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Current Affair Updates- 21 Aug 2016
Daily | Current Affair Updates | 7-Minute-Read | By- Raksha
A complete dose of current affairs for the whole day. Categories listed are given as below:
Important Days
National
International
Books & Authors
Banking
Business & Economy
Appointments and Resigns
Awards & Honours
Science & Technology
Sports
Obituary

NATIONAL
India pledges Rs 3.9 crore for upgrading Sanskrit school in Nepal

India has pledged financial assistance worth Nepali Rs 3.9 crore for the construction of a new building and
a hostel facility at a Sanskrit school in eastern Nepal.
A tripartite agreement between the Indian Embassy, the Local Development Officer, Ilam District, and
Principal of Shree Saptmai Gurukul Sanskrit Vidhyashram Secondary School was signed in this regard on
Wednesday.
The project is being implemented through the Indian governments grant assistance under the small
development programme scheme as part of India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme, the Indian
Embassy said in a statement.

India ranks 39th in Asia Pacific on fixed broadband

India ranks a low 39th in terms of fixed broadband adoption among Asia Pacific countries, with just 1.3
per cent of its citizens subscribing to such a service in 2015, according to a study by the United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
India ranks lower than countries such as Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in fixed broadband
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in ESCAP countries in 2015, according to the report State of ICT in Asia
and the Pacific 2016: Uncovering the Widening Broadband Divide released on Friday.
Hong Kong, New Zealand, Japan, Macao, Australia and Singapore topped the list of 53 countries covered
in the report. According to the latest ITU data for 2015, more than half of the global fixed broadband
subscriptions are from Asia and the Pacific (52.3 per cent).

BRICS conference of women MPs ends in Jaipur today

A two-day meeting of BRICS women parliamentarians will conclude today in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Earlier
yesterday, several issues related to climate change, gender equality, education and health were discussed
at the meeting.
Parliamentarians of BRICS countries shared their experiences on these issues. Total 43 parliamentarians
from BRICS countries including 28 MPs from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, are participating in the meeting.

OIC expresses concern over Kashmir violence

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has voiced its concern over alleged excesses of the Indian
military and the paramilitary forces in Kashmir.
This issued had surfaced after former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai had appreciated Prime
Minister Narendra Modis statement on human rights situation in Pakistans Balochistan province.
OCI Secretary General of OIC Iyad Amin Madani had quoted that the organisation will continue to expose
human rights excesses in the Kashmir Valley.

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It will support to Pakistan till the issue is resolved in accordance with the United Nations resolutions and
wishes of the people of Kashmir.
OICs these comments and support to Pakistan is bound to rile India as it is not for the first that the OIC
has spoken about the Kashmir issue against India.

Uma Bharti launches various projects under Namami Gange in Varanasi

Union Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation Minister Uma Bharti launched various projects worth
229 crore rupees under the Namami Gange programme in Varanasi.
While launching the projects yesterday in Varanasi, she said 16 crore rupees will be spent for
rejuvenation of the Assi River and 63 crore rupees for renovation of 84 ghats of the city.
She said a Ddetailed Project Report for establishing 12 crematoriums in the city has also been prepared.
She also laid the foundation of Ramna sewage treatment plant to be set up at a cost of 150 crore rupees.
The Minister laid emphasis on shifting to organic farming on the lands on the banks of river as fertilizers
were polluting the river water.

INTERNATIONAL
Myanmar to support Chinas OBOR, BCIM initiatives

Myanmar has officially announced to support for Chinas ambitious One Belt and One Road (OBOR)
connectivity initiative along the ancient Silk Road.
It was announced in the joint statement released by both countries during official state visit of
Myanmars State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi to China.
Key highlights of Aung San Suu Kyis visit to China
Myanmar also Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor meant to industrialise a
stretch spanning more than 2,000-km.
BCIM corridor links Kunming in China with Mandalay in Myanmar and passes through Bangladesh and
ends at Kolkata in India.
Myanmar also asked for Chinas support to realise peace and national reconciliation through political
dialogue in case of militancy.
Myanmar has been a victim of militancy which for decades is fuelled by clandestine sale of drugs, jade
and timber, mostly channelled through China.

Worlds highest glass skywalk opens in China

Said to be the worlds longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge, a 430-metre-long and 300-metre-high
skywalk opened in China on Saturday.
The skywalk, made of 99 glass panels connecting two mountain cliffs, is located in Zhangjiajie Park. The
mountain cliffs in the area are said to have inspired the floating peaks in the movie Avatar.

UN calls for international support to address humanitarian crises

The United Nations has called for international support to address humanitarian crises. The UN held a
ceremony at its headquarters in New York Friday to mark World Humanitarian Day. About 200 people
attended, including UN employees and ambassadors from member-countries.
The UN designated August 19th World Humanitarian Day in 2008 in order to raise awareness of the
worldwide need for humanitarian assistance. The date marks the anniversary of the 2003 bombing of the
UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, which killed 22 UN staffers, including a special representative.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson attended the ceremony on behalf of UN Chief Ban Ki-moon,
who was abroad.
He said the UN meets the challenge all over the world, including Syria, South Sudan, Yemen and Somalia,
where humanitarian workers and peacekeepers have lost their lives or are risking them.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Uber launches two new features to make ride-hailing easier

Ride-hailing service Uber has rolled out two new features for its apps Dial an Uber and Request a Ride
for Others. Both features are aimed to make it easier for riders and their friends to get around, even if
they dont have the Uber app.

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The Dial an Uber feature allows users in India to access the companys ride-hailing services in selected
cities without requiring the app.
They can just use the mobile website for this. Dial an Uber is available in Nagpur, Kochi, Guwahati, and
Jodhpur, making it possible for everyone to have access to reliable and low-cost uberGO rides.

BSNL, Microsoft sign MoU to offer IT solutions

BSNL and Microsoft India have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to offer
telecom and IT solutions for big businesses to meet the demand for IT and cloud services.
This will help audio and video needs of BSNLs enterprise customers, including government organisations.
Notably, BSNL has large shares in landline network, including leased line connectivity to various
enterprises.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGN

Shri Yogeshwar Sangwan appointed as Indias new Ambassador to Georgia

Shri Yogeshwar Sangwan, presently Ambassador of India to the Republic of Armenia, has been
concurrently accredited as the Ambassador of India to Georgia, with residence in Yerevan (Armenia).
Georgia is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and
Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey
and Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan.

Najma Heptulla sworn in as Governor of Manipur

Dr. Najma A. Heptulla was sworn-in as Governor of Manipur this morning at the Raj Bhavan in state
capital Imphal. Dr. Heptulla was administered oath of office by Acting Chief Justice of Manipur High Court
Rakesh Ranjan Prasad.
State Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, his ministerial colleagues, MPs and MLAs of the state, senior civil
and police officials of the state administration, BJP Manipur Pradesh President KSH Bhabananda were
present at the swearing-in ceremony.
Interacting with media persons after the swearing-in ceremony, the new Governor of the state said that
her first priority is work with the people of Manipur.

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Steve Jobs enters Intl Photography Hall of Fame

Apples late Co-founder Steve Jobs has entered the International Photography Hall of Fame (IPHF), a US
museum and foundation that honours inventors and photographers. Steve helped create products that
revolutionised the creative world and became essential tools for designers, filmmakers, music producers
and photographers, said the museum.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Chinese scientists discover molecule to repair organs

Chinese scientists have discovered a small molecule that can regenerate tissue, which in the future could
potentially eliminate transplants of some organs.
The research was led by professor Zhou Dawang and Deng Xianming of the School of Life Sciences,
Xiamen University, and professor Yun Caihong of Peking University, Xinhua news agency reported on
Saturday.
The findings were published in the latest edition of Science Translational Medicine.
Zhou said the researchers discovered a drug, XMU-MP-1, which can promote repair and regeneration in
the liver, intestines and skin. In the future, he added, the drug may well do away the need for organ
transplant or complex biomaterial and cell therapies.
Zhou and his colleagues specifically targeted a critical signalling molecule in the Hippo pathway, which
controls organ size.

SPORTS
Medal brings Sindhu a windfall
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Badminton player P.V. Sindhus medal-winning performance in the Rio Olympics won for her big money
of Rs.3 crore, a 1,000-square yard residential plot and a Group-I officer job of her choice from the Andhra
Pradesh government and Rs.50 lakh for her coach Pullela Gopi Chand.
An announcement to that effect was made by A.P. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in a briefing by
him on the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting on Saturday.
Showering praises on Ms. Sindhu, Mr. Naidu attributed the achievements of star players like Gopi Chand,
Saina Nehwal, Karanam Malleswari and Sindhu to the world-class sporting infrastructure he had created
in Hyderabad.

Brazil defeats Germany, wins first Olympic soccer gold

In Mens Football, Hosts Brazil have beaten Germany to bag their Olympic Football gold for the first time
in its history. The pulsating Final ended 1-1 at the end of regulation time.
In the shoot out, Brazil defeated Germany 5-4. Neymar Jr. led Brazilian team to its glory as they took the
semi final revenge from 2014 FIFA World Cup, where the hosts were beaten by Germany 7-1.
In Athletics on the penultimate day of Rio Olympics, Briton Mo Farah defended the double gold he
earned at London 2012 to remain the Olympic champion in the mens 5000 and 10,000 meters.
The middle-distance runner won the 5000 meters in 13 minutes, 3.03 seconds by pushing a blistering
pace on the final lap to hold off Ethiopias Hagos Gebrhiwet and American Bernard Lagat, who took silver
and bronze.

Indias hope for another medal pinned on Yogeshwar Dutt

On the final day of Rio Olympics, Indias hope are pinned on Yogeshwar Dutt in freestyle wrestling for a
medal.
After two weeks of sporting action it comes to the Final day of Rio Olympics where India has high hopes
for another medal.
The London Games Bronze medalist, Yogeshwar Dutt will be vying for top honours in the 65 kg weight
class. He will take on Ganzorigiin Mandakhnaran of Mongolia in the Qualifications.
After Beijing Olymipcs India has been bagging at least a medal from the freestyle Wrestling segement.

OBITUARY
Former umpire Subrata Banerjee passes away at the age of 71

Subrata Banerjee, the former international umpire who officiated in 13 One Day Internationals (ODIs),
passed away at the age of 71 in Kolkata.
Banerjees maiden first-class umpiring assignment was during a Ranji Trophy game in December 1967 and
he officiated in his first international match in November 1983, when India faced West Indies in Baroda.
His international career lasted for 15 years, with the match between India and Kenya in Gwalior in May
1998 marking his final international appearance

Current Affairs Update

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