Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Oct 23, 2015

ANSWER: Anirban Lahiri

Explanation:
Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri won the inaugural Hilton Asian Tour Golfer of the Month Award based on his performance in the months from June to September. Lahiri (b 1987) turned professional in 2007. He has also won the Arjuna Award for Golf, besides being the first Indian to be part of the President Cups International team. He is ranked 39th in the world and is currently leading the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

ANSWER: China

Explanation:
Britain has signed a landmark nuclear deal with China on 21st October 2015 to open the nation’s first nuclear power plant since the 80s. The agreement is between EDF and CGN to build the power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset. During President Xi’s 4 day visit to the UK, more than 30 billion pounds worth of deals are expected to be signed.

ANSWER: Van Gogh

Explanation:
Scientists have found that the colour of Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers is changing across time due to mixture of pigments used in the painting. The study also identified areas of the painting that should be monitored particularly closely for any changes. van Gogh (1853-1890) is known for his use of chrome/bright yellows, a class of compounds including lead, chromium and oxygen. Lighter shades had sulphur mixed in them. Three versions of the painting are currently on dupls. in London, Tokyo and Amsterdam museums.

ANSWER: Carolina Marin

Explanation:
Ace Indian badminton player S. Nehwal lost her World Number 1 spot to World Champion Carolina Marin in an update of BWF rankings on 22nd October 2015. Her performance in the previous two tournaments- Japan Open and Denmark Open has led to a fall to position no.2 in women’s singles. P. V. Sindhu retained the rank 13 despite reaching the Denmark Open final. In men’s singles, players like K. Srikanth, P. Kashyap and H. S. Prannoy dropped in rankings.

ANSWER: September

Explanation:
September 2015 was the hottest month ever recorded since records were being kept in January 1880, as announced by US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Of 5 consecutive months commencing from May within this year, the year has broken all previous records for higher temperatures, according to the NOAA monthly State of Climate Global Analysis. High temperature indicates uncontrolled effect of rising GHG in the atmosphere. The report also found that oceans were warmer than the average across rapid expanses and the year had witnessed the one of the strongest El Nino recorded. India has faced a 14 percent deficit in monsoon rains.

ANSWER: South Asia

Explanation:
India is the leading trade facilitation performer in the South Asian sub region. Singapore and Korea lead East Asia in effective movement of goods, as per a UNESCAP repot entitled Global Report of the Trade Facilitation and Paperless Trade Implementation Survey. This report was launched by UNESCAP with 4 UN regional commissions on 22nd October 2015. This is the first global report regarding implementation of measures for simplifying import, export and transit procedures. Russia and Turkey lead in Europe and Central Asia, as per the report. Next generation trade facilitation measures also have the potential to lower costs and increase trade.

ANSWER: Excess Inflation

Explanation:
Regardless of the fact that overall inflation has fallen considerably in past few months, the benefits will not be distributed equally with rate of price rise higher in rural as compared to urban areas. Rural inflation has not fallen as much as urban inflation. Excess inflation rural India is facing is across major sub categories such as core, food and fuel. Structural bottlenecks are preventing rural areas from benefiting from global disinflation, according to the report.

ANSWER: Cav-1

Explanation:
Researchers have found that increasing cholesterol binding membrane protein in nerve cells within the brain can lead to improvements in learning and memory. This is a novel method for treatment of diseases involving nervous system degeneration and highlights the importance of brain cholesterol. Study highlights a specific membrane protein known as Cav-1 ( caveolin-1) which expands the comprehension of neuro-plasticity.

ANSWER: Caucasian parsley frog

Explanation:
A rare frog species found in hidden caves in forested region between Russia and Georgia are dependant on bats to survive. Caucasian parsley frogs display considerable preference for caves with bat colonies as insects breeding in bat waste provide good source of food. This study shows how important bats are for the ecology. It also demonstrates the importance of protecting bat colonies.

ANSWER: Pakistan

Explanation:
Pakistan will become the world’s fifth largest nuclear weapons state as per a report by a leading US based think tank which projected the country’s stockpile to rise by 250 warheads within a span of 10 years. Pakistan has estimated nuclear stockpile of close to 130 warheads up from 110 warheads in 2011, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Stock pile could rise by 250 in 2025, making it the fifth largest nuclear weapon state. Six type of currently operational nuclear ballistic missiles are also there with two more under development. Pakistan also has 2 cruise missions on the anvil.

ANSWER: Andhra Pradesh

Explanation:
As per the pact, the AP Investment Task Force will be established in Japan for the acceleration of industrial development in the state. Japan State METI minister Y. Takagi and Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu signed the Memorandum of Cooperation. As per the MoC, there will be further investments by Japanese companies in the state. Some of the agencies which have partnered with METI include JBIC, JETRO, JICA and NEDO.

ANSWER: Patricia

Explanation:
This hurricane is set to reach the Mexican coast on 23rd October 2015. This hurricane is strengthening and its maximum sustained winds increased on 22nd October to 100mph. Patricia is centred about 240 miles south-southwest of Lazaro Cardenas with movement to west-northwest at 17 mph. Hurricane warning is from Mexican coast from Cabo Corrientes to Punta San Telmo, a stretch of coastline that includes the port city of Manzanillo.

ANSWER: Viom

Explanation:
American Tower Corp has agreed to purchase 51 percent controlling stake in Indian mobile mast company Viom Networks for INR 7600 or USD 1.17 billion for expansion. India is the world’s second largest telecommunications market by number of users. ATC will combine 14,000 communication towers with Viom’s 42,200 creating the second largest Indian mobile mast operator as per number of towers. India’s mobile phone carriers are concentrating on spreading 3G and 4G broadband networks where two thirds of the population is under 35 and income levels are expanding fast. Currently, Indus Towers a JV of three top mobile phone carrier companies in India is India’s biggest telecom tower company with close to 100,000 towers. While Credit Suisse advised Viom networks for the deal, Kotak Investment Banking and Evercore advised ATC.

ANSWER: Robert Mugabe

Explanation:
Robert Mugabe, who is accused of using violence and torture in Zimbabwe to capture power has become the latest recipient of China’s Confucius Prize beating competition from Microsoft founder Bill Gates and S. Korean president Park Geun-hye. News of his winning award sparked outrage and ridicule among opposition groups and human rights activists.

ANSWER: TIFR

Explanation:
Mumbai’s TIFR scientists have published a research paper on developing a vaccine for malaria. The TIFR team identified a group of proteins present on the malaria spreading plasmodium parasite and combined their finding with research to produce antibodies to fend off malarial infection. Currently there are emerging medicine resistant malaria strains. The TIFR team found a five-amino-acid segment that is of prime importance to the malarial parasite. Blocking the protein will prevent spread of the malarial parasite.