INTERNATIONAL
China, ASEAN countries agree to form South China Sea framework
China and a grouping of Southeast Asian nations aim to finish by the middle of next year a framework for a code of conduct to ease tension in the disputed South China Sea. The agreement was reached between both sides during a meeting at Inner Mongolia in northern China held on August 15 and 16, 2016. The two sides also agreed to get the framework for the code of conduct done by mid-2017. They also approved guidelines for a China-ASEAN hotline for use during maritime emergencies. They also agreed that a pact on unplanned maritime encounters signed by countries in the region in 2014 is applied to the SCS.
World’s Longest, Highest Glass Bridge To Open In China
The world’s longest and highest glass bridge will open to visitors. The bridge concreted with 99 panes of three layer transparent glasses, hangs between two steep cliffs 300 metres altitude is maintained from the ground. The bridge has set 10 world records spanning its design and construction.
Singapore ranked 6th in Global Innovation Index
India climbed 15 spots, from 81 last year, to 66 in the Global Innovation Index (GII) and maintained the top spot in the Central and South Asia regions, according to the rankings released by Cornell University, INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Switzerland, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America and Finland have been placed ahead of Singapore as the top 5 in the index, while Ireland, Denmark, Netherlands and Germany follow, including in the top 10 most innovative economies.
Brazil free of measles WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Brazil free of measles, after no case of the disease was registered in the last year. The eradication of measles is the conclusion of work spanning several years. Brazil saw no domestic cases of measles from 1985 to 2000, although it broke out in 2013 in the northeastern states of Pernambuco and Ceara. The WHO will issue a certification for the eradication of measles to Brazil. Measles can be transmitted orally, through mucus or saliva and mainly affects children. It can be spread rapidly through the air due to sneezing or a cough, and the first symptoms appear after 10 days with red spots on the skin.
Canada to conduct world’s first Zika vaccine test on humans
Researchers from Laval University based in Quebec City, Canada are going to conduct the world’s first Zika vaccine test on humans. They are first international researchers team in the world to complete all of the steps in the regulatory process for the test. The development of the Zika vaccine has been authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada. Until now, vaccines have been tested on mice. According to World Health Organization (WHO), more than a dozen pharmaceutical companies, including France’s Sanofi and India’s Bharat Biotech, are working on developing a Zika vaccine.
INDIA & WORLD
PM Modi, Russian Prez Vladimir Putin jointly dedicated Kudankulam to the Nation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa jointly dedicated to the nation Unit 1 of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant through a video conference 10 August. It has been built with Russian expertise following a pact between the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Soviet leader Mikahil Gorbachev in November 1988. Now the first unit of Kudankulam power plant is generating its full capacity of 1000 megawatts of electricity.
India to attend SAARC young Parliamentarians conference in Islamabad
A three-member Parliamentary delegation would be travelling to Islamabad to attend the first SAARC Young Parliamentarians Conference (YPC) on `Peace and Harmony for Development’ scheduled to be held from 16 to 18 August in Islamabad. The Parliamentarians would be going to Pakistan days after the India-Pakistan show-down in Islamabad at the 7th SAARC Interior and Home Ministers conference. The YPC intends to offer young Parliamentarians’ narrative as a prelude to the 19th SAARC Summit that Pakistan will be hosting in November.
Indian-American girl becomes the youngest delegate at DNC
An 18-year-old Indian-American girl has become the youngest delegate at the Democratic National Convention which has nominated Hillary Clinton as the party’s presidential candidate. Sruthi Palaniappan from Cedar Rapids and a student of Harvard University is a strong supporter of Clinton, the first woman to be nominated as a presidential candidate by a major political party. Sruthi Palaniapan is a student of the prestigious Harvard University and an ardent supporter of Hilary Clinton, to make her as the first ever woman president of the United States.
BRICS policy planning dialogue concludes in Patna
The BRICS Policy Planning Dialogue was successfully concluded in Patna, Bihar. Delegates of BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa had attended the meeting. The two day (25-26 July 2016) dialogue provided a common platform to BRICS countries for sharing of best practices in foreign policy planning and assessment between the BRICS countries. It forwarded the Policy Planning talks initiated under the Chairmanship of Russia in 2015 in line with 2016 theme of “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions”. They also discussed the role of BRICS in international governance, ongoing cooperation at BRICS Forum and reflected on areas of convergence among BRICS.
India makes the first contribution to UN Trust Fund
India has contributed USD 100,000 to a trust fund set up for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers. The fund was established at the end of March and continues to seek funds to support services for victims and address gaps in services. This is the first contribution to the Trust Fund the Secretariat has received. India has historically been one of the largest troop contributing countries in peacekeeping operations and is currently ranked as the second largest contributor of military and police personnel. Historically, India has been one of the largest troop-contributing countries in the UN peace keeping operations. Currently, India is second largest contributor of military and police personnel.
Read more: Current Affairs August 2016 Study Material | FreeJobAlert.com http://currentaffairs.freejobalert.com/aug-2016-current-affairs-study-material/13609/#ixzz5T4ZGDfrj
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