IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 5th, 2018

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 5th, 2018

IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF FEBRUARY 5th, 2018

International Current Affairs

1.      The Nigerian Army has declared victory over the Boko Haram militant group after capturing the militants' stronghold Camp Zairo under counter-insurgency operation DEEP PUNCH II. 
            Note : Boko Haram began insurgency in northeast Nigeria in 2009 in its attempt to create an Islamic state in the region.

2.      Under its new Wealth Order law, the UK will seize assets held by foreign criminals and corrupt politicians. 
            This law allows authorities to freeze assets exceeding £50,000 (over ₹45 lakh) in value if their owners are unable to explain how they acquired them. 
            Note : Nearly £4.4-billion worth property in the UK is estimated to have been bought using illegally acquired wealth.

3.      Nepal’s last king Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is scheduled to visit Odisha for six days from 7th February 2018.
            During this visit, he will inaugurate the ‘Mission Wow Cow Goshala’ at Rathipur near Jatni on February 7.
            He also visit the 12th century Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri and visit Sakhigopal Temple.
National Current Affairs

4.      President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the annual Udyanotsav of the Mughal Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
            The Mughal Gardens will be open to public from February 6 to March 9 between 9:30 am and 4:00 pm.
            Its major attraction will be 10,000 Tulips imported from the Netherlands. 

5.      Environment Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today launched Green Good Deeds campaign in New Delhi.
            Aim of this campaign : To sensitise people and students, in particular about climate change and global warming.

6.      Vice President Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the 1st International Kala Mela in New Delhi today.
            Lalit Kala Akademi, the premier institution for the promotion of Art and Culture is organizing this mela, wherein artists and groups can showcase their art works from 4th to 18th February 2018.
Awards & Honors

7.      Guillermo del Toro, director of 'The Shape of Water', which has received 13 nominations at Oscars 2018, won the Prize for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film at the Directors Guild of America Awards. 
            Reed Morano was named best director in Dramatic Series for 'The Handmaid's Tale'.
            Jordan Peele was awarded best First-Time Feature Film Director for 'Get Out'.
Banking, Business & Economic Affairs

8.      India has contributed additional $1 million to India-UN Development Partnership Fund, earmarked for South-South cooperation. 
            The contribution aims to intensify its partnerships with other developing countries in south.
            Note : India has already provided $6 million within the seven months since launch of fund.

9.      Sweden has singed Strategic Partnership Agreement with United Nations for committing record $370 million dollars to UN World Food Programme. 
            Note : It is the biggest ever contribution made by donor within a WFP Strategic Partnership Agreement.
Science & Technology

10.  World's first robot citizen Sophia is expected to make a public appearance in India at a global technology event this month in Hyderabad. 
            The humanoid, designed by Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics, was given citizenship by Saudi Arabia last year.

11.  Technology giant Apple is going to open a data centre in China by 2020 with an investment of $1 billion.
The centre will cover 67 hectares in the Guian New Area and will offer iCloud services on the Chinese mainland. 
New Appointments

12.  Senior IPS officer Sudeep Lakhtakia took charge as the new Director General of National Security Guard (NSG). 
            He has replaced S P Singh and will hold post till July 2019.

13.  Meghalaya Election Commission roped in Bollywood singer Usha Uthup to motivate young voters to go and vote on the day of elections.
            The department has made a three-minute-long video with the singer to motivate voters.
Sports Current Affairs

14.  Indian Golpher Shubhankar Sharma has won the Maybank Championship in Malaysia.
This is his second European Tour title. 
            He had won his maiden title at the Joburg Open in December last year. 

15.  Rio Olympic silver medallist PV Sindhu finished as runner-up in India Open Super 300 badminton tournament after losing to America's Beiwen Zhang in the final. 
            Important Note : Sindhu had lifted the India Open title last year by defeating Olympic champion Carolina Marin.