NATIONAL NEWS
J&K topped in India Press Freedom Report 2021Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tripura topped the list of States and Union Territories where journalists and media houses were targeted in 2021, a report by a New Delhi-based rights group said.
- At least six journalists were killed, 108 attacked and 13 media houses or newspapers targeted across the country, according to the India Press Freedom Report 2021 by the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) said.
- The highest number of journalists or media organisations targeted was in J&K (25), followed by Uttar Pradesh (23), Madhya Pradesh (16), Tripura (15), Delhi (8), Bihar (6), Assam (5), Haryana and Maharashtra (4 each), Goa and Manipur (3 each), Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (2 each), and Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Kerala (1 each).
- While J&K recorded the maximum attacks by State actors, Tripura had the most cases of attacks by non-State actors, the analysis of data showed.
In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic disrupting education for school-going children, West Bengal government launched an open-air classroom programme Paray Shikshalaya (Neighbourhood Schools) for primary and pre-primary students.
- The goal of this project is to encourage students who were forced to drop out of school because of the Covid-19 outbreak to return to school.
- The para teachers and primary school teachers would be part of the project to provide elementary education to Class 1-5. Project has been approved by the state government.
Recently, the people of Bhaderwah celebrated the traditional Kanchoth festival, which may be a symbol of ancient Nag culture.
- The festival was celebrated amid braving heavy snowfall and extreme wave conditions.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
India becomes first country in world to administer COVID-19 DNA vaccineIndia became the first country in the world to administer DNA vaccine against COVID-19.
- The ZyCoV-D, the world's first plasmid DNA vaccine, was produced by Ahmedabad-based vaccine manufacturer Zydus Cadila.
- The Drugs Controller General of India has given its permission for the vaccination to be given to children aged 12 to 17.
- Unlike most COVID-19 vaccines, which need two doses or even a single dose, ZyCoV-D is administered in three doses with a gap of 28 and 56 days from the first dose respectively.
BANKING & FINANCE
ICICI Lombard partners Airtel Payments Bank to offer Cyber InsuranceAirtel Payments Bank has partnered ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company to offer insurance solutions against cyber crimes and financial frauds to its customers.
- The partnership comes at a time when the growth in digital payments and transactions has led to a surge in sophisticated online frauds.
- The insurance from ICICI Lombard provides financial protection to customers against potential financial cyber frauds related to banking, credit or debit card, as well as protection against threats such as identity theft, phishing and email spoofing, Airtel Payments Bank said.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
Amazon India signs MoU to turn rural women into entrepreneurs in KarnatakaAmazon India said the company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Karnataka State Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (KSRLPS) to support the growth of women entrepreneurs.
- Amazon India would launch Sanjeevini-KSRLPS in its marketplace and extend benefits of the 'Saheli' programme to train and empower thousands of women entrepreneurs to come online and access a wider market for their products, the company said.
- This association would help bring in regional selection and unique products from categories like grocery, home and fashion accessories made by over 30,000 women entrepreneurs and self-help groups (SHGs) associated with Sanjeevini-KSRLPS online and make them available to millions of Amazon customers across the country.
The Kerala government signed an MoU with Social Alpha, a joint initiative of Tata Trust and the Indian government, through its Clean Energy International Incubation Centre (CEIIC).
- The Energy Management Centre (EMC) and Kerala Development and Innovation Strategy Council (KDISC)are part of the project. They will work together to support innovative and clean energy technology programmes and initiatives by the state government.
- The focus is on clean energy technologies promoting smart grids, transition to renewables, and climate action by setting up a joint incubation centre.
SPORTS
Senegal beats Egypt to win Africa Cup of Nations trophySadio Mane made up for missing from the spot in normal time to score the decisive penalty as Senegal overcame Mohamed Salah's Egypt 4-2 in a shoot-out to win their first Africa Cup of Nations title after final finished goalless at the end of extra time.
- Senegal had lost two finals previously, including at the last African Cup in Egypt in 2019, when Mané was left inconsolable.
- The final at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde, Cameroon, was billed as a battle between Liverpool stars Mané of Senegal and Mohamed Salah of Egypt but it never reached those heights.
China came back from two goals down to defeat Korea 3-2 in a dramatic final and clinch their record-extending ninth title of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
- Korea looked to be cruising to their maiden crown after taking a 2-0 lead at half-time but China fought back after the break through goals from Tang Jiali, Zhang Linyan and Xiao Yuyi, who netted the winner deep into added time to seal her side the title at the DY Patil Stadium.
Sri Lanka fast bowler Suranga Lakmal has announced to retire from international cricket after their upcoming tour of India, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said in a statement. SLC said.
- The 34-year-old right-arm fast bowler and right-handed batsman aim to join the English county club Derbyshire after retirement. The Derbyshire County Cricket Club has signed up Lakmal on a two-year contract.
- Lakmal made his debut in an ODI against India in December 2009. He has taken 168 wickets in 68 Test matches and 109 in 86 ODIs. The 34-year-old played only 11 T20Is, taking eight wickets. Lakmal has represented Sri Lanka in 165 international matches across formats, in his international career spanning over 12 years.
APPOINTMENTS
S Unnikrishnan Nair takes charge as VSSC directorSenior scientist S Unnikrishnan Nair took charge as the director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), a key centre of Isro focusing on rocket and space vehicles.
- Nair will continue to also hold the position of director, Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) that is spearheading the Gaganyaan Programme.
- A ‘Distinguished Scientist’ Nair is the first HSFC director who started his career in VSSC in 1985. During his tenure at VSSC, he has made significant contributions to launch vehicle mechanisms, acoustic protection systems and payload fairing areas.
State-run Power System Operation Corporation Ltd(POSOCO) said its Director (System Operation) S R Narasimhan has taken additional charge of the post of chairman and managing director.
- He has over three decades' experience in power system operation spread across CEA (central Electricity Authority), POWERGRID and POSOCO after an initial stint with BHEL.
- He has extensive experience in interconnection of regional grids, leading to a synchronous 'All India Electricity Grid'.
Professor of history, Dinesh Prasad Saklani has been appointed as the new director of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for a period of five years or till he attains the age of 65 years.
- Saklani is a professor with the department of history, ancient Indian history, culture and archaeology at HNB Garhwal University, Uttarakhand. He is also the director of the Chauras Campus of the university.
Bollywood star Akshay Kumar has been appointed as the brand ambassador of Uttarakhand, the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced ahead of Assembly Elections 2022.
- In 2017, Akshay Kumar was appointed as Uttarakhand’s brand ambassador for ‘Swachhata Abhiyan’. Akshay Kumar, is a Canadian-Indian actor, a film producer who has acted in more than 100 films.
Footwear maker Bata India Limited has on-boarded Bollywood actor Disha Patani as the new brand ambassador, the company said.
- Patani will be seen promoting various popular labels under the Bata umbrella.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NASA will retire International Space Station in 2031The International Space Station (ISS), the world’s largest habitable artificial satellite in space being managed by five countries, will continue its service until 2030 and will then plunge into an uninhabited area of the Pacific Ocean in January 2031, US space agency Nasa has confirmed in a new transition plan.
- Nasa said the ISS would crash into a part of the Pacific Ocean known as Point Nemo. This is the point furthest from land on Earth, also known as spacecraft cemetery. Many old satellites and spacecraft, including Russian space station Mir, and other space debris had crashed there in 2001.
- The ISS will be replaced with commercial stations as Nasa has signed agreements with three private companies to launch commercial space stations for use by both private companies and government astronauts. These new commercial space stations will be launched by Blue Origin, Nanoracks LLC and Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation.
OBITUARIES
R Rajamohan, who led the first Asteroid Discoveries in Independent India, passes awayProfessor R Rajamohan, who was an astronomer at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, for decades, passed away.
- He is best known for his Kalki Project, which aimed to discover asteroids using the 48-cm Schmidt telescope in Kavalur VBO This was the first asteroid discovered in India in 104 years.
- This was the first asteroid discovered in India in 104 years.
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