Indian writer Annie Zaidi was announced as the 2019 winner of Nine Dots Prize. She won the award for her book ‘Bread, Cement, Cactus’. The Nine Dots Prize is a prize for creative thinking that tackles contemporary societal issues.The aim of the Prize is to promote, encourage and engage innovative thinking to address problems facing… Continue reading Indian writer wins USD 100000 global book prize
Category: Factly: IR
This category contains all Current Affairs Factly Articles for Prelims, related to the International Relations. You can find all relevant International updates on this page. This page is specifically useful for UPSC Prelims exam.
US removes India from its currency monitoring list
United States has removed India from its currency monitoring list of major trading partners. It has also removed Switzerland from the list but added Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. In 2018,India along with China, Japan, Germany, Switzerland and South Korea was placed in the bi-annual currency watch list. The watch list contains the names… Continue reading US removes India from its currency monitoring list
Pakistan extends airspace ban till June 15
Pakistan has decided to extend the closure of its airspace along its eastern border with India until June 15. Pakistan had closed the airspace after an Indian Air Force strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot. Pakistan lies in the middle of a vital aviation corridor and the airspace restrictions impact hundreds of… Continue reading Pakistan extends airspace ban till June 15
India elected to Executive Board of first UN-Habitat Assembly
India has been elected to the Executive Board of the first UN-Habitat Assembly. This had happened at the Plenary Session of the UN Habitat Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya.The special theme for the UN-Habitat Assembly is “Innovation for Better Quality of Life in Cities and Communities”. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme(UN-Habitat) is the United Nations… Continue reading India elected to Executive Board of first UN-Habitat Assembly
Sri Lanka, Japan, India sign deal to develop East Container Terminal at Colombo Port
Sri Lanka has signed a deal with India and Japan to jointly develop the East Container Terminal at the Port of Colombo.This terminal would be beneficial for India as around 70% of Colombo Port shipment is related to India. However,India’s role in developing the terminal had been opposed by Sri lankan President as involving foreign… Continue reading Sri Lanka, Japan, India sign deal to develop East Container Terminal at Colombo Port
German government asks people to wear kippah
The German government has called on people to wear the Jewish kippah to show their solidarity with the country’s Jewish community in the face of rising anti-Semitism. The move comes after a leading government official warned Jews in Germany not to wear the traditional skullcaps in public because of an increase in anti-Semitic attacks across… Continue reading German government asks people to wear kippah
Taliban says ‘occupation’ must end for Afghan peace
Recently, Afghan politicians and Taliban delegates have met in Moscow to revive peace talks aimed at ending the decades-long war. The meeting was organised by Russia to commemorate the 100th anniversary of its diplomatic ties with Afghanistan. During the meeting,Taliban and Russia has called for the withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition troops from Afghanistan denouncing the… Continue reading Taliban says ‘occupation’ must end for Afghan peace
BIMSTEC heads invited to PM’s swearing-in
India has invited leaders of BIMSTEC member countries to attend the swearing-in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his council of ministers.This is in line with the India’s focus on its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy. Further,the president of Kyrgyzstan who is the current Chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Mauritius prime minister who was… Continue reading BIMSTEC heads invited to PM’s swearing-in
Afghan floods put famous minaret at risk of collapse
Recent floods in Afghanistan have put the minaret of Jam which is one of the country’s most revered cultural, architectural and historical treasures at risk of collapse. The minaret of Jam is in a remote area that is largely under Taliban control.It is the world’s second-tallest minaret and is situated on the frontier of Ghor… Continue reading Afghan floods put famous minaret at risk of collapse
Defying Congress, Trump sets $8 billion-plus in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE
The US President has approved the sale of $8 billion plus worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The US President has invoked a rarely used aspect of federal law to push through the deal bypassing US Congress.He did so by declaring that ongoing tensions with Iran amounted to a national emergency. US… Continue reading Defying Congress, Trump sets $8 billion-plus in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE
