Current Affairs Update – 5th February, 2016

Hello and welcome to ExamPundit. Here are the Important Current Affairs of 5th February, 2016. These are important for the upcoming LIC AAO 2016 Exam.

Current Affairs at a Glance – 5th February, 2016
  1. The Reserve Bank today said it has got recognition for its efforts to improve regulatory reporting and has
    been given the XBRL International Award for Excellence
    . RBI said the award
    has been given to it in recognition of its efforts in ‘Innovation and Continuous Pursuit of Improvement in Regulatory
    Reporting’
    .
  2. Indian writer Geethu Mohandas won Sundance Institute Global Filmmaking Award
    2016
    on 30 January 2016 for her script of yet-to-be shot film Insha Allah.
  3. Vice President Hamid Ansari today
    called on Thai Princess Maha Chakri
    Sirindhorn
    , on whom India has decided to
    bestow the first world Sanskrit Award
    .
  4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 5 February 2016 dedicated the Brahmaputra Cracker and
    Polymer Limited (BCPL) at Lepetkata, Assam to the nation
    .
  5. Power equipment maker Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (Bhel)
    today announced the inauguration of 500
    Mw Kosti thermal power plant in Sundan, the largest in that country
    .
  6. Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (RInfra) on 4 February 2016 announced
    the signing of Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Birla Corporation Ltd in relation to 100 percent sale of its
    subsidiary Reliance Cement Company Private Limited (RCCPL)
    .
  7. India through the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and
    Technology
    signed a Cooperation Agreement to acquire the status of the Associate Member State European Molecular
    Biology Organisation (EMBO)
    .
  8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the 12th South Asian Games being held
    here are not just a sporting platform but also a “springboard for bringing
    peace and prosperity in the region through business”.
  9. ICC appointed Rahul Dravid as member of newly constituted
    Anti-Corruption Unit Oversight Group
  10. Joe Alaskey, who voiced Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety and Sylvester the Cat, among other legendary cartoon characters, has died of cancer, according to multiple
    reports. He was 63.


Awards & Honors –
RBI Gets Award for Innovation in XBRL Reporting

  • The Reserve Bank today said it
    has got recognition for its efforts to improve regulatory reporting and has
    been given the XBRL International Award for Excellence.
  • “The XBRL International, the
    global custodian of the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) standard
    awarded the ‘XBRL International Award for Excellence’ to the Reserve Bank of
    India (RBI),” it said in a statement.
  • RBI said the award has been given
    to it in recognition of its efforts in ‘Innovation and Continuous Pursuit of
    Improvement in Regulatory Reporting’.
  • The Deputy Governor R Gandhi had
    received the award on January 22, 2016 by XBRL International CEO John Turner.
  • Turner appreciated RBI for the
    widespread use of XBRL standard in its data collection system, said the
    release.
  • Turner, particularly mentioned
    that the approach taken by the RBI in implementing XBRL is quoted extensively
    in the global forum, it added.
  • XBRL has been adopted by around
    60 countries and around 100 regulators around the globe.

Geethu Mohandas won Global Filmmaking award 2016 for script of Insha
Allah

  • Indian writer Geethu Mohandas won
    Sundance Institute Global Filmmaking Award 2016 on 30 January 2016 for her
    script of yet-to-be shot film Insha Allah.
    The award was presented at 2016 Sundance Film Festival Awards Ceremony
    held in Park City, Utah.
  • Geethu won the award for her
    wonderful narration about an 11 year old boy, Mullakoya who sets off on a
    treacherous journey from the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea to Indian
    mainland in search of his missing older brother and tired of living in the
    shadow of the colorful, magical-realist folklore.

Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Chosen for First World Sanskrit Award

  • Vice President Hamid Ansari today
    called on Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, on whom India has decided to
    bestow the first world Sanskrit Award.
  • Sirindhorn, a 60-year-old scholar
    of Sanskrit who was the Royal Patron of the World Sanskrit Conference held here
    last year, will be travelling to India in this regard, Secretary (East),
    Ministry of External Affairs, Anil Wadhwa said here.
  • Before leaving for home, Ansari
    called on Princess Sirindhorn at the Sra Pathum Palace this morning and
    inspected the Chitralada Project inside it.
  • Hers will be among the several
    visits by top Thai leaders expected this year including Prime Minister General
    Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence
    Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
  • Over 600 Sanskrit scholars from
    60 countries participated in the five-day conference last year which was
    inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
  • Wadhwa also lauded Thailand for
    successfully hosting the 16th World Sanskrit Conference.

Finance/Industry –
Prime Minister dedicated Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited to
Nation

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 5
    February 2016 dedicated the Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL) at Lepetkata,
    Assam to the nation.
  • The 10000-crore plant is the
    first ever petro-chemical project in the entire North-East and it will make raw
    material for manufacturing plastic.
  • The Brahamputra Cracker and
    Polymer Ltd was conceived as part of the Assam peace accord signed during the
    tenure of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and its foundation stone was laid in 2007
    by the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
  • Addressed the Annual Conference
    of Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha at Sibsagar. Modi was the first Prime Minister
    to attend the annual conference of the Srimanta Sankardev Sangha in its 85
    years history.

Bhel launches Kosti thermal power plant in Sudan

  • Power equipment maker Bharat
    Heavy Electricals Limited (Bhel) today announced the inauguration of 500 Mw
    Kosti thermal power plant in Sundan, the largest in that country.
  • Significantly, this is Bhel’s
    largest oil-fired thermal power plant in the overseas market and also its first
    crude-oil fired thermal power plant in Africa.
  • “Bhel built Kosti (UM
    DABAKER) Thermal Power Plant (4×125 Mw), the largest thermal power plant of
    Sudan, was inaugurated by His Excellency Omer Hassan Ahmed El-Basheer,
    President of Sudan,” the company said in a statement.
  • Bhel CMD Atul Sobti and senior
    officials of the government of Sudan as well as the Indian Embassy, were present
    on the occasion, it said.

Reliance Infra signed Agreement with Birla Corp to sell its Cement
Plant

  • Reliance Infrastructure Ltd
    (RInfra) on 4 February 2016 announced the signing of Share Purchase Agreement
    (SPA) with Birla Corporation Ltd in relation to 100 percent sale of its
    subsidiary Reliance Cement Company Private Limited (RCCPL).
  • While RInfra is an entity of the
    Anil Ambani-headed Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (Reliance ADAG), Birla
    Corp is the flagship Company of the M P Birla Group.
  • The deal was valued at 4800 crore
    rupees or 140 US dollars per tonne and the proceeds will utilised by RInfra
    towards debt reduction.
  • Under the SPA, the Birla Corp
    will acquire an integrated cement capacity of 5.08 Metric tonnes per annum
    (Mtpa) at Maihar, Madhya Pradesh and Kundanganj, Uttar Pradesh and a grinding
    unit of 0.5 Mtpa at Butibori, Maharashtra.

India –
Vice President Hamid Ansari concluded his two-nation tour to Thailand
and Brunei
  • Vice-President Hamid Ansari on 5
    February 2016 concluded his two-nation tour to Thailand and Brunei.
  • During the 5-day visit that
    started on 1 February 2016, the Vice President held talks with the head of
    governments, political leaders and Indian diaspora to enhance bilateral
    relations.
  • He visited the country for three
    days starting from 1 February 2016 on the invitation of Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee
    Billah.
  • With this tour, Hamid Ansari
    became the first Vice President to visit Brunei since the establishment of
    diplomatic relations.
  • He met the Sultan of Brunei Haji
    Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah.

India signed agreement to become an Associate Member State of EMBO

  • India through the Department of
    Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology signed a Cooperation
    Agreement to acquire the status of the Associate Member State European
    Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO).
  • The agreement will strengthen
    scientific interaction and collaborative research between India and Europe in
    this field.
  • After the signing of an agreement
    with Singapore by Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC) in July
    2015, India became second such country outside the European region.
  • The official kick-off launch
    ceremony of the agreement was held on 4 February 2016 in New Delhi.
  • Researchers working in India are now eligible
    to participate in all EMBO programmes and activities.
  • Indian scientists can apply to EMBO’s
    programmes, such as long-term fellowships for postdoctoral researchers,
    short-term fellowships, courses and workshops, as well as the EMBO Young
    Investigator Programme.
  • At the same time, Europe will benefit from
    networking with the top-level scientists in India’s research community.

India ratified Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear
Damage
  • India on 4 February 2016
    submitted its Instrument of Ratification of the Convention of Supplementary
    Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC), 1997 to International Atomic Energy Agency
    (IAEA) at Vienna, Austria.
  • The instrument is an important
    multilateral treaty relating to liability and compensation for damage caused by
    a nuclear incident.
  • The instrument of Ratification
    was handed over to Juan Carlos Lentijo, Acting Director General of IAEA by
    India’s Permanent Representative in Vienna Rajiva Misra. The CSC was ratified
    five years after it was signed on 27 October 2010.

Tea Board issued Version 5.0 of Plant Protection Code expanding list of
Pesticides for use

  • The Tea Board of India (TBI) in
    January 2016 issued Version 5.0 of the Plant Protection Code (PPC) by expanding
    the list of pesticides and chemicals to 37 from previous 35 that is permitted for
    use by Indian tea industry.
  • The two new additions in the list
    are Emamectin Benzoate 5 SG and Flubendiamide 20 WG. The addition became
    mandatory from 1 January 2015.
  • Use of these two chemicals was
    cleared by the Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee.

Odisha Government allowed tourists into certain tribal areas after
three years ban
  • The Odisha government on 4
    February 2016 lifted the restrictions on visit of foreign tourists to certain
    tribal areas in the State. The ban was lifted after three years.
  • The revised guidelines relaxed
    restrictions that will enable foreign tourists to trek and learn the lifestyle
    of primitive tribes living in certain hilly terrains.
  • Foreign tourists have been asked to pay
    respect to the culture and tradition of tribals.
  • The tourists will have to submit their
    proposed itinerary to the police superintendents of the concerned districts.
  • The foreign tourists have been asked to take
    photographs only with the consent of the tribals.

Sports –
PM Inaugurates 12th South Asian Games in Guwahati

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi
    today said the 12th South Asian Games being held here are not just a sporting
    platform but also a “springboard for bringing peace and prosperity in the
    region through business”.
  • Declaring the Games open in a
    colourful ceremony here this evening, Modi said the Games would help form
    lasting bonds between the participating athletes.
  • Eight countries – Afghanistan,
    Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, besides India will
    be vying for the top honours in the Games to be co-hosted by Shillong.
  • There will be 228 gold, 228
    silver and 308 bronze medals on offer this time. The two North Eastern cities
    will play host to 3,333 athletes and officials.
  • India, who had topped the medal
    tally in all the editions so far, have the largest number of participants with
    521 athletes (245 women).

ICC appointed Rahul Dravid as member of newly constituted
Anti-Corruption Unit Oversight Group

  • The International Cricket Council
    (ICC) Board on 3 February 2016 constituted Anti-Corruption Unit Oversight
    Group.
  • A decision in this regard was
    taken at a meeting headed by the ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar. The meeting was
    held at the ICC headquarters in Dubai, the UAE.
  • Apart from Rahul Dravid as a
    member, the group will consist of a Chairman, two members and two ex-officio
    members.
  • David Peever (Chairman); He is
    the Chairman of the ICC Executive Committee
  • Rahul Dravid (Member); Former
    Indian captain

World –
Supporting Syria & the Region Conference 2016 held in London
  • Supporting Syria and the Region
    Conference 2016 was held on 4 February 2016 in London. The objective of the
    conference was to discuss issues related to the over 5-year old civil war in
    Syria and measures to mitigate the humanitarian conflict faced by the country
    and the region as a whole.
  • The conference was co-hosted by
    Germany, Kuwait, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United Nations and saw the
    participation of over 60 countries.
  • In addition to deliberating on
    the 2016 Syria humanitarian response plan (HRP) and Regional refugee and
    resilience plan (3RP) 2016-17, the conference announced 10.7 billion US dollars
    to undertake humanitarian activities in Syria between 2016 and 2020.

NASA’s New Horizons mission spotted floating hills on Pluto

  • NASA’s New Horizons mission on 14
    July 2015 spotted the nitrogen ice glaciers on Pluto appeared to carry numerous
    isolated hills which are likely to be the fragments of water ice, as per the
    press release of NASA on 4 February 2016.
  • As the nitrogen-dominated ice is
    dense than water ice, it is believed that newly found water ice hills are
    floating in a sea of frozen nitrogen and resembles icebergs in Earth’s Arctic
    Ocean. These hills individually measure one to several miles or kilometers
    across.
  • These hills are another example
    of Pluto’s fascinating and abundant geological activity and are likely to be
    fragments of the rugged uplands and smaller versions of the large and jumbled
    mountains on Sputnik Planum’s western border.

Appointments –
US General John Nicholson named NATO commander in Afghanistan

  • Army Lieutenant General John
    Nicholson was appointed as the commander of the NATO forces in Afghanistan. His
    nomination to the post was confirmed by US Senate committee on 4 February 2016.
  • He succeeded US General John
    Campbell who has been leading the Afghan operations for nearly 18 months.
  • The powerful Senate Armed
    Services Committee confirmed Nicholson’s nomination during a Congressional
    hearing on Afghanistan where the outgoing commander US General John Campbell
    testified before the Senators.
  • At present, Nicholas was US Army
    commander of NATO land forces.

Obituaries –
Voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck Joe Alaskey Dead

  • Joe Alaskey, who voiced Bugs
    Bunny, Daffy Duck, Tweety and Sylvester the Cat, among other legendary cartoon
    characters, has died of cancer, according to multiple reports. He was 63.
  • Alaskey’s spokesperson, KP Lynne,
    shared the news on the actor’s Facebook page, writing, “Never doubt that
    Joe loved each and every one of you. Your comments and posts always made his
    day and brought joy to his heart and life”, reported Variety.
  • Alaskey replaced Mel Blanc as the
    voice of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck after his death in 1989, assuming the Warner
    Bros characters during the 2000s, including in the film “Looney Tunes:
    Back in Action.”
  • He has also given voice to other
    Looney Tunes animated heroes, including Tweety and Sylvester. He served as the
    primary voice for Plucky Duck on “Tiny Toon Adventures” and Yosemite
    Sam on “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”
  • Alaskey won a Daytime Emmy Award
    for voicing Daffy the Duck on Cartoon Network’s “Duck Dodgers.”

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This post was last modified on July 20, 2019 10:16 am