Current Affairs Questions & Answers - June 26, 2016

ANSWER: Both a and c

Explanation:
Colombian government and FARC rebels signed a ceasefire and disarmament agreement ending conflict that has killed many people.

• Deal brings an end to Latin America’s longest civil war that had torn apart the country with shootings and bombardments.
• Deal established bilateral ceasefire and ends hostilities and marks a historic day for the country
• As per the agreement the FARC must hand over weapons to UN monitors within 6 months

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
London Court of Arbitration has ordered TATA Sons to pay Japan’s largest mobile phone firm NTT DOCOMO USD 1.17 billion in compensation for breaching an agreement on a JV

• In January 2015, NTT DOCOMO Inc of the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp filed a request against TATA Sons claiming latter had failed to find a buyer for the DOCOMO stake in TTSL
• The London Court ordered TATA Sons to pay DOCOMO US $1172 million for breach of the shareholders agreement
• Japan’s largest communications service provider entered the country by acquiring a stake in Tata Teleservices for USD 2.7 billion after the Indian telco was granted dual technology license that permitted CDMA operators to offer rival GSM based services as well.

ANSWER: NASA

Explanation:
NASA and ISRO are working together to develop synthetic aperture radar satellite for observing and measuring ecosystem disturbances, ice sheet collapses and natural hazards

Data gathered from the mission will be used to build climate resiliency and save lives

Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology Pune is working with NOAA to develop high resolution seasonal and long term climate forecasts to prepare for the monsoon.
Ambassador Rahul Verma said climate change was the foremost problem of the world along with WMD in a conference sponsored by Department of State in partnership with Institute for Sustainable Communicates and CED

ANSWER: Tridymite

Explanation:
NASA’s Curiosity Rover has discovered tridymite, a mineral in a rock sample on Mars indicating that the red planet hosts explosive volcanoes during its evolution. Mars Science Lab rover Curiosity has been working with Gale Crater rocks since 2012

• Analysis from X-ray diffraction instrument on the rover detected silica mineral called tridymite which is associated with silicic volcanism
• This provides deeper explanation of volcanic activity in Mars

ANSWER: Neil O’Brien

Explanation:
Neil O’Brien pioneer of quizzing in India and leader of the Anglo Indian community passed away at the age of 82 on 24th June 2016 in Kolkata

• A former LS member he was also an educationist and a 3 time nominated Anglo Indian MLA in West Bengal
• His son Derel O’Brien is an Indian television personality and MP for All India Trinamool Congress
• He conducted the first well organised formal quiz in 1967 at Christ the King Church Parish Hall in Kolkata
• He also served as OUP MD and council for the Indian School certificate as chairman from December 1993 to July 2011
• He also headed the Frank Anthony group of schools

ANSWER: International Olympic Day

Explanation:
The 2016 Summer Olympics host city Rio de Janeiro launched its athletes village to mark the day

• Brazilian city will host the XXXI Olympiad between 5-21 August 2016
• International Olympic Day is celebrated since 1948 when it was initiated for the commencement of the games on 23rd June 1948 at Sorbonne in Paris.
• There are three main pillars of the IOC day-discover, learn and move
• Three pillars of sports are deployed by the National Olympic Committee into sports, educational and cultural activities

ANSWER: 25th June

Explanation:
Day of the Seafarer 2016 was observed across the world on 25th June 2016 and the theme for the year is At Sea For All.

• This theme has clear links with 2016 World Maritime Day theme as Shipping: Indispensable to the World
• Themes highlight that seafarers serve at sea for the entire world
• Day of the Seafarer is observed across the world for contribution to civil and economic society

ANSWER: CNG

Explanation:
Union Government on 23rd June 2016 launched India’s first pilot program to run two wheelers on CNG in New Delhi.

• This program was launched by Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas as well as Prakash Javadekar, Minister of State for Environment, Forests & Climate Change
• Programme is implemented by GAIL and IGL
• It is implemented under the Hawa Badlo movement supported by GAIL

ANSWER: Yasmin Sooka

Explanation:
Yasmin Sooka, the South African Indian origin lawyer and long time human rights activist was appointed to chair the UN commission on 24th June 2016

• Commission will monitor human rights situation in Southern Sudan and ensure recommendations for their improvement
• Sooka will serve with Kenneth Scott from the US and Godfrey Musila of Kenya on the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan.
• At the time of appointment, she was EF of the Foundation for Human Rights in S. Africa. Earlier, she had served on the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission established by former president Nelson Mandela from 1996-2001 assisting with the final report of the Commission

ANSWER: ADB

Explanation:
The Asian Development Bank on 24th June 2016 approved USD 500 million loan to build a road bridge across the river Ganga near Patna in Bihar.

• This 9.8 km bridge will be India’s longest river bridge
• It will provide vital transport links between northern and southern parts of Bihar and with neighbouring Nepal.
• A key feature will be year round embarkment access for 250,000 inhabitants of the Ragophur Diara river island ending reliance on boats and seasonal pontoon bridges as only link to Patna.
• Bridge using state of the art engineering techniques will be the first of its kind in India
• Bihar government will provide support equivalent to 215 million US dollars

ANSWER: Anil Kumble

Explanation:
Anil Kumble, the former India test captain and country’s most successful bowler was named the coach of men’s cricket team.

• The announcement was made in Dharamshala where the BCCI is holding its first annual cricket conclave
• Ravi Shastri was rumoured to be bating coach
• This is the first coaching role for India’s great match winner Anil Kumble
• He has been mentor for RCB and MI in the IPL
• He also chairs the ICC cricket committee

ANSWER: IIFA

Explanation:
Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto will debut at the International Indian Film Academy Gala in Madrid.

• IIFA is known as Bollywood’s Oscars
• US Based Indian actress will be honoured with the international icon award at the 17th edition of the gala.
• Some of her other movies include Day of the Falcon, Immortals and Desert Dancer
• She will also be joining Michelle Obama in the Let Girls Learn initiative

ANSWER: Voices of our Future Award

Explanation:
Social activist Urmila Chanam was awarded the Voices of Our Future Award by social networking platform World Pulse connecting women from 190 countries across the world to amplify women’s voices and speed up change

• The other two recipients are Sadaf Kashif from Pakistan and Carolyn Seaman from Nigeria who were honoured for creating awareness on child marriage and women empowerment.
• Chanam has worked in the field of menstrual hygiene and also raised awareness through Breaking the Silence, a campaign which has won her awards such as UNFPA National Laadli Award in 2015 for the Best Social media Campaign In India