Current Affairs 02 March, 2020

Nancy

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1. US and Taliban signed a peace deal for the phased withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.

The US signed a historic peace deal with the Taliban in Doha to end America’s presence in Afghanistan in a phased manner. India attended the historic event as Observer.
India has been an important stakeholder in the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. The landmark peace deal will see a phased withdrawal of thousands of US soldiers from Afghanistan.
It was more than 18 years ago that the United States had ordered an attack on the Taliban following the tragic 9/11 happening in America. Ahead of the signing of the deal, the US and the Taliban had agreed to a seven-day cooling-off period which passed off peacefully.

Foot Notes
About Afghanistan
President: Ashraf Ghani
Capital: Kabul
Currency: Afghan afghani

About Taliban:
Founded: 10 October 1994
Founders: Mohammed Omar, Abdul Ghani Baradar
Headquarters: Kandahar-Afghanistan, Quetta-Pakistan, Peshawar-Pakistan

2. The month-long Ekushey book fair ended in Dhaka.

The month-long Ekushey book fair ended in Dhaka. Large crowds gathered at the exhibition ground in Dhaka to visit the fair and buy books on the concluding day of the largest and longest book fair of Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had inaugurated the book fair on February 2. The organising committee of the book fair said that this year a total of 4919 new titles were released.
Kotha Prakash publications received the Chittaranjan Saha Memorial Award for publishing the highest number of quality books. On the birth centenary year of the country's founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, also known as Bangabandhu, this year’s fair was dedicated to him.

Foot Notes
About Bangladesh:
Capital: Dhaka
Currency: Bangladeshi taka
Prime minister: Sheikh Hasina
President: Abdul Hamid

3. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla launched "Suposhit Maa Abhiyaan" in Kota.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has launched the 'Suposhit Maa Abhiyaan' in his constituency Kota. Under this Abhiyan, 1,000 pregnant women would be given food items for one month.
At the same time, the health of the child, including medical examination, blood tests, medicines, delivery, would be covered.
It is a campaign to preserve and maintain the health of our future generations.

Foot Notes
About LOK SABHA
Founded: 17 April 1952
Leader of the House: Narendra Modi
Last election: Indian general election, 2019
Next election: May 2024

4. Indian Railways launches its First 'Restaurant on Wheels'.

Indian Railways has launched its first ''Restaurant on Wheels'' at the circulating area of Asansol railway station for the use of passengers as well as the general public.
The Restaurant on Wheels was developed by refurbishing two over-aged MEMU coaches.
This unique effort will not only improve the facilities at Asansol station but will also generate non-fare revenue earnings approximately Rs 50 lakh in the next five years.

Foot Notes
Minister of Railways: Piyush Goyal

5. Muhyiddin Yassin sworn in as Malaysia's new Prime Minister.

Muhyiddin Yassin sworn in as Malaysia's new Prime Minister. The King has appointed seasoned politician Muhyiddin Yassin as the new Prime Minister.
The appointment came after this week's shock resignation of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, a move that plunged the country into crisis following a weekend of political wrangling and the collapse of the ruling alliance.
The announcement came hours after Mahathir struck a new deal to work with his former ruling alliance led by rival Anwar Ibrahim.

Foot Notes
About Malaysia
Prime minister: Muhyiddin Yassin
Capital: Kuala Lumpur
Currency: Malaysian ringgit

6. Rafael Nadal wins the Mexican Open title after beating Taylor Fritz.

In Tennis, World Number 2 Rafael Nadal captured his first title of the year, defeating unseeded Taylor Fritz in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, in the final of the ATP Mexico Open.
Nadal, playing in his first tournament since losing in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open last month. Nadal ceded the world number one ranking to Novak Djokovic after the Australian Open, where the Serbian player won a record eighth title.
In the women's final, seventh-seeded Heather Watson captured her first WTA title in three years by grinding out a 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 win over Canadian teen Leylah Fernandez.

7. Dutee Chand clinches Gold in 100 meters race at Khelo India University Games in Bhubaneswar.

India's fastest woman Dutee Chand clinched gold in the 100 meters race while long-distance runner Narendra Pratap Singh bagged his second title at Khelo India University Games in Bhubaneswar.
Representing Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Dutee Chand raced ahead of her competitors to bag gold with a timing of 11.49 seconds.
Savitribai Phule Pune University is leading the tally with 16 gold, 11 silver, and 8 bronze medals.

Foot Notes
About Khelo India University Games:
Dates: 21 Feb 2020 – 1 Mar 2020

8. Kerala High Court banned all forms of strikes in schools and colleges.

The Kerala High Court recently passed an order and banned all types of political movements in the college and school premises.
Banning various forms agitations like gherao and sit-in on the campuses, the High Court also said no one can be persuaded to participate in such protests.

Foot Notes
About Kerala
Chief Minister of Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor of Kerala: Arif Mohammed Khan.
Capital of Kerala: Thiruvananthapuram.

9. UP cabinet renamed Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Urdu, Arabi-Farsi University in Lukhnow.

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has approved a proposal to change the name of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Urdu, Arabi-Farsi University in Lucknow.
The Cabinet has decided to rename the university as Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Languages University. For this, the State University Act – 1973 will be amended.

Foot Notes
About Uttar Pradesh
Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath.
Governor: Anandiben Patel.

10. Olympic bronze medalist Balbir Singh Kullar passes away at the age of 77.

Balbir Singh Kullar, former Indian hockey player and Olympic Bronze medalist passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest at his residence in Punjab. He was 77.
He made his international debut in the Indian national Hockey team in 1963 in Lyon, France. He became renowned as an inside forward in the Indian team. He toured several nations including the Netherlands, West Germany, Belgium, England and New Zealand.
He was a part of the Indian team that won the Olympic Bronze medal in 1968 in Mexico and the Asian Games gold in 1966 at Bangkok.
He had later served as a national team selector for the Indian national hockey team.
He is survived by his wife Manjeet Kaur, son and two daughters. His cremation will be carried out today, March 2.