Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Feb 28, 2017

ANSWER: P Shiva Shankar

Explanation:
Former Union Minister P Shiva Shankar passed away in Hyderabad, Telangana after prolonged illness. He was 88.

He also served as Governor of Sikkim and Kerala.

He started his political career elected from Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency in 1979 on the Congress party ticket.

He had served Law Minister in the Indira Gandhi Cabinet in 1980. From 1985 to 1993, he represented the Congress as Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat.

He also had served as External Affairs and Human Resource Development Minister.

ANSWER: Russia

Explanation:
Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (AEOI) has made the announcement that Russia and Iran have reached an agreement to jointly produce nuclear fuel.

The preliminary, basic agreement with Russia on the joint production of nuclear fuel was reached during the nuclear negotiations between Iran and P5+1 nations (major world powers) in 2015.

Iran has come up with a roadmap for the joint production, which will take two years to be implemented. Besides, it will buy 950 tonnes of uranium from Kazakhstan.

This buying is part of Iran’s international nuclear deal known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and P5+1 nations.

Russia: Know More

• Capital: Moscow
• Currency: Russian rouble
• President: Vladimir Putin
• Population: 143.5 million (2013) World Bank
• Prime minister: Dmitry Medvedev

ANSWER: Israel

Explanation:
India and Israel are planning to hold a series of events to celebrate 25 years of establishment of their diplomatic ties.

Both countries will hold a series of events on a variety of subjects to celebrate the occasion in a befitting manner.

India had established full diplomatic relationship with Israel in 1992 though it had recognised the country in 1950.

Both countries have been collaborating with each other on many fronts including cooperation in defence and agriculture and achieved milestones in fostering bilateral relationship.

Both countries are also committed to further deepening and diversifying the relation in many areas including those of space, science and technology, education and innovation.

Israel: Know More

• Capital: Jerusalem
• Code: +972
• Currency: Israeli new shekel
• President: Reuven Rivlin
• Prime minister: Benjamin Netanyahu

ANSWER: Mag the Mighty

Explanation:
Neil Fingleton, a 7-foot 7-inch actor who played the giant, Mag the Mighty, in “Game of Thrones” has died at 36.

The Tall Persons Club says Mr. Fingleton, who was Britain’s tallest man, died on 25th Feb 2017.

British media reported the cause as heart failure.

Fingleton was recognized by Guinness World Records in 2007 as the U.K.’s tallest man.

Born in northeast England in 1980, Fingleton told the Guinness records website in 2006 that he has always been taller than everyone since he can remember.

In the “Games of Thrones,” Mag was a giant on the northern side of the great ice wall that was guarded by Lord Commander Jon Snow and the black-clad men of the Night’s Watch.

Neil Fingleton: Know More

• Born: 18 December 1980, Durham, England, United Kingdom
• Died: 25 February 2017
• Height: 2.33 m
• Weight: 168 kg
• Movies: X-Men: First Class

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
At the ISSF World Cup in Karni Singh Ranges in New Delhi, pistol shooters Jitu Rai and Heena Sidhu partnered each other to win the gold badge on 27th Feb 2017.

The 11 Gurkha Regiment shooter, Jitu Rai, who was the only shooter to clinch gold at the 2014 Asian Games at Incheon.

He has several World Cup medals to his credit, teamed up with Heena Sidhu in the ‘Mixed team Event’ to clinch the ‘badge’ for India.

Mixed Team event is making its debut in the opening World Cup of the season and medals are not being awarded even though the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) executive committee has ratified the recommendations.

Once the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gives its approval to the ISSF changes, the event will become ‘official’.

The recommendations to include mixed gender event was given by the Abhinav Bindra-led ISSF Athletes Committee and the world governing body soon ratified the proposal.

Teaming up with Heena Sidhu, the duo emerged on top and broke a string of disappointing performances by Indian shooters.

Indian shooters managed just one bronze medal, through Pooja Ghatkar in 10m air rifle.

Jitu and Heena defeated Japan's Yukari Konishi and Tomoyuki Matsuda 5-3 in the final. Slovenia's Naphaswan Yangpaiboon and Kevin Venta were placed third.

The recommendations to include mixed gender event was given by the Abhinav Bindra-led ISSF Athletes Committee and the world governing body soon approved the proposal.

Pooja Ghatkar: Know More

• Earlier, Pooja Ghatkar won the women's 10m air rifle bronze to give India its first medal in the competition.
• The 28-year-old Ghatkar is a former Asian champion.
• She shot 228.8 in the final of 10m air rifle to finish third on the podium and win her maiden World Cup medal.

ANSWER: A JV together

Explanation:
Japan's Softbank Group and Taiwan's Foxconn (known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co before this) on 24th Feb 2017 announced they would operate a JV together, deepening ties between Asia's largest technology firms.

Move will give Foxconn 54.5 percent in Softbank's existing subsidiary for USD 600 million; this comes as both groups step up investments in technology sector and consider expansion in the US.

Under the arrangement, a unit of Foxconn will invest $600 million for a majority stake in Softbank Group Capital Apac Pte Ltd.

This will be effectively transforming what had been a wholly-owned Softbank unit into a joint venture.

In December plans from the two companies on possibly expanding investment in the United States were revealed after a meeting between billionaire Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son and Donald Trump.

Foxconn is taking over SoftBank’s Asia-based tech investment fund.

The manufacturing giant, which is responsible for producing Apple’s iPhone among many other tech products, has agreed to buy a majority 54.5 percent stake in SoftBank Asia Capital in exchange for $600 million, according to a filing.

The deal is scheduled to go through March 1, after which time SoftBank Asia Capital will no longer be a SoftBank affiliate. A SoftBank representative confirmed that the agreement will see Foxconn become the decision maker on investments for the fund.

Foxconn itself said the fund would blend SoftBank’s investment expertise with its leadership in advanced manufacturing and technology services and global presence.

The establishment of this joint venture is in line with Foxconn’s overall investment strategy and will enable the company to explore and tap new investment opportunities that will drive Foxconn’s sustainable business development.

The Taiwan-headquartered company may be synonymous with production, but it is no stranger to doing deals.

Its investments include India-based chat app Hike, China’s top ride-sharing firm Didi Chuxing, selfie app and selfie phone maker Meitu, 360 degree camera maker Lytro, and hot Chinese bike rental startup Mobike.

Foxconn is one LP in SoftBank’s new Vision fund, which also includes contributions from Apple, Qualcomm and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison’s family office.

The Vision Fund is targeting a $100 billion raise, and real estate startup WeWork may be one of its first deals.

Softbank: Know More

• Founder: Masayoshi Son
• Founded: 3 September 1981, Tokyo, Japan
• Headquarters: Minato, Tokyo, Japan
• Revenue: 9.15 trillion JPY (2015)
• Subsidiaries: Yahoo! Japan, SOFTBANK CORP., Sprint Corporation, GungHo Online Entertainment Inc

ANSWER: 6 million

Explanation:
NASA aims to send its first robotic spacecraft to the Sun in 2018 and is slated to get within 6 million kms of the blazing star to probe the atmosphere.

Humans have sent spacecrafts to Mars, moon and interstellar space. NASA will now launch Solar Probe Plus mission to the Sun.

The sun is about 149 million km from earth.

Mission will unveil why the surface of the Sun called the photosphere is not as hot as the atmosphere called the corona.

NASA has indicated that the sizzling temperature of the Sun's atmosphere above is a sizzling 2 million degrees Celsius.

The surface temperature of the Sun is only around 5,500 degree celsius.

As you move away from the centre to the atmosphere, it is hotter which is one of the puzzles of the sun.

Scientists also want to know how solar winds get speed. The Sun blows a stream of charged particles in all directions at a million miles an hour. But scientists do not understand how that gets accelerated.

The mission may also ascertain why the Sun occasionally emits high-energy particles that are a danger to unprotected astronauts and spacecraft.

NASA has designed an 11.4 centimetres carbon-composite shield, which is designed to withstand temperatures outside the spacecraft of 1,370 degrees Celsius.

The unmanned probe will have special heat tubes called thermal radiators that will radiate heat that permeates the heat shield to open space, so it does not go to the instruments, which are sensitive to heat.

Sun: Know More

• Distance to Earth: 149.6 million km
• Surface temperature: 5,778 K
• Radius: 695,700 km
• Mass: 1.989 × 10^30 kg
• Orbits: Galactic Centre
• Spectral type: G2V

ANSWER: Gigabit

Explanation:
ZTE announced the launch of Gigabit - the world’s first 5G-ready smartphone at a MWC event on 26th February.

The company says the smartphone is capable of download speeds reaching up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps).

With the new device, the way people stay connected will be changed forever.

Focusing on 5G technologies will be one of the key priorities of ZTE's global development.

The device is powered by Snapdragon 835’s advanced X16 LTE modem along with 4x4 MIMO antenna technology and 256-QM modulation.

The device will reportedly allow users to experience 360-degree panoramic Virtual Reality video and fast downloads of ultra Hi-Fi audio and videos.

As expected, ZTE has launched its Gigabit smartphone at the MWC event.

It is the first one to come with Qualcomm's top-end Snapdragon 835 chipset that is being produced by Samsung.

ZTE Gigabit is also the first in the world to have a consumer-ready 5G technology to attain gigabit speeds on a supported cellular network.

The phone utilizes Snapdragon 835's advanced X16 LTE modem along with 4x4 MIMO antenna technology and 256-QM modulation to achieve speeds even available on most routers for home-use.

Intel chips deploying its XMM 7560 modem and Samsung's Exynos Series 9 chipset also support gigabit LTE speeds.

The latest network technology currently being developed and tested is over the 4G LTE, but not exactly 5G or fifth generation of network.

Though many OEMs have started to work on 5G-capable devices, which will offer faster-than-Wi-Fi connectivity speeds enabling to download full movies within seconds.

Faster LTE networks work through their testing phase and are not launched anywhere. The 5G standardization and application of key 5G technologies to the existing network and will establish collaborations with leading chip makers and Tier 1 operators to develop 5G network architecture.

The one ZTE demonstrated at the MWC booth is its self-developed Pre5G Giga+ Mobile Broadband (MBB) solution.

The connectivity speeds demonstrated on the device are about three times faster than 4G LTE smartphones, allowing streaming of 360-degree VR and instant cloud storage.

ZTE: Know More

• ZTE Corporation, commonly shortened to ZTE, is a Chinese multinational telecommunications equipment and systems company.
• It is headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong.
• ZTE operates in three business units: carrier networks, terminals and telecommunication. Wikipedia
• Headquarters: Shenzhen, China
• Revenue: 81.47 billion CNY (2014)
• Founded: 1985, Shenzhen, China

ANSWER: Rajasthan Heart Attack Treatment Programme

Explanation:
A massive percentage of deaths due to heart attacks is a cause for concern. Health department of Rajasthan has opened non communicable disease clinics in different districts. Adding further to this is RAHAT or Rajasthan Heart Attack Treatment Programme aiming to reduce death percentage due to heart attack.

The project was launched by Rajasthan CM V. Raje. RAHAT is a STEMI (Heart Attack) management Telemedicine platform.

It captures and transmits the patient's EKG (electrocardiogram) along with clinical history from remote geographical locations to the Heart Command Centre HCC Hub.

RAHAT Founder Dr. Sameer Mehta has said the project will cover towns and villages 100 km of Jaipur city.

This project will aid poor and middle level persons in the state.

The project is running in 32 countries where the death percentage due to heart attack is 5 percent.

It is currently 15 percent in India.

ANSWER: 27^th Feb

Explanation:
Chandra Shekhar Azad's 86^th Martyrdom Day was observed on 27^th Feb 2017.

Chandra Shekhar Azad was born on 23^rd July 1906. His birthplace was Bhavra, Alirajpur. He died on 27th Feb 1931 in Allahabad.

He lived for 24 years and died for the country.

Chandra Shekhar Azad: Know More

- Born: 23 July 1906, Bhavra

- Died: 27 February 1931, Allahabad

- Full name: Chandra Shekhar Tiwari

- Education: Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith

ANSWER: Both of the above

Explanation:
Apple Inc and German software maker SAP SE has launched a tool for helping developers build iPhone apps for big businesses.

The software tool is set for release on March 30 and is designed to permit developers to easily feed data between SAP's business linked software system and Apple's customer centric iOS mobile platform.

Most of the SAP systems are used on personal computers rather than mobile devices. SAP will change this by working with Apple to make software tools that can access its systems from apps on iPhone or iPad.

The tool can let employees log into business applications with fingerprint readers on iPhones rather than passwords. This could also replace bulky inventory scanning gun used in warehouses with iPhones.

With the iPhone sales diminishing in numbers, Apple has launched partnerships with IBM, Cisco and Deloitte & Touche LLP to help businesses access iOS apps.

SAP partnership also gives iOS developers a way to gain revenue in an era where the App Store's growth is driven by downloads in China and by game makers.

Apple in 2017 said that developers made an amount of USD 20 billion from the app store in 2016, marking an increase of 40% since 2015.

Business apps could help Apple compete efficiently against Microsoft Corp whose window software dominates in the corporate world.

SAP SE: Know More

• CEO: Bill McDermott (since 21 May 2014)
• Headquarters: Walldorf, Germany
• Revenue: 22.06 billion EUR (2016)
• Subsidiaries: Hybris, SuccessFactors, Fieldglass, SAP Ariba, etc

ANSWER: Table Tennis

Explanation:
The world’s first robot table tennis tutor named FORPHEUS in Japan has set a new Guinness World Record for its unique ability of being able to play the game better than most humans.

It has been given the Guinness title for its advanced technological intelligence and educational capabilities.

FORPHEUS is for Future Omron Robotics Technology for Exploring Possibility of Harmonised aUtomation with Sinic Theoretics.

Its goal is to harmonise humans and robots, by way of teaching the game of table tennis to human players.

It has cutting-edge vision and motion sensors which it uses to gauge movement during a match.

ANSWER: Moonlight

Explanation:
Given below is the complete list of Oscar 2017 winners

Best Picture	Moonlight	Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner
Actor in a Leading Role	Casey Affleck	Manchester by the Sea
Actress in a Leading Role	Emma Stone	La La Land
Actor in a Supporting Role	Mahershala Ali	Moonlight
Actress in a Supporting Role	Viola Davis	Fences
Animated Feature Film	Zootopia	Byron Howard, Rich Moore and Clark Spencer
Cinematography	La La Land	Linus Sandgren
Costume Design	Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them	Colleen Atwood
Directing	La La Land	Damien Chazelle
Documentary (Feature)	O.J.: Made in America	Ezra Edelman and Caroline Waterlow
Documentary (Short)	The White Helmets	Orlando von Einsiedel and Joanna
Film Editing	Hacksaw Ridge	John Gilbert
Foreign Language Film	The Salesman	Iran; Directed by Asghar Farhadi
Makeup and Hairstyling	Suicide Squad	Alessandro Bertolazzi, Giorgio
Music (Original Score)	La La Land	Justin Hurwitz
Music (Original Song)	"City Of Stars" from La La Land	Music by Justin Hurwitz
Production Design	La La Land	David Wasco (Production Design)
Writing (Original)	Manchester by the Sea	Written by Kenneth Lonergan
Writing (Adapted)	Moonlight	Screenplay by Barry Jenkins;
Visual Effects	The Jungle Book	Robert Legato, Adam Valdez, Andrew
Sound Mixing	Hacksaw Ridge	Kevin O'Connell, Andy Wright
Short Film (Animated)	Piper	Alan Barillaro and Marc Sondheimer
Short Film (Live Action)	Sing	Kristof Deák and Anna Udvardy
Sound Editing	Arrival	Sylvain Bellemare