Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Jan 04, 2017

ANSWER: Vijaywada

Explanation:
CM of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu on Dec 1 2016 launched the NTR Arogya Raksha Scheme in Vijayawada.

The scheme aims to provide medical treatment to APL or Above Poverty Line at INR 1200 premium per annum.

Medical insurance is for those not covered under existing state government health schemes.

NTR Arogya Seva has been already launched for BPL families.

Scheme provides medical treatment for 1044 health and medical ailments.

The scheme also provides treatment free of cost at both corporate and government hospitals.

A similar service was launched for employees and journalists through health cards.

Health care spending in the state is at 17% after 30 initiatives were launched in 2016.

Students of medicine, nursing, psychology and home science were also asked to improve public health through the Swasthya Vidya Vahini.

Highlights of NTR Arogya Raksha Scheme

• As per the scheme, end-to-end cashless services will be provided for 1044 diseases under secondary care.
• Also tertiary care through 432 government and private hospitals will be provided.
• Scheme will offer INR 2 lakh and free treatment.
• APL families will avail benefits by paying monthly installment of INR 100 per month/per person.
• People can register for the scheme at Mee Seva centres till Feb 28, 2017.

ANSWER: Huston Smith

Explanation:
Huston Smith, called the “Ambassador to the World's Religions” who said he believed in the best of all faiths has died at the age of 97 on Jan 3, 2016.

He travelled the world visiting mosques, temples, ashrams, gurdwaras, monasteries and churches.

He was also close to swamis, gurus, lamas, monks and maulvis.

The Indophile was an inter-faith leader.

One of the greatest historians of religion and philosophy, he believed in numerous religions from Hinduism to Islam.

He was known for his classic book “The Religions of Man” published in 1958.

He remained in the Methodist faith and said he moved to a new idiom for expressing the same basic truths.

He practiced and studied Vedanta after graduating from University of Chicago.

ANSWER: KV Pusa

Explanation:
Former President of the Pradesh Congress Committee/ NPCC KV Pusa passed away on Jan 2, 2016 a the age of 63.

He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

Other than serving the political career, Pusa led various farmers, student and sports organizations.

He was a sitting member of AICC.

He had served as Minister for Veterinary and Animal Husbandry during 1998-1999.

He was also Minister for Roads and Bridges in the 2000-2003 period in the Jamir state government in Nagaland.

He joined the Congress in 1998.

Pusa won the state assembly elections in 1993 as an independent candidate from Southern Angami in Kohima.

He served as PRO/PS of the CM during 1979-1982 and as Protocol Officer from 1984 to 1998.

A member of the Naga Assembly in opposition for two terms (2003-2008 and 2008-2013).

He was chairman of renowned educational institutions like Baptist English and Mezhur HSS.

ANSWER: Conduent

Explanation:
US based Conduent on 3rd Jan 2017 completed its separation from Xerox.

It has launched itself as a business process services leader with USD 6.7 billion in annual revenue.

With close to 93,000 employees in more than 40 nations, Conduent is a top Fortune 500 company.

It has expertise in transaction intensive processing, analytics and automation.

The CEO of Conduent is Ashok Vemuri.

The company handles more than 2.5 million contact centre interactions daily.

It services 8.9 million who pass through managed toll systems representing 46% of the US toll collections.

Know More About Xerox

• CEO: Ursula Burns (from Jul 1, 2009 to present)
• Headquarters: Norwalk, Connecticut, United States
• Revenue: 18.04 billion USD (2015)
• Founders: Joseph C. Wilson, Chester Carlson

ANSWER: Both of the above

Explanation:
SC on 2^nd Jan 2017 passed a ruling stating that re-promulgation of an ordinance was a fraud on the Constitution.

It also ruled that ordinances passed by the President and State Governors by bypassing the legislature are not immune from judicial review.

Decision was taken by a constitution bench comprising 7 justices headed by CJ TS Thakur with a majority of 6-1.

The bench states that since an ordinance has the same force as law passed by legislature, it should be placed before the parliament at centre or state level.

Failure in placing the ordinance before the Parliament or state legislature would be a serious constitutional violation.

Apart from CJ Thakur, all others including Justices Uday Umesh Lalit, L. Nageswara Rao, Adarsh Kumar Goel and SA Bobde agreed to the decision.

The ruling also said the court would review if the President or Governor would implement the ordinance based on relevant or ulterior motives.

No legal rights will be given to beneficiaries of ordinance after expiry/withdrawal.

The riling came with the re-promulgation of the Bihar Sanskrit Schools Ordinance (1989).

The Bihar state govt approached SC following Patna HC verdict which stated repeated promulgation of the ordinance was unconstitutional.

ANSWER: Lefamulin

Explanation:
Researchers from Israel headed by Nobel laureate Ada E. Yonath is set to develop an effective drug to fight disease resistant pathogens,

The genetic solution to the menace of antibiotic resistance to a plethora of diseases such as TB and hospital acquired infections, it targets a bacteria called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Pathogens developing resistance to antibiotics are a real threat.

The novel molecule called Lefamulin has been found to treat diseases resistant to set of antibiotics.

This drug targets pneumonia.

Staphylococcus aureus is fast developing resistance.

This is causing new infections to patients.

Role of ribosomes to develop new generation antibiotics is being highlighted.

What are Antibiotics Drugs?

Antibiotics and similar drugs, together are called antimicrobial agents.

They have been used for the last 70 years to treat patients who have infectious diseases.

Since the 1940s, these drugs have greatly reduced illness and death from infectious diseases.

But, with the rise of antimicrobial resistance, the drugs are losing their impact.

ANSWER: Sir Ivan Rogers

Explanation:
The UK ambassador to the EU, Sir Ivan Rogers on 3rd Jan 2016 unexpectedly resigned from the post weeks after Brexit negotiations with the economic bloc.

Senior diplomat Rogers was expected to lead Brexit negotiations with the economic bloc but said instead that leaving the EU could take up to 10 years.

Labour MP Hilary Benn is the chair of the UK Parliament Brexit Select Committee and said this will obstruct the handover.

Rogers was at the post of United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union (UKRep).

This post represents the UK in negotiations that take place in the EU.

The team is sourced from 20 UK govt departments to ensure UK policies are explained to:

• EU member states
• European Commission
• European parliament

The civil servant was set to leave his post in Nov 2017, but is stepping down earlier.

Brexit


• PM May announced invocation of A50 of the Lisbon Treaty.
• Official talks as per this treaty will be conducted on Brexit.

Organisations advocating and campaigning for a referendum:


• People's Pledge Labour for a Referendum

Leave:


• Vote Leave (official lead group)
• Business for Britain Conservatives for Britain Students for Britain Labour Leave Leave.EU
• Bpoplive (cancelled) Grassroots Out Get Britain Out The Freedom Association
• Better Off Out
• Other anti-EU advocacy organisations :
• Bruges Group Campaign for an Independent Britain
  
  Remain:
  
• Britain Stronger in Europe (official lead group) Labour In for Britain European Movement UK
• Other pro-EU advocacy organisations:
• Britain in Europe
• British Influence Business for New Europe
• New Europeans Nucleus

ANSWER: Karachi

Explanation:
A consortium of Chinese companies have purchased 40 percent of Pakistan's only stock exchange in Karachi.

This is the price Pakistan is paying in return for Chinese investments in CPEC.

CPEC is expected to cost USD 46 billion.

Karachi based Pakistan stock exchange agreed to sell the stakes for USD 85 million.

The consortium comprises three China bourses:

• Shanghai based China Financial Futures Exchange
• Shanghai Stock Exchange
• Shenzhen Stock Exchange

The above 3 have taken 30 percent of the shares.

Another two companies, Pak-China Investment Company Limited and Habib Bank Limited have picked 5 percent each.

This is the first time Chinese companies have acquired a share of a foreign stock exchange.

Another Chinese consortium has been trying to acquire the Chicago stock exchange, but is facing resistance from US senators.

China is now trying to connect Shanghai stock exchange with London.

It has recently connected this stock exchange with Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

China Securities Regulatory Commission supports this acquisition.

Shanghai stock exchange said this would improve Pak-China ties and implement the Belt and Road Initiative and CPEC both.

PSX expected the investment will bring experience, technological assistance and new products.

Market will also be internationalised.

PSX: Know More

• Formed: Jan 2016
• Formed by merger of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad stock exchanges.
• Included in emerging market index of Morgan Stanley Capital International in June 2016.
• Market reforms have accelerated with Chinese investments.
• This is making PSX appealing to global investors

ANSWER: Tuticorin

Explanation:
A breakthrough make useful products out of planet-heating CO₂ emissions has been attained.

A plant at the S. Indian industrial port of Tuticorin is capturing CO₂ from its own coal-powered boiler.

It is using it to make soda ash or baking powder.

The technology is running without subsidy which is a major advancement for carbon capture technology.

Firm says chemicals will lock up to 60 thousand tonnes of CO₂ per year.

Tuticorin plant is the first industrial scale example of CCU/carbon capture and utilisation.

This expands the market for CO₂ as a chemical raw material.

Stripping CO₂ from low concentrations in flue gas was tough.

Indian plant called Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals uses a new CO₂ stripping chemical developed by IIT investors at Carbonclean.

Less energy is required for this carbon capture technology which is less corrossive and requires smaller equipment.

The soda ash is a base chemical with a wide range of uses including glass manufacture, sweeteners, detergents and paper products.

Carbonclean believes capturing usable CO₂ can deal with perhaps 5-10% of the world’s emissions from coal.

By producing a subsidy-free carbon utilisation project, Carbonclean has made rapid strides in CCU technology.

ANSWER: Arthur Morris

Explanation:
Australian opening batsman Arthur Morris on 3 Jan 2017 was inducted into ICC Hall of Fame.

With this, Morris has become the 82^nd cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.

Aussie cricketer Morris was given the honour posthumously during the first day of the third test between Pak and Australia in Sydney.

Born on 19^th January 1922, Arthur Robert Morris played 46 test matches between 1946 and 1955.

He is one of the greatest left handed batsman of Australia.

He is known for his pivotal role in the Invincible side of Don Bradman which has made an undefeated tour of England in 1948.

He is the leading scorer in tests on tours and scored three centuries.

In 2001, he was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

He made his test debut in England.

He passed away at age 93 on Aug 22 2015.

ICC Hall of Fame: Know More

• The Hall of Fame recognises gaming legends in cricket.
• It was launched by the ICC on Jan 2, 2009 as part of ICC centenary celebrations.
• Launched in association with FICA or Federation of International Cricketers Associations, its initial inductees were 55 players in the FICA hall of fame.
• Inaugural inductees included Graham Gooch and WG Grace.
• Six women are in the hall of fame.
• The first woman in the ICC Hall of Fame is England's women cricket team captain Rachael Heyhoe-Flint.