1st India Toy Fair starts from Feb 27

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad has said, strict action will be taken against Social Media platforms, if they are found to be violating the law of the land, spreading fake news and fueling violence in the country.Specifically naming Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp and LinkedIn in the Rajya Sabha, Prasad  on Thursday said, they have millions of followers in the country and are free to do business and make money but these platforms cannot be allowed to circumvent the provisions of the Indian Constitution. Replying to a question on the misuse of social media platforms, Prasad said, social media have empowered the common people. He said, they have a big role in Digital India programme. The Minister said, freedom is important, but showing revenge and obscene materials is not acceptable.Specifically calling out the different standards of a major social media platform, Prasad said, it allowed circulation of hate messages following the Red Fort violence on 26th of last month. He said, the same platform had displayed restrictive policy following the violent incident at Capitol Hill in the USA.

-The Government is organising the first ever India Toy Fair from February 27 to March 2. Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Zubin Irani, Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday jointly inaugurated the website of The India Toy Fair-2021 in New Delhi.Speaking on the occasion,Ms Irani said, to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, to strengthen toy manufacturing industry in the country and to connect children with toys from a learning-perspective, Government had organized the 1st Toycathon last month. Piyush Goyal said, India Toy Fair is not just an exhibition of toys but a joint endeavour of Central Ministries to promote manufacturing of Indian toys, provide more employment in the sector and to revive India's toy-making heritage. He said, the vision is big for the future of the toy industry, the commitment is bigger and it is reflected in India Toy Fair 2021. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said, this is the first time that the Government has received more than 1.27 lakh entries from all over the country to participate in India Toy Fair 2021. He said, the portal launched today will give a virtual platform to toy artisans of the country.

-A Special Anti-Terrorism tribunal in Bangaldesh pronounced death sentence to the killers of the publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan. Eight members of the banned Ansar al-Islam also known as Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) were sentenced to death for the murder of Faisal Arefin Dipan in October 2015.Dipan was the publisher of Jagriti Prokashoni which published books by the blogger and science writer Avijit Roy who was also killed by members of the terrorist organisation Ansar al-Islam  in Dhaka in February 2015. Avijit Roy was an atheist secular writer and activist who wrote against religious extremism, superstition and orthodoxy.Two of the convicted persons Ansar al Islam’s top commander Sayed Ziaul Haque and squad leader Hasan Shamim are absconding while the remaining six are in jail. Ziaul Haque was an army major who was sacked in 2012 for plotting to topple the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He later joined Ansar al-Islam.

-In Uttar Pradesh, peak of Magh Mela was observed on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya in Prayagraj on Thuesday. A large number of devotees took holy dip at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati -Sangam along with confluences of many other rivers and ponds at several places in state.In Hindu Mythology, it is believed among people that Maun bathing and  offering  things and money on the ocassion of Mauni Amavasya provides Punya. At several places Bhandaras have been organised by devotees where Prasad is being distributed.

-Bihar topped the country with 79.4 per cent COVID-19 vaccination according to data released by Union Health and Family Welfare Department. Tripura is in second position with 77.8 per cent while Madhya Pradesh is in third position with 76 per cent.Total number of people who have got the first dose of COVID -19 vaccines in Bihar crossed the four lakh 29 thousand 760. No side effect from the vaccine has been reported from any part of the state.Meanwhile, two lakh 59 thousand 234 patients have recovered from the COVID-19 infection in the state so far. State COVID-19 recovery rate has improved to 99.13 per cent. The number of active cases of COVID-19 is continuously declining. Currently, only 756 patients are receiving treatment at various hospitals. No positive case has been reported from 16 districts of the state.