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.