INDIA
10th round of India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting concludes
The 10th round of India – China Corps Commander Level Meeting was held on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control in Moldo. Two sides positively appraised the smooth completion of disengagement of frontline troops in the Pangong Lake area.
Indo-U.S. exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ comes to an end in Rajasthan
The closing ceremony of the joint military exercise between the Indian and U.S. Army, ‘Exercise Yudh Abhyas-20’ was held at Mahajan Field Firing Range on February 21, 2021. This was the 16th edition of the joint exercise and it began on February 8. The aim of the exercise was to focus on counter terrorism operations under the mandate of the United Nations.
India to provide USD 50 million credit to Maldives for maritime capability building
India has signed a USD 50 million line of credit (LoC) agreement with the Maldives to facilitate maritime capability building of the island nation. According to a joint India-Maldives joint statement, the agreement was signed between the Government of Maldives and EXIM Bank India. The agreement was signed during the visit of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to the island nation.
National anthem played in Nagaland assembly for first time in almost 6 decades
Almost 60 years after Nagaland attained statehood, the national anthem was played inside its assembly for the first time this February. The move is historic for a state that has been ravaged by decades of secessionist violence and protracted peace talks that still hang fire. Nagaland attained statehood on December 1, 1963, and was the 16th state of the Union.
Economy & Corporate
88 Railway projects dedicated to nation worth over Rs 1000 cr by Piyush Goyal
Railways Minister Piyush Goyal on February 21, 2021 inaugurated and dedicated a host of infrastructure projects and projects related to passenger amenities at various railway stations in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka through video conferencing. 88 Railway projects were dedicated to the nation worth over Rs. 1000 crores making Indian Railways future ready.
Centre plans to permit sale of 50% of coal/lignite produced by captive blocks
The Centre plans to permit sale of 50 per cent of coal/lignite produced by captive blocks, a move aimed at augmenting the production and increasing the availability of dry fuel. The government plans to do so through incorporation of a provision in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR).
World
International Mother Language Day celebrated on Feb 21
International Mother Language Day was celebrated on February 21, 2021. In 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO had declared 21st February as International Mother Language Day. The theme for this year is “Fostering multilingualism for inclusion in education and society”. In India, Union Education Ministry has been celebrating the day as Matribhasha Diwas since 2015.
Russia reports world’s 1st case of bird flu strain H5N8 being passed to humans
Russia has registered the first case of a strain of bird flu virus named A(H5N8) being passed to humans from birds and has reported the matter to the World Health Organization (WHO). Seven workers at a poultry plant in Russia’s south had been infected with the H5N8 strain in an outbreak at the plant in December.
Sports
Novak Djokovic wins Australian Open tennis men’s singles title
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic won his ninth men’s singles title at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne by defeating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the final 7–5, 6–2, 6–2 played on February 21, 2021. Men’s Doubles title was won by Croatia’s Ivan Dodig & Slovakia’s Filip Polášek. Women’s Doubles title was won by Belgium’s Elise Mertens & Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka. Mixed Doubles was won by Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejčíková & Rajeev Ram of US.
India’s Ankita Raina wins women’s doubles title at Phillip Island Trophy tennis
India’s Ankita Raina on February 19, 2021 won her maiden WTA title as she and her Russian partner Kamilla Rakhimova clinched the doubles event in the Phillip Island Trophy in Melbourne. The Ankita-Kamilla pair beat Russia’s Anna Blinkova and Anastasia Potapova 2-6, 6-4, 10-7 in the final. The win will propel the 28-year-old Ankita to top-100 in the WTA rankings in doubles. She will be the second Indian woman player to be in top-100 after Sania Mirza.
