Important Current Affairs 20th February 2017 with PDF

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We bring you the Latest  (Gk)General Knowledge, Daily Current Affairs news, Events, General awareness Today  20th February 2017 Section in FREE PDF (English & Hindi), a section which outlines the latest important news, Events headlines which are hardly covered elsewhere.

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OBITUARY

Judge Altamas Kabir Passes Away

Altamas Kabir, former Chief Justice of India (CJI), passed away on 19 February 2017 after prolonged illness in Kolkata, West Bengal. He was 68.

●    Kabir served as the 39th Chief Justice of India from September 2012 to July 2013.
●    Altamas Kabir was born in Calcutta in 1948.
●    He graduated in history from Presidency College.
●    Later, he affiliated with the University of Calcutta to study law.
●    He was admitted to the bar in 1973 and practiced civil and criminal law in Kolkata at the district court and the Calcutta High Court, Kolkata.
●    On 6 August 1990, he was made a permanent judge of Calcutta High Court.
●    He assumed the office of acting Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court on 11 January 2005.
●    On 3 January 2005, he became the Acting Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court. The elevation was made permanent on 1 March 2005.

SPORTS

Shahid Afridi Retires From International Cricket

 Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi on 19 February 2017 announced his retirement from international cricket. 

●    With the announcement comes an end to his illustrious 21-year career.
●    Afridi had already quit Tests in 2010 and One Day International cricket after the 2015 World Cup. 
●    He still skippered the Pakistan Twenty20 team at the 2016 world championships in India.
●    Shahid Afridi is a former captain of the Pakistan national cricket team.
●    He made his debut on 2 October 1996 against Kenya. However, he did not bat and went wicketless.
●    In his first international innings, he broke the record for fastest century in ODI cricket, reaching his hundred from 37 balls. 
●    With this, he became the youngest player to score an ODI century. 
●    The record was broken by New Zealand cricketer Corey Anderson on 1 January 2014. 
●    At present, South-African cricketer AB de Villiers holds the record for fastest century in ODI.

OBITUARY

Footballer Shibaji Banerjee Passes Away

Former Mohun Bagan goalkeeper Shibaji Banerjee passed away at his Kolkata residence after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.

●    A green and maroon legend, Banerjee played for Bagan for 11 years and will always be known for stopping a free kick taken by Pele during the 1977 exhibition match against New York Cosmos.
●    The lasting image from that game was a black and white picture of Banerjee diving to snatch the ball from Pele’s feet.
●    Banerjee also had a brilliant game in an IFA Shield match against top Russian side Ararat. 
●    Legend has it that he was unbeatable on aerial balls that particular day as the game was locked at 2-2.
●    From 1977-1980, he never conceded a goal against arch rival East Bengal.
●    The club’s flag will remain half mast as a mark of respect for the departed soul.

SPACE SCIENCE

European Space Agency to Collaborate With ISRO in Space Missions 

While the European Space Agency (ESA)'s Gaia satellite mission is on its multi-dimensional space probe, mapping a billion stars in our Milky Way Galaxy, ESA's Senior Scientific Advisor Mark McCaughrean reveals ESA's plan for further collaboration with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in space missions. 
●    On ISRO's historic launch of 104 satellites at one go, he says it's the precision in placing satellites and cost reduction. 
●    In its space mission, ESA has collaborative efforts with 22 countries including the US, Russia, China, India and Japan. It is expected to increase with the commercial launches.
●    Speaking on ESA's plan for 15 space missions, he said Bepe Colombo will be the first probe to Mercury in 2018. 
●    Then, the ambitious Jupiter Icy moons Explorer (JUICE) to Jupiter in 2022. 
●    The explorer will spend at least three years making detailed observations of the giant gaseous planet Jupiter and three of its largest moons - Ganymede, Callisto and Europa.

NATIONAL NEWS

Health Secretary launches ‘SAATHIYA’ Resource Kit and ‘SAATHIYA SALAH’ Mobile App for Adolescents

Shri C K Mishra, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare launched the SAATHIYA Resource Kit including ‘Saathiya Salah’ Mobile App for adolescents, here today, as part of the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) program. 

●    One of the key interventions under the programme is introduction of the Peer Educators (Saathiyas) who act as a catalyst for generating demand for the adolescent health services and imparting age appropriate knowledge on key adolescent health issues to their peer groups. 
●    In order to equip the Saathiyas in doing so, the Health Ministry has launched the Saathiya Resource Kit. 
●    He emphasized that ‘adolescents are the critical mass of asset which in future would be the biggest dividends to the country’s economy; thereby their health and wellness are of utmost priority’. 
●    To address and cater to the health and development needs of the country’s adolescents, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram in January 2014. 
●    RKSK identifies six strategic priorities for adolescents i.e. nutrition, sexual and reproductive health , non-communicable diseases, substance misuse, injuries and violence and mental health.

NATIONAL NEWS

MoU signed between NSFDC, M/O SJ&E & Development Commissioner, M/O of Textiles

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation NSFDC, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles in the presence of Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment and Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani Minister of Textiles.
●    The basic objective of the MoU is to help Scheduled Caste artisans and their families by promoting production and marketing of high value quality Handicrafts products at cluster level in the field of Handicrafts, Cane & Bamboo, Artificial jewellery, Textiles, Dolls & Toys, Stone Carving, Footwear, etc.
●    Handicrafts Sector is the second largest economic activity after agriculture.  There are around 12 lakh scheduled castes artisans in the country.  
●    Most of the Scheduled Caste Artisans are pursuing various Handicrafts such as Cane & Bamboo in Assam, Textiles in Gujarat & Punjab, Metal wares in Uttar Pradesh, Dolls & Toys in Karnataka, Theatre Costumes & Puppets in Andhra Pradesh.

NATIONAL NEWS

 Shurhozelie Liezeitsu elected new Nagaland CM 

The political crisis in Nagaland is heading for an end with the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) Legislature Party on Monday electing veteran leader and party president Shurhozelie Liezeitsu as its new leader in place of TR Zeliang who had quit on Sunday. 

●    Official sources in Kohima said Shurhozelie would be sworn in as chief minister on Wednesday. 
●    Monday’s decision of the DAN legislature party – all 60 MLAs of the Nagaland House belong to DAN – also brought to an end speculations about former chief minister Neiphiu Rio returning to state politics after the resignation of chief minister TR Zeliang.
●    After political turmoil in Nagaland Dr. Surhojheli Laijhetsu got elected as state's 13th chief minister.
●    He will take oath as Chief Minister on February 22.
●    In 2003 he was elected to the Nagaland Northern-Angami seat.
●    Later he held the post of Minister of State for Urban Development.
        

DAYS & DATES

World Day of Social Justice observed

 The World Day of Social Justice was observed globally on 20 February 2017 with the theme "preventing conflict and sustaining peace through decent work”. 

●    The day is observed with an aim to recognise the need to promote efforts to tackle several issues like exclusion, unemployment and poverty.
●    On the occasion, several organisations including the United Nations and the International Labour Office make statements on importance of social justice for people. 
●    According to United Nations, social justice is an underlying principle for prosperous and peaceful coexistence within and among nations. 
●    Social justice means removal of barriers that people face in the name of gender, ethnicity, age, religion, disability and culture.
●    United Nations General Assembly created the day in 2007 in accordance with the goals and objectives of the World Summit for Social Development and the 24th session of the General Assembly. 
●    It was created to devote a day, 20 February, as a day to promote national activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the World Summit.