text: The Election Commission has said it had reduced the public notice period for new political parties seeking registration from 30 days to seven days due to the delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  The relaxation in notice period would remain in force till the last dates of nomination for the Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry and West Bengal elections, that is March 19 and April 7 respectively.
  The applicants are supposed to publish the proposed name of their party in two national and local daily newspapers each on two days, seeking objections, if any, within 30 days.
  Australia builds world’s first Platypus sanctuary
  Date: 04 March 2021 Tags: Biodiversity
  Australian conservationists have unveiled plans to build the world's first refuge for the platypus, to promote breeding and rehabilitation as the duck-billed mammal faces extinction due to climate change.
  Concerns about the platypus going extinct have been heightened since once-in-a-generation wildfires devastated 12.6 million hectares of bush in late 2019 and early 2020.
  Scientists estimate nearly three billion animals died in what is termed the country's "black summer". A government inquiry found bushfires would likely occur more often because of warming temperatures.
  Unlike other famous Australian animals such as the koala or kangaroo, the beaver-like platypus is rarely seen in the wild due to its reclusive nature and highly specific habitat needs.
  Himalayan serow spotted in Assam
  Date: 04 March 2021 Tags: Miscellaneous
  A Himalayan mammalhas been confirmed as the newest creature to be spotted in Assam. The Himalayan serow is a goat-antelope, which was spotted in Manas Tiger Reserve.
  The serow has been spotted for the first time in the tiger reserve or anywhere else in Assam. The Reserve is contiguous with the 1,057-sq. km. Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
  The sightings of rare animals and birds in Manas is an outcome of better access to remote parts of the protected area where extremists and hunters once ruled.
  Neera Tanden withdraws nomination as White House budget chief
  Date: 04 March 2021 Tags: Miscellaneous
  The Biden administration will stop pursuing the nomination of Indian American Neera Tanden for Director of the powerful Office of Management & Budget (OBM), after her withdrawal.
  It had increasingly become clear that Ms. Tanden could not win enough support in an evenly divided Senate.
  Her strongly worded tweets were central to the opposition to her candidacy from Senators on both sides of the aisle, as was her work at the Centre for American Progress.
  Had she won the nomination, Ms. Tanden would have become the first person of colour to lead the White House budget office.
  Ms. Tanden, who was an adviser for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 and 2008 campaigns, worked as a director for domestic policy in the Bill Clinton White House and also advised Barack Obama in his 2008 campaign.
  Virat Kohli becomes first Cricketer with 100 million Instagram followers
  Date: 04 March 2021 Tags: Sports
  India captain Virat Kohli has become the first cricketer in the world to have 100 million followers on social media platform Instagram.
  The 32-year-old Kohli is also the first person in the Asia-Pacific region to achieve the feat. Kohli is also the fourth most followed sportsperson on Instagram.
  Portugal football star Cristiano Ronaldo tops the chart with 265 million followers, ahead of Argentina football captain and FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi and Brazil's Neymar, who are second and third in the list.
  The others in 100 million club are Hollywood actor and former pro-wrestler Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson, American singer-songwriter Beyonce, and Ariana Grande. Kohli, regarded as the one of the best batsmen in the world, has 27 centuries in Test matches and 43 tons in ODI cricket.