Current Affairs – February 17, 2021 [Today’s News Headlines]
Here are Today’s News Headlines by GK Today for February 17, 2021
INDIA
Pilot on Pey Jal Survekshan under Jal Jeevan Mission-Urban launched in 10 cities
A Pilot Pey Jal Survekshan under Jal Jeevan Mission-Urban was launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs on February 16, 2021. The Survekshan will be conducted in cities to ascertain equitable distribution of water, reuse of wastewater and mapping of water bodies with respect to quantity and quality of water through a challenge process. It will be launch 10 cities namely Agra, Badlapur, Bhubaneswar, Churu, Kochi, Madurai, Patiala, Rohtak, Surat and Tumkur in the first phase.
British MP Alok Sharma calls on PM Modi in New Delhi
British MP and President-designate of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, COP-26, Alok Sharma called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 16, 2021 in New Delhi. COP refers to the decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, the 26th session of which will be hosted by the UK in November 2021 ear in Glasgow.
EAM S. Jaishankar holds virtual meeting with Foreign Minister of Cyprus
External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on February 16, 2021 held a virtual meeting with Foreign Minister of Cyprus Nikos Christodulides. The Ministers reviewed the bilateral cooperation and discussed major regional and global developments.
PM addresses programme to mark 75 years of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a programme to mark 75 years of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission through video conferencing on February 16, 2021. The Prime Minister praised the Mission for popularizing yoga.
SC registers suo motu contempt case against journalist Rajdeep Sardesai
The Supreme Court has registered a suo motu contempt case against journalist Rajdeep Sardesai for his tweets allegedly scandalising judiciary. The case was registered following a petition filed by Aastha Khurana through advocate Om Prakash Parihar under Article 129 of the Constitution to the Chief Justice of India for initiating contempt proceedings against Sardesai.
ED attaches properties of Amnesty International alleging FCRA violations
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached movable properties worth Rs 17.66 crores belonging to Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd and others. The properties have been attached by the federal agency over alleged irregularities in foreign funding in connection with violation of Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
Dr. Kiran Bedi removed as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry
The President has directed that Dr. Kiran Bedi shall cease to hold the office of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry and has appointed Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana, to discharge the functions of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry. Dr. Bedi is country’s first woman IPS officer and BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate in Delhi in 2015. She was appointed LG on May 28, 2016.
UP: PM lays foundation stone for memorial of King Suheldev in Bahraich
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 16, 2021 laid the foundation stone of Maharaja Suheldev Memorial and development work of Chittaura Lake at Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh via video conference. He also inaugurated the medical College building named after Maharaja Suheldev. An icon of the Rajbhar community, Suheldev of Shravasti had defeated and killed the Ghaznavid general Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud in a battle on the banks of the Chittaura lake in Bahraich in 1033.
MP: 37 dead as bus falls into canal in Sidhi district
At least 37 people, including 16 women, died after the bus they were travelling in fell off a bridge into a canal near Patna village in Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district on February 16, 2021.
Economy & Corporate
Govt. to set up Digital Intelligence Unit to deal with telecom frauds
Amid rising instances of financial frauds and unsolicited messages, the Telecom Ministry on February 15, 2021 said it would set up a nodal agency, ‘Digital Intelligence Unit’ (DIU), for speedy investigation and resolution of such cases
Amazon to start manufacturing of electronics products in India
Amazon India has made an announcement to start manufacturing of electronics products in India. To begin with, Amazon is going to start manufacturing of Amazon Fire TV stick from India. India has taken several key steps to encourage electronics manufacturing in India.
11th World PetroCoal Congress and World Future Fuel Summit organised in Delhi
The joint conferences of the 11th World PetroCoal Congress and World Future Fuel Summit was organised in New Delhi on February 16, 2021. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan highlighted the increase in LPG coverage from 56 per cent to nearly 99.5 per cent in less than seven years. He also mentioned that to reduce vehicular pollution, the country leapfrogged from BS-4 to BS-6 emission standards from April 2020.
World
Indian-origin Preeti Sinha to lead United Nations Capital Development Fund
The UN Capital Development Fund has appointed Indian-origin investment and development banker Preeti Sinha as its Executive Secretary, whose focus will be on providing micro-finance assistance to women, youth, small and medium-sized enterprises in under-served communities.
Sports
India beats England (134 & 164) by 317 runs in 2nd test at Chennai
Riding on the useful contributions made by Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli-led India (329 & 286) defeated England (134 & 164) by 317 runs to register a series-levelling win in the second test at Chennai on the fourth day.
Related Posts
Month: Current Affairs - February, 2021