1. World Bank mandated Commonwealth Bank of ______________ to issue world’s first blockchain-based bond (Etherum). The Kangaroo bond, referring to foreign bonds issued in local currency, has been named bond-i, an acronym standing for Blockchain Offered New Debt Instrument. (It’s also a reference to Bondi Beach, an iconic spot in Sydney).
2. 2018 Global Liveability Index released by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) -
- Austrian capital Vienna ranked as world’s most liveable city among 140 major cities.
- Top 5 -
- Vienna (_________________)
- Melbourne (Australia)
- Osaka (Japan)
- Calgary (Canada)
- Sydney (Australia)
- Bottom 10 (Least Liveable) -
- Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) (136th)
- Karachi (Pakistan) (137th)
- Lagos (Nigeria) (138th)
- Dhaka (Bangladesh) (139th)
- Damascus (Syria) (140th)
- No Indian cities were ranked in top ten or bottom ten of this edition of index. New Delhi ranked 112th and Mumbai ranked 117th position in list.
3. 7 Indian companies have been listed in Fortune’s 500 list 2018 of world biggest corporations, led by Indian Oil Corp (137th) and followed by Reliance (148th).
- RIL is most profitable in India and ranked 99th globally, with ______________ at top.
- World’s 500 largest companies generated $30 trillion in profits in 2017.
- Top 5 - Walmart, State Grid, Sinopec Group (China), China National Petroleum (China), Royal Dutch Shell
4. 9th Mountain Echoes Literary Festival 2018 held in Thimphu (_______________________).
5. According to International Monetary Fund (IMF), Macau in ________________ would overtake oil-rich Qatar with highest per-capita gross domestic product of any country or jurisdiction on earth, by 2020.
6. According to a recent study, earth may enter an irreversible hothouse condition, with global temperatures rising by _______________ degrees and sea levels rising 10 - 60 metres, even if targets under 2015 Paris climate deal are met.
- Currently, global average temperatures are just over 1 degree Celsius above pre-industrial and rising at 0.17 degree Celsius per decade.
- Keeping global warming to within 1.5-2 degrees Celsius as agreed in 2015 Paris climate agreement by around 200 countries.
7. According to global airlines events organiser Routesonline -
- Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport Secured Second Spot and Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport Secured Sixth Spot as fastest growing airport in world during January to June 2018.
- __________________’s Haneda Airport topped the Survey.
8. After recent launch of Fateh Mobin (Bright Conqueror) short-range ballistic missile, ____________________ unveiled first domestically manufactured fighter jet nicknamed Kowsar. Its a fourth-generation fighter with advanced avionics and multi-purpose radar.
9. became first US-based company with a market value of $1 trillion.
10. As per _____________'s Ifo Institute for Economic Research -
- _________________’s current account surplus will remain world’s largest in 2018, for 3rd year at $299 billion, in spite of increased trade tensions. It is followed by Japan in second position with $200 billion. Netherlands is 3rd with 110 billion dollars. From 2011, ______________’s current account surplus has been consistently above the European Commission’s indicative threshold of 6 % of gross domestic product (GDP).
- Current account surplus measures flow of goods, services and investments. It is considered a positive for any economy.
- On other hand, in terms of Current Account Deficit, USA will remain to have largest current account deficit with nearly 420 billion euros.
11. ________________ resumed adoption of children from India after reportedly 8 years of suspension of the same over reports of trafficking of children.
12. _____________________ launched twin BeiDou-3 navigation satellites, as 35th and 36th of the BeiDou navigation system.
13. ____________________
successfully tested its first hypersonic aircraft called Xingkong-2 Starry Sky-2, capable of flying at speed 5 - 6 times that of Sound. It attained top speed of 4563 miles (7344 kilometers) per hour (speed of sound is 1235 km/h). It is difficult to trace this spacecraft due to its excessive speed.
14. Europe Space Agency launched a rocket named ‘Aeolus’ from French Guyana (_________________). This satellite will be put into orbit at an altitude of 320 kilometres (200 miles) above the Earth which will track global winds, allowing for improved weather forecasting.
15. _______________ launched Digital Literacy Library to help young people build skills they need to safely enjoy online technology. It is resource for educators looking to address digital literacy and help these young people build skills they need to use digital technology safely.
16. Forbes’ list of World’s Highest-Paid Actors 2018 -
- Top 3 -
- George Clooney: $239m
- Dwayne Johnson: $124m
- Robert Downey Jr: $81m.
- Indian Actors _______________ ($40.5 million) and Salman Khan ($38.5 million) ranked at 7th and 9th place respectively.
17. Fortune Change the World List 2018 -
- It ranked companies using profit motive to help tackle social problems.
- Reliance Industries' Telecom Unit Jio ranked as top company globally, for widening Internet access in India and benefitting the subscribers in terms of monetary savings and quality of services.
- Top 5 Companies are -
- Reliance Jio (Telecommunications) - India
- Merck (Pharmaceuticals) - USA
- Bank of America (Commercial Banking) - USA
- Inditex (Specialty Retailers) - Spain
- Alibaba Group (Internet Services & Retailing) - _______________
18. ___________________ Parliament approved a controversial asylum and immigration bill, designed to accelerate asylum procedures by cutting maximum processing time from 120 days to 90 days after entering France.
19. Google launched a new video-based Q&A app called _________________, which allows people to answer questions about themselves, then share those answers directly on Google. It is aimed at celebrities and other public figures, who are often subject of people’s Google searches.
20. Google's latest Android operating system update, Android __________________ Pie has been officially released. It introduces a new gesture-based system interface that's similar to the interface of iPhone X.
21. Historic Esala Maha Perehera festival held in Kandy (____________________), held in month of Esala (July or August). It commemorates first teaching of Buddha after his enlightenment.
22. Hollywood Actress ________________ named best-paid actress in world with USD 40.5 million, by Forbes magazine.
- 2nd place is held by Angelina Jolie (US) with earnings of 28 Million USD, while Jennifer Aniston (US) named 3rd with earnings of 19.5 Million USD.
23. IT Firm _________________ partnered with Indian IT companies (including Persistent Systems, Invest India, Wipro, Capgemini and NASSCOM) for its ‘Call for Code’ initiative that aims to build global solutions for disaster management For this, IBM provide access to its cloud, data, Artificial Intelligence and blockchain technologies, along with training and code to developers.
24. India and European Union (EU) partnered for Rs. 240 crore research programme to develop a Next Generation Influenza Vaccine to protect people throughout world, through “______________” programme. It require 3 applicants from both 3 European member states and India.
25. India and Singapore signed Second Protocol amending CECA (________________________) in New Delh, to come into effect on 14th September 2018.
26. India elected as President of Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) for 2 years, during its annual gathering in Colombo (__________________). Also, India's F. Sheheryar was re-elected as chair of executive board of AIBD and Sri Lanka elected as vice-chair.
- AIDB is regional inter-governmental organisation serving countries of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) in field of electronic media development. It was established in 1977 under auspices of UNESCO.
27. India handed over 404 houses built for Indian-origin people in ____________________’s tea plantation areas at Dunsinane Estate in Nuwara Eliya city, as first lot of houses built under Indian Housing Project in Plantation Areas in ________.
28. Indian-American astronaut _______________ is among 9 astronauts selected by NASA to fly first missions into space on commercial spacecraft, starting in 2019. The astronauts will on board of Boeing CST-100 Starliner and SpaceX Dragon capsules to International Space Station starting in 2019.
29. Iran and __________ signed a deal to expand military cooperation. Iran also pledged to help reconstruct the war-torn country.
30. Iran unveiled Fateh Mobin (Bright Conqueror) next generation short-range ballistic missile capable of striking targets on land and sea. It is believed to have range between 300-500 kilometers.
- Amid this, USA created _______________ to execute Its Iran strategy and pressure it to change its behaviors. USA recently withdrawn from Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (also known nuclear deal) signed between Iran and P5+1 countries (P5: China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States and +1: Germana) and European Union in Vienna (Austria) in July 2015.
31. Israel opened a Visa Application Centre in Kolkata for tourists from __________________ and the northeastern states to encourage more Indian travelers to visit Israel. It also reduced visa fees to INR 1,100 rupees from 1,700 charged from Indians.
32. Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve became __________________ Biosphere Reserve from India, to be included in UNESCO designated World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR), during 30th Session of Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO held at Palembang (Indonesia).
- India has 18 Biosphere Reserves, with 11 internationally designated WNBR now with this Inclusion.
- Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (Sikkim) reaching elevations of 1220 metres above sea-level.
- Khangchendzonga National Park was designated a World Heritage Site in 2016 under ‘mixed’ category.
- Over 118 species of large number of medicinal plants found in Dzongu Valley in north Sikkim are of ethno-medical utility.
33. _______________ asked India to withdraw its military helicopters and around 50 personnel stationed there, after expiry of an agreement in June.
34. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare asked United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UNFAO) to declare __________ as ‘International Year of Millets’, to draw wider global attention and action to promote cultivation of millets.
- India is observing 2018 as National Year of Millets to promote cultivation by amending cropping pattern of areas which are especially susceptible to climate change.
35. _____________ banned sale of existing homes to foreign buyers, saying that citizens were being “tenants in our own land”. The ban applies to all nationalities, except foreigners with residency status and buyers from Singapore and Australia.
36. Pacific Endeavor-2018, a communication exercise under Multinational Communications Interoperability Program (MCIP) began in Kathmandu (_______________). It aims to develop common communications operating procedures to enable military forces in Asia Pacific region to collectively work in wake of disaster. It is jointly organised by Nepali Army and United States Pacific Command.
37. Pakistan and __________ signed contract on admission of service members of Pakistan in ______________’s Military Training Institutes.
38. Prasar Bharati and Mizzima Media Group of ______________ signed MoU to realize cooperation and collaboration in broadcasting and content sharing.
39. _______________announced direct investments worth 15-billion US dollar in Turkey, amid Turkey's currency crisis and heightened tensions with USA.
40. Russia will conduct Vostok-2018 (East-2018) military exercise in September 2018, as biggest war games ever conducted by ______________ since Zapad-81 (West-81) exercise conducted by erstwhile Soviet Union in 1981 which saw involvement of 100,000 to 150,000 troops.
- In Vostok 2018, over 300000 troops will participate. China and Mongolia will also participate in Vostok 2018.
- Vostok-2018 exercise is being conducted in response to aggressive attitude towards Russia by NATO and West countries.
41. ______________ freezed all new trade and investment with Canada over its interference in its internal affairs. It expelled Canadian ambassador and recalled its own envoy in Canada.
42. __________________ became first country to provide free sanitary products to all students in a bid to tackle “period poverty”, to ensure that students do not miss out on education due to lack of access to sanitary products.
43. _________________ based DBS Bank named as world's best bank by Global Finance magazine, for its ability to invest in digital innovation while still maintaining stable operations for its customers. DBS is the first Asian bank to receive this title from New York-based publication, which last year gave it to ING Bank.
44. ________________ released a handbook of its "feminist foreign policy" for rights groups and foreign governments, showcasing lessons from nation's flagship approach to promote women's rights globally.
- ___________ began its feminist foreign policy in response to discrimination and systematic subordination that still marks daily lives of countless women and girls around the world.
- Policy’s main aim is to include promotion of economic emancipation, fighting sexual violence and improving women's political participation.
45. _______________ began 3 month visa amnesty program which allows illegal foreign workers to legalise their status in country or return home.
46. ___________ Updates -
- Its Defence Department will create a Space Force as 6th branch of military by 2020.
- Imposed Preliminary Anti-Dumping Duties of 50.55% on Metal Pipes Made in India, to help US Domestic Industry.
- Signed deal with Mexico to replace North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with New Trade Agreement.
- Passed National Defense Authorisation Act-2019 (NDAA-19) which capped its security-related aid to Pakistan to $150 million, significantly below over $ 1 billion to $750 million per year.
- Senate also passed a bill waiving sanctions against India for buying Russian arms, called National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) 2019.
- Announced $39 million grant to Sri Lanka as part its foreign military financing to boost maritime security, as its first grant to Sri Lanka since 2009.
47. ______________________________announced changed law for organ and tissue donation to address urgent need for organs within Indian-origin communities in country. The amendment in existing law will propose new system of consent for organ and tissue donation, to be known as Max’s Law after Max Johnson, a 10-year-old boy who was saved by a heart transplant.
48. Value of __________________’s stock market fell to $6.09 trillion, losing its spot as the second biggest stock market to Japan ($6.17 trillion). It overtook Japan in 2014 and soared to an all-time high of over $10 trillion in 2015.
49. World's First Intertidal art gallery called Coralarium opened in _______________, filled with around 30 Sculptures acting as a habitat for coral and other marine species.
