NATIONAL NEWS
PM Modi to virtually inaugurate 25th National Youth Festivaled
A chemical leak was reported on January 11, 2022 in a fish processing plant in Baikampady, located on the outskirts of Mangaluru city in Karnataka. Around 20 employees were hospitalised out of the 80 present at the time of the accident after they developed breathing problems.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari tests Covid positive
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari tested positive for Covid-19 on January 11, 2022. He tweeted saying that he has mild symptoms and has isolated himself following all the necessary protocols. The Minister is currently under home quarantine. Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Sing had also tested positive for Covid-19.
IPL Mega auction to be held on February 12-13
The IPL mega auction will take place in Bengaluru on February 12-13, 2022. The news was confirmed after the two new IPL teams- Ahmedabad and Lucknow- received formal clearance from the BCCI. Both teams have now been given a time frame to sign up players before the mega auction.
Republic Day celebrations to take place with stricter restrictions
The Republic Day celebrations will continue to take place amid the ongoing third wave of COVID-19 with stricter restrictions. The restrictions will be stricter than the ones imposed last year. The number of visitors allowed to witness the parade might be further limited. The route of the parade will also be shorter, similar to last year. The marching contingent will end at India Gate C instead of the Red Fort.
Lakshadweep achieves 100 percent COVID vaccination in the 15-18 age group
Lakshadweep has achieved 100 percent COVID-19 vaccination of children in the age group of 15-18 years. Lakshadweep has become the first among the states and the Union Territories to achieve the feat. According to the District Collector, the vaccination drive for children was launched by Administrator Praful Patel in Kavaratti as part of the nationwide campaign. The target of 3,492 children was achieved within a week after the launch of the vaccination drive through the various campaigns that were conducted in schools and the mobilization drives. Lakshadweep was also the first among the Uts and the states to have achieved 100% vaccination in other categories as well.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
PCB Chairman to propose 4-nation T20I series involving India?
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja said on January 11, 2022 that he will make a proposal to ICC about holding a 4-nation T20I series comprising both India and Pakistan every year. He stated that he wants to see India, Pakistan, England and Australia face each other in the series every year. The matches can be hosted by the four nations on a rotation basis, as per the proposal.
Spinner Washington Sundar testes positive for COVID-19, out of SA ODIs
Washington Sundar, Team India off-spinner, has been ruled out of the forthcoming ODI series against South Africa after testing positive for Coronavirus. The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Jayant Yadav as a replacement for Washington Sundar. Fast bowler Navdeep Saini has also been added by the Committee to the ODI squad as a back-up for Mohammed Siraj who is recovering from his hamstring injury. India and South Africa will lock horns in three ODIs starting from January 19, 2022, under the Captaincy of KL Rahul.
Oscars to have host after 3 years absence
Oscars 2022 which is scheduled to air on March 27, 2022, will be the first since the 2018 ceremony to have a host. Craig Erwich, ABC Entertainment, and Hulu Originals, has announced that the Oscars will return with a host, however, he did not elaborate on who that might be. Jimmy Kimmel had served as the last host of Oscars, having emceed the ceremony in 2017 and 2018. The Academy Awards went hostless in 2019 when the Academy at first announced Kevin Hart for hosting the gig. However, he was later dropped out after the organisation had asked him to apologize for years-old homophobic tweets.
Poet Maya Angelou becomes first Black Woman to feature on US Coin
Activist and Poet Maya Angelou has become the first black woman to appear on the US quarter, in a new version of the coin which was unveiled by the US Mint on January 10, 2022. The author of ‘I Know Why the Caged Birds Sings’, will also become the first figure commemorated through the American Women Quarters Program. It was signed into law in January 2021. As per the press release from the agency, the US Mint has started shipping the first coins with Maya Angelou’s likeness on the American Quarter, a 25-cent piece. Maya Angelou was born in Missouri in 1928. She was an essayist and poet who had worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X during the Civil Rights Movement.
