1) World Cancer Day observed globally on 4 February
•World Cancer Day is being observed globally on 4th February. The Day aims to create awareness about cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that cancer cases will rise by 81% in low and middle-income countries by 2040 because of a lack of investment in prevention and care.
•The theme of World Cancer Day: 2019-2021
•2020 marks the midway point of the 3-year with the theme ‘I Am and I Will’ campaign. ‘I Am and I Will’ is an empowering call-to-action urging for personal commitment and represents the power of individual action taken now to impact the future.
2) Mohammad Tawfiq Allawi becomes new Prime Minister of Iraq
•Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi was appointed as Iraq’s new Prime Minister by President Barhim Salih. He will replace Adil Abdul-Mahdi who resigned in November 2019 due to anti-government protests. Mohammed Allawi served twice as communications minister under Former PM Nouri al-Maliki. The 2019 Iraq Protests was also named as Tishreen revolution (October revolution) or Iraqi Intifada.
3) Pakistan declares national emergency to battle locust swarms
•Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has declared a national emergency in the country to battle locust swarms. The insects destroying crops on a large scale in Punjab province, country’s main region for agricultural production. The National Action Plan (NAP) requires a sum of ₹7.3 billion to overcome the crisis.
4) Maldives becomes 54th member of the Commonwealth
•Maldives has returned to Commonwealth after its exit in 2016 and hence, has become the 54th member of the global body. The inclusion of Maldives into Commonwealth become effective from one minute past midnight on 1 February just after the exit of United Kingdom from the European union. The Commonwealth secretary general Patricia Scotland announced the rejoining of Maldives in the Commonwealth after ensuring Maldives’ alignment with the values and principles of the Commonwealth and the consultations with the other Commonwealth nations for Maldives’ readmission. Maldives became a member of the Commonwealth for the first time in 1982.
Why it left the global organisation?
•Maldives left the Commonwealth in 2016. Maldives was threatened with suspension over its human rights record and lack of advancement in its democratic reform. Maldives quit the Commonwealth citing their treatment “unjust and unfair” under the presidency of former president Abdulla Yameen.
Readmission of Maldives in Commonwealth:
•Maldives has shown development in its democratic reforms with the evidences of functioning democratic processes. President Ibrahim “Ibu” Mohamed Solih promoted the democracy in the island nation after his surprising victory in the 2018 presidential elections. After ensuring the processes, he applied to the secretary general to rejoin the Commonwealth. After the application process, Maldives faced an assessment including two site visits and consultations to prove its alignment with the rules and regulations agreed by the Commonwealth heads of government in Kampala during their meet in 2007.
•According to the Commonwealth heads of government, a country can become its member only if the country has subscribed to the values and principles of the Commonwealth charter and committed to develop free and democratic societies along the promotion of peace and prosperity.
5) 11th DefExpo 2020 to be held in Lucknow
•The 11th edition of the biennial mega defence exhibition, DefExpo 2020, will begin on 5 February at Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. The main theme of DefExpo India-2020 will be “India: the emerging defence manufacturing hub”.
•The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is taking the lead role in organising the DefExpo-2020 in Lucknow, in coordination with the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The aim of the event is to bring leading technologies in the defence sector under one roof and provide countless opportunities for the government, private manufacturers and start-ups.
6) Ajay Bisaria becomes India’s next Ambassador to Canada
•Ajay Bisaria has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to Canada. He is presently served as High Commissioner of India to Pakistan. He will replace Vikas Swarup. Vikas Swarup is now secretary (West) at the Ministry of external affairs.
7) Shaktikanta Das named best central banker in Asia Pacific
•The Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das has been named the ‘Central Banker of the Year 2020’ for the Asia-Pacific region by financial intelligence magazine The Banker. He won the accolade for bringing in measures to tighten the rules around NBFCs and the award is presented to the bankers who have “best managed to stimulate growth and stabilise their economy,” according to The Banker.
8) Coastal Security Exercise ‘Matla Abhiyaan’ conducted by Indian Navy
•The Indian Navy conducts a coastal security exercise named ‘Malta Abhiyan’ in Kolkata, West Bengal. The exercise, named after Malta River, aims to interact with coastal communities to spread awareness on coastal security and understand the navigational complexities in the Sunderban deltaic waters. Under the exercise, two naval boats were flagged off to move along the river Malta in the Sundarbans region up to Hemnagar.
9) Waheeda Rehman to be honoured with Kishore Kumar Samman
•The Veteran actor Waheeda Rehman will be honoured the Madhya Pradesh government’s National Kishore Kumar Samman. The award, for the year 2018, will be given to Rehman. The award, which carries a Rs 2 lakh cash prize and citation. The function was held on 13 October, coinciding with the death anniversary of singing legend Kishore Kumar.
10) Vinod Shukla wins 1st Mathrubhumi Book of the Year award
•Noted Hindi poet-novelist and Sahitya Akademi honouree Vinod Kumar Shukla has won 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. This book is dealing with common people and their daily struggles. His book, published under HarperCollins India’s translations imprint Harper Perennial.
