Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Feb 02, 2017

ANSWER: Both of the above

Explanation:
Doctors in Bangladesh will form a medical board to assess a 10-year-old girl with bark-like warts growing out of her face.

She is believed to be suffering from tree-man syndrome, a rare genetic hereditary skin disorder.

A six-member medical board will be formed to assess Shahana Khatun's illness, Dr Samanta Lal of Dhaka Medical College Hospital..

Her treatment will be free of cost, according to a media report.

Shahana Khatun's father Shahjahan Mia, a farmer became concerned when a growth previously thought to be prickly heat rashes started to spread and grow on his daughters face,

Previously, Abul Bajandar, 26, also known as "tree man" has undergone at least 18 operations at the same hospital where Shahana is receiving treatment.

Tree-man disease is a rare skin disorder, which covers limbs with warts, making them look like tree branches.

A Romanian man was first diagnosed with the disease in March 2007. Another case was reported in Indonesia in November the same year in a 35-year-old fisherman.

The last reported case also occurred in Indonesia in 2009.

About Tree Man Disease

• Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV, also called Lewandowsky–Lutz dysplasia)
• This is colloquially known as tree man illness.
• It is is an extremely rare autosomal recessive genetic hereditary skin disorder associated with a high risk of carcinoma of the skin.
• It is characterized by abnormal susceptibility to human papillomaviruses (HPVs) of the skin.
• This will result in the growth of scaly macules and papules, particularly on the hands and feet.
• The condition usually has an onset of between the ages of one and 20, but can occasionally present in middle age.
• Discovered by: Felix Lewandowsky and Wilhelm Lutz (de).

ANSWER: Individual cash transfer

Explanation:
The Union Ministry of Women & Child Development has clarified that Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme has no provision for individual cash transfer component.

It has warned the unauthorised websites/organisations, NGOs, individuals that are distributing forms in the name of cash incentives under BBBP Scheme.

It also has mentioned that it is illegal and serious matter as there is no cash incentive associated in any form.

Government’s clarification came following reports that certain unauthorised sites, organisations, NGOs and individuals were found distributing forms in the name of cash incentive under the scheme.

About Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme

• The BBP scheme was launched in January, 2015.
• It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Panipat in Haryana.
• The scheme is aimed at promoting gender equality and the significance of educating girls.
• It is a social campaign that aims to generate awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services meant for girls.
• It focuses on changing mindsets and deep rooted patriarchy in the societal system, advancing education of the girl child, strict enforcement of PC&PNDT Act and on issues of women empowerment.
• It is targeted at improving the Child Sex Ratio (CSR).
• This is through multi sectoral interventions including prevention of gender biased sex selection and promoting girls’ education and holistic empowerment.

ANSWER: Sea animal Saccorhytus

Explanation:
Researchers have discovered microscopic sea animal Saccorhytus.

This is the earliest known ancestor of humans along with a vast range of other species.

The exquisitely well preserved fossilised traces of this 540-million-year-old creature were discovered by researchers.

This balloon-like sea is the earliest known step on the evolutionary path that led to fish and eventually to humans.

Saccorhytus is the most primitive example of deuterostomes.

This is a category of animals which are common ancestors of a broad range of species, including vertebrates (backboned animals).

It was about a millimetre and its body was symmetrical.

This is a characteristic inherited by many of its evolutionary descendants, including humans.

It was also covered with a thin, relatively flexible skin and muscles which concludes that it moved by contracting its muscles and got around by wriggling.

It is estimated to have lived between grains of sand on the sea bed.

It had large mouth, relative to the rest of its body indicating that it probably ate by engulfing food particles, or even other creatures.

Its body also had conical structures which might have allowed the water swallowed by it to escape. It also indicates these conical structures might have been an early version of gills.

ANSWER: Both b and c

Explanation:
Ireland has become the world’s first country to completely divest from fossil fuels.

With respect to this, Irish Parliament passed legislation that will drop coal, oil, and gas (fossil fuel) investments from its $8.56 billion Ireland Strategic Investment Fund.

Once enacted, the bill will force the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund to sell its investment in fossil fuel industries over the next five years.

Earlier in 2015, Norway’s sovereign pension fund had divested from some fossil fuel companies, but not fully.

Fossil Fuels: Know More

• Fossil fuels are fuels formed by natural processes.
• This is such as anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms.
• This is containing energy originating in ancient photosynthesis.
• The age of the organisms and their resulting fossil fuels is typically millions of years.
• Fossil fuels contain high percentages of carbon and include petroleum, coal, and natural gas.
• Other commonly used derivatives include kerosene and propane.
• The theory that fossil fuels formed from the fossilized remains of dead plants was first introduced by Georgius Agricola in 1556.

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
Former Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma on 1^st Feb 2017 took over as Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

He was the Director-General of Prisons, the Director-General of Police in Mizoram and Puducherry.

He also served as the Inspector-General of Police in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

In official capacity over 37 years, Mr. Verma held several positions in the vigilance, intelligence, crime & railways and administration wings.

Alok Kumar Verma is a 1979 batch Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre IPS officer.

The new CBI Director is known for his strong belief in the transformational role of technology.

Verma has led various projects across organisations aimed at early adoption of technology in policing.

While serving as the police chief in Mizoram, Puduchery and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, he also introduced a slew of reformative and progressive measures in order to streamline policing services and up flight the morale of his team.

While serving as the Delhi Police commissioner, Verma introduced all-women Police Control Room vans in the national capital.

He is also credited with trying to boost police accountability with the help of public interactions, community policing and increasing visibility of police, among other steps.

Known to be a champion towards the cause of improvement of welfare of the force, Verma also worked to bring in greater transparency, especially in the areas of procurement, registration of complaints and recruitment of entry-level staff.

Recent Delhi Police Chiefs: (number, name and date of office)

18	Neeraj Kumar	July 2013
19	Bhim Sain BassiFebruary 2016	February 2016
20	Alok Kumar Verma	January 2017
21	Amulya PatnaikIncumbent	Incumbent

ANSWER: Neil Gorsuch

Explanation:
US President Donald Trump has nominated conservative judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court, sparking strong opposition from the Democrats.

Born and raised in Colorado, 49-year-old Gorsuch of the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit is the youngest Supreme Court nominee in a quarter century.

Gorsuch attended the Columbia University and the Harvard Law School.

After graduating with honours, he received his doctorate from the Oxford University as a Marshall Scholar.

In 2006, then President George W. Bush nominated him for the US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and he was confirmed by voice vote without objection.

The Supreme Court’s work is vital not just to a region of the country, but to the whole, vital to the protection of the people’s liberties under law and to the continuity of the constitution.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said in Mr. Gorsuch, Mr. Trump had fulfilled his pledge to nominate a judge who has demonstrated loyalty to the Constitution and strong commitment to life.

Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy said he had hoped that Trump would work in a bipartisan way to pick a mainstream nominee like Merrick Garland and bring the country together.

National Abortion Federation in a statement expressed it disappointment with Gorsuch's apppointment.

About United States SC: Membership
Chief Justice: John Roberts
Associate Justices

• Anthony Kennedy
• Clarence Thomas
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Stephen Breyer
• Samuel Alito
• Sonia Sotomayor
• Elena Kagan
• Neil Gorsuch (pending confirmation)
• Retired Associate Justices
• John Paul Stevens
• Sandra Day O'Connor
• David Souter

ANSWER: Rex Tillerson

Explanation:
The Republican-controlled Senate on Feb 1st confirmed Rex Tillerson to be secretary of state, a crucial member of President Donald Trump's national security team.

Tillerson was quickly sworn in during a ceremony in the Oval Office, where Trump showered him with praise.

Senators voted 56-43 to approve the former Exxon Mobil CEO after Democrats mounted a vocal yet unsuccessful campaign to derail the bid

Tillerson also will have to deal with any fallout stemming from Trump's executive order on immigration and travel that halts entry for 90 days to citizens from seven majority-Muslim nations.

Tillerson received an honorific - the Order of Friendship - from Putin's government in 2013.

Democrats pressed their case against Tillerson right up until the vote.

ANSWER: Russia

Explanation:
India and Russia held high level consultations on counter terrorism in New Delhi.

The sides shared views on threat assessment posed by terrorists including India's concern on state sponsored, cross border terrorism.

The Indian side was led by Secretary East from MEA Preeti Saran. Russian delegation was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Oleg V. Syromolotov.

The two countries shared concerns regarding the emergence of Afghanistan Pakistan region as the epicentre of terrorism.

Successful experiences in countering radicalisation and terrorism were also discussed.

Both sides agreed that the UNSC Sanctions List 1267 for blacklisting terrorists and terror entities must be stringently complied.

Emphasis was also made on prospects for deepening engagement on counter terrorism under BRICS, SCO and UN.

A joint action plan will also be framed for sharing insights and exchange of best practices in curbing terrorism and countering radicalisation.

UNSC Sanctions List Resolution 1267 : Know More

• Date: 15 October 1999
• Code S/RES/1267 (Document)
• Subject: The situation in Afghanistan
• Voting summary: 15 voted for/None voted against/None abstained
• Result: Adopted
• United Nations Security Council resolution 1267 was adopted unanimously on 15 October 1999.
• This was after recalling resolutions 1189 (1998), 1193 (1998) and 1214 (1998) on the situation in Afghanistan.
• Council designated Osama bin Laden and associates as terrorists and established a sanctions regime to cover individuals and entities associated with Al-Qaida, Osama bin Laden and/or the Taliban.