General Awareness

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS - May 2017

May 2017

Oct 23, 2018

Accenture Acquires DAZ Systems

Accenture has acquired California-headquartered DAZ Systems, a provider of Oracle ERP (enterprise resource planning) Cloud services.

The acquisition further bolsters Accenture's Oracle capabilities to help organisations deploy and integrate enterprise performance management and human capital management applications.

Fastest Growing Language in the US

According to a study by an American think tank, Telugu is the fastest growing language in the US.

The number of US residents speaking Telugu rose by 86 per cent between 2010 and 2017.

But Telugu, the fourth most spoken language in India, is still outside the top 20 of the most widely-spoken languages other than English in the US.

China Asks U.S to Think Twice

China called on the U.S. to think twice about its decision to ditch the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with Russia.

According to two top Republican lawmakers, there are concerns that the treaty is holding the U.S. back while allowing China to move forward with its own developments.

As per China, Unilateral withdrawal will have a multitude of negative effects.

Pakistan Army Transfers Swat's Control

The Pakistan Army handed over the administrative control of the restive Swat district to the civilian authorities, ending its decade-long military operation to flush out the Pakistan Taliban militants.

The Army was first sent to the Swat district of the Khyber-Pakthunkhwa province in 2007 when Pakistan Taliban leader Maulana Fazlullah challenged the writ of the state and set up his Sharia courts.

Oct 22, 2018

Ireland Woos Indian Companies

Ireland is wooing Indian companies, currently having United Kingdom (U.K.) as their EU headquarters, to shift base to the country.

According to Tanaz Buhariwalla, director, India, IDA Ireland, Indian companies in the U.K. and particularly, those using the U.K. as a gateway to the EU face some important strategic and operational decisions.

As per IDA's estimates India's trade with the EU, minus the U.K., as more than trebled since 2000.

U.S. to Pull Out of Russia Missile Pact

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that the U.S. would pull out of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia, a crucial Cold War-era treaty banning the development, testing and possession of short and medium range ground-launched nuclear missiles with a range of 500-5,000 km.

The treaty was signed in 1987 to end the arms race between the two superpowers, and protected America's NATO allies in Europe from Soviet missile attacks.

Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia Suspended

Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced the suspension of German arms sales to Saudi Arabia, saying they cannot be undertaken in the current circumstances, a reference to the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who disappeared on October 2 and whom Riyadh has admitted, died inside its consulate in Istanbul.

Oct 21, 2018

Rules for Cryptocurrency Control

The global watchdog for money-laundering regulation said it would set its first rules by June on how countries should oversee cryptocurrencies.

As per Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), jurisdictions across the world would be required to licence or regulate exchanges and some firms providing cryptocurrency wallets, in a bid to stamp out the use of digital money for money laundering, terrorism financing or other crimes.

The FATF move represents a landmark moment for cryptocurrency regulation, something that, until now, has defied global coordination and led to a patchwork of differing approaches by national governments.

France to Send Aircraft Carrier to Indian Ocean

France would send its aircraft carrier to the Indian Ocean next year, to 'defend freedom of navigation' at a time of growing Chinese assertiveness in disputed waters.

France has always stood in the front line in defence of the inalienable right of freedom of navigation in international waters.

China's Third Quarter GDP Growth

China's economy grew at 6.5 per cent in the third quarter, posting the slowest growth in nine years, amid intensifying trade war with the US and the mounting local governments.

It's down from 6.8 per cent and 6.7 per cent in the first and second quarters, respectively.

Oct 20, 2018

Turkey to Host Summit on Syria Crisis

A summit between the leaders of Turkey, France, Germany and Russia will be held in Istanbul later this month to discuss the conflict in Syria and efforts for a lasting solution to the war in the Arab country.

Gender-balanced Cabinet

Rwanda has announced a gender-balanced cabinet just two days after Ethiopia announced one of the world's few "gender-balanced" Cabinets with 50% women.

Rwanda joins a handful of countries, mostly European, where women make up 50% or more of ministerial positions.

The country has received international recognition for female representation in government, with women making up 61% of Parliament members.

Artificial Moon to Replace Street Lights in China

China is planning to launch its own 'artificial moon' by 2020 to replace streetlamps and lower electricity costs in urban areas. Chengdu, a city in south-western Sichuan province is developing illumination satellites that will shine in tandem with the real moon, but are eight times brighter.

The first man-made moon will launch from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Sichuan, with three more to follow in 2022

China is not the first country to try beaming sunlight back to earth. In the 1990s, Russian scientists used giant mirrors to reflect light from space in an experimental project called Znamya or Banner.

Pakistan Closes Two Main Border Gates

Pakistan closed down two main border crossings with Afghanistan for two days on the request of Kabul to facilitate the smooth conduct of upcoming parliamentary elections in the war-torn country.

The two border crossing points Chaman and Torkham will be closed on October 19 and 20.

Oct 19, 2018

Changes in H-1B Visas

The Trump administration is planning to "revise" the definition of employment and specialty occupations under the H-1B visas by January, a move which will have an adverse impact on Indian IT companies in the US and small and medium-sized contractual firms mostly owned by Indian-Americans.

The H-1B visa, most sought-after among Indian IT professionals, is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

Pak May Not Seek IMF Bailout

According to Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan may not have to approach the IMF for loans as it has received "positive" responses from some "friendly countries. Khan's government was in touch with some "friendly countries" and has sought cooperation to address the mounting balance of payments deficit and dwindling foreign currency reserves.

As per media reports, the government was consulting allies like China and Saudi Arabia for financial help.

New Appointees in World Steel Association

Global body World Steel Association (worldsteel) elected JSW Steel CMD Sajjan Jindal as its treasurer. The association has also appointed Tata Steel MD T. V. Narendran and ArcelorMittal Chief L. N. Mittal as its members.

The new officers are elected for a one-year period.

US Could Remove India from Currency Monitoring List

According to the Treasury Department, the US could remove India from its currency monitoring list of major trading partners, citing certain developments and steps being taken by New Delhi which address some of its major concerns.

India for the first time was placed by the US in its currency monitoring list of countries with potentially questionable foreign exchange policies in April along with five other countries -- China, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Switzerland.

Share on

TCY Analytics (View Subscription Plans)

Subscribe to GK Updates

I want to receive

GK Tags

October GK, September GK, August GK, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, ENVIRONMENT, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, SPORTS, NATIONAL AFFAIRS, DEFENCE, PERSONS IN NEWS, DAYS AND EVENTS, AWARDS AND HONOURS, GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND SCHEMES, GENDER/ HEALTH/ EDUCATION, ART AND CULTURE, BOOKS AND AUTHORS, TOURISM AND HOTEL INDUSTRY AWARENESS, ART AND CULTURE, LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Start Discussion

On any topic

Take Tests

Compiled from GK updates

Login

Sign Up

Forgot Password

Download TCY App

Unlock All Services and Enjoy The Premium Benefits

US$ 10

US$ 13

US$ 15

US$ 17

US$ 19

US$ 20

US$ 21

US$ 22

US$ 23

US$ 24

US$ 25

US$ 26