Current Affrairs February 2012 Questions and Answers Part-II

Questions and Answers for February 2012 Current Affairs

In our previous post on Current Affairs for the month of February 2012, we have the National Current Affairs Questions and Answers for February 2012.In this post, we are covering the International Current Affairs questions and Answers for February 2012.Students preparing for competitive exams (Like Banks, SSC, UPSC and other State Exams)  will find these questions very useful in their preparation

Here are some of the memorable points for February 2012 Current Affairs

New maize gene recently discovered by the scientists is Meg-1 

A new gene called Meg-1 was discovered in maize plants by the UK scientists on January 16, 2012. The gene could increase the crop yields by regulating the transfer of nutrients from the plants to the seed.

Recently a planned coup to topple the government was foiled in Bangladesh

The Bangladesh army foiled a planned coup in December 2011 to topple the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. That was revealed in January 2012.

Coca Cola: The number one brand in 2011

US beverage maker Coca Cola retained its top position in interbrand's list of the top 100 global brands in 2011. Coca Cola was followed by another US based company IBM. Software Company Microsoft was placed at third.

Memogate scandal is related to Pakistan

The memogate scandal is related to a memorandum delivered by Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ajaz to the Pentagon officials asking for US help to thwart a feared coup in Pakistan. Ajiz accused Husain Haqqani former Pak envoy to USA of crafting the memo with President's Asif Ali Zardari's support. Outraged by the memo, the government forced Husain Haqqani to resign from the post of US envoy.

FIFA's Men's and Women's World Players of the Year respectively are Lionel Messi and Homare Sawa

Argentina's Lionel Messi collected the FIFA Ballon d'Or for being adjudged the FIFA's Men's World Player of the Year 2011—his third consecutive title while Japan's Homare Sawa claimed her first FIFA Women's World Player of the Year Award at the FIFA Ballon d'Or Gala held at.

The Russian Mars Probe which recently fell in Indian Ocean is Phobos-Grunt

Russia's stricken Mars probe, Phobos-Grunt fell into the Indian Ocean West of Indonesia on January 15, 2012 after its launch on November 9, 2011 the Probe became stuck in Earth Orbit and all attempts to communicate with it failed. Scientists predicted that about 20 to 30 fragments with a total weight of less than 200 kg might survive the fiery descent.

India and China have agreed to develop World's Largest Telescope

China and India have decided to join as partners in building a Hawaii telescope which will be the world's largest. The Thirty Meter Telescope's segmented primary will nearly be 100 feet or 30 metres long. The construction cost, expected to top $ 1 billion, for the telescope will be shared by India and China. They will also have a share of the observation time.

Standard and Poor's has downgraded the credit rating of Nine Member Countries of Euro zone  

Standard and Poor's downgraded the credit ratings of nine euro zone countries but not European Union paymaster Germany (the bloc's largest economy) in January 2012. Cyprus, Italy, Portugal and Spain were lowered by two notches from AAA tag to single. A status whereas Austria, France, Malta, Slovakia and Slovenia were lowered by one notch from AAA tage to AA+ level.

Parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan  

Kazakhstan ruling party—Nur Otan of President Nursultan Nazarbayev—has swept snap parliamentary elections winning 80-79% of the vote in the elections held in January 2012.

NASA probes which have entered  Lunar Orbit

The NASA Lunar probes—the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL-A and GRAIL-B) went into the Lunar orbit in December 2011-January 2012. The $ 500 million pair of washing machine sized Satellites launched in September 2011 on a mission to map the Moon's inner core have begun orbiting the Moon.

Youngest sailor to complete a Solo Circumnavigation of the World

Dutch teenager Laura Dekker on January 21, 2012 became the youngest sailor to complete a solo circumnavigation of the world. The 16 year old Dekker sailed into harbour on the Caribbean Island of St. Martin. She left the Island on September 20, 2011 and surpassed the previous record by eight months.