Pakistan declares national emergency to battle locusts

1.World Wetlands Day: February 2

World Wetlands Day is celebrated internationally each year on 2 February.It marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention) in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971.

World Wetlands Day was first celebrated in 1997.

2.Pakistan declares national emergency to battle locusts

Pakistan, which is facing its worst locust attack in decades, has declared a national emergency to tackle the insects destroying crops on a large scale in Punjab province, the country’s main region for agricultural production.The decision was taken at a meeting convened by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The meeting, attended by federal ministers and senior officials of the four provinces, also approved a National Action Plan (NAP) that requires a sum of ₹7.3 billion to overcome the crisis.

The prime minister directed the authorities concerned to make immediate measures on the basis of damage of ripened crops.

3.India, Maldives sign five MoUs for establishing Addu Tourism zone

India and Maldives signed five MoUs for establishing the Addu Tourism zone in five islands of Addu atoll at a cost of 2.49 million dollars.A 6th MoU to set up a bottled water plant in Hoarafushi was also signed.

All six projects are grant projects falling under India’s High Impact Community Development Scheme (HICDP).

These projects are driven by the needs of communities on the islands.

4.First Coronavirus death outside China reported from Philippines

The death toll in novel coronavirus in China has risen to 304. Around 14,380 people have been infected with the virus in mainland China and 160 in other countries.

The number of suspected cases has also gone up to 19,544 in China.

The Philippines has also confirmed its first novel coronavirus death, the first one outside China. It was the second confirmed case in the country.

Recently, India’s second case of coronavirus has been reported in Kerala, three days after a student from the state was tested positive.

5.Madhya Pradesh bags first position for implementation of PMMVY

Madhya Pradesh has bagged the first position for the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana.Union Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani will present this award to Madhya Pradesh at a function in New Delhi.

Indore district has also bagged the first place for better performance of the scheme.

The main objective of the Matru Vandana Yojana is to provide incentives of five thousand rupees for the loss of wages of working women and to ensure their proper rest and nutrition during pregnancy.

In Madhya Pradesh, more than 14 lakh 55 thousand beneficiaries have been registered under the Pradhan Mantri Matra Vandana Yojana.

6.Andhra govt launches doorstep pension distribution scheme

The Andhra Pradesh Government has initiated a doorstep pension delivery scheme across the state, under which, various welfare pensions are being delivered at the doorstep of the pensioners.The “YSR Pension Kanuka” initiative to end the struggles of old people who find it difficult to go to the pension office.

Also, the age for old age pensioners (OAP) has been reduced from 65 to 60 years.

With the increase in the pensioners, the list of beneficiaries has gone up to 54.64 lakh this year.

7.Ajay Bisaria appointed India’s next High Commissioner to Canada

India’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ajay Bisaria has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to Canada.An IFS officer of the 1987 batch, Bisaria is expected to take up the assignment shortly.

From February 2017 to November 2019, Vikas Swarup served as India’s High Commissioner to Canada.

Swaroop is now secretary (West) at the Ministry of external affairs.

8.BAFTA Awards 2020

The British Academy of Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) ceremony was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain.1917 was the big winner of the night with seven awards, including the coveted Best Film and Director

Best Film: 1917

Outstanding British Film: 1917

Leading Actress: Renée Zellweger – Judy

Leading Actor: Joaquin Phoenix – Joker

Director: Sam Mendes – 1917

Film Not In The English Language: Parasite

Supporting Actress: Laura Dern – Marriage Story

Supporting Actor: Brad Pitt – Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood

Original Screenplay: Parasite – Han Jin Won, Bong Joon-Ho

Adapted Screenplay: Jojo Rabbit – Taika Waititi

Cinematography: 1917 – Roger Deakins

Editing: Le Mans ’66 – Andrew Buckland, Michael Mccusker

Production Design: 1917 – Dennis Gassner, Lee Sandales

Original Score: Joker – Hildur Guđnadóttir

Costume Design: Little Women – Jacqueline Durran

Sound: 1917 – Scott Millan, Oliver Tarney, Rachael Tate, Mark Taylor, Stuart Wilson

Special Visual Effects: 1917 – Greg Butler, Guillaume Rocheron, Dominic Tuohy

Rising Star Award: Micheal Ward

9.Waheeda Rehman to be conferred MP govt’s Kishore Kumar Samman

Noted actor Waheeda Rehman will be conferred the Madhya Pradesh government’s National Kishore Kumar Samman.The award, for the year 2018, will be given to Rehman at her Bandra residence in Mumbai by Madhya Pradesh Culture Minister Vijaylaxmi Sadho.

Rehman, one of Hindi film industry’s most successful leading ladies with a string of box office hits and several awards.

The award, which carries a Rs 2 lakh cash prize and citation, could not be given to Rehman during a function held in October last year as the actor was unwell.

The function was held on October 13 coinciding with the death anniversary of singing legend Kishore Kumar.

10.Vinod Shukla bags first Mathrubhumi Book of the Year award

Noted Hindi poet-novelist and Sahitya Akademi honouree Vinod Kumar Shukla has bagged the inaugural Mathrubhumi Book of the Year award for his translated book “Blue Is Like Blue”.The stories in “Blue Is Like Blue”, translated into English by Arvind Krishna Mehrotra and Sara Rai.

The award, given to the best fictional work released in the previous year, carries a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh, a plaque designed by Riyas Komu and a certificate.

The award was presented at the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters 2020.

11.Australian Open: Novak Djokovic wins his record 8th Men’s singles title

In tennis, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic won his record 8th Men’s singles title in Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.He beat first-time Australian Open finalist Dominic Thiem  of Austria.

The men’s doubles title was clinched by Joe Salisbury of the UK and American Rajeev Ram who beat Australia’s Luke Saville and Max Purcell.