DAILY GK BULLETS | FEB 5 | S W A G

1. India becomes associate member of EMBO 

• India officially became the Associate Member State of European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO). 
• In this regard, Union Ministry of Science and Technology has signed an agreement to acquire the status of Associate Member of EMBO. 
• India is second country outside the European region to be an Associate Member State of EMBO. First one being Singapore which had signed such agreement with European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC) in 2015. 
• EMBO is a professional organization of life scientists in Europe with his its headquarter at Heidelberg, Germany.

2. India ratifies nuclear liability convention 

• India has ratified Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC), 1997 which sets parameters on a nuclear operator’s financial liability. 
• In this regard, India has submitted the Instrument of Ratification of the CSC to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and shall come into force after 90 days i.e May 2016. 
• It will facilitate and boost India’s nuclear commerce with international partners. Contribute to strengthen an international convention and global nuclear liability regime.

3. WHO certifies vaccine maker GreenSignal Bio 

• Geneva-based World Health Organisation (WHO) has accorded PQP (Pre-qualification of Medicines Programme) certification to the city-based GreenSignal Bio Pharma Pvt. Ltd., a BCG vaccine-making firm. 
• GreenSignal is the second Indian company to get PQP certification from WHO. 
• PQP certification helps GreenSignal to participate in the global immunisation programme, which is facilitated through international procurement agencies such as UNICEF and others. 
• These global institutions go by the WHO’s list of pre-qualified products while making a decision on procurement for medicines for distribution in resource-limited nations.

4. Modi inaugurates petrochemical plant in Dibrugarh 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 5 February 2016 dedicated the Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL) at Lepetkata, Assam to the nation. 
• Modi inaugurates Rs. 10,000-crore petrochemical plant that will make raw material for manufacturing plastic and a wax making unit using indigenous technology in Numaligarh Refinery Limited to the nation.
• The Brahamputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd was conceived as part of the Assam peace accord signed during the tenure of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. 
• Mr. Modi said his government’s priority is to develop Northeast as it believes in “all-round development” of the nation.

5. Tonga declares Zika outbreak 

• The tiny South Pacific island-nation of Tonga has declared an outbreak of the Zika virus after five cases of the mosquito-borne illness are confirmed and another 265 are suspected of having it. 
• The World Health Organization this week declared the Zika virus a global emergency.

6. World pledges $10B for Syrians 

• World leaders pledged more than $10 billion to help fund schools, shelter and jobs for refugees from Syria’s civil war at “Supporting Syria and the Region Conference 2016″, which was held on 4 February 2016 in London. 
• The conference was co-hosted by Germany, Kuwait, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United Nations and saw the participation of over 60 countries.

7. John Nicholson appointed NATO Commander in Afghanistan 

• A US Senate Armed Services Committee has confirmed the nomination of General John Nicholson to the commander of the NATO forces in Afghanistan. 
• He will succeed outgoing commander US General John Campbell. 
• His appointment comes at a time when serious concerns have been raised about the security situation in Afghanistan.

8. Parameshwaran Iyer appointed to lead Swachh Bharat mission 

• The government has appointed World Bank’s water and sanitation specialist, Parameshwaran Iyer, as the new Secretary of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department. 
• He has been given the post by PM Narendra Modi for two years to steer the Swachh Bharat Mission.

9. Govt appoints Aruna Sethi as head of ICoAS 

• Government has appointed Aruna Sethi as head of Indian Cost Accounts Service (ICoAS). 
• Sethi is the first lady ICoAS officer who has achieved this laurel. 
• The appointment comes into effect from February 1. 
• ICoAS is one of the six organised accounting services of the Government of India.

10. Kerala’s ‘She-Taxi’ bags CM’s innovation award 

• Kerala’s all-women taxi cab service ‘She-Taxi’, touted as the country’s first 24×7 taxi network by women for women, has bagged the prestigious Chief Minister’s Award for Innovation in Public Policy 2014. 
• Owned and operated by women entrepreneurs, She-Taxi was selected for the recognition in the ‘developmental interventions’ category. 
• The Gender Park, an autonomous institution under the state Social Justice Department, had launched the cab network two years ago with an aim to promote entrepreneurship, self-employment and security among women.

11. Geetu Mohandass’ ‘Insha’ Allah’ wins the 2016 Global Filmmaking Award 

• Indian writer Geetu 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. 
• Malayalam actress and film director, Geetu 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.

12. Dravid in ICC’s Anti-Corruption Oversight Group 

• The International Cricket Council (ICC) Board on 3 February 2016 constituted Anti-Corruption Unit Oversight Group. 
• The oversight group will include the Chairman of the Executive Committee (under whose area of responsibility this function rests) and will also include former India captain Rahul Dravid, legal expert Louis Weston and independent anti-corruption advisor John Abbott, who was the Chairman of the Integrity Working Party. 
• The Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Unit, Sir Ronnie Flanagan, and ICC Chief Executive, David Richardson, will also be ex-officio members of the group. 
• The oversight group will meet once a year to review and provide independent input into the strategy adopted by the sport to tackle corruption and its implementation, and to offer its advice and guidance to the Chairman of the ACU where required.

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