News Flash (11th February 2021): Top 10 Stories Of The Day

1. Disengagement at Pangong Tso Lake begins by Indian as well as Chinese troops

The Indian and Chinese troops have begun disengagement at the southern and northern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh in a synchronized and organized manner, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense announced. This move comes after both the countries reached a consensus at the ninth round of Corps Commander level meeting.

2. “If social media is used to spread fake news, action will be taken” warns IT Minister

On Thursday, Ravi Shankar Prasad, India’s IT Minister while talking at the Parliamentary session said that if social media was used inappropriately to spread rumors and encourage violence, then strict action will have to be taken. He further added, “Be it Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or WhatsApp, action will be taken if these platforms are misused.” In sour words, the minister also said, “Work in India…Make money but you will have to abide by Indian laws.”

3. Union Health Ministry: India fastest country to vaccinate 70 lakh people

The Union Health Ministry recently said that India has become the world’s fastest country to provide 70 lakh COVID-19 vaccination. This feat was achieved by the country in only 26 days The United States took 27 days and the UK, 48 days to hit the same figure. Further, no COVID death has been reported in the past 24 hours in 17 states and UTs, the ministry added. 

4. Instagram to begin disabling accounts of users who send abusive texts via DMs

On Wednesday, the photosharing application, Instagram said it will soon begin to disable accounts that engage in sending violating messages to other users on its platform. “Currently, when someone sends DMs that break our rules, we prohibit that person from sending…messages for a…period of time,” the company said. This comes after the application saw a rise in racist online abuse targeting UK footballers.

5. Mastercard to enable customers to transact in select cryptocurrencies on its network

Soon Mastercard users will be able to transact in select cryptocurrencies directly on its network sometime this year. “This change may open merchants up to new customers who are already flocking to digital assets,” the company informed. This decision followed after Tesla invested $1.5 billion in Bitcoin.

6. 23-year-old Manasa Varanasi of Telangana’s crowned Miss India 2020

Manasa Varanasi, a 23-year-old girl from Telangana was named Miss India at the 57th Femina Miss India 2020. Manasa was crowned by Miss India 2019 Suman Rao. Manasa will now be representing India at the 70th Miss World pageant in December 2021. Haryana’s Manika Sheokand too became  Miss Grand India 2020 and Uttar Pradesh’s Manya Singh was crowned as Miss India 2020 runner-up.

7. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, “Not an inch of land will be given to China”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while speaking at Rajya Sabha on the situation in Ladakh, said, “LAC should be accepted by both the sides. We have clarified to China that trying to unilaterally change the status is not acceptable…Not an inch of land will be given.” He further added, “The Indian armed forces have bravely faced the challenges at the border.”

8. Home Minister Amit Shah: Mamata will also say ‘Jai Shri Ram’ by the end of WB polls

Amit Shah, the Home Minister of India, on Thursday, made a statement that by the time West Bengal Assembly elections come to an end, the state’s Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee too will begin chanting Jai Shri Ram. Amit Shah said this while launching BJP’s ‘Poriborton Yatra’ in Bengal’s Cooch Behar. He said this as a response to Banerjee’s refusal to speak at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary celebration after the audience present for the celebration greeted her with chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

9. First AC 3-tier economy class coach launched by Indian Railways

The first air-conditioned three-tier economy class coach has been rolled out by the Indian Railways which is manufactured by Rail Coach Factory in Punjab’s Kapurthala. This new coach has 83 berths, a snack table facility for transverse side, individual bottle holders and charging plugs, and increased headspace for middle and upper berths. In addition to this, the coach also has separate reading lights, a fire alarm system, and luminescent berth numbers for every passenger.

10. Comedian Trevor Noah speaks about India’ farmers’ protest on his show

Following Great Thunberg and Rihanna, the US Comedian Trevor Noah too, has addressed the farmers’ protest going on India’s Delhi. He raised the issue on his late-night talk show, ‘The Daily Show. In response to this, the Union government of India said that before commenting on these protests, facts must be verified.