Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Aug 10, 2016

ANSWER: AUSTRAC

Explanation:
Australia has set up a cyber intelligence unit to find out about terror financing, money laundering and financial frauds online due to unprecedented threats to national security

• Measure expands under the initiative of the Malcolm Turnbull led conservative government which narrowly won re-elections last month
• New unit set under money tracking agency Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre/AUSTRAC will investigate online payment platforms and financial cybercrime to monitor and track money laundering and criminal networks
• Use of fraudulent identifies continues to be a key enabler of serious and organised crimes of terrorism
• New AUSTRAC unit will work with Australian and New Zealand funded ID Care to target job recruitment scams crime syndicates use to recruit people for money trafficking
• New unit will also work with Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network to identify patterns and trends that could indicate scams

ANSWER: GE

Explanation:
Mindteck, a global technology company announced its entry into the GE Digital Alliance Program which focuses on growth of the digital industrial ecosystem.

• Alliance will enable Mindteck to further its IoT competency into the industrial space and provide customers with enough insights and analytics to eliminate business inefficiency
• Mindteck has also developed its own Ignite platform which is a key component of the IoT ecosystem.
• Mindtree will now have the capacity to share industrial apps through Predix, a GE cloud platform for industrial internet

ANSWER: Panasonic Corporation

Explanation:
Panasonic Corporation has announced the acquisition of outstanding shares of German software company OpenSynergy GmbH.

• Following this, the German firm has become Panasonic’s subsidiary
• OpenSynergy is a high tech company specialising in embedded automotive software for cockpit aviation solutions
• Automotive business is a high growth area and its software technologies aim OpenSynergy’s multiple operating systems to be integrated into one system
• Technologies will help next generation cockpit system characterised by integration of multimedia and driver support functions

ANSWER: HTC

Explanation:
Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group has announced strategic partnership with HTC Corporation

• Both companies will jointly explore VR/virtual reality solutions for international customers worldwide
• Two companies will also focus on developing solutions to deal with bandwidth allocation, data transmission and data processing needs such as VR video production and broadcasting
• Partnership also needs to bring industry developers into developing the VR cloud
• Partnership will accelerate development of VR technology in China and encourage global,widespread adoption
• This is a land mark collaboration between VR and cloud computing industries

ANSWER: Alibaba

Explanation:
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is offering to help global technology firms such as SAP SE to enter China, wherein foreign tech companies here are facing increased government scrutiny

• Alibaba Cloud has offered to help tech firms overcome business obstacles in China by offering firms JV and partnerships through cloud computing programs
• The company has also said its AliLaunch program has signed up 11 partners including AppScale Systems Inc, Hitachi and SAP.

ANSWER: Monster

Explanation:
Randstad Holding nv has announced acquisition of jobs website Monster dot com. This Amsterdam based HR and recruitment specialist is purchasing the job portal for USD 429 million in cash

• As per the terms of the merger agreement, it will pay USD 3.40 per share in cash or total purchase price of around USD 429 million (enterprise value)
• Monster is Massachusetts based
• It is one of the very first e-commerce companies to go public during the 1990s
• It once had a share price of over USD 91 and market cap of USD 8 billion
• Monster dot com will continue to operate separate and independent entity under the Monster name
• Following a massive technological change, employers are challenged to identify better ways to source and engage talent
• Under the terms of the merger agreement, Board of Directors of both Randstad and Monster have approved the terms unanimously

ANSWER: Vodafone

Explanation:
Telecom giant Vodafone has renewed its multi-million dollar engagement with IBM to manage IT services support for the India arm for another five years

• Under the new contract, IBM will manage IT services support for Vodafone’s India IT infrastructure and applications environment which will help the telecom operator derive benefits such as increased user experience, cost optimisation, IT infrastructure scalability and overall improvement in efficiency of network operators
• IBM will support Vodafone India IT environment transition into IBM hybrid cloud permitting the telecom services company to leverage and integrate existing IT resources and data assets with private cloud environments
• Hybrid platform will enable delivery of faster and more insightful data intelligence and support faster decision making
• The terms of the deal were not disclosed by the companies

ANSWER: Facebook

Explanation:
Startup Village has launched the world’s first digital incubator for students SV.CO. It has now collaborated with social media giant Facebook to provide access to developer teams for students enrolled in entrepreneurship programmes.

• As part of SV.CO startup Programme,, students will make a 6 day trip to FB HQ in Menlo Park, California, where they will present ideas for the Facebook team and get feedback
• Purpose is to provide students with global exposure to talented professionals in leading tech companies like FB

ANSWER: Rafaela Garcia

Explanation:
Brazil’s Rafaela Silva beat top seed Sumiya Dorjisuren of Mongolia to win gold in the women’s 57 kg judo on 8th August 2016 sending the crowd into joyous celebration of their first gold as host country

• This marks a triumph for Silva who was disqualified in London 2012 games
• While Rome won the silver medal, the bronze was jointly won by Portugal’s Telma Monteiro and Japan’s Kaori Matsumoto

ANSWER: Only b and c

Explanation:
Government has allowed employees working in IT and ITeS special economic zones/SEZ to work from home or a place outside the zone provided that they meet certain conditions and demands of the industry

• Government has extended this flexibility subject to conditions such that the person would be a regular SEZ employee and authorised by the unit to undertake work pertaining to it
• Work performed by the home based employee should be as per services approved by the SEZ unit and the work is related to a project of the unit
• This comes in wake of reports that exports from IT and ITeS SEZ clocked marginal growth of 0.77% to INR 4.76 lakh crore in 2015-2016
• Government is looking to revive investor interest in such export hubs
• SEZ units should provide laptop/desktop and secured connectivity to establish a connection between employee and work related to the project of the SEZ unit

ANSWER: Edgiye Bangla

Explanation:
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a new web portal Edie Bangla to boost connectivity, information sharing with people and boost e-services

• Previous portal Banglar Mukh was primarily an information oriented platform
• The latest portal gives out updates of various departments of the state government and also enables availing of e-services.
• From contracts and tenders to stats, all aspects of information can be accessed through this portal
• Government is also expanding its presence on social media such as FB, Twitter and YouTube.

ANSWER: CB

Explanation:
Researchers have discovered a new compound that can block testosterone from fuelling the tumours growth in the androgen receptor thereby preventing prostrate cancer

• This CB command is called tetraaryl cyclobutane and it is studied as a option for prostrate tumours that have growth resident to current androgen drugs namely enzalutamide
• New compound is a competitive inhibitor of androgen receptors and structurally different from current anti-androgens such as enzalutamide
• This is one of the CB compounds which inhibits mutant forms of androgen receptors that promote resistance to enzalutamide

ANSWER: MS SUbbulakshmi

Explanation:
Eminent Carnatic vocalist MS Subbulakshmi will be honoured at the UN on India’s 70th Independence Day through a tribute and performance by Oscar winning composer AR Rahman at the UNGA

• Commemoration to mark the legendary vocalist’s birth centenary also includes a photo exhibition at the UN HQ by India’s Permanent Mission apart from a cultural extravaganza to coincide with the Independence Day of the company
• Rahman will be the second Indian artist after Subbulakshmi to perform at the UN after she was invited for a performance 5 decades ago
• Subbulakshmi is also the first musician to be awarded Bharat Ratna in India
• Indian mission is organising the concert coinciding with 50 years of Subbulakshmi’s performance at UNGA

ANSWER: Manipur

Explanation:
The world’s longest hunger strike ended on August 9 when Irom Chanu Sharmila ended her 16 year long fast with honey

• Sharmila went on a hunger strike for 5757 days and was being force fed by a nasal tube to keep her alive in prison turned hospital in Imphal
• She announced that she would break the fast and join politics to end the AFSPA Act through political means
• The 44 year old is now competing for the post of CM of the NE state

ANSWER: TKV Desikachar

Explanation:
Well known yoga guru TKV Desikachar passed away on 8th August 2016 at the age of 78 following a brief illness

• He was known for transforming the manner in which yoga is practiced and turning it into therapy and wellness component
• He is the son of T. Krishnamacharya who is also known as father of modern yoga
• He helped people with tailor made programmes called Viniyoga
• He also taught Yoga to philosopher K. Krishnamurthi in 1960s
• In 1976, he founded the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram

ANSWER: Kalikho Pul

Explanation:
Former Arunachal Pradesh CM Kalikho Pul died on 9th August 2016 in Itanagar in AP

• He was found dead at the age of 47 and allegedly committed suicide
• The circumstances behind the death are being investigarted
• Pul was from the Kaman Mishmi ethnic group
• From 2003-2007, he served as State Finance Minister in the Ministry of CM Gegong Apang
• He broke away from INC to become acting CM of AP in February 2016
• His government was supported by BJP until it was dismissed by court order in July 2016

ANSWER: Mental Health Act 1987

Explanation:
RS on 8th August 2016 passed the Mental Health Care Bill 2013 repealing the Mental Health Act 1987

• Upper house passed the bill with 134 amendments
• Bill provides for mental health services and care for persons with mental illness
• It also permits right of such persons to be protected during the delivery of mental healthcare and services
• Bill also states every person should have right to access mental health care and treatment from services run or funded by the government
• Right to access mental health care includes affordable good quality and easily accessible services
• Persons with mental illness also have right to equality of treatment, protection from inhuman and degrading treatment, free legal services and access to medical records and right to complain regarding deficiencies in the provision of mental health care
• It also provides for a mentally ill person to make an advance directive that states how he wants to be treated for the illness during a mental health situation and who his or her nominated rep should be.
• The bill also decriminalises suicide and prohibits ECT
• It is based on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that was ratified in 2007.

ANSWER: Srinivasan V

Explanation:
After slashing growth guidance for the year, Cognizant Technology Solutions on 9th August announced the appointment of a new COO in Srinivasan V.

• CTS has moved pass Indian peers like HCL and Wipro to become the second largest software services firm but it is experiencing global headwinds
• While the top management remains unchanged, there are changes in portfolio of other senior professionals. A new COO, Srinivasan V has been appointed along with a team.

ANSWER: Pawan Munjal

Explanation:
Hero MotoCorp has reappointed Pawan Munjal as the Chairman, MD and CEO for 5 years

• Company has also elevated Head of Operations and Supply Chain Vikram Kasbekar as the director on the company’s board
• His current tenure came to an end in September 2016
• Company also appointed Neerja Sharma as the Company Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer

ANSWER: Sandeep Kumar

Explanation:
Sandeep Kumar on August 8, 2016 was appointed as Transport Commissioner of Delhi succeeding Sanjay Kumar who was appointed the commissioner a few months back

• Sandeep Kumar will take on the role of the Commissioner as an additional charge an is also MD of Delhi KVIC boards
• He is a 1997 batch IAS officer

ANSWER: Katie Ledecky

Explanation:
American swimmer Katie Ledecky on August 7, 2016 set a new world record winning the gold medal in the women’s 400m freestyle at Raio Olympics

• She clocked 3 minutes 56.46 seconds to beat Britain’s Jazmin Carlin who clocked 4 minutes 01.23 seconds at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Raio
• American Leah Smith clocked 4 minutes and 01.92 seconds to get the brazen
• Ledecky is not only a two time Olympic medallist, she is also a 9 time world champion
• She is the current world record holder for the 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle and the 500, 1000 and 1650 yard freestyle events
• She won FINA Swimmer of the Year award in 2013 and has broken 12 world records during her career
• In 2016, she was the youngest person on the Time’ magazine’s 100 list

ANSWER: Both of the above

Explanation:
World Tribal Day or International Day of the World’s Indigenous People was observed on August 9, 2016

• The theme was Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Education
• Sori also marched to unfurl the tricolour at the Gompad village in Sukma, a worst hit Maoist area
• Day for Indigenous Peoples was founded by UNGA on 23rd December 1994 with adoption of resolution 49/214 proclaiming that World’s Indigenous People Day shall be observed annually on 9th August
• Date marks the day of the first meeting in 1982 of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub Commission on Protection and Promotion of Human Rights
• UNGA also established two International Decades of the World’s Indigenous Peoples - 1995-2004 and 2005-2014 with the theme A Decade for Action and Dignity

ANSWER: Zydus Group

Explanation:
Zydus Group has strengthened its derma portfolio with the acquisition of Melgain used for the treatment of vitiligo from Hyderabad based Issar Pharma for an undisclosed amount

• Zydus is working towards making treatment more affordable for people suffering from this skin disorder
• It is a leading player in the skin de-pigmentation segment and acquisition of Melgain marks its foray into this segment of repigmentation.

ANSWER: 70

Explanation:
Jute Corporation of India will be launching the week long Colours of Independence Campaign

• Campaign will be launched across 70 cities to commemorate 70 years of Independence
• Jute fabric will be set up in the CMR shopping mall and the programme is being organised by Union Ministry of Textiles
• JCI is led by CMD KVR Murthy

ANSWER: Inner Mongolia

Explanation:
Archeologists have discovered 1000 cliff paintings dating back to 1000 years in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region

• Paintings are well preserved and feature hunting scenes and animals
• Images have been engraved by the ancient tribal people known as the Tujue, and the Dangxiang, of which the modern day Qiang are descended from, about 1,000 to 1,500 years ago.
• Over 10,000 ancient cliff paintings have been discovered in the Yinshan Mountains.

ANSWER: August 10

Explanation:
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee extended greetings and felicitations to the government and people of republic of Ecuador on the eve of their national day (August 10, 2016)

• The current president of this country is Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado

ANSWER: Chandrashekhar Azad

Explanation:
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, paid homage to the great freedom fighter Chandrashekhar Azad at his birthplace at Bhabra in Alirajpur District of Madhya Pradesh.

• The Prime Minister garlanded the statue of Shahid Chandrashekhar Azad and visited the memorial at his birthplace.
• He also said Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision of Insaniyat, Jamahooriyat, Kashmiriyat will be taken forward.
• The Prime Minister later flagged off the Tiranga Yatra to mark the launch of the 70th Freedom Year celebrations.

ANSWER: Maharashtra

Explanation:
Commemorating the Platinum Jubilee anniversary of the Quit India Movement, government of Maharashtra has launched Quit India movement 2 to rid the the state of social ills like poverty and casteism

• The state says ‘Quit India’ to illiteracy, discrimination, disunity and disharmony, terrorism and anti-nationalism in a bid to take the country from ‘Swaraj’ to ‘Suraj’

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) in coordination with National Investigation Agency (NIA) is organizing the 1st National Conference of Investigation Agencies on 12-13th August, 2016, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

• The conference has originated from the mandate of the BPR&D and the recommendations of Directors General of Police (DGPs)/Inspectors General of Police (IGPs) conferences which stipulated “To organize the All India Conference of Police and Law Enforcement officers engaged in investigation tasks”.
• The conference envisages to provide an annual national platform to all the officers of law enforcement agencies engaged in investigation tasks with the objective to discuss the latest laws and judgments and their implications for investigation and prosecution and to deliberate on new legislation/ criminal law amendments and systematic changes for meeting new challenges in investigation.
• The conference also envisages about adoption of latest technology in forensic sciences for expeditious and professional investigation and to share best practices followed by different investigation agencies which could be implemented by others.

ANSWER: IIT Kharagpur

Explanation:
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IIT-Kharagpur for research project on Laboratory and Field investigations on Paneled Cement Concrete Pavements for Highways.

• The duration of the research project is 3 years and NHAI have paid Rs. 1.25 crore for the project, excluding cost of construction of trial pavement section on NH.
• NHAI in collaboration with IIT Kharagpur shall promote to develop a technology to construct Panelled Cement Concrete (Pre-fabricated in a small panel size) which can replace the design of construction of existing cement concrete road.

ANSWER: Loan

Explanation:
Parliament passed the The Enforcement of Security Interest and Recovery of Debts Laws and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which empowers banks to take security in the event of loan default

• It is significant in view of default by industrialist Vijay Mallya
• RS cleared this bill which amends 4 laws- Sarfaesi Act, DRT Act, Indian Stamp Act and Depositories Act.

ANSWER: INR 50000 - 1,00,000

Explanation:
Lok Sabha today passed a bill that provides for higher compensation in case an employee is injured in industrial accident and has a provision for hefty penalty in case any violation by the employers.

• The Employees Compensation (Amendment) Act 2016 was passed by voice vote after Labour and Employment Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said the government was committed to ensure protection of jobs, wages, social security and fair wages to employees