Soyuz-TMA A Russian-American crew arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) after a fast-track trip from Earth of under six hours, the swiftest ever manned journey to the orbiting laboratory. They used the Soyuz-TMA spaceship. Their record-breaking trip from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to docking with the ISS lasted less than six hours, slashing the usual travel time by some 45 hours. Previously, trips to the ISS had taken over two full days as spaceships orbited the Earth 30 times before docking. However, under a new technique, the Soyuz capsule only orbited Earth four times before docking. The manned flight comes after Russia successfully sent three unmanned Progress supply capsules in August, October and February to the station via the short six-hour route.
75. Which among the following gulf countries has decided to introduce a new labor policy “Nitaqat”?
[A]Qatar [B]Saudi Arabia [C]United Arab Emirates [D]Kuwait
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia government’s decision to strictly implement the ‘Nitaqat’ (naturalisation) law, under which 10 per cent jobs would be reserved for Saudi nationals , caused much worries among the Indian expatriates there, particularly those from Kerala.
76. Which among the following countries is not one among those who have blocked adoption of a UN arms treaty?
[A]Iran [B]Pakistan [C]Syria [D]North Korea
Pakistan Iran, North Korea and Syria have blocked adoption of a UN arms treaty that would regulate the USD 70 billion conventional arms trade around the world, saying it fails to ban sales of weapons to groups that commit “acts of aggression.” The text of the first international treaty on arms trade needs support from all 193 UN member states for its approval. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed disappointment on the failure of the United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty to reach an agreement on the text, which for the first time would have regulated the international arms trade. India and others had complained that the treaty favours the arms exporting nations and remains silent on the illicit trafficking of such weapons to non-state actors.
77. India’s first fully private greenfield airport is coming up at ____________?
[A]Yanam [B]Karaikal [C]Mahe [D]Puducherry
Karaikal Super Airport Infrastructure India Ltd said construction work on the country’s first fully private greenfield airport in Karaikal is scheduled to commence in May.
78. Recently, which among the following state-run bank’s 100th overseas office was inaugurated by Indian Finance Minister?
[A]State Bank of India [B]Bank of Baroda [C]Punjab National Bank [D]Indian Overseas Bank
Bank of Baroda Finance Minister P Chidambaram has inaugurated the 100th overseas office of state-run Bank of Baroda at Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC). DIFC is an offshore financial centre strategically located between East and West that provides a secure and efficient platform for business and financial institutions to reach out to the emerging markets of the region.
79. Which among the following countries is the first in South Asia to roll out 4G mobile network?
[A]India [B]Sri Lanka [C]Maldives [D]Thailand
Sri Lanka Recently, Sri Lanka auctioned a block of airwaves to become the first country in South Asia to roll out a full nationwide mobile fourth-generation (4G) network. Right now, Sri Lanka already has fixed-line telephone 4G in key cities, but the new mobile 4G network will allow users to access high-speed Internet with their hand-held devices across the country. Sri Lanka became the first country in South Asia to introduce mobile phones in 1989 and the first to roll out a 3G network in 2004.
80. . Recently, which among the following countries has removed India from its General Preferential Tariff, or GPT, regime, which offers lower tariff for exports from India to that country?
[A]United States [B]Canada [C]Mexico [D]France
Canada Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced last week that his country was removing India from its General Preferential Tariff, or GPT, regime, which offers lower tariff for exports from India to Canada. The Canadian government says it is revising its GPT list to exclude countries that no longer require preferential tariffs. Canada implemented its GPT regime in 1974 to offer preferential market access to developing countries to help these increase their export earnings and promote economic development. Noting the list had not been updated since its introduction, the Canadian government started a review process last year to identify countries that had seen significant shifts in income levels and trade competitiveness. And, therefore, could be graduated from the GPT regime.
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