Pakistan is going through its worst locust attack in decades. They have announced national emergency to tackle the insects destroying crops on a large scale in Punjab province, country’s main region for agricultural production.
Two lawmakers in Sweden have named Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg for this year Nobel Peace Prize for her Fridays for Future movement that has motivated similar actions by other young people.
Indian Navy launched operation Vanilla to send relief supplies to cyclone-hit Madagascar using its naval ship INS Airavat. It is to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief at Madagascar.
The Maldives rejoined the Commonwealth of nations. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of Maldives made the announcement fulfilling one of his key presidential pledges.
Ekushey Book Fair which is the biggest and longest book fair is organised every year in February commemorating the martyrs of the language movement during which eight people laid down their lives. It is being set up in Bangla Academy premises in Dhaka,Bangladesh this year.
Somalia has announced a national emergency over locust infestation sweeping the Horn of Africa, as insects ruined food supplies in one of the poorest and most vulnerable area in the world.
India and Maldives signed five MoUs for initiating the Addu Tourism zone in five islands of Addu atoll at a cost of 2.49 million dollars.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has increased the global risk degree of the novel coronavirus strain 2019-nCoV from moderate to high. The total number of 2019-nCoV confirmed cases globally has reached 2,014 including 1,985 in China. Indian Embassy is considering all options which includes evacuation of Indians in Wuhan. Hubei has suspended the services for the application of ordinary passports and exit-entry permits for Chinese persons.
Taranjit Singh Sandhu takes charge as the new Indian Ambassador to the United States. He will succeed Ambassador Harsh Vardhan Shringla. Sandhu is the current High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka since January 24, 2017. Sandhu’s appointment is also crucial as India is facing criticism from the US Congress over Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Kashmir policy following abrogation of Article 370.
Sandhu, a 1988-batch IFS officer, has served twice before at the Indian mission in the US. He was Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian embassy in Washington between July 2013 and January 2017. Sandhu also held the position of First Secretary at Embassy of India, Washington responsible for liaison with the US Congress from 1997-2000. Between July 2005 and February 2009, Sandhu was posted at India’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.
World’s smallest gold coin has been minted by Switzerland state-owned Swissmint. The coin is of 2.96 millimeter (0.12 inches) and features face of scientist Albert Einstein sticking out his tongue. It weighs 0.063 grams and has a nominal value of 1/4 Swiss francs (USD United States Dollar- 0.26).
Swissmint said the coin, of which just 999 have been made, will be sold for 199 francs with a special magnifying glass so owners can see the famous physicist Einstein on its face.