Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Apr 30, 2016

ANSWER: MC1R

Explanation:
Scientists already know that the gene in question, known as MC1R, is responsible for producing red hair and pale skin, according to the report in the journal Current Biology.

• But now they have identified a variation in this gene that seems to age people faster.
• For the current study, scientists examined the genomes of more than 2,600 elderly Dutch Europeans "for DNA variants associated with differences in perceived facial age and wrinkling as estimated from digital facial images," the report said.
• They found the influence of the MC1R gene variant was not swayed by age, sex, skin color, or sun damage.
MC1R is also known for its role in inflammation and DNA damage repair, processes that may influence how youthful a person appears, researchers said.

ANSWER: La Nina

Explanation:
Withering drought and sizzling temperatures from El Nino have caused food and water shortages and ravaged farming across Asia, and experts warn of possible flooding from its sibling, La Nina.

• The current El Nino which began last year has been one of the strongest ever, leaving the Mekong River at its lowest level in decades, causing food-related unrest in the Philippines, and smothering vast regions in a months-long heat wave often topping 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit)
• That could bring heavy rain to an already flood-prone region, exacerbating agricultural damage and leaving crops vulnerable to disease and pests.
• El Nino has already left 60 million people worldwide requiring "urgent assistance," particularly in Africa.

ANSWER: Advitiya Sharma

Explanation:
One of the co-founders of Housing.com who left the Mumbai-based realty startup last month, Advitiya Sharma, is launching his new venture in the education space.

• Called Genius, the platform intends to create entrepreneur teachers to help run Genius micro schools from their homes.
• Based on the concept of San Francisco-based AltSchool, Sharma's startup will target students from KG up till eighth grade and launch across the country's top five metros.
• Education technology startups have so far largely targeted the test-prep market as a gargantuan number of Indian students appear for competitive exams every year.

ANSWER: Symantec

Explanation:
Symantec Corp, best known for its Norton antivirus software, estimated fourth-quarter profit and revenue below analysts' estimates, and said chief executive Michael Brown would step down.

The company's shares were down 16.4% at $15.13 before.

Symantec estimated revenue of $873 million for the quarter ended April 1, lower than its forecast of $885 million-$915 million.

ANSWER: NK Singh

Explanation:
Former bureaucrat and parliamentarian N. K. Singh will receive one of Japan’s highest civilian honours for promoting economic, educational and cultural ties between India and Japan.

• Mr. Singh, who is a former Member of the Planning Commission, will receive the ‘Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver’ and is among 91 foreign recipients to be honoured during the 2016 Spring Imperial Decoration of Japan on May 10.
• An agreement with a leading tour operator for increasing tourism arrivals from India which is one of the fastest markets in the region.

ANSWER: Cox and Kings

Explanation:
Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, signed the agreement with Cox and Kings to strengthen its relationship and expand its presence in the Indian market.

• The agreement will focus on promoting the various aspects of Ras Al Khaimah and popularise it in the Indian market which is one of the fastest outbound markets in the region.
• The agreement, which will take effect from May 1, is aimed at increasing tourism arrivals to Ras Al Khaimah from India.
• India has already cemented its position as one of the emirate’s leading source markets with an 80 per cent increase in visitors year-on-year (2014—2015).