Current Affairs 7th-8th February 2016

Current Affairs 7th-8th February 2016 - Important Points

• President of which country declared a state of disaster in rural parts of the country - Zimbabwe
• Who has inaugurated Rise of Digital India Exhibition in Colombo - Sushma Swaraj
• Sudhir Tailang passed away, he was a noted - Cartoonist 
• Name of the leg spinner of Pakistan who was suspended by ICC for doping offence - Yasir Shah 
• Paradip Oil Refinery in Odisha was inaugurated by - Prime Minister Narendra Modi
• Name of project which was launched to improve HIV interventions among PWID in North-Eastern states - Project Sunrise
• Which country became first to ban supermarket food waste - France
• Who was appointed as President of International Grown Diamond Association - Vishal Mehta

Current Affairs 7th-8th February 2016 - Details 

President of which country declared a state of disaster in rural parts of the country - Zimbabwe

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 5th February 2016, a state of disaster in rural parts of the country hit by a drought was declared by Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe.

As a result of this declaration, international donors will raise money quickly to provide food aid to the country. 

An estimated 2.4 million people are now in need of food aid, more than a quarter of the population.

In January 2016, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said some 14 million people face hunger in southern Africa because of a drought that has been aggravated by the El Nino weather phenomenon. Apart rom this, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia have also been badly hit.

Who has inaugurated Rise of Digital India Exhibition in Colombo - Sushma Swaraj

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 6th February 2016, the Rise of Digital India Exhibition in Colombo was inaugrated by the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The exhibition was a part of Sangam -The Festival of India in Sri Lanka 2015-16.

The Rise of Digital India exhibition promotes the initiative of Indian government to take the benefits of IT to the common man. 

Sudhir Tailang passed away, he was a noted - Cartoonist 

On 6th February 2016, Cartoonist Sudhir Tailang passed awawy due to brain tumor in Gurgaon at the age of 55.

In the year 2004, he was awarded with Padma Shri. Book titled No, Prime Minister, a set of cartoons on former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was recently launched by him.

In 1970, Tailang came up with his first cartoon and in the year 1982, he started his carrier as a cartoonist with the Illustrated Weekly of India. 

Name of the leg spinner of Pakistan who was suspended by ICC for doping offence - Yasir Shah 

On 7th February 2016, Pakistan’s leg-spinner Yasir Shah was suspended for three months by International Cricket Council (ICC) after he was found positive in a test of a banned substance, chlortalidone. 

Chlortalidone, is on WADA's prohibited list of diuretics and masking agents and is prohibited both out-of-competition and in-competition. 

He has a record for being the fastest Pakistani bowler to reach the 50-wicket mark.

Paradip Oil Refinery in Odisha was inaugurated by - Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 7th February 2016, the Paradip Oil Refinery in Odisha was inaugrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM dedicated this refinery to the nation which is Indian Oil Corporation Limited’s 11th refinery.

On 24th May 2000, ex-prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid the foundation stone for the Paradip Oil Refinery and after 16 years it has been completed at a cost of 34555 crore rupees.

Key highlights of Paradip Oil Refinery

• It is one of the most modern refineries in the world which can process cheaper high sulphur heavy crude oils and has a complexity factor of 12.2 based on Nelson index.
• It has the ability to produce premium grade Euro-V and Euro-IV quality.
• It will produce 1.96 million tonnes of kerosene/ATF, 3.79 million tonnes of petrol and 5.6 million tonnes per annum of diesel. Apart from this, 790000 tons of LPG and 1.21 million tonnes of pet-coke will also be produced.
• On 22nd November 2015, the refinery sent out its first consignment of products comprising diesel, kerosene and LPG.

Name of project which was launched to improve HIV interventions among PWID in North-Eastern states - Project Sunrise

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 6th February 2016, the Project Sunrise in Imphal, Manipur was launched by the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda.

Features of Project Sunrise

• Its motive is to enhance coverage, quality and scale of HIV interventions among PWID, spouses of PWID and Female Injecting Drug Users (FIDU).
• The project will be implemented at an estimated cost of 70 crore rupees in 20 districts of 8 north eastern states.
• According to the project, needles and syringes will be made available through preferred healthcare providers, non-traditional outlets and Government health care facilities.
• The project also includes HIV intervention in prison settings.

Which country became first to ban supermarket food waste - France

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 3rd February 2016, France has become the first country in the world to ban large food stores from throwing away food that is approaching its expiration date and forcing them instead to donate it to charities and food banks. 

Key highlights of the new law

• As per the law, supermarkets are bound to make donations to charities and food banks.
• Promising contracts have been signed by the Stores of 400 square metres and above to give unsold food to charities and food banks before its best before date.

Who was appointed as President of International Grown Diamond Association - Vishal Mehta

Among the important appointments, On 4th February 2016, Vishal Mehta was appointed as the President of the newly- formed International Grown Diamond Association (IGDA).

He is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IIa Technologies, which grows diamonds at its state-of-the-art facility in Singapore.

About International Grown Diamond Association

• IGDA, founded in USA is a newly formed platform of more than 10 leading grown diamond producers, distributors and retailers.
• IGDA motive is to serve the central point of communication, education, development and growth of the industry.