24th August 2016 - Important Current Affairs updates

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International Affairs

• The 2 day SAARC Finance Ministers’ Conference began at Islamabad.
• The main aim of this conference is to discuss cooperation in different sectors of economy.
• The meeting is also expected to discuss the South Asia-Free Trade Agreement and devise a mechanism for promotion of regional trade.
• SAARC - South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation
• India has figured among the top 10 wealthiest countries in the world with a total individual wealth of $5,600 billion while the United States topped the chart.
  
• According to a report by New World Wealth, India was ranked 7th ahead of Canada ($4,700 billion), Australia ($4,500 billion) and Italy ($4,400 billion), which came in at 8th, 9th and 10th slots, respectively.
• Top 10 Countries in the List are,
• US
• China
• Japan
• United Kingdom
• Germany 
• France 
• India
• Canada
• Australia 
• Italy
• Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi will visit India from 1st to 3rd September 2016. 
• He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Ministers, Officials and business leaders. 
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold bilateral discussions with him.
• President Pranab Mukherjee launched Akashvani Maitree (Moitree) Channel and its multimedia website in Bengali language for listeners in West Bengal, Bangladesh and the adjoining areas. 
• Important Points to Note : 
• Akashvani Moitree Channel is an initiative of Kolkata Akashvani Kendra. 
• It will provide a platform for blending content both from India and Bangladesh and preserving Bengali culture.

National Affairs

• The Cabinet today approved the Surrogacy Regulation Bill, 2016.
• The main aim of this bill is to ban commercial surrogacy but permitting “altruistic” surrogacy under strict rules.
• According to the draft law, only legally wedded heterosexual couples, who are not only citizens of India but are residents of India, can have a child through surrogacy.
• Alturistic - unselfish
• The government today launched Accessible E-Library 'Sugamya Pustakalaya' for Divyang under Prime Minister's Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan.
• Sugamya Pustakalaya is an online library for Divyang and houses publications across diverse subjects and languages and multiple accessible formats.
• Books are available in Accessible formats for people with visual impairment and other print disabilities.
• Maharashtra has became the first state to sign an agreement with the Civil Aviation Ministry to develop 10 almost non-functional regional airports/airstrips helping move closer to reality the Centre's ambitious regional connectivity plan.
• The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated a CII-IIEST Conference in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Theme of this conference : “Enabling Make in India through Industry Academia Innovation Platform”
• Odisha Cabinet has approved the Odisha Startup Policy 2016.
• The aim of this policy is to promote entrepreneurship for start-up ventures with provision of govt incentives.
• The policy will chart out a roadmap to place Odisha among the top three investment destinations in the country by 2020.
• It will constitute a 25cr rupees Startup Capital Infrastructure Fund to provide monthly assistance to young entrepreneurs

Science & Technology

• China has launched its first Tibetan-language search engine 'Yongzin'.  
• The search engine will serve as a unified portal for all major Tibetan-language websites in China. 
• It has eight sections for news, websites, images, videos, music, encyclopedia, literature and forums.

MOUs & Agreements

• National Career Service (NCS) signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with strategic partners for enhancing quality and reach of employment services through the NCS network. 
• These MoUs were signed with job portals companies Indeed, First Job, Freshersworld, Merajob and HT Shine etc. to enhance quality and reach of its employment generation services. 
• Earlier, the NSC had partnered with leading organisations like Uber, Monster.com, Saral Rozgar, Quikrjobs, Indian Staffing Federation etc for  the same purpose. 
• The Union Cabinet has given its approval for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Myanmar in the field of Traditional Systems of Medicine. 

New Appointments

• Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has appointed Rio bronze medal winner Sakshi Malik  as Haryana's brand ambassador for Beti Bachao, Beti Padao campaign.
• Eminent scientist P D Gupta was today appointed as Vice Chancellor of Mumbai-based Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI).

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