Current Affairs 5th February 2016

Important Points : 

• Who has won Global Filmmaking award 2016 for script of Insha Allah - Geetu Mohandas
• Who is named NATO commander in Afghanistan - US General John Nicholson
• Which country has signed an agreement to become an Associate Member State of EMBO - India
• Who has been appointed as member of newly constituted Anti-Corruption Unit Oversight Group by ICC - Rahul Dravid 
• NASA’s New Horizons mission spotted floating hills on which planet - Pluto
• Reliance Infra signed Agreement with - Birla Corp
• Heritage development projects for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana approved by - Union Government 
• Prime Minister dedicated Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited to Nation

Details : 

Who has won Global Filmmaking award 2016 for script of Insha Allah - Geetu Mohandas

Among the important National Curernt Affairs, On 30th January 2016, Sundance Institute Global Filmmaking Award 2016 was won by Indian writer Geetu Mohandas for her script of yet-to-be shot film Insha Allah.  

About Geetu Mohandas

• She is an Indian film actress and director.
• She is the direcetor of the socio political film Liar's Dice which was nominated for Oscar in 2015 and received two National Film Awards.
• She won Kerala State Film Award for Best Actress and Kerala State Film Award for Best Child Artist in 1986.
• In 2004, she also won Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Malayalam.

Who is named NATO commander in Afghanistan - US General John Nicholson

Among the important International Curernt Affairs, On 4th February 2016, Army Lieutenant General John Nicholson was appointed as the commander of the NATO forces in Afghanistan. US Senate committee confirmed his nomination to the post.

He has replaced US General John Campbell. Currently, Nicholas was US Army commander of NATO land forces.

Prior to this, he had served in multiple capacities like chief of staff of operations for the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and US Forces - Afghanistan, director of Pakistan/Afghanistan Coordination Cell for the Joint Staff, and deputy commander - Stability of ISAF Regional Command - South.

Which country has signed an agreement to become an Associate Member State of EMBO - India

On 4th February 2016, a Cooperation Agreement to acquire the status of the Associate Member State European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) was signed by India through the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology.

The agreement will result in the strengthening the scientific interaction and collaborative research between India and Europe.

Key highlights of the agreement

• Researchers who are working in India can participate in all EMBO programmes and activities.
• Indian scientists can apply to EMBO’s programmes, such as EMBO Young Investigator Programme, short-term fellowships, long-term fellowships for postdoctoral researchers, , courses and workshops.

About EMBO

• It is a professional organization of life scientists in Europe founded in 1964.
• Maria Leptin is the current EMBO Director.
• Its goal is to promote research in life science and enable international exchange between scientists.

Who has been appointed as member of newly constituted Anti-Corruption Unit Oversight Group by ICC - Rahul Dravid 

Among the important appointments, On 3rd February 2016, The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board constituted Anti-Corruption Unit Oversight Group and appointed Rahul Dravid as its member.

The group will also consist of a Chairman, two ex-officio members and two members.

ICC Anti-Corruption Unit Oversight Group

• Louis Weston (Member); a legal advisor and independent anti-corruption advisor to ICC
• David Richardson (Ex-officio member); He is the ICC Chief Executive
• John Abbott (Member); He is the Chairman of the Integrity Working Party
• Ronnie Flanagan (Ex-officio member); He is the Chairman of the ACU
• David Peever (Chairman); He is the Chairman of the ICC Executive Committee
• Rahul Dravid (Member); Former Indian captain

NASA’s New Horizons mission spotted floating hills on which planet - Pluto

Among the important Science Curernt Affairs, On 14th July 2016, NASA’s New Horizons mission 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.

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 as the nitrogen-dominated ice is dense than water ice. 

Reliance Infra signed Agreement with - Birla Corp

Among the important Business Curernt Affairs, On 4th February 2016, Reliance Infrastructure Ltd (RInfra) inked the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Birla Corporation Ltd in relation to 100 % sale of its subsidiary Reliance Cement Company Private Limited (RCCPL).

Birla Corp is the flagship Company of the M P Birla Group whereas RInfra is an entity of the Anil Ambani-headed Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (Reliance ADAG).

The deal was worth 4800 crore rupees or 140 US dollars per tonne.

Heritage development projects for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana approved by - Union Government 

Among the important National Curernt Affairs, On 5th February 2016, Union Ministry of Urban Development approved projects worth over 12 crore rupees for improving tourist infrastructure in heritage places of Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh and Warangal in Telangana.

Warangal and Amaravati are among the 12 cities included in the Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY).

Approved Development Programmes in Warangal, Telangana

• Rejuvenation of pond at Padmakshi Temple with an investment of 2.13 crore rupees.
• Development at Kazipet Durgah at a cost of 1.78 crore rupees and
• Development of 1000 Pillar Temple at a cost of 94 lakh rupees.

Heritage Park in Amaravati for Andhra Pradesh

This Park will have an Exhibition Complex with

•      - Four food courts at a cost of 95 lakh rupees
•      - Four halls to be developed at a cost of 92 lakh rupees,
•      - Twenty two statues at a cost of 2 crore rupees
•      - Parking area at a cost of 60 lakh rupees
•      - Pathways at a cost of 44 lakh rupees
•      - Landscaping will be done at a cost of 76 lakh rupees and other facilities to be provided include seating benches, pargolas etc.
•      - More than 20 shops at a cost of over 1 crore rupees,

Prime Minister dedicated Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited to Nation

Among the important National Curernt Affairs, On 5th February 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL) at Lepetkata, Assam to the nation. 

It is the first ever petro-chemical project in the entire North-East and it will produce raw material for manufacturing plastic. 

Apart from this, the Prime Minister also devoted India's highest wax producing unit using indigenous technology in Numaligarh Refinery Limited to the nation.

The Prime Minister during his visit to Assam also inaugurated the 12th South Asian Games in Guwahati.