INDIA
46 security personnel killed in ceasefire violations by Pakistan in 2020
Pakistan resorted to 5,133 incidents of ceasefire violations in 2020 in which 46 security force personnel were killed, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Rajya Sabha on February 8, 2021.
Rajya Sabha clears Bill to merge J&K cadre with AGMUT
Rajya Sabha on February 8, 2020 passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill to merge Jammu and Kashmir cadre of IAS, IPS and IFS with the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram, and Union Territory, or AGMUT, cadre.
TERI to organise World Sustainable Development Summit on Feb 10-12
The 20th edition of The Energy and Resources Institute’s (TERI) flagship event, the World Sustainable Development Summit, will be held online from February 10 to 12, 2021. The theme of the Summit is ‘Redefining our common future: Safe and secure environment for all’.
Govt. liberalises income criteria for grant of family pension
The Centre has issued instructions to liberalise the income criteria for eligibility of a deceased government servant or pensioner’s family member for pension, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on February 8, 2020. The relaxation is granted for family pension to differently-abled survivors as they require greater medical care and financial assistance.
Economy & Corporate
Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence announced
The Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence were announced on February 8, 2021.
- Lifetime Achievement Award was won by former HDFC Bank MD Aditya Puri.
- Businesswoman of the year award was jointly won by Preetha Reddy, Vice-Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals and Suneeta Reddy, MD, Apollo Hospitals.
- Emerging company of the year award went to ICICI Lombard General Insurance.
- Business reformer of the year award was won by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das.
- Corporate citizen of the year award was won by Tata Consultancy Services.
- Global Indian award was won by Piyush Gupta, CEO, DBS Group.
- Entrepreneur of the year award was won by Adar Poonawalla Chief Executive Officer, Serum Institute of India.
- Business Leader of The Year award was won by Pawan Munjal, Chairman, Hero MotoCorp.
Vodafone tax case: India moves Singapore HC against arbitration panel order
India has challenged in the Singapore High Court an international arbitration tribunal’s verdict that overturned its demand for Rs 22,100 crore in back taxes from Vodafone Group Plc, and the order passed in Cairn Group’s case is under consideration of the government, Parliament was informed on February 8, 2021.
World
Former U.S. secretary of state George Shultz dies aged 100
George Shultz, the U.S. Secretary of State in President Ronald Reagan’s administration from 1982 to 1989, passed away at the age of 100 on February 7, 2021.
China issues anti-monopoly rules aimed at internet players
China released new anti-monopoly guidelines on February 7, 2020 that target internet platforms, a move tightening the existing restrictions faced by the country’s top tech companies. The new rules formalise an earlier anti-monopoly draft law released in November 2019.
Sports
Centre grants permission to BCCI to use drones
Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) have granted conditional exemption to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the deployment of drones for live aerial cinematography of the India Cricket Season in 2021.
Ishant Sharma becomes 6th Indian bowler to take 300 wickets in test cricket
Veteran fast bowler Ishant Sharma on February 8, 2021 became the sixth Indian bowler to take 300 wickets in Test cricket in his 98th test against England at Chennai. Anil Kumble (619), Kapil Dev (434), Ravichandran Ashwin (377), Harbhajan Singh (417) and Zaheer Khan (311) are other Indian bowlers to take more than 300 wickets in tests.
