Bafta awards 2017
- Hollywood musical “La La Land” leads the nominations on Sunday for Britain’s Bafta awards, which are seen as a good indicator for future Oscar triumphs.
- Sci-fi film “Arrival” and psychological thriller “Nocturnal Animals”, both starring Adams, come second in the nomination ranks with nine each.
- Meryl Streep is nominated for best actress for “Florence Foster Jenkins
Jiro Taniguchi dies at 69
- Jiro Taniguchi, a legend in Japan’s comic art of manga, died at the age of 69
- Taniguchi achieved an international following with works such as The Walking Man, The Summit of the Gods and The Magic Mountain.
- He was especially popular in France, one of the biggest markets for graphic art.
70,000 evacuated to defuse WW-II bomb
- In Greece, at least 70,000 people in the city of Thessaloniki are being evacuated so that a 500 pound World War-II bomb can be defused
- It is thought to be one of the largest wartime bombs to be found in urban Greece.
- The bomb was discovered during road works last week and is due to be disposed off today .
US, Japan successfully intercept missile in space
- The US and Japanese military have successfully tested the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA missile defence system by intercepting a medium-range ballistic missile target in space for the first time.
- The missile was launched from a ship off the west coast of Hawaii, US.
World’s first Braille Atlas for visually impaired persons Launched by NATMO
- The Union Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan released the world’s first comprehensive Braille atlas for nearly 50 lakh visually challenged people in New Delhi, India.
- This is for the first time that such atlas has been prepared for physically challenged with such minute details. The Braille Atlas has been prepared by National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO) under Department of Science & Technology.
- The Braille atlas has 20 maps on different themes like physical, socio-economic, river system, crops pattern, natural vegetation, cultural, metropolitan areas, roads and railways, soil types and crops.
UNO ropes in Satinder Sartaaj for campaign against trafficking
- Folk singer from Punjab Satinder Sartaaj has been selected for the awareness project against human trafficking 'Blue Heart Campaign' by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
- The 34-year-old artist has collaborated with other celebrated Indian musicians like AR Rahman and Sonu Nigam in this drive to spread awareness about the illegal practice through 'Music to Inspire' album.
Somalia elected new president
- Somalia’s Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo former Prime Minister, who holds dual Somali-US citizenship has been declared Somalia’s new President after defeating Incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud .
- Somalia is one of the world’s poorest and most politically dysfunctional countries.
UK House of Commons passes Brexit bill
- British MPs have overwhelmingly agreed in House of Commons to let the government begin the UK’s departure from the EU as they voted for the Brexit bill
- PM Theresa May wants to trigger formal Brexit talks by the end of March. She will do this by invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, but requires Parliament’s permission before doing so.
Alastair Cook awarded Order of the British Empire
- England Test captain AlastairCook has been honoured with Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE). He was awarded the CBE at the Buckingham Palace by Prince Charles.
- Cook is the only England player to have scored over 10,000 runs in Tests and has also led England in the most number of Tests. Cook said, receiving the CBE was a very proud moment for him, his family and friends.
Anish Kapoor winner of a prestigious $1 million Genesis Prize
- 62 year old Anish Kapoor noted Indian-origin British sculptor was on 6 February 2017 named the winner of a prestigious $1 million Genesis Prize by Israel for his commitment to Jewish values
- He joined Itzhak Perlman, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and actor-director Michael Douglas as recipients of this prestigious award.
