CURRENT AFFAIRS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - PART I

1. On September 5, 2010, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 44-cent stamp commemorating a Roman Catholic nun who served the sick and destitute of India for nearly 50 years. Name of that nun?

Mother Teresa.

(Image by Thomas Blackshear II; © USPS)

The U.S. Postal Service's Mother Teresa stamp was released on September 5, 2010, the 13th anniversary of Mother Teresa's death, designed by award-winning artist Thomas Blackshear II. Mother Teresa was made an honorary U.S. citizen in 1996. She founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 and won Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

2. Which animal will soon be declared a national heritage animal of India in order to step up measures for its protection?

Elephant.

3. Former Argentine football star and the last surviving player from the first World Cup in 1930, died recently at the age of 100?

Francisco Varallo.

4. Name of the new book written by famous Physicist Stephen Hawking in which he says that God did not create the universe, because gravity means it would have happened on its own?

The Grand Design.

5. French scientists recently revealed the secret behind the "best free kick" ever in international football which resulted in a stunning goal against France in 1997. The free kick was taken by a Brazilian Player. Who is he?

Roberto Carlos.

Carlos' free kick from 115ft in the Tournai de France, which seemingly headed for the corner flag but suddenly curved like a banana to land in the net, has been written off by many as only an incredible lucky chance. Even the French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez made no move thinking it would go safely clear. The physicists computed the trajectory and decided it was all down to a phenomenon known as the 'spinning ball spiral'.

6. The University of Alberta based in Edmonton, Canada will honor an Indian agriculture scientist with an honorary doctorate to recognize his contribution to food security in the world. Name of that Indian Scientist?

M. S. Swaminathan.

7. Who is the first sportsperson who was conferred an Indian Air Force (IAF) Honorary Group Captain?

Sachin Tendulkar.

He is also the first individual to receive the Indian Air Force (IAF) Honorary Group Captain from a non-aviation background. He was taken into the Indian Air Force as the brand ambassador of Indian Air Force by the IAF Air Chief Marshal PV Naik.

8. The 18-year-old fast bowler from Pakistan who is removed from the list of nominees for the ICC's emerging player of the year 2010 award due to spot-fixing allegations against him?

Mohammad Amir.

Another Pakistan bowler Mohammad Asif is also removed from the list of nominees for the ICC's test player of the year due to spot-fixing allegations against him.

9. Which country approved fresh economic sanctions against Iran on September 3, 2010 after the United Nations asked that country to tighten restrictions against Tehran over its controversial nuclear enrichment program?

Japan.

10. Name of the 2-year-old Indonesian boy who smoked up to 40 cigarettes a day, recently quit his habit after a month-long rehabilitation?

Ardi Rizal

The child’s parents allowed the boy to smoke because he throws tantrums and hits his head against the wall when they refuse to give him a cigarette. After a month of rehabilitation, Ardi Rizal is now free from his addicting habit. Kak Seto, the psychologist, used childhood play therapy to bring the boy back to health.

11. Name of the 15 year boy who has been offered a place at Britain's prestigious Cambridge University?

Arran Fernandez.

He was educated at home by his father, Neil. He was offered an undergraduate place at Cambridge's Fitzwilliam College after passing the university's entrance exam. He would be the youngest Cambridge undergraduate since William Pitt the Younger, who became prime minister, attended at the same age in 1773.

12. Name of the three Pakistan Cricket players who have been suspended by International Cricket Council (ICC) due to Lord’s spot-fixing outrage, under the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Code?

Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif.

13. Name of the apex body constituted by Indian Government for the welfare of tribals in the country?

National Council for Tribal Welfare (NCTW).

NCTW headed by Prime Minister, would have 18 members, including the Ministers of Tribal Affairs; Finance; Agriculture; Home Affairs; Health & Family Welfare; Environment & Forests; Human Resource Development (HRD); Rural Development; Woman and Child Development; Culture; Mines; Coal and Power; the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission; Chief Ministers of Schedule V and Schedule VI States; two experts to be nominated by the Prime Minister for a period of two years and Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, as Member Secretary.

14. Who is appointed as India’s 14th Central Vigilance Commissioner?

P.J.Thomas.

He is the former secretary of telecom.

15. Eggs and shoes were hurled at Tony Blair (former British Prime Minister) by anti-war activists, in Dublin (Ireland) where he was signing copies of his new book. What is the name of that book?

''A Journey''

His autobiography ''A Journey'' details his accounts of life in the Downing Street, including the Iraq war and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

16. The Basque separatist group which has declared a permanent ceasefire in Spain recently?

Eta

Eta is blamed for killing more than 800 people in its four-decade fight for independence for the Basque region of northern Spain and south-west France.

17. Name of the cruise missile which was successfully test-fired recently as part of trials by the Indian Army from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur off Orissa coast?

BrahMos

The missile can fly at 2.8 times the speed of sound carrying conventional warheads up to 300 kg for a range of 290 km and can effectively engage ground targets from an altitude as low as 10 metres. Developed in a joint venture with Russia, the sophisticated BrahMos cruise missile is capable of being launched from submarines, ships, aircraft and land based Mobile Autonomous Launchers (MAL).

18. Indian athlete who smashed Shiny Wilson’s 15-year-old national record en route to fifth place in the 800 metres at the Continental Cup athletics meet in Split, Croatia?

Tintu Luka.

19. Pakistan batsman Yasir Hameed, who played with the Pakistan team in the Test series against England, allegedly told a British tabloid newspaper that some of his teammates were cheats. Name of that news paper which came out with the sting operation on Pakistan cricketers?

“News of the World”

20. Indian nuclear scientist and a chemical engineer, who remained the head of Atomic Energy Commission of India during India's first nuclear test in Pokhran in 1974 died recently at the age of 86?

Homi N. Sethna

Sethna was the director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) during 1966-72, when the plan for the construction of India’s largest research reactor, Dhruva was conceived.