Current Affairs Topics | General Studies Topics | General knowledge | 20th April 2018

1. aramount Network has given a 10-episode series order to "First Wives Club", a half-hour comedy based on the popular 1996 film from Paramount Pictures.
2. Prime minister says Australia will sail in South China Sea
3. Australia's prime minister said the Australian navy has a "perfect right" to traverse the South China Sea after a media report today that the Chinese navy had challenged three Australian warships in the hotly contested waterway.
4. Nee brothers to direct He-Man movie
5. Sony Pictures has roped in directing duo of Aaron and Adam Nee to helm the He-Man movie "Masters of the Universe".
6. Pak singer Meesha Shafi accuses Ali Zafar of sexual harassment
7. Pakistani singer-actor Meesha Shafi has accused Ali Zafar of sexually harassing her, saying the decision to share her #MeToo story was difficult but she felt it was important to break the culture of silence.
8. US urges new Cuba leader to end 'repression
9. The United States grudgingly acknowledged Cuba's "undemocratic" transition to a new leader and urged him to allow the island's people greater political freedom.
10. Assad still has 'limited' chemical capability: Pentagon
11. The Syrian regime remains able to conduct chemical attacks, though only at a limited level, the Pentagon has said following last week's international cruise missile strikes on chemical weapons-related targets.
12. CUTS International launches centre in US
13. Rajasthan-based research and advocacy organisation 'CUTS International' has opened its sixth overseas centre in Washington DC, becoming the first Indian think-tank to have its centre in the United States.
14. Indo-US ties need stronger economic bond to realise full potential: Subramanian
15. The India-US ties have been "extremely well" on the strategic and defence fronts but the relationship cannot realise its full potential without stronger economic bond, Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian has said.
16. US wants to work on economically-sensible projects in Indo-Pacific: official
17. The US, India, and Japan intend to work together on  high-standard projects in Indo-Pacific "that make economic sense", a top diplomat of the Trump Administration has said.
18. Conflicts due to communication breakdown, trust deficit: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
19. All global conflicts are mainly because of communication breakdown and trust deficit and addressing these two issues is the key to resolving conflicts, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has said.
20. Four Saudi officers killed in gun attack
21. Four Saudi officers were shot dead and four others wounded today when their check post came under gunfire in southern Asir province, state media said citing the interior ministry.
22. Bashir fires Sudan foreign minister: state media
23. President Omar al-Bashir today fired Sudan's Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour, state media reported, after he said that Sudanese diplomats abroad had been unpaid for months.
24. Extending Greece loan program 'out of the question': EU's Moscovici
25. The European Union has no plans to extend Greece's financing program beyond the planned August end date, EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said today.
26. US school shootings rise rapidly in two decades: study
27. Mass shootings at US schools are rising rapidly, killing more people in the last 18 years than in the entire 20th century, said a study today.
28. PM at Commonwealth bats for developmental assistance to small states
29. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced doubling of India's contribution to the Commonwealth fund for technical cooperation and stressed the need to focus on providing developmental assistance to small island states, the External Affairs Ministry said today.
30. No meeting between Modi, Pak PM Abbasi at CHOGM today: MEA
31. Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not meet his Pakistani counterpart Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here today and no such meeting is planned for tomorrow, the External Affairs Ministry said.
32. Mumbai Football Arena to host Intercontinental Cup
33. Cricket Australia to name Lehmann's replacement before UK tour
34. ICC World T20 Asia Qualifier kicks off in Kuwait
35. Para-athlete Shrimant Jha bags bronze at Asian Armwrestling C'ship
36. ECB proposes new 100-ball format of cricket
37. Fakhar looks to play 'natural game' against England, Ireland
38. Monte Carlo Masters: Nadal to take on Thiem in quarters
39. Shruti Hassan, Vidyut Jammwal begin shoot for next venture
40. Natalie Portman pulls out of Israel Honour ceremony
41. Meet TIME's youngest most Influential person
42. Meghan Markle will be a princess for people: PeeCee
43. PeeCee congratulates Deepika for featuring in TIME's most influential list
44. Katy Perry's new fruit-scented shoe line is here
45. Justin Theroux all smiles on stroll with 25-year-old model
46. Prince's death: No criminal charges, but doctor fined $30k
47. Russian nod moves Bayer closer to wrapping up Monsanto deal
48. Explainer: Will the Bank of England raise rates in May after Carney dampened expectations?
49. Australia vows crackdown on corporate misconduct as bank inquiry claims AMP scalp
50. Honeywell tops profit estimates, raises full-year forecast
51. Ericsson revival hopes lifted by cost cutting progress
52. GE's profit from continuing ops triples, power profit falls
53. China's ZTE slams U.S. ban, says company's survival at risk
54. Sensex, Nifty mark fourth weekly gain