Hi, here's your todays newswrap

January 24, 2021

• 11th National Voters’ Day (NVD) to be celebrated on 25th January 2021

  Election Commission of India is celebrating 11^th National Voters Day on 25^th January 2021. Honourable President of India, Ram Nath Kovind will be the Chief Guest at the national function being organized in New Delhi by the Election Commission of India. The event will be held at the Ashok Hotel, New Delhi and the Honourable President shall grace the occasion virtually from Rashtrapati Bhawan.

  The theme for this year’s NVD, ‘Making Our Voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe and Informed’, envisages active and participative voters during elections. It also focuses on ECI’s commitment towards conducting elections safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Golden Peacock Award for 51st IFFI to be announced at Closing Ceremony Today

  As curtains fall on the 51^st International Film Festival of India (IFFI) today, the coveted Golden Peacock Award will be announced at the closing ceremony of the festival, in Panaji, Goa today, January 24, 2021.

  The best of the feature-length fiction films from all over the world are competing for the Golden Peacock and other awards. These comprise the following fifteen delectable line-up of movies which entertained, inspired and moved film-lovers at IFFI.

• PM greets people of Uttar Pradesh on their Statehood Day

  The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has greeted the people of Uttar Pradesh on their Statehood Day.

  In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Heartiest greetings to all the people of the state on the foundation day of Uttar Pradesh. This state, a sacred land of sacrifice, tenacity, tradition and culture, is playing an important role in building a self-reliant India today. I wish this state continues to touch new heights leading to all-round development. "

• PM salutes daughters of the nation on National Girl Child Day

  The Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has saluted the daughters of the nation on National Girl Child Day.

   In a tweet, Modi said “On National Girl Child Day, we salute our #DeshKiBeti and the accomplishments in various fields. The Central Government has undertaken many initiatives that focus on empowering the girl child, including access to education, better healthcare and improving gender sensitivity.”

• Poultry trade hit by bird flu scare, retail sales improve

  For the first time, the number of states affected by the outbreak of bird flu has reached double digits in India, although wild birds are worst affected by this disease. The poultry trade has not yet recovered from the outbreak. However, the demand for chicken at hotels and restaurants has seen an improvement over the previous week.
  
  Though, bird flu has been confirmed in poultry birds in nine states, but its impact is quite low. Experts point out that the new avian influenza virus is not dangerous to humans.

• 'Dedicated my life to the cause of Amazon forests'

  Shaji Thomas, a Keralite who landed in Brazil in 1989 on a scholarship, is now a citizen of the football crazy nation.
  
  In Brazil, he took a doctorate degree and completed three post-doctoral studies. He has a law degree as well and is the only Indian origin lawyer practicing in the South American country. He has been a major environmental activist and even lived in a houseboat on the Amazon river.

• Fungi strengthen plants to fend off aphids

  Researchers have demonstrated that unique fungi strengthen the "immune systems" of wheat and bean plants against aphids.
  
  Fungi enter and influence the amount of a plant's own defences, resulting in fewer aphids. The results, published in the journal New Phytologist, could serve to reduce agricultural insecticide use.

• Plastic park to come up in UP's Gorakhpur

  In another major push to industrialisation, a plastic park spread over 50 acres of land and housing around 100 manufacturing units would be set up in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, official said.
  
  The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers has given its in-principle approval to the project, for which the Union government will provide around Rs 40 crore and Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA) the remaining Rs 53 crore. GIDA CEO Sanjeev Ranjan said: "We have received intimation on the approval though we are yet to get the formal letter."

• Discussion on New Farm Laws and Vision on Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan

  Anil Kumar Shastri discuss issues on New Farm Laws and Vision on Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan with senior journalist Pritam Kashyap, at facebook.com/krishi.jagran, Date: 25th January, 2021 and Time: 11.00 am onwards.

  Anil Kumar Shastri is Chairman of the Hindi Department in All India Congress Committee, Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, Trustee of Lal Bahadur Shastri National Memorial Trust and former Minister in the Ministry of Finance and son of forme Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.