Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Apr 25, 2016

ANSWER: Guillermo VIlas

Explanation:
Rafael Nadal has equalled Argentine legend Guillermo Vilas’s record of 49 clay court titles with the ninth Barcelona Open after defending champion Kei Nishikori 6-4, 9-5 on 24th April 2016. Winning the Monte Carlo Masters, Nadal has won his opening 10 matches of the European clay court ahead of the quest to land a record 10th French open in the upcoming months.

ANSWER: Sandeep Tomar

Explanation:
Wrestler Sandeep Tomar has secured an Olympic quota for India in the men’s 57 kg freestyle category with a bronze medal finish on the final day of the 1st World Olympic Qualifying tournament.

• 25 year old Sandeep became the fourth Indian wrestler after Yogeshwar Dutt, Narsingh Yadav and Hardeep Singh to book a berth for the Rio Games held later.
• Only top three finalists in each weight category are eligible for the Olympic berth- Sandeep had to win over the other bronze medallist in his category for a lone third place finish.

ANSWER: Ericsson

Explanation:
Teams from BITS Pilani, IIT Bombay and Varanasi were announced winners for the 2nd edition of Ericsson Innovation Awards India. The three winning teams will be given INR 13 lakh for incubating the winning projects at an IIT approved technology business incubator

• Projects were submitted by students in areas such as web design, cloud computing, storage and networking, man machine interface, MIMO or multiple input multiple output, IoT, software defined networking, open source, signal processing, graphics and visualisation as well as research.

ANSWER: Brain imaging

Explanation:
For the first time, researchers have found a method to map and track the function of brain circuits affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder in boys though brain imaging, which will help in definitive diagnosis and effective treatment of the disorder.

• Doctors would be able to quantify how the brain circuit is working in patients and assess effectiveness of intervention
• Functional biomarkers can be used to find out which treatments would be suitable for individual cases and measure progress
• New research has the potential to enhance treatment for ASD through measurement of changes in social perception brain circuit in response to differential interventions

ANSWER: Transforming the Global Enterprise

Explanation:
NASSCOM held the sixth edition of the Global In House Centre Conclave in Hyderabad this year with the focus on “Transforming the Global Enterprise” and sharing perspectives on the role GIC will be expected to play towards transforming enterprises

• Global in house centres have become an essential component of the fast growing India IT-BPM sector and contributed 20% share in IT-BPM exports from the country
• Number of GICs operating have exceeded beyond 1050 in 2016 and contributed USD 2 billion of revenue in 2016 occupying a workforce of INR 7.90 lakh.
• India is the leading destination for GICs which operate across all service lines

ANSWER: Alpha Centauri

Explanation:
The USD 100 million revolutionary space programme Breakthrough StarShot will be sending ultralight nano crafts to the closet star system

• Alpha Centauri is 25 trillion miles away will seek the participation of India
• The interstellar probe initiative hopes that India as a space exploration with recent MoM

ANSWER: New Aviation Horizons

Explanation:
NASA scientists have made preparations to put in the sky an array of new X-planes or experimental aircraft -including a quiet supersonic jet -to demonstrate advanced technologies that will push back the frontiers of aviation.

• Goals include showcasing how airliners can burn half the fuel and generate 75% less pollution during each flight as compared to now, while also being much quieter than today's jets -perhaps even when flying supersonic.
• NASA’s renewed emphasis on X-planes is called "New Aviation Horizons”.
• The plan is to design, build and fly the series of X-planes during the next 10 years as a means to accelerate the adoption of advanced green aviation technologies by industry.

ANSWER: Eindhoven University of Technology

Explanation:
The world’s first cafe using small domestic unmanned aircraft as servers has opened in a Dutch university called Eindhoven University of Technology. Pop up drone cafe will be marking the 60th anniversary of the university. This can serve as a useful tool for human beings and the drone nicknamed Blue Jay is the first innovation of its kind in the hospitality industry.

ANSWER: Bertrand Piccard

Explanation:
Solar powered airplane called Solar Impulse 2 landed in Silicon Valley south of San Francisco at 11:45 pm following a 62 hour non stop solo flight without fuel. Picard performed a fly by over the Golden Gate Bridge as spectators watched the aircraft take flight.

• Piccard and fellow Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg have been taking turns flying planes on an around the trip world
• The ideal speed of the plane is around 28 mph and it will make three more stops in the United States before crossing over the Atlantic Ocean.
• Project commenced in 2002 and is estimated to cost more than USD 100 million. It highlights the spirit of innovation and the importance of renewable energy

ANSWER: Duyun City

Explanation:
In the largest telecom fraud case, China arrested 62 people including 10 Taiwanese said to have defrauded a construction firm of over USD 17 million.

• The scam occurred in Duyun City in Guizhou Province and it commenced with loss of money from the bank account which was reported to the police.

ANSWER: July 1 2016

Explanation:
Government of India has asked jewellers to settle excise duties for March to May along with June and get themselves registered with the Central Excise department by July 1.

• The budget had imposed 1 percent excise duty on non silver jewellery

ANSWER: Radhika Apte

Explanation:
Bollywood actress Radhika Apte on 22 nd April 2016 bagged the best actress in an international narrative feature honour at Tribeca Film Festival 2016 for her performance in anthology film Madly.

• Apte starred in clean shaven part of the anthology
• Other winners are listed below:

U.S. Narrative Feature Competition Categories:
The Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature – Dean, written and directed by Demteri Martin.
Best Actor in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film –Dominic Rains in The Fixer.
Best Actress in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film – Mackenzie Davis in Always Shine.
Best Cinematography in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film – Cinematography by Michael Ragen for Kicks.
Best Screenplay in a U.S. Narrative Feature Film – Women Who Kill written by Ingrid Jungermann.

International Narrative Feature Competition Categories:
The Best International Narrative Feature – Junction 48, written and directed by Udi Aloni.
Best Actor in an International Narrative Feature Film –Alan Sabbagh in The Tenth Man.
Best Cinematography in an International Narrative Feature Film – Cinematography by Kjell Vassdal for El Clasico.
Best Screenplay in an International Narrative Feature Film – Perfect Strangers written by Filippo Bologna, Paolo Costella, Paolo Genovese, Paola Mammini, and Rolando Ravello.

World Documentary Competition Categories:
Best Documentary Feature – Do Not Resist, directed by Craig Atkinson (USA).
Best Documentary Cinematography – Cinematography by Jarred Alterman for Contemporary Color (USA).
Best Documentary Editing – Editing by Bill Ross for Contemporary Color (USA).

Directing Awards:
Best New Narrative Director Award — Priscilla Anany, director of Children of the Mountain (USA, Ghana).
Albert Maysles New Documentary Director Award — David Feige for Untouchable (USA)

Short Film Competition Categories:
Best Narrative Short – Hold On (Houvast), directed by Charlotte Scott-Wilson (Netherlands).
Best Documentary Short – Extremis directed by Dan Krauss (USA).
Student Visionary Award – Ping Pong Coach, directed by Yi Liu. (Taiwan R.O.C., USA).

Storyscapes Award
Notes on Blindness: Into Darkness created by Arnaud Colinart, Amaury La Burthe, Peter Middleton, and James Spinney. Winner receives 10000 US dollars, presented by AT&T.

The Nora Ephron Prize
Rachel Tunnard, director, writer and editor of Adult Life Skills (UK).

Tribeca X Award
Hearing Colors created by Greg Brunkalla for Samsung.

ANSWER: X-2

Explanation:
Japan on 22nd April 2016 successfully tested the first stealth fighter jet. With this, the country joins a select group of world military powers wielding the radar-dodging technology.

• The domestically developed single-pilot prototype X-2 jet took off from Nagoya airport in central Japan on its maiden test flight.
• It safely landed at Gifu air base, north of Nagoya airport, after a 25-minute flight with no particular problems.
• USA, Russia and China have been internationally recognised as having successfully developed and flown manned stealth jets.
• X2 was developed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and 200 remaining firms

ANSWER: Salman Khan

Explanation:
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has been named Indian Contingent’s goodwill ambassador for the 2016 Rio

• This is the first time that a Bollywood superstar will be a goodwill ambassador for the national squad for as big an event like the Summer Olympics.
• The association between Salman Khan and the Indian Olympic Association was aided by IOA’s official marketing agency IOS Sports & Entertainment.
• The Edelweiss Group, India’s leading Diversified Financial Services Conglomerate, will be Indian Olympic Association’s principal partner for this Olympics

ANSWER: Film and Television Institute of India

Explanation:
An Indian Information Service officer of 1989 batch, Bhupendra Kainthola has been appointed as the new director of Film and Television Institute of India. Earlier, PIB director Prashant Bathrobe was the caretaker for this post.

• Kainthola holds a Masters in International Relations from University of Mumbai

ANSWER: New York Festival

Explanation:
Miditech’s Undercover Asia: Girls for Sale has won a bronze world medal at the New York Festivals.

• It is about anti-trafficking activist Rishi Kant’s search for two minor girls, who have been abducted.
• ‘Girls for Sale’ also explores the brothels, placement agencies and homes the children suffered in.

ANSWER: World Malaria Day

Explanation:
On April 25th people across the globe take part in a wide range of activities to mark World Malaria Day.

• The Day is an international observance commemorated every year on 25 April and recognizes global efforts to control malaria.
• Globally, 3.3 billion people in 106 countries are at risk of malaria. WMD is one of eight official global public health campaigns currently marked by the World Health Organization (WHO), along with World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day, World Immunization Week, World Tuberculosis Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Hepatitis Day and World AIDS Day.
• The theme for 2016 is “End Malaria For Good”.