News Flash (12th February 2021): Top 10 Stories Of The Day

1. For the 1st time ever, ISRO tests satellites developed by the private sector

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has tested two satellites developed by Indian startups, SpaceKidz India and Pixxel (incorporated as Syzygy), at the UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru for the first time ever. With this, ISRO has opened its gate for the private sector. ISRO also helped the two startups fix problems regarding the solar panels on their satellites.

2. Finance Minister assures bringing down the fiscal deficit without hurting growth

During the Budget discussions in the Parliament, Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s Finance Minister assured that the government will work towards reducing the fiscal deficit of the country without disturbing the nation’s growth. She also clarified that the government hasn’t rushed to announce any fiscal deficit number. The minister, during the Budget presentation, pegged the fiscal deficit at 9.5% of GDP for 2020-21 and 6.8% for 2021-22. 

3. Glacier burst in U’Khand forms lake above Raini village; video viral

The recent glacier burst that occurred in Uttarakhand causing floods has now resulted in forming a lake above Raini village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli. On Friday, The Central Water Commission shared a video showing the newly formed lake that is 350 meters in length and 60 meters in height. CM of Uttarakhand Trivendra Singh Rawat then said that the experts will be called in to review the formation of the lake. 

4. After Mastercard, BNY Mellon support crypto, Bitcoin hits an all-time high

Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon and Mastercard spoke of enabling users to transact in cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin jumped to an all-time high of nearly $49,000. Mastercard said that it will soon begin allowing its users to carry out transactions in cryptocurrencies on its network. The BNY Mellon too declared that it’ll hold, transfer and issue cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency has soared over 60% so far this year.

5. Dating app Bumble’s founder becomes world’s youngest self-made woman billionaire

Whitney Wolfe Herd, the 31-year-old Founder, and CEO of the dating app Bumble’s has become the world’s youngest self-made woman billionaire, as per Forbes. On Thursday, after Bumble’s shares jumped over 76% in their stock market, the firm was valued at $14 billion. 

6. Government informs COVID-19 vaccines worth about ₹338 crores exported till now

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that India has exported ₹338 crore worth of COVID-19 as of February 8. He further said that the export of the Covishield vaccine stands at 62.7 lakh doses with free on board value of ₹125.4 crore. Piyush Goyal also added that the paid exports of 1.05 crore doses were valued at ₹213.32 crore.

7. Astronaut captures a still of Amazon’s ‘rivers of gold’. NASA shares pics

Recently NASA released few pictures showing the effects of gold mining on rivers in Peru’s Amazon rainforest. The “rivers of gold” seen in the pictures are pits that might have been dug by unlicensed miners, NASA informed. International Space Station’s astronaut captured the photographs in the month of December. It is due to the reflection from the sun that these pits illuminated.

8. To curb the spread of infections, Amazon hires COVID-19 testing startup founders

To curb the spread of COVID infections among its workers, Amazon has appointed the founders and the employees of Caspr Biotech, a US-based startup, Bloomberg reported. The company hasn’t clarified if it has acquired Caspr Biotech.

9. 350 people have been detained in Myanmar since military coup, informs UN

Since the military coup that occurred on February 1, over 350 people have been detained in Myanmar. Nada al-Nashif, Deputy UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that some of the detained are undergoing criminal charges on “dubious grounds”. Further, she also urged the “military authorities to respect election result, return power to civilian control and release all…arbitrarily detained”.

10. ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ to wrap up after season 8

‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ an American comedy series is soon coming to an end after  its release of the eighth season, NBC announced. The final season of the series, features Andy Samberg, Terry Crews and Melissa Fumero, will have a total of 10 episodes. “It’s been one of the greatest joys and honour of my life to play Amy. I am so grateful,” Melissa tweeted.