News Details of 11 Feburary 2021

1. North Korea’s Kim Jong Un orders legal supervision over economic plan

2. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is the 11th day of February
3. President of India to open Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Annual “Udyanotsav” on February 12

4. Unani Day 2021 on 11 Feb and National Conference on Unani Medicine

5. ISRO has adopted Atal Tinkering Labs across the country in the field of space education and technology: DrJitendra Singh

6.‘The India Toy Fair, 2021’ to be held virtually from 27th February 2021 to 2nd March 2021

7. Women & Child Development Ministry in association with MyGov launches online campaign to celebrate Women in science

8. Goa becomes the 6th State to complete Urban Local Bodies (ULB) reforms

9. Death sentence for murder of publisher Dipan in Bangladesh

10. US freezes dollar 1 billion funds of Myanmar govt

11. Ties now optional in New Zealand parliament after Maori MP's protest

12. Paddy procurement shows 17.35 % increase as against the last year corresponding purchase

13. Olympic ranking points up for grabs, Indian Judokas to head to Israel for Tel Aviv Grand Slam

14. Defending champion Kenin crashes out of Australian Open

News In Detail

8. Gets additional borrowing permission of Rs. 223 crore

Goa has become the 6th State in the country to successfully undertake Urban Local Bodies (ULB) reforms stipulated by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. Thus, the State has become eligible to mobilise additional financial resources of Rs. 223 crore through Open Market Borrowings. Permission for the same was issued by the Department of Expenditure.

Goa has joined five other States namely, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Rajasthan and Telangana, who have completed ULB reforms. On completion of this set of reforms, these five States have been granted a total additional borrowing permission of Rs. 10,435 crore

Reforms in ULBs and the urban utilities reforms are aimed at financial strenghtening of ULBs in the States and to enable them to provide better public health and sanitation services to citizens. Economically rejuvenated ULBs will also be able to create good civic infrastructure.

The set of reforms stipulated by the Department of Expenditure to achieve these objectives are:

(i)    The State will notify:

Floor rates of property tax in ULBs which are in consonance with the prevailing circle rates (i.e. guideline rates for property transactions) and;

Floor rates of user charges in respect of the provision of water-supply, drainage and sewerage which reflect current costs/past inflation.

(ii)   The State will put in place a system of periodic increase in floor rates of property tax/ user charges in line with price increases.

In view of the resource requirement to meet multiple challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of India had on 17th May, 2020 enhanced the borrowing limit of the States by 2 percent of their GSDP. Half of this special dispensation i.e. 1 percent of GSDP was linked to undertaking citizen centric reforms by the States.

The four citizen centric areas for reforms identified by the Department of Expenditure were

(a) Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System,

(b) Ease of doing business reform,

(c) Urban Local body/ utility reforms and

(d) Power Sector reforms.

Till now, 17 States have carried out at least one of the four stipulated reforms and have been granted reform linked borrowing permissions. Out of these, 13 States have implemented the one nation one ration card system, 12 States have done ease of doing business reforms, 6 States have done local body reforms and 2 States have undertaken power sector reforms. Total reform linked additional borrowing permission issued so far to the States stands at Rs.­­­ 76,512 crore.

7. The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is the 11th day of February:

Women & Child Development Ministry in association with MyGov launches online campaign to celebrate Women in science

On the International Day of Women & Young Girls in Science, Ministry of Women & Child Development in association with Ministry of Education and MyGov, Ministry of Electronics and Information technology launched an online campaign to celebrate women who have carved a niche for themselves in the field of STEM and also encourage young girls who aspire to excel in STEM and contribute towards nation building. The campaign honours our young girls from across the country who have performed well in the subjects of Maths and Science & encourage these STEM STARS to make us proud in days to come. This initiative is as per the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “Seeding the powers of idea and innovation in schoolchildren will broaden the base of our innovation pyramid.”

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is the 11th day of February, by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on 22 December 2015. The day recognises the critical role women and girls play in science and technology. The day's purpose is to promote full and equal access to participation in science for women and girls.

6.‘The India Toy Fair, 2021’ to be held virtually from 27th February 2021 to 2nd March 2021

Government of India is organizing 'The India Toy Fair, 2021' from 27th February 2021 to 2nd March 2021 on a virtual platform. This initiative is in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of making India a global hub for the Toy Industry.

The Fair aims to provide an impetus to the underlying themes of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and “vocal for local” campaigns, launched by the Government to promote indigenous industries. It also aims to leverage the potential of toys in making learning joyful across all ages in education.

The India Toy Fair 2021 intends to bring policy makers, toy manufacturers & distributors, investors, industry experts, MSMEs, artisans, start-ups, children, parents and teachers together on a common platform, in a bid to propel the growth of the Indian Toy Industry, giving it a global competitive edge.

5. ISRO has adopted Atal Tinkering Labs across the country in the field of space education and technology: DrJitendra Singh

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said thatISRO has adopted Atal Tinkering Labs across the country in the field of space education and technology.

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today, DrJitendra Singh said that the whole programme is divided into two phases. First phase includes 45 labs and 2nd phase covers balance 55.
ISRO is also designing space education & space technology as an extra curriculum activity for the schools to utilise ATLs,which will have the endorsement of Ministry of Education.

4. Unani Day 2021 and National Conference on Unani Medicine

On 11 February , The Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India organized a hybrid virtual National Conference on Unani Medicine.

The conference themed on  ‘Unani Medicine: Opportunities and Challenges in times of COVID-19’.

3. President of India to open Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Annual “Udyanotsav” on February 12

The Mughal Gardens will remain open for the general public from February 13, 2021 to March 21, 2021 (except on Mondays which are maintenance days) between 1000 hrs to 1700 hrs. As precautionary measures, walk-in entry will not be available this year. Visitors will be allowed to see the Gardens only through advance online booking.

2. International Day of Women and Girls in Science: Unsung pioneers who changed the world

These are tales of perseverance, determination and an unwavering love for science, but these are also stories of discrimination and unfair treatment. Despite making groundbreaking discoveries, their names remain largely unknown, simply because they are women. Let’s celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science by getting to know these women scientists and their contribution to the world...

Esther M.Zimmer Lederberg

Esther Miriam Zimmer Lederberg (1922 – 2006) was an American microbiologist, who discovered bacterial virus Lambda phage and the bacterial fertility factor F (F plasmid). Like many woman scientists of her time, Esther Lederberg was not given credit for her scientific contribution because of her gender. While her husband, her mentor and another research partner won 1958 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering how genetic material is transferred between bacteria, Esther wasn’t even mentioned in the citation, even though her work significantly contributed to the discovery.

1. North Korea’s Kim Jong Un orders legal supervision over economic plan

Mr. Kim spoke on Wednesday during a Workers’ Party meeting convened to follow up on decisions made at the ruling party’s congress in January, where he admitted previous economic plans had failed and announced a new five-year development plan.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered tougher legal supervision to support his development plans and eradicate various economy-related unlawful acts, state media said on Thursday, as he works to salvage an economy battered by the pandemic and other challenges.

Mr. Kim spoke on Wednesday during a Workers’ Party meeting convened to follow up on decisions made at the ruling party’s congress in January, where he admitted previous economic plans had failed and announced a new five-year development plan.

Mr. Kim “stressed the importance to strengthen legal supervision and control over the establishment and executive process of the national economic plan,” the official Korean Central News Agency said.

He said prosecutors and other law enforcement organisations must do more to ensure the economic plan is correctly executed and “stage a strong legal struggle for checking all kinds of illegal practices revealed in economic activities.” Mr. Kim added that “all sectors and units should obey them unconditionally,” KCNA said.

North Korea’s top prosecutor U Sang Chol told the party meeting that he will firmly implement Mr. Kim’s order. He said he’ll “offensively” keep legal watch over agencies violating the socialist economic management order and take “powerful measures” against any acts hampering efforts to strengthen industries, according to KCNA.

Mr. Kim faces what appears to be the toughest crisis of his nine-year rule as the already-troubled economy is hit by pandemic-related border closings that have sharply reduced the North’s external trade, a spate of natural disasters last summer and persistent U.S.-led sanctions. During the party congress, Mr. Kim described the difficulties as the “worst-ever.” The new five-year plan centres on building a stronger self-supporting economy, reducing reliance on imports, making more investments in the metal and chemical industries and increasing production of consumer goods. But some analysts say the new plan still lacks substance, noting that North Korea’s difficulties result from decades of mismanagement, self-imposed isolation and the sanctions imposed because of its nuclear programme.

North Korea’s push to boost legal control over the economic plan shows Kim is “desperate to report progress over the new five-year plan to secure a stability of the Kim Jong Un government,” said Kim Dong-yub, an analyst from Seoul’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies.

He said punishment for those embroiled in alleged corruption, negligence and incompetence will likely be harsh.

Mr. Kim’s Wednesday speech on the third day of the plenary session of the party’s Central Committee followed earlier secessions where he criticised government agencies for “passive and self-protecting tendencies.” Mr. Kim also set forth unspecified future action to be taken by agencies responsible for external and South Korean affairs. State media dispatches carrying Mr. Kim’s remarks have not mentioned the United States and deadlocked nuclear diplomacy.

During January’s congress, Mr. Kim disclosed an array of sophisticated weapons under development and vowed to enlarge his nuclear arsenal to cope with what he called intensifying U.S. hostility. He said the fate of relations between North Korea and the U.S. depends on Washington.

International

9. Death sentence for murder of publisher Dipan in Bangladesh

A Special Anti-Terrorism tribunal in Bangaldesh pronounced death sentence to the killers of the publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan. Eight members of the banned Ansar al-Islam also known as Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) were sentenced to death for the murder of Faisal Arefin Dipan in October 2015.

Dipan was the publisher of Jagriti Prokashoni which published books by the blogger and science writer Avijit Roy who was also killed by members of the terrorist organisation Ansar al-Islam  in Dhaka in February 2015. Avijit Roy was an atheist secular writer and activist who wrote against religious extremism, superstition and orthodoxy.

Two of the convicted persons Ansar al Islam’s top commander Sayed Ziaul Haque and squad leader Hasan Shamim are absconding while the remaining six are in jail. Ziaul Haque was an army major who was sacked in 2012 for plotting to topple the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He later joined Ansar al-Islam.

Calling the killiing of Dipon as premediated, the judge said that the objective of the murder was to destroy the secular and democratic character of the state. The court observed that the murder was committed to silence writers and publishers and create panic among people to stifle free speech.

Dipan's murder evoked strong outrage inside Bangladesh and outside including the UN and the US Embassy in Dhaka. A series of attacks and murder of bloggers in Bangladesh who wrote against religious extremism took place between 2013-16.

10. US freezes dollar 1 billion funds of Myanmar govt

The United States has announced that it is going to freeze USD 1 billion in Burmese government funds held in the United States.

President Joe Biden has said that the US is announcing a series of actions to impose consequences on the leaders of the Myanmar coup. He announced that he has signed a new executive order to sanction against the military leaders who directed the coup and their close family members.

President Biden said that the first round of targets will be identified this week. He said that strong export controls will be imposed but the support for healthcare, civil society groups and other areas benefiting people will be continued. He called upon the military to immediately release the political leaders and activists, relinquish power and respect the will of the people.

The military government in Myanmar has stepped up actions against leaders of the Aung San Suu Kyi led National League for Democracy (NLD). A close aide to the ousted State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Kyaw Tint Swe was arrested by the army on Wednesday. He had served as the minister for the office of the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, reports Reuters. An official of the NLD has said that four other people linked to the previous government were also picked up from their homes on Wednesday night.

Protests continued for the sixth day as workers came out on the streets of Naypyitaw in support of the Civil Disobedience Movement against the Myanmar army government on Thursday. At some places Bank Employees and ethnic groups are also reported to come out protesting against the military government of Myanmar.

11. Ties now optional in New Zealand parliament after Maori MP's protest

New Zealand male lawmakers are no longer required to wear a necktie in parliament after the rule was dropped following a Maori MP's protest, calling a tie a 'colonial noose'.

Speaker Trevor Mallard prevented Rawiri Waititi from asking questions in the debating chamber on Tuesday and eventually ordered him to leave for not wearing a tie.

Waititi, 40, was wearing a taonga, a Maori greenstone pendant instead, which he said was a Maori business attire.

The incident sparked a debate about why a necktie was mandatory with Waititi describing the piece of clothing as a 'colonial noose', and said forcing him to wear it was a breach of his rights and an attempt to suppress indigenous culture.

After a meeting with the Standing Orders Committee, Speaker Mallard said late on Wednesday that he had decided to make ties optional in the House.

"As Speaker, I am guided by the committee's discussion and decision, and therefore ties will no longer be considered required as part of ‘appropriate business attire'," Mallard said.

"I acknowledge those who felt this was an important issue worthy of further consideration," he said.

Waititi and a handful of other MPs were spotted without a tie in parliament on Thursday.

12. Paddy procurement shows 17.35 % increase as against the last year corresponding purchase

In the ongoing Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21, Government continues to procure Kharif 2020-21 crops at MSP from farmers as per existing MSP Schemes, as was done in previous seasons.

Paddy procurement for Kharif 2020-21 is continuing smoothly in the procuring States & UTs of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Karnataka, West Bengal and Tripura with purchase of over 622.20 LMTs of paddy up to 09.02.2021.This is an increase of 17.35 % against the last year corresponding purchase of 530.18 LMT. Out of the total purchase of 622.20 LMT, Punjab alone has contributed 202.82 LMT which is 32.59% of total procurement.

13. Olympic ranking points up for grabs, Indian Judokas to head to Israel for Tel Aviv Grand Slam

Olympic ranking points up for grabs, Indian Judokas to head to Israel for Tel Aviv Grand Slam

With less than six months to go before the Tokyo Olympics, Indian judokas will get the opportunity to gather crucial ranking points which will help them in their qualification efforts as a six-member team comprising five players and a coach will head to Israel to participate in the Tel Aviv Grand Slam which will take place from February 18-20.

The contingent will comprise of Avtar Singh (Men’s 100 kg), Vijay Yadav (Men’s 60 kg), Jasleen Singh Saini (Men’s 66 kg), Shushila Devi (Women’s 48 kg) and Tulika Mann (Women’s 78 kg). They will be accompanied by chief coach Jiwan Sharma. The same five judokas had represented India at the Budapest Grand Slam in October last year. Their participation in this tournament has been supported by the Government.

Jasleen Singh Saini who is a part of the TOPS Developmental group is looking forward to the chance of playing in this tournament, “All of us have medal expectations from this tournament, players are in their peak condition.”  Saini with 850 points (the most by an Indian) is currently in with a chance of earning a continental quota for the Olympics, but he is more looking forward to winning a medal as it will give him direct entry to the Olympics. He added, “Last year there were a lot of problems because of the coronavirus pandemic and the suspension of tournaments. Government has been sending us to play tournaments, we can play with a free mind.”

A total of 512 competitors from 73 countries will be playing in this tournament. Following this event, the Indian judokas are next due to participate in Grand Slams to be held in Uzbekistan and Georgia in March, which are both Olympic ranking tournaments.

14. Defending champion Kenin crashes out of Australian Open

Reigning champion Sofia Kenin crashed out of the Australian Open in the second round on Thursday (February 11), slumping to a 6-3 6-2 defeat at the hands of world number 65 Kaia Kanepi on Margaret Court Arena.

The 22-year-old, who followed her Grand Slam breakthrough at Melbourne Park last year with a run to the final at the French Open, sprayed 22 unforced errors in the 64-minute contest against the experienced Estonian.

Kenin has been reduced to tears on court on several occasions since she came out of quarantine in Melbourne and admitted she has been struggling to contain her nerves at the prospect of defending the title.

Kanepi, who reached the final of the Gippsland Trophy warm-up tournament last week, was just the sort of hardened veteran who would look to exploit any mental frailties in her opponent.

The Estonian played a solid, if unspectacular, match, breaking Kenin for 3-1 in the opening set and never looking back after fending off three break points in the next game.

Kanepi kept up the pressure in the second set, in which Kenin failed to muster up a single break point, and the Estonian sealed her victory in emphatic style with her 10th ace.

Watched by her coach father Alex, Kenin gave a quick wave to the sparse crowd as she walked off court with her head bowed, her title defence over.

Next up for Kanepi is a third-round tie against Croatian Donna Vekic, who beat Argentine Nadia Podoroska in her second round match on Thursday.

World number one Ash Barty suffered a meltdown on the brink of victory but regathered herself to fend off compatriot Daria Gavrilova 6-1 7-6(7) and reach the third round of the Australian Open.

Barty, who came onto centre court with her left thigh heavily strapped, served for the match at 5-2 but was broken twice in a hail of unforced errors, allowing wildcard Gavrilova to drag the contest deep into a tiebreak.

Fortunately for Barty, Gavrilova reprieved her twice with unforced errors on set point and then coughed up another on match point to surrender on a steamy day at Rod Laver Arena.

Barty will meet the winner of Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia for a place in the fourth round.

In the men's event, in-form Russian Andrey Rublev defeated Thiago Monteiro 6-4 6-4 7-6(8) to reach the third round. The seventh seed, part of Russia's ATP Cup winning team last Sunday (February 7), took two hours 11 minutes to complete his win and will face Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez in the next round after he beat Lorenzo Sonego of Italy 5-7 3-6 6-3 7-5 6-4.