24th March 2016 - Important Current Affairs updates

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International Affairs

• World Tuberculosis (TB) Day was observed today. 
• Theme of the year 2016 : Unite to end TB
• Important Points to Note :
• This day is designed to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease. 
• 8.6 million new cases of tuberculosis occur each year globally, of which 2.2 million occur in India.
• This day is one of eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO). The remaining 7 are, 
1. World Health Day
2. World Blood Donor Day
3. World Immunization Week
4. World Malaria Day
5. World No Tobacco Day
6. World Hepatitis Day 
7. World AIDS Day.
• United States lawmakers have introduced a legislation asking the Obama administration to help India join the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. 
• The lawmakers reportedly believed that an economically prosperous India would benefit US interests in Asia.
• New Zealand today in a referendum decided to retain its current national flag, with 56.6% of the voters voting in its favour, according to preliminary results. 
• About 43% of the voters supported the new flag, designed by Kyle Lockwood. 
• The results of the referendum, estimated to have cost NZ$26 million ($17.4 million), will expectedly be confirmed next Wednesday.

Business & Economy

• The Arunachal Pradesh assembly today passed the 2016-17 State Budget by voice votes, as the opposition Congress continued to boycott the three-day session. 
  
• Earlier, Chief Minister Kalikho Pul, had presented the ₹367.58 crore deficit budget, the first from the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) government which came to power after months of political instability.
• The Indian Railways today  increased the lower berth quota for senior citizens by 50% to 80-90 seats in a train with effect from April 1. 
• Note : Female passengers aged above 45 years and pregnant women also eligible to avail the enhanced quota. 
• Earlier, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had announced the proposal in the Budget 2016-17 presented in February.
• India Post has released a customised commemorative stamp on Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) in recognition of the company’s 75 years of service to the nation.
• Important Points to Note :  
• It is for the first time India Post has issued a customised ‘My Stamp’ and HAL is the first organisation to feature on it. 
• The tagline of the customized stamp is ‘HAL: The force behind the forces’ and HAL’s platinum jubilee logo on it representing company’s contribution to the nation’s defence forces.

People in News

• Mehbooba Mufti unanimously elected leader of PDP Legislative Party.
• She is expected to become first woman Chief Minister of new PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir.

MOUs

• India and France have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for construction of six nuclear reactors at Jaitapur nuclear park in Maharashtra. 
• It was inked by Electricite de France (EDF), a French public utility and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL). 
• The MoU was signed after the two countries had decided to conclude the techno-commercial negotiations for the Jaitapur project by the end of 2016.

Science & Technology

• The Fast patrol vessel (FPV) of the Indian Coast Guard ICGS Arnvesh was commissioned at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• The ship is primarily intended to undertake coastal patrol, surveillance at sea, anti-smuggling, anti-piracy operations and search and rescue operations.
• Indian Navy has deployed a P8I maritime Aircraft to Seychelles for monitoring purpose.
• This is the first time India has deployed a P8I maritime aircraft to Seychelles.
• It will be deployed in Seychelles till March 23,2016
• It will help in curbing illegal activities and piracy as well as ensuring stability and safety in the Indian Ocean region

New Appointments

• Mobile payment and commerce platform Paytm has appointed ex-head of Alibaba Group Holding's wholesale business, Bhushan Patil, as the company's new President. 
• Mukund Padmanabhan will be the new Editor for the The Hindu, one of the largest English dailies in the country. 
• Note : He will be the second non family member who hold this position in the 125-year old Newspaper.

Books & Authors

• Filmmaker Aishwaryaa R Dhanush is set to launch her autobiography titled “Standing On An Apple Box”. 
• Note : Aishwaryaa, the elder daughter of veteran actor Rajinikanth and wife of Kollywood actor Dhanush, has penned her life story as a celebrity child, star wife, filmmaker, and mother. 

Deaths

• Ajax and Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff passed away today following a battle with cancer. 
• Cruyff was a prime exponent of 'Total Football' and was part of the famous 1974-World Cup Dutch team. 
• The three-time Ballon d'Or winner also led Ajax to three consecutive European Cup titles. 
• Note : 'Tiki-Taka' style of football is widely attributed to his managerial philosophy in Barcelona.

Sports

• Denmark's 17-year-old Mohamad Al-Bacha was crowned the FIFA'16 world champion after winning the final in New York 
• He beat England's Sean Allen in the final to win the $20,000 top prize alongside a chance to visit the Ballon d’Or-2016 ceremony in Switzerland. 
• Australian cricketer Shane Watson today announced that he will retire from all forms of international and first-class cricket after the World T20 tournament. 
• Watson with 10,888 runs and 289 wickets in his 14-year-long international career is one of seven cricketers in history to register more than 10,000 runs and collect more than 200 wickets across all formats of international cricket.

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