Current Affairs Questions & Answers - Oct 29, 2015

ANSWER: Shillong

Explanation:
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports, Sarbananda Sonowal on 28 October 2015 inaugurated Games Secretariat of the SAF games at Meghalaya’s capital Shillong. This marks the first time an event of international level is taking place in NE India. The Secretariat would oversee the smooth functioning of the SAF Games.The 12th SAF Games will be held in Guwahati and Shillong from 6 February to 16 February 2016.

ANSWER: Aruna Sunderajan

Explanation:
In a top level bureaucratic reshuffle by the government, senior IAS officer Aruna Sunderajan was appointed as Secretary in the Ministry of Steel as part of a top bureaucratic reshuffle. Currently Administrator, Universal Service Obligation Fund under Department of Telecommunications. she has been appointed to replace Rakesh Singh, who superannuated on September 30, an order issued by DoPT said. She is among five new Secretaries appointed by the government.

ANSWER: A warrior’s grave

Explanation:
Archeologists digging at Pylos, an ancient city in southwest Greece has discovered a grave of a warrior buried at the dawn of European civilisation. He has a bronze sword and collection of rings, jewels and seals. This is the first time since the 1950s that such a rich tomb has been found. The warrior was buried around 1500 BC, next to the site on Pylos on which, many years later, arose the palace of Nestor, a large administrative centre that was destroyed in 1180 BC, about the same time as Homer's Troy. The palace was part of the Mycenaean civilisation.

ANSWER: Mopa, Goa

Explanation:
Centre has given the approval for an INR 3000 crore new international project at Mopa village in Goa. This airport will be developed in 4 phases and will have annual passenger capacity of 13.1 million within 30 years by 2045. This will serve business and tourism markets. Estimated cost of project in phase 1 is around INR 1500 crore. Tenders for new airport at Mopa will be finalised by 2015. The village is located in Northern Goa, around 35 km from Panaji.

ANSWER: Toshiba

Explanation:
Japan’s Toshiba Corp has made arrangements to sell its image sensor business to Sony Corp and overhaul unprofitable semiconductor business as it seeks to recover from USD 1.3 billion accounting scandal. The company will send its image censoring manufacturing plant in Oita, southern Japan to Sony towards the close of the fiscal year in March and move out of the sensor business, company indicated in a joint statement. Sony will employ the 1,100 workers of the sensor business. Deal is valued around 20 billion yen. Toshiba is also set to withdraw from its LED business which is part of the semiconductor division.

ANSWER: Wipro

Explanation:
Wipro has indicated that it has won a 5 year IT contract from Coop Norge Handel AS/Coop Norge. The latter is a leading Norwegian retailer. As per the agreement, Wipro will transform the enterprise SAP software landscape of this Norway retailer and upgrade the data centre infrastructure of the company. IT engagement will benefit supply chain and distribution operations at the Norway retailer besides other functions. This will enable Coop Norge to strengthen its operating modern with enhanced reach and availability. Coop Norge has market share of 33% with over 1500 stores.

ANSWER: 10

Explanation:
Filmmakers on 28th October 2015 returned national awards in light of rising intolerance in the country and in support of protesting FTII students. 10 filmmakers including Dibakar Banerjee, Paresh Kamdar and eight other filmmakers returned their awards while extending support to the FTII students, who have been protesting against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the institute's chairman. Other film directors who returned their awards include Lipika Singh, Nishtha Jain, Anand Patwardhan, Kirti Nakhwa, Harsh Kulkarni, Hari Nair.

ANSWER: Sylvie Lucas

Explanation:
Luxembourg ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Sylvie Lucas on 27 October 2015 was appointed as the chairperson of the Inter-Governmental Negotiations on UNSC reforms, replacing Ambassador Courtney Rattray of Jamaica. She was earlier president of UN’s ECOSOC from 2009 to 2010 and served as a diplomat in the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs before this.

ANSWER: World’s first sonic tractor beam

Explanation:
Scientists have built the world’s first sonic tractor beam which can lift and move objects through sound waves. These beams are rays which can take on and lift objects. This concept has been used by science fiction writers and programmes such as Star Trek apart from interesting scientists and engineers. This working tractor beam uses high amplitude sound waves for generating acoustic hologram to pick and move small objects.

ANSWER: Nepal

Explanation:
Communist leader B. D. Bhandari of the Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist Leninist received 327 votes as against 214 from her opponent to become the first female president of Nepal. While the president is the ceremonial head of Nepal, its leader is the PM. Bhandari (54) is the deputy leader of the party led by Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, who was elected earlier this month and leads a coalition government. The new Constitution adopted in September required Nepal to name a new President. She is an active campaigner for women’s rights and this is as per the new Constitution which says that one third of MPs have to be women and either Vice President or President must also be female. She is Nepal’s second president after it turned into a republic.

ANSWER: 74-21

Explanation:
Putting aside privacy concerns, US senate on 28th October 2015 passed the cyber security bill considered a critical step forward for addressing cyber threats and ensuring tools are in place to prevent further cyber attacks. Senate passed the bill by 74-21 votes and bill now heads for reconciliation with earlier passed House cyber security bill. The bill’s proponents have said it will deter cyber attacks through increased awareness in the cyber realm.