’s biggest acquisition.

 It underscores IBM Chief Executive Ginni Rometty’s efforts to expand the company’s subscription-based software offerings, as it faces slowing software sales and waning demand for mainframe servers.

 IBM will pay $190 per share in cash for Red Hat, a 63 per cent premium to Friday’s closing share price.

Founded in 1993, Red Hat specializes in Linux operating systems, the most popular type of open-source software, developed as an alternative to the proprietary software made by Microsoft Corp.

Red Hat is one of the few companies in the cloud computing sector that has both revenue growth and free cash flow


The deal between IBM and Red Hat is expected to close in the second half of 2019.

 IBM said it planned to suspend its share-repurchase programme in 2020 and 2021 to help pay for the deal.

IBM said Red Hat would continue to be led by Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst and Red Hat’s current management team.

It intends to maintain Red Hat’s headquarters, facilities, brands and practices.
 

Monday 29 October 2018

Lewis Hamilton won fifth F1 world title Verstappen won Mexican Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton won fifth F1 world title Verstappen  won Mexican Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton equaled Juan Manuel Fangio record of five Formula One drivers' championships on Sunday in a Mexican Grand Prix


Mexican Grand Prix  was won by Max Verstappen.


Hamilton's  previous wins were in 2008, 2014, 2015 and 2017


 The Mexican Grand Prix is an FIA-sanctioned auto race held at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City. It first appeared as a non-championship event in 1962 before being held as a championship event in 1963–1970 and 1986–1992. The Grand Prix returned in 2015 at the Mexico City circuit. 
Circuit length: 4.304 km (2.674 mi)

Laps: 71

Race length: 305.354 km (189.738 mi)

First held: 1962

Most wins (drivers): Jim Clark (3)

Max Emilian Verstappen is a Dutch racing driver who competes in Formula One with Red Bull Racing. Aged 17 years, 166 days, he became the youngest driver to compete in Formula 1 at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix for Scuderia Toro Rosso. 
Born: 30 September 1997 (age 21 years), Hasselt, Belgium

First win: 2016 Spanish Grand Prix

2017 position: 6th (168 pts)

Car number: 33

2018 team: Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer

Nationality: Belgian, Dutch

Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton MBE is a British racing driver who races in Formula One for Mercedes AMG Petronas. A five-time Formula One World Champion, he is often considered the best driver of his generation and widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport. 

Born: 7 January 1985 (age 33 years), Stevenage, United Kingdom

First win: 2007 Canadian Grand Prix

2018 team: Mercedes

Car number: 44
2017 position: 1st (363 pts)

Lewis Hamilton has the second-most Formula One Grand Prix wins (71).

Sunday 28 October 2018

 who won the 2018 World Billiards Championship?

Options

1) Sourav Kothari

2)Peter Gilchrist

3)Pankaj Advani

4)Geet Sethi

answer

1) Sourav Kothari


Other details

Sourav Kothari defeats Peter Gilchrist to win the World Billiards Championship

India's Sourav Kothari defeated Peter Gilchrist of Singapore 1134-944 to win the 2018 World Billiards Championship title at Leeds in UK.
 

Saturday 27 October 2018

who won the Miss Grand International 2018 ?

who won the Miss Grand International 2018 ?

Options

1)  Clara Sosa

2)Meenakshi Chaudhary

3)Jose Lora

 4)Nadia Purwoko

answer

1)  Clara Sosa


Other details

India's Meenakshi Chaudhary has been crowned the first runner-up of Miss Grand International 2018 at the sixth edition of the pageant held in Myanmar.

Chaudhary was narrowly edged out by Paraguay's Clara Sosa for the top honour.

Sosa succeeds Miss Grand International 2017 Maria Jose Lora of Peru.

Indonesia's Nadia Purwoko was declared the second runner-up.

In a statement, Chaudhary thanked everyone who supported her journey.

She has been the winner of fbb Colors Femina Miss Grand India 2018 title earlier.
  

Friday 26 October 2018

Where did NATO's biggest military exercise began?

Where did NATO's biggest military exercise  began?

Options

1) Norway

2)Sweden

3)Finland

4)none of the above

answer

1) Norway


Other details

NATO's biggest military maneuvers since the Cold War began in Norway in a hypothetical scenario that involves restoring the Scandinavian country's sovereignty after an attack by a "fictitious aggressor.

Russia, which shares a border with Norway, was briefed by NATO on the Trident Juncture 2018 drill and invited to monitor it,

Russia's defence minister had warned that Moscow could be forced to respond to increased NATO activity near its western border.

The wargames bring together around 50,000 personnel from all 29 NATO allies, plus partners Finland and Sweden.

 Around 65 vessels, 150 aircraft and 10,000 vehicles will also participate in the drill, which takes place in central and eastern Norway, the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea. It will go on till November 7.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 29 North American and European countries.

The organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed on 4 April 1949. 

Chairman of the NATO Military Committee: Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach, Royal Air Force

Supreme Allied Commander Europe: General Curtis Scaparrotti, United States Army

Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium

Abbreviation: NATO, OTAN

Founded: 4 April 1949, Washington, D.C., United States

Founders: United States of America, Norway, France,

Thursday 25 October 2018

which country tops list of Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2019?

which country tops list of Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2019?

Options

1) Sri Lanka

2)Germany

3)Zimbabwe

4)none of the above

answer

1) Sri Lanka

Other details

Sri Lanka has been chosen as the best travel destination among the list of countries to visit in 2019, with Germany and Zimbabwe just behind.

The projection done by Lonely planet said, Sri Lanka topped the list primarily because travel has become much easier

 travel products had hugely evolved in Sri Lanka, and now include diverse opportunities beyond mere beach holidays, from eco-tourism and yoga retreats to visiting national parks.

Tourists from India comprise the largest number of people visiting Sri Lanka. 

Wednesday 24 October 2018

When is United Nations Day celebrated?

When is United Nations Day celebrated?

Options

1) 24 October

2)21 October

3)22 October

4)23 October

answer

1) 24 October


Other details

United Nations Day is devoted to making known to people of the world the aims and achievements of the United Nations Organization. United Nations Day is part of United Nations Week, which runs from 20 to 26 October.

In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly declared 24 October, the anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations, as which "shall be devoted to making known to the people of the world the aims and achievements of the United Nations and to gaining their support for" its work.


In 1971 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a further resolution (United Nations Resolution 2782) declaring that United Nations Day shall be an international observance or international holiday and recommended that it should be observed as a public holiday by United Nations member states

Date: 24 October 2018


 

Tuesday 23 October 2018

Paul Biya has been elected as President of which country?

Paul Biya has been elected as President  of which country?

Options

1) Cameroon

2)Equatorial Guinea

3)Nigeria

4)Congo


answer

1) Cameroon


Other details

In Cameroon, Paul Biya, who has ruled the country since 1982, won seventh presidential term

The Constitutional Council head, Clement Atangana  said in Yaound that Biya had won 71.3 per cent of the ballot in the October 7 election,

The opposition challenger Maurice Kamto, was a far second with 14.2 percent of the vote.


 Paul Biya, is a Cameroonian politician serving as the President of Cameroon since 6 November 1982.

Cameroon, on the Gulf of Guinea, is a Central African country of varied terrain and wildlife.


Capital: Yaoundé

Currencies: CFA franc, Central African CFA franc
 

Monday 22 October 2018

who won the MotoGP world championship?

who won the MotoGP world championship?

Options

1) Marc Marquez

2)Andrea Dovizioso

3)Valentino Rossi

4)none of the above

answer

1) Marc Marquez


other details

Spain's Marc Marquez was declared MotoGP world champion for the fifth time in six years with a  victory in the Japanese MotoGP

The record for titles at motorcycling's highest level is the eight 500c championships won by Italian Giacomo Agostini,


Marc Márquez Alentà is a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and one of the most successful motorcycle racers of all time with seven Grand Prix world championships to his name - five of which are in the premier MotoGP class. Márquez races for Honda's factory team since his MotoGP debut in 2013

The Japanese Motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event that is part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. 

Venue: Twin Ring Motegi

Most wins (rider): Jim Redman (6)

Most wins (manufacturer): Honda (51)

Arena: Twin Ring Motegi

First race: 1962
 

Sunday 21 October 2018

When is World Osteoporosis Day observed?

When is World Osteoporosis Day observed?

options

1)  20 October

2) 21 October

 3)22 October

 4)23 October

answer

1)  20 October


Other details

World Osteoporosis Day is observed annually on October 20th, and launches a year-long campaign dedicated to raising global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease.

Organized by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), the World Osteoporosis Day campaign is accompanied by community events and local campaigns by national osteoporosis patient societies from around the world with activities in over 90 countries

World Osteoporosis Day was launched on October 20th 1996 by the United Kingdom’s National Osteoporosis Society and supported by the European Commission.

 Since 1997, the awareness day has been organised by the International Osteoporosis Foundation. In 1998 and 1999, the World Health Organization acted as co-sponsor of World Osteoporosis Day.

The day also marks the launch of a year-long campaign to raise awareness of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. Since 1999 these campaigns have featured a specific theme.

The theme of World Osteoporosis Day 2018 calls for global action in order to improve bone health and prevent fractures caused by osteoporosis

Saturday 20 October 2018

Southeast Asian Nations will hold their first joint maritime exercises with which country?

Southeast Asian Nations will hold their first joint maritime exercises with which country?

Options

1) China

2)japan

3)korea

4)none of the above

answer

1) China


Other details

China and Southeast Asian Nations will hold their first joint maritime exercises next week.

The navies of China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will hold ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise in the South China Sea near the city of Zhanjiang.

This was announced by Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen at a gathering of ASEAN defence ministers in Singapore.

 It was also attended by US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and his Chinese counterpart.

Singapore Defence Minister said the drills will help to build trust and confidence.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a regional intergovernmental organization comprising ten Southeast Asian countries, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and sociocultural integration among its members and other Asian states. 

Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia

Founded: 8 August 1967

Appointer: Governor-General of Australia

Members: Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Brunei, Laos

Founders: Adam Malik, Narciso Ramos, Thanat Khoman, S. Rajaratnam, Abdul Razak Hussein

Friday 19 October 2018

China successfully tests world's largest unmanned transport drone

  China successfully tests world's largest unmanned transport drone

 China has successfully tested the world's largest unmanned transport drone which can carry a payload of 1.5 tonnes,

A large commercial drone Feihong-98 (FH-98) developed and modified by the China Academy of Aerospace Electronics Technology made a successful test flight at Baotou test site in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Tuesday

Feihong-98 (FH-98) is now the world's largest unmanned transport aircraft, with a maximum payload of up to 1.5 tonnes,

It was adapted from the prototype of the Shifei Y5B, a China-developed transport plane.

As China's first fully domestically-built transport aircraft, the Shifei Y5B has a history of over 60 years since its first flight in 1957 and has been widely used.

  the FH-98 features simple take-off and landing, simple operation, advanced technology, at an affordable cost.

The FH-98 has a maximum takeoff weight of 5.25 tonnes, a maximum capacity of 1.5 tonnes and 15 cubic metres, a flight height of 4,500 metres, a cruising speed of 180 kilometers per hour, and a maximum range of 1,200 kms, 

China has been making advances in the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

Thursday 18 October 2018

who won the Man Booker Prize 2018?

who won the Man Booker Prize 2018?

Options

1) Anna Burns    

2)Esi Edugyan    

3)Daisy Johnson    

4)Rachel Kushner     

answer

1) Anna Burns   

Other  details

Anna Burns has become the first Northern Irish writer and the first woman since 2013 to win Britain's renowned Man Booker Prize for her novel 'Milkman'.

Milkman is an exploration of Northern Ireland's three decades of sectarian violence told through the voice of a young woman.

 The novel chronicles the struggles of a middle sister in a family as she confronts rumour, social pressures and politics amid violent sectarian divisions in her community.

The judges of the annual award praised Anna Burns' work as utterly distinctive.

Burns was born in the Northern Irish capital Belfast in 1962 and now lives in southern England. She had previously authored two novels - 'No Bones' and 'Little Constructions'.

The 2018 Booker Prize for Fiction was awarded at a ceremony on 16 October 2018.


Anna Burns was awarded £50,000 (~$65,000),



Wednesday 17 October 2018

Paul Allen was associated with which company?

Paul Allen was associated with which company?

Options

1) Microsoft

2)Amazon

3)Apple

4)Facebook

answer


1) Microsoft


Other details

Paul G. Allen,  was The co-founder of Microsoft,

He left Microsoft in 1982 .

Paul G. Allen and Bill Gates established Microsoft in 1975.

They founded Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Paul G. Allen served as Microsoft’s executive vice president of research and new product development till 1983.

 In 1986, along with his sister Jody Allen, he founded an investment firm named “Vulcan”.

 He founded the Allen Institute for Brain Science and the aerospace firm Stratolaunch.

He was a philanthropist and also the owner of the National Basketball Association's Portland Trail Blazers, the NFL's Seattle Seahawks and had a stake in Seattle's Sounders soccer team.
 

Tuesday 16 October 2018

When is World Food Day observed?

When is World Food Day observed?


Options

1)  16 October

2) 15 October

 3)14 October

 4)17 October

answer

1)  16 October


Other details

World Food Day is celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945.

The day is celebrated widely by many other organizations concerned with food security, including the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

The World Food Programme[a] (WFP) is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger and promoting food security

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations   is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate arguments and debate policy.

Formation    16 October 1945, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Headquarters:     FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy
Chief:     José Graziano da Silva
Parent organization:UN Economic and Social Council



 theme “Our actions are our future. A #zero hunger world by 2030 is possible”.

Monday 15 October 2018

who won the New Academy Prize in Literature?

who won the New Academy Prize in Literature?

Options

1) Maryse Condé

2)Neil Gaiman

3)Haruki Murakami

4)Kim Thúy

answer


1) Maryse Condé


Other details

The New Academy Prize in Literature was established in 2018 in lieu of the Nobel Prize in Literature, which was not awarded in 2018.

The winner was announced on 12 October 2018.

 The New Academy will be dissolved in December 2018

After soliciting public votes on 47 candidates nominated by Swedish librarians, the New Academy announced that the four finalists for the prize were Maryse Condé, Neil Gaiman, Haruki Murakami, and Kim Thúy.

On 17 September 2018 Murakami requested that his nomination be withdrawn, saying he wanted to "concentrate on writing, away from media attention.

The New Academy Prize in Literature was awarded to Maryse Condé

Maryse Condé is a French (Guadeloupean) author of historical fiction, best known for her novel Segu (1984–85).

In addition, she is a scholar of Francophone literature and Professor Emerita of French at Columbia University.

She writes her novels in French and they have been translated into English and other languages.

She has won Grand prix littéraire de la Femme (1986), Prix de L’Académie francaise (1988),

Sunday 14 October 2018

Where is Mount Gurja ?

Where is Mount Gurja ?

Options

1) Nepal

2)Bhutan

3)Sri Lanka

4)none of the above

answer

1) Nepal


Other details

The Gurja Himal is a 7193  m high peak in Dhaulagiri Himal , a sub-mountain range of the Himalayas in Nepal .

It lies next to avalanche prone Dhaulagiri, the world's seventh highest peak.
 

Saturday 13 October 2018

When is World Sight Day observed?

When is World Sight Day observed?

Options

1) second Thursday of October

2) second Thursday of November

3) second Thursday of December

4)none of the above

answer

 1) second Thursday of October


Other details

World Sight Day, observed annually on the second Thursday of October, is a global event meant to draw attention on blindness and vision impairment.

It was originally initiated by the SightFirstCampaign of Lions Club International Foundation in 2000.

It has since been integrated into VISION 2020 and is coordinated by IAPB in cooperation with the World Health Organization.


theme 2018     Eye Care Everywhere

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness is a coordinating, umbrella organization to lead an international effort in mobilizing resources for blindness prevention activities. It was set up on January 1, 1975, by the late Sir John Wilson, the Founder President. 

Founder: John Wilson

Founded: 1975

Friday 12 October 2018

Danish machine learning startup Spektral was acquired by which company?

  Danish machine learning startup Spektral  was acquired by which company?

options

1)Apple

2)Facebook

3)Google

4)Microsoft

answer

1)Apple


Other details

Apple secretly bought a Danish visual effects startup Spektral for over $30 million last year

 the acquisition of the Copenhagen-based startup was doen in December 2017

Apple has been to investing in Augmented Reality (AR) for some time.

  the latest acquisition may be aimed to boost the iPhone's AR features for Memoji or FaceTime as Apple reportedly plans to launch an AR headset soon.

Spektral uses Machine Learning (ML) and computer vision techniques to "cut out  people from video backgrounds in real time on smartphones.

this pioneering and unique technology is based on state-of-the-art Machine Learning and computer vision techniques.

 Combining deep neural networks and spectral graph theory with the computing power of modern GPUs, our engine can process images and video from the camera in real-time (60 fps) directly on the device

Apple acquired German eye-tracking startup SensoMotoric Instruments last year and AR lens company Akonia Holographics last month.

Thursday 11 October 2018

Which country will host the youth Olympics in 2022?

Which country will host the youth Olympics in 2022?

Options

1) Senegal

2)Gambia

3)Mali

4)Mauritania

answer

1) Senegal


Other details

The 2022 Summer Youth Olympics, officially known as the IV Summer Youth Olympic Games, and commonly known as Dakar 2022 will be the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympics, an international sports, education and cultural festival for teenagers, in a city designated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

 It will be held in Dakar, Senegal, becomes the first IOC event to be held in Africa.

Originally scheduled to be held in 2022, at the 127th IOC Session it was decided to move the organisation of the YOG to a non-Olympic year, starting with the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games, to be postponed from 2022 to 2023.

Subsequently the IOC have reverted to a 2022 date, and announced in February 2018 that they would be recommending that the event be held in Africa.

The 132nd IOC Session confirmed the change of date back to 2022.

The host was announced at the 133rd IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina during the 2018 edition. 

Wednesday 10 October 2018

When is World Mental Health Day observed?

When is World Mental Health Day observed?

Options

1) 10 October

2)11 October

3)12 October

4)13 October


answer


1) 10 October


Other details

World Mental Health Day (10 October) is a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma.

It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members and contacts in more than 150 countries.

 This day, each October, thousands of supporters come to celebrate this annual awareness program to bring attention to mental illness and its major effects on peoples' life worldwide.

In some countries this day is part of an awareness week, such as Mental Health Week in Australia.

theme

2018     Young people and mental health in a changing world 

Tuesday 9 October 2018

Jair Bolsonaro wins first round of presidential election in brazil

Jair Bolsonaro wins first round of presidential election in brazil

In Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, has won the first round of presidential election.

He will face the Fernando Haddad, in the second round on 28th of this month after he failed to win 50 per cent of valid votes needed to win outright.

With almost all the votes counted, Mr Bolsonaro had 46 per cent and Mr Haddad 29 per cent.

Brazil, a vast South American country


Capital: Brasília


Official language and national language: Portuguese

Currency: Brazilian real

Monday 8 October 2018

where will France open a representative office of its space agency ?

where will  France open a representative office of its  space agency ?

Options

1) UAE

2)Qatar

3)Bahrain

4)Kuwait

answer

1) UAE


Other details

The French Embassy in the UAE opened a representative office of the French space agency in Abu Dhabi (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiale, CNES) to be the first foreign space agency opening a representative office in the UAE.

The announcement was made on the occasion of the visit of Jean-Yves Le Gall, President of the CNES, to the UAE, during a ceremony in  Abu Dhabi in presence of Mohammed Al Ahbabi, Director-General of the UAE Space Agency.

The announcement is a result of the deepening ties between France and the UAE in the field of space exploration.

In April 2015, a year after the creation of the UAE Space agency, France had been the first foreign country to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the agency and since that time, space cooperation became one of the pillars of strategic dialogue between the two countries.

Sunday 7 October 2018

Who was Montserrat Caballe?

Who was  Montserrat Caballe?


Options

1) Singer

2) Musician

3) Painter

4) none of the above

Answer

1) Singer


Other details

Maria de Montserrat Viviana Concepción Caballé i Folch was a Catalan operatic soprano.

She sang a wide variety of roles

Saturday 6 October 2018

Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad Win 2018 Nobel Peace Prize

Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad Win 2018 Nobel Peace Prize

Human rights activist Nadia Murad and Physician Denis Mukwege have won this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

The awarding committee  chairperson Berit Reiss-Andersen announced the winners at a ceremony at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo today.

She said Murad and Mukwege won the award for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.

Murad, a Yazidi-Kurdish human rights activist, was captured by ISIS militants in 2014 and has spoken out about the abuse she suffered at their hands.

In November 2017 she published her story in The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity, and My Fight Against the Islamic State.

Mukwege, a Congolese doctor, has spent his life working with victims of sexual violence in The Democratic Republic of the Congo.
 

Friday 5 October 2018

when is World Animal Day celebrated?

when is World Animal Day  celebrated?

Options

1) 4 October

2)5 October

3)6 October

4)7 October

answer

1) 4 October


Other details

World Animal Day is an international day of action for animal rights and welfare celebrated annually on October 4

The mission of World Animal Day, is "To raise the status of animals in order to improve welfare standards around the globe.

Building the celebration of World Animal Day unites the animal welfare movement, mobilising it into a global force to make the world a better place for all animals.

 It's celebrated in different ways in every country, irrespective of nationality, religion, faith or political ideology.

Through increased awareness and education we can create a world where animals are always recognised as sentient beings and full regard is always paid to their welfare

World Animal Day was originated by Heinrich Zimmermann. He organized the first World Animal Day on 24 March 1925 at the Sport Palace in Berlin, Germany.

Over 5,000 people attended this first event. The event was originally scheduled for 4 October

 The event was moved to 4 October for the first time in 1929

in May 1931 at a congress of the International Animal Protection Congress in Florence Italy, his proposal to make 4 October World Animal Day universal, was unanimously accepted and adopted as a resolution.

Thursday 4 October 2018

where is Mount Soputan ?

where is Mount Soputan ?

options

1) Indonesia

2)china

3)japan

4)none of the above

answer

1) Indonesia


Other details

Indonesia's Mount Soputan volcano on the quake-and tsunami-hit island of Sulawesi erupted Wednesday, spewing volcanic ash 4,000 metres into the air.

Soputan is around 1,000 kilometres from the town of Palu where a 7.5 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami

Soputan is a small stratovolcano that rises to an elevation of 1,784m, and is located on the northern arm of Sulawesi Island in Indonesia.

The geologically young and mostly unvegetated cone is primarily constructed of andesite and basalt rock. 

Province: North Sulawesi 

Elevation: 1,784 m

Last eruption: 2015

Wednesday 3 October 2018

Barham Salih has been elected as new president of which country?

Barham Salih has been elected as new president of which country?

Options

1) Iraq

2)Iran

3)turkey

4)none of the above

answer


1) Iraq


Other details

Iraq's Parliament has elected a veteran Kurdish Politician Barham Salih as the country's new President.

 He has named Shiite Adel Abdul Mahdi as Prime Minister of the country.

 The move will pave the way to form a new government, nearly five months after national elections.

Iraq held elections in May 12. The new President will have 15 days to task the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc with forming a new government.

The Prime Minister-designate will then have 30 days to submit his cabinet to parliament.

Barham Ahmed Salih is an Iraqi Kurdish politician who serves as the 9th President of Iraq.

He is the former prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraqi Kurdistan and a former deputy prime minister of the Iraqi federal government

Iraq, officially known as the Republic of Iraq, is a country in Western Asia, bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Kuwait to the southeast, Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the southwest and Syria to the west.

The capital, and largest city, is Baghdad

Capital: Baghdad

Currency: Iraqi dinar

 

Tuesday 2 October 2018

When is International Coffee Day celebrated?

When is International Coffee Day celebrated?

Options

1)1 October

2)2 October

3)3 October

4)4 October

answer

1)1 October


Other details

International Coffee Day is an occasion that is used to promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage, with events now occurring in places across the world.

The first official date was 1 October 2015, as agreed by the International Coffee Organization  and was launched in Milan.

This day is also used to promote fair trade coffee and to raise awareness for the plight of the coffee growers.

 On this day, many businesses offer free or discounted cups of coffee.

At a meeting on 3–7 March 2014,[9] a decision was taken by the International Coffee Organization to launch the first official International Coffee Day in Milan as part of Expo 2015.

Monday 1 October 2018

When is International Translation Day celebrated?

When is International Translation Day celebrated?

Options

1) September 30

2)September 29

3)September 28

4)September 27

answer

1) September 30

Other details

International Translation Day is celebrated every year on 30 September

The celebrations have been promoted by International Federation of Translators   ever since it was set up in 1953.

In 1991 FIT launched the idea of an officially recognised International Translation Day to show solidarity of the worldwide translation community in an effort to promote the translation profession in different countries

This is an opportunity to display pride in a profession that is becoming increasingly essential in the era of progressing globalisation.

The United Nations General Assembly has passed on May 24, 2017, a resolution declaring September 30 as International Translation Day, an act to recognise the role of professional translation in connecting nations.

Eleven countries – Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Paraguay, Qatar, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam – are the signatories of Draft Resolution A/71/L.68. In addition to the International Federation of Translators,

 Theme:   2018 is “Translation: promoting cultural heritage in changing times”.