Current News and Affairs

The United Nations proclaimed 21 June as:

[amp_mcq option1=”International Mother Language Day” option2=”International Widows’ Day” option3=”International Day of Yoga” option4=”International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking” correct=”option3″]

The United Nations General Assembly, by resolution 69/131 adopted on 11 December 2014, proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga. The initiative was proposed by India and supported by a large number of member states.

International Days are designated by the United Nations to mark particular events or topics, in order to promote awareness and action. These days serve as a way to focus global attention on important issues.

Other dates mentioned: International Mother Language Day is February 21; International Widows’ Day is June 23; International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is June 26.

Which country won the Thomas Cup Badminton Championship, 2016 ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Indonesia” option2=”Denmark” option3=”China” option4=”Malaysia” correct=”option2″]

The correct answer is Denmark.

Denmark won the Thomas Cup Badminton Championship in 2016.

The 2016 Thomas Cup was held in Kunshan, China. In the final, Denmark defeated 14-time champions Indonesia by a score of 3-2. This victory marked Denmark’s first-ever Thomas Cup title, making them the first European nation to win the prestigious men’s international team championship.

Which of the following statements regarding recent developments in international affairs is/are correct ?

• 1. NATO’s defence ministers agree to boost support for Ukraine with a comprehensive package of assistance which will help it strengthen defence and to modernize its armed forces.
• 2. Israel announces plans for construction of dwelling units for Jewish settlers in a Palestinian neighbourhood of East Jerusalem.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”Both 1 and 2″ option4=”Neither 1 nor 2″ correct=”option3″]

The correct answer is Both 1 and 2.

Both statements reflect actual developments and ongoing issues in international affairs around the likely timeframe of this question (mid-2010s).

Statement 1: NATO defence ministers have consistently pledged and provided various forms of support to Ukraine, especially since the 2014 conflict began, aimed at strengthening its defence capabilities and modernizing its forces. Such comprehensive packages of assistance are standard practice for NATO’s relationship with partner countries like Ukraine, particularly in the context of regional security challenges.
Statement 2: The construction of Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank is a frequent action by the Israeli government that draws international criticism. Announcements and plans for building dwelling units in these areas, including Palestinian neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem, occur periodically and are a significant point of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Based on reports from the period, both types of events mentioned were occurring.

Recently Microsoft announced its 26.2 billion dollar acquisition of which one of the following professional networking sites ?

[amp_mcq option1=”PartnerUp” option2=”PerfectBusiness” option3=”StartupNation” option4=”LinkedIn” correct=”option4″]

Microsoft announced its acquisition of LinkedIn.

In June 2016, Microsoft announced its acquisition of the professional networking platform LinkedIn for a sum of $26.2 billion. This was one of the largest technology acquisitions at the time.

LinkedIn is a business and employment-focused social media platform that operates via websites and mobile apps.

Achyut Lahkar, who died recently, was a

[amp_mcq option1=”sports administrator” option2=”wildlife photographer” option3=”mobile theatre personality” option4=”bureaucrat” correct=”option3″]

Achyut Lahkar was a mobile theatre personality.

Achyut Lahkar (1931-2016) was a pioneer of mobile theatre in Assam, India. He founded the ‘Natraj Theatre’, one of the first mobile theatre groups in the state, significantly contributing to its popularity and development.

Mobile theatre is a unique form of popular theatre prevalent in Assam, where theatre groups travel across the state performing plays in temporary venues (tents or makeshift halls).

Consider the following statements:
He was an Indian journalist, editor and author. He was associated with the Statesman, the Guardian, the Times of India etc. He received the Ramnath Goenka Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. He died in June 2016.
The person referred to above is

[amp_mcq option1=”B K Karanjia” option2=”K M Mathew” option3=”Inder Malhotra” option4=”Nanasaheb Parulekar” correct=”option3″]

The person described is Inder Malhotra.

Inder Malhotra was a prominent Indian journalist, editor, and author who had a long and distinguished career associated with major newspapers like The Statesman, The Guardian, and The Times of India. He received the Ramnath Goenka Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to journalism in 2013 and passed away in June 2016.

B.K. Karanjia was primarily a film journalist and editor. K.M. Mathew was the Chief Editor of Malayala Manorama. Nanasaheb Parulekar founded the Marathi newspaper Sakal.

Who among the following was defeated by Saina Nehwal to win the women’s title of the Australian Open Super Series Badminton Tournament, 2016 ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Sun Yu” option2=”Carolina Marin” option3=”Wang Yihan” option4=”Sung Ji Hyun” correct=”option1″]

The correct answer is A. Saina Nehwal won the Australian Open Super Series Badminton Tournament women’s singles title in 2016.

In the final match of the Australian Open Super Series 2016 held in Sydney, Saina Nehwal of India defeated Sun Yu of China. Saina won the match in three games with a score of 11-21, 21-14, 21-19.

This was Saina Nehwal’s second Australian Open Super Series title, having also won it in 2014. The Super Series circuit was a series of top-level badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

The 19th Federation Cup National Senior Athletic Championships (2015) was held in:

[amp_mcq option1=”Karnataka” option2=”Haryana” option3=”Uttar Pradesh” option4=”Kerala” correct=”option1″]

The 19th Federation Cup National Senior Athletic Championships (2015) was held in Karnataka. Specifically, it was held in Mangaluru.

– The Federation Cup is a major national athletics event in India.
– The 19th edition of the senior championship took place in 2015.

– Mangaluru hosted the event at the Mangala Stadium.
– The championship serves as a platform for Indian athletes to qualify for international events and improve their national rankings.

Indian athlete Vikas Gowda is associated with:

[amp_mcq option1=”Wrestling” option2=”Sprint” option3=”Discus throw” option4=”Archery” correct=”option3″]

Indian athlete Vikas Gowda is associated with the sport of Discus throw.

– Vikas Gowda is a prominent Indian track and field athlete specializing in the discus throw.
– He has represented India in multiple international competitions, including the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games.

– Gowda won the gold medal in Discus throw at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
– He holds the Indian national record in the discus throw.

Which one of the following was the theme of the “International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers” for the year 2015?

[amp_mcq option1=”Peacekeeping is a Global Partnership” option2=”UN 70 and UN Peacekeeping: Past, Present, and Future” option3=”Women in Peacekeeping” option4=”A Force for the Future” correct=”option2″]

The correct theme for the “International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers” in 2015 was “UN 70 and UN Peacekeeping: Past, Present, and Future”.

– The International Day of UN Peacekeepers is observed annually on May 29th.
– Each year, a specific theme is chosen to highlight aspects of UN peacekeeping efforts and the contributions of peacekeepers.

– 2015 marked the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, hence the theme reflecting on the history, current state, and future direction of UN Peacekeeping within that context.
– The day pays tribute to the dedicated service and sacrifice of peacekeepers.