Current Affairs Questions & Answers - July 03, 2016

ANSWER: Elie Wiesel

Explanation:
Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel has passed away. The activist and writer who won a Nobel Peace Prize for becoming the voice of millions of Holocaust victims has died at the age of 87.

• Romanian born Wiesel lived by the motto in his landmark Holocaust story “to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time.”
• Peace Prize was awarded to the writer and activist in 1986
• He also received the Congressional Gold Medal in 1985
• Wiesel also attended the joint session of the US Congress in 2015 when Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the dangers of Iran’s program
• Wiesel and his foundation were also victims of Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme

ANSWER: Logistics Data Services

Explanation:
A new facility to enable online tracking of containers has been introduced at the JNPT to help track movement of containers on a real time basis becoming the first Indian port to install such a technology.

• The facility was introduced by DMICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd, a joint venture of the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Trust and NEC Corporation of Japan
• It aims to bring transparency in the container movement and cut down logistics costs for trade and industry
• A JNPT top official has indicated that tags can be issued to all containers as soon after they are off-loaded
• Called Logistics Data Services, the technology will integrate the information available with numerous agencies across the supply chain to provide detailed real time data through a single window
• Containers can be tracked along the western corridor of India starting from the port and covering their movements through rail or road until they get to the Inland Container Depots and Container Freight Stations
• As far as delays are concerned, LDS will provide alerts enabling users to choose the optimal supply chain
• LDS is a game changing solution as 20 percent of the entire EXIM of India is generally locked up
• in the inventory adding to the cost of manufacturers

ANSWER: Sky Watching

Explanation:
Ancient megalithic tombs such as those used in the 6000 year old Seven Stone Antas in Portugal may have been the first astronomical tools used to watch skies millennia before telescopes were invented.

• Astronomers are exploring the first astronomical observing tool potentially used by prehistoric humans 6000 years ago
• The long narrow entrance passages to the ancient megalithic or stone tombs may have enhanced what early human cultures could see in the night sky

ANSWER: Arjuna Mahendran

Explanation:
Coomaraswamy has succeeded Arjuna Mahendran as the new governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Indirajit Coomaraswamy is a veteran economist.

• President Maithripala Sirisena announced the appointment through Twitter
• Mahendran’s tenure was marked by controversies over issuance of bonds closing at June 30
• Born in 1950, Coomaraswamy has been educated at Harrow and Royal College in Colombo.
• Coomaraswamy was holding the post of adviser at the Ministry of Development Strategies and International Trade before he was named Governor

ANSWER: All three of them

Explanation:
China on July 2nd adopted a revised law on state protected wild animals banning their hunting as well as selling and purchase of food products made from them. Law was adopted by the national legislature after the bimonthly session of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee

• Law was adopted and will take effect on January 1 2017 banning the production and sale of foods made from state protected wild animals and products derived from them
• The law also bans illegal purchase of state protected wild animals and derived products for food
• Offenders face criminal penalties according to State run Xinhua news agency
• Ban also strengthens protection of state wild animals or derived products unless for scientific research, captive breeding, population regulation and monitoring of diseases or other purposes
• Additionally, the law stipulated that animals bred under controlled conditions through mature methods may be moved from the China special state protection list

ANSWER: Kukrail centre

Explanation:
The ghariyal rehabilitation centre was set up in 1975 with around 300 ghariyals, in Kulrail.

• Since then, this centre has been artificially rearing ghariyal eggs.
• It was a biodiversity heritage site approved as endangered species of the forest department gave its sanction
• Proposal has been approved by the state cabinet and there are 13 species of turtles as well.
• At least three of the species breed at the centre
• Spread over 10 ha, the centre is a visible ecosystem in urban settings and offers ecological security

ANSWER: USA

Explanation:
President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended greetings and felicitations to Government and people of the United States of America on the eve of their Independence Day which is July 4, 2016.

• Current president of the US is Barack Obama

ANSWER: Rwanda

Explanation:
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended his greetings to the government and people of the Republic of Rwanda on the eve of their national day on July 4, 2016

• The current president of the Republic of Rwanda is Paul Kagame
• Rwanda is currently commemorating 22nd year marking the end of genocide in 2016

ANSWER: Belarus

Explanation:
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee has extended greetings and felicitations to the Government and people of the Republic of Belarus on the eve of their Independence Day(July 3, 2016).

• The current president of the Republic of Belarus is Alexander Lukashenko