Current Affairs – February 28, 2021 [Today’s News Headlines]
Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for February 28, 2021
India
PM Modi wins CERAWeek Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive the CERAWeek Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award for his commitment to expanding India’s leadership in sustainable development to meet the country’s, and the world’s, future energy needs. The award will be given to him during an annual international energy conference, which will be held virtually from March 1 to 5, 2021.
Chief Justice of India inaugurates new Centenary Building of Patna High Court
Chief Justice of India S. A. Bobde on February 27, 2021 called for reducing dependence on courts by encouraging parties to opt for pre-litigation mediation which has a way of solving problems, both civil and criminal, which arise from similar dispute. He also inaugurated a new Centenary Building of Patna High Court.
IAF to participate in 70th anniversary celebrations of Sri Lanka Air Force
The Indian Air Force aerobatic display teams, the fixed wing “Suryakirans’ and rotary wing ‘Sarang’, along with Light Combat Aircraft Tejas arrived at Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 27 Feb 21 on an invitation from the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). The Suryakirans, Sarang and LCA Tejas will participate in an Air Show at Galle Face, Colombo, scheduled from 03–05 Mar 21 as part of the 70th anniversary celebrations of SLAF.
IAF gifts 1971 war helicopter to Bangladesh, gets F-86 Sabre aircraft as return gift
Commemorating 50 years of defeating Pakistan in the 1971 war, Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief RKS Bhadauria gifted a legacy Alouette III helicopter to Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) and got a legacy F-86 Sabre aircraft as a return gift from Dhaka. It was gifted during the four-day trip of Bhadauria to Bangladesh where he visited different airbases and interacted with the top military leadership of that country.
India, Bangladesh agree to speed up border fencing
The Home Secretaries of India and Bangladesh met virtually on February 27, 2021 and both sides and discussed early completion of pending fencing along the Indo-Bangladesh border as agreed to by the Prime Ministers of the two countries. The Indian delegation was led by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Bangladesh was led by Senior Secretary, Public Security Division Mostafa Kamal Uddin.
Economy & Corporate
Govt. extends ban on commercial international flights till March 31
Aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has extended the suspension of international commercial passenger flight services till March 31st. Scheduled international flight operations were suspended from March 23, 2020 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. However, special international flights have been allowed under the Vande Bharat Mission since May 2020 and under bilateral “air bubble” arrangements with select countries since July. Under an air bubble pact between two countries, special international flights can be operated by their airlines between their territories.
Deadline for filing declarations under Vivaad Se Vishwas scheme extended
The Central Board of Direct Taxes has extended the last date for availing of the direct tax Vivaad Se Vishwas dispute resolution scheme to March 31, 2021. This is the fifth extension of the scheme. Those willing to settle their tax disputes under the Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Act can file their declarations till March 31 and pay the settled tax amount by April 30, 2021
E-Daakhil portal for consumer grievance redressal operational in 15 states, UTs
The government on February 26, 2021 said the ‘E-Daakhil’ portal for consumer grievance redressal is now operational in 15 states and Union Territories (UTs). The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, which came into force from July 20, 2020, has a provision for e-filing of consumer complaints in the consumer commissions and online payment of the fees for filing a complaint. To facilitate the rural consumers for e-filing, common service centres (CSC) has been integrated with the E-Daakhil portal.
‘The India Toy Fair-2021’ being held from Feb 27 to Mar 2 in virtual mode
‘The India Toy Fair-2021’is being held from February 27 to March 2 in a virtual mode. During the inaugural ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed the toy manufacturers to build toys that are better both for “ecology and psychology.” The toy fair is divided into five stages — pre-school to Class II, primary, upper primary, secondary and senior secondary.
Sitharaman attends G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting
Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 26, 2021n participated virtually in the First G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under the Italian Presidency to discuss policy actions for transformative and equitable recovery.
World
US implicates Saudi crown prince of ordering murder of dissident Jamal Khashoggi
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved an operation to capture or kill journalist Jamal Khashoggi (59) in Istanbul. Khashoggi, who was a vocal critic of the Saudi regime, was killed on October 2, 2018 in the Saudi embassy in Istanbul, Turkey where he had gone to obtain paperwork certifying his divorce from his former wife Alaa Nassif in order to be able to marry his Turkish fiance Hatice Cengiz. The report ‘Assessing the Saudi Government Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi’ was released by the US’ Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). After the report was submitted, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the “Khashoggi Ban” that imposes visa restrictions on 76 Saudi individuals believed to have been engaged in threatening dissidents overseas, including but not limited to the Khashoggi killing.
Facebook lifts news blockade in Australia, inks content deals
Facebook Inc ended a one-week blackout of Australian news on its popular social media site and announced preliminary commercial agreements with three small local publishers. The moves reflected easing tensions between the US company and the Australian government, after the country’s parliament passed a law forcing it and Alphabet Inc’s Google to pay local media companies for using content on their platforms.
Indian economist Ligia Noronha appointed as Assistant Secretary-General of UN
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has announced the appointment of Ligia Noronha of India as Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the New York Office of the United Nations Environment Programme. Noronha is an economist and has worked since 2014 as Director of UNEP’s Economy Division based in Nairobi, leading UNEP’s work on climate mitigation and energy transitions on inclusive green economies, sustainable consumption and production as well as on trade and sustainable finance.
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Month: Current Affairs - February, 2021