India
SC stays implementation of three new farm laws
The Supreme Court has put a stay on the implementation of three new farm laws until further orders. “The implementation of the three farm laws 1) Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; (2) Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020; and (3) Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, shall stand stayed until further orders,” it said. The bench was hearing a batch of petitions regarding the Constitutional validity of three farm laws passed by Parliament and a plea to disperse the protesting farmers. It has also set up a committee of agricultural experts to facilitate talks between the Centre and farmers’ unions to resolve the impasse. The four-member panel comprises agriculture economist Ashok Gulati, former Director for South Asia, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Pramod Kumar Joshi, National President of Bhartiya Kisan Union & All India Kisan Coordination Committee, Bhupinder Singh Mann, and Shetkari Sanghatana President Anil Ghanwat.
Kayakalp awards given to Public and Private Health Facilities
Public and Private Health Facilities across the country were on January 12, 2021 felicitated with Centre’s Kayakalp award for high standards of Sanitation and Hygiene. The government had launched a National Initiative ‘Kayakalp’ on 15th May 2015 to ensure hygiene, sanitation and cleanliness in Public Health Facilities in the country.
Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda celebrated as National Youth Day
Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda was celebrated as National Youth Day on January 12, 2021. Swami Vivekananda became popular in the western world after his famous speech at the World’s Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893. He was the chief disciple of the 19th century mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa and was the founder of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission.
PM addresses valedictory function of National Youth Parliament Festival
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the valedictory function of the second National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) on January 12, 2021 via video conferencing. The objective of NYPF is to hear the voice of youth between 18 and 25 years of age.
Committee on TRPs of TV channels submits report to I&B minister
The committee constituted to make the Television Rating Points (TRPs) of TV channels more transparent, submitted its report to the Union Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Minister Prakash Javadekar on January 12, 2021. A committee was formed under the chairmanship of Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati on November 4, 2020 to make the TRP system more transparent. Following the report, guidelines would be issued to the rating agency, Broadcast Audience Research Council.
Women to be inducted as Army pilots: Army Chief
Women will be inducted as pilots in the Army Aviation Corps from next year, Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on January 12, 2021. Till now, women are only part of ground duties in the Army Aviation Corps (AAC). The Indian Army raised the AAC on November 1, 1986 and it comprises helicopters that fly in conflict and peace zones.
Economy & Corporate
CPI-based inflation eased to 4.59% in December
Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation eased to 4.59% in December 2020 compared to 6.93% in November, according to government data released on January 12, 2021.
Industrial output contracts by 1.9% in November 2020
The country’s industrial output, measured in terms of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), contracted by 1.9% in November as against 3.6% growth in October, according to data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
KVIC launches eco-friendly “Khadi Prakritik Paint”
Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways & MSME Nitin Gadkari launched an innovative new paint developed by Khadi and Village Industries Commission on January 12, 2021. The eco-friendly, non-toxic paint, called “Khadi Prakritik Paint” is a first-of-its-kind product, with anti-fungal, anti-bacterial properties.
Bharat Biotech to supply Covaxin to Brazil
Covaxin maker Bharat Biotech has signed an agreement with Precisa Medicamentos, a firm in Brazil, to supply the COVID-19 vaccine candidate to the Latin American country. Twelve million doses of the indigenous vaccine are likely to be supplied over a period of time.
World
India to set up financial facility for academic collaboration with Arab World
India on January 12, 2021 decided to set up one-billion-dollar facility for academic collaboration with the Arab World. This was decided at third Senior Officials Meeting of the Arab-India Cooperation Forum held via video conference. The financial facility will be a rolling one and continue to be replenished.
Private messages will continue to be encrypted end-to-end: WhatsApp
In the wake of a backlash over its updated privacy policy, Facebook-owned WhatsApp on January 12, 2021 clarified that the update would not affect users’ messages to friends or family. The changes only relate to messaging a business using the platform, the messaging service provider said. In an FAQ posted on its website, WhatsApp added that this update includes changes related to messaging a business on WhatsApp, which is optional.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un given title of general secretary of ruling party
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was given the title of general secretary of the ruling Workers Party formerly held by his late father Kim Jong Il, and grandfather, Kim Il Sung. Kim already was the party’s top leader. During a 2016 party congress, he was named party chairman and before that had led the party with the title of first secretary.
Malaysia: King declares emergency till August 1 to fight Covid-19
Malaysia’s king on January 12, 2021 declared a nationwide state of emergency to fight a coronavirus surge. Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah agreed to declare an emergency until August 1 following a request from Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in a meeting on January 11, the national palace said in a statement.
U.S. rebrands Cuba as state sponsor of terrorism
President Donald Trump’s outgoing administration on January 11, 2021 returned Cuba to the U.S. blacklist of state sponsors of terrorism. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cited Cuba’s ties with Colombian rebels, alliance with leftist Venezuela and sanctuary to several U.S. fugitives in justifying the blacklisting. The terror designation only be removed after a formal review by the new Joe Biden administration.
Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson dies at 87 in US
Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire mogul and power broker who built a casino empire spanning from Las Vegas to China, died at the age of 87 on January 11, 2021. He was the Chairman and CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation.
