Daily Current Affairs 8th August, 2019

Daily Current Affairs 8 August 2019 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Health ministry sets target to reduce HIV cases by 2020

With an aim to bring down incidence of HIV/AIDS by 20,000 per year for the next two years, the Union Health Ministry is reaching out to targeted areas like prisons and women remand homes as cases in these places are much higher as compared to the general population.

e-Rozgar Samachar launched to spread awareness about job opportunities

The e-version of Rozgar Samachar has been launched recently by Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Shri Prakash Javadekar. It has been launched with a view to make aspirants aware of job opportunities in government sector including public sector enterprises.

• It will also provide information and guidance about admission and career opportunities in various streams through career-oriented articles by experts.

Rajasthan launches new higher education model

A new higher education model, titled Resource Assistance for Colleges with Excellence, has been launched in Rajasthan for distribution of faculties and movable assets among the government colleges at the district level to rationalise the availability of resources.

• The model will create a pool for sharing of facilities which will benefit the colleges lacking infrastructure.

India contributes USD 5 million to UN Palestine refugee agency

India has contributed USD 5 million to the UN Palestine refugee agency and called for ensuring sustained fiscal support for the organisation’s work.

• The UNRWA has been providing health, education, relief and social services, as well as emergency humanitarian assistance, across its five areas of operations in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank, and the Gaza Strip since 1950.

Kochi to host Summit on Coastal Shipping on August 30

The annual Coastal Shipping and Inland Water Transport Business Summit will be held in Kochi, Kerala on August 30.

• The 7th edition of the summit will address how short sea and container feeder shipping can secure a stronger future.

Mastercard launches identity check express to secure online transactions

Mastercard has announced the launch of Identity Check Express, a next-generation, mobile-first authentication solution that aims to redefine the e-commerce journey for Indian consumers.

• The solution, will help eliminate unnecessary friction and enhance the security of online transactions.

BANKING & FINANCE

SBI Life Insurance, Indian Bank ink Bancassurance pact

SBI Life Insurance and Chennai-headquartered Indian Bank have entered into a bancassurance pact to offer holistic financial planning solutions to the latter’s customers.

• SBI Life will work with Indian Bank to ensure sales training, product support and smooth operational processes in order to offer life insurance policies to its customers.

RBI announces measures to open up liquidity for NBFCs

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced two key measures to help non-bank financial companies (NBFCs) which are facing a severe liquidity squeeze.

• The first is harmonisation of single counterparty exposure limit for banks’ exposure to single NBFCs with the general single counterparty exposure limit. The central bank has decided to raise a bank’s exposure limit to a single NBFC to 20 per cent of tier-I capital of the bank.
• The second initiative deals with credit to the priority sector. The RBI has decided to allow bank lending to registered NBFCs (other than micro finance institutions) for on-lending to agriculture (investment credit) up to Rs 10 lakh, micro and small enterprises up to Rs 20 lakh and housing up to Rs 20 lakh per borrower (up from Rs 10 lakh at present) to be classified as priority sector lending.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Max Life Insurance launches ‘Speed Dial – your partner for life’ initiative on fourth ‘Protection Day’

Max Life Insurance Co Ltd (‘Max Life’/’Company’), one of India’s leading life insurance companies, has announced the launch of one-of-its-kind initiative, ‘Speed Dial Max Life Insurance – Your Partner for Life’ further reinforcing its customer obsession.

• Under this initiative, Max Life will endeavour to assign every customer a dedicated relationship manager, known as the ‘Partner for Life’ for all their policy-related service needs.

IIT Madras partners with NIOT to harness electricity from ocean waves

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras partnered with National Institute of Ocean Technology (HQ – Chennai) to harness electricity from ocean waves. Both institutions will together develop turbines that can harness the power of ocean waves to generate electricity.

• The research is being headed at IIT Madras. The partnership is aimed at meeting renewable energy and climate change objectives of the government of India.

SPORTS

Forbes list of best-paid female athletes: Serena Williams on top, PV Sindhu grabs 13th spot

Serena Williams, 37, a 23-time Grand Slam winner, topped the rich list, after earning $29.2m (£24.3m), including $25m (£20.57m) in endorsements, according to Forbes.

• Indian badminton player P.V. Sindhu came in tied for 13th ($5.5 million), with Thai golfer Ariya Jutanugarn ($5.3 million).

Athletics great Sally Pearson retires after injuries take their toll

Australia’s greatest modern-day track and field athlete Sally Pearson has announced her retirement, acknowledging that her body can take no more punishment.

Cancer researcher becomes first woman to win 4,000km cycling race

Fiona Kolbinger, 24, a German cancer researcher has become the first woman to win one of the world’s toughest cycling races in her first ultra-distance event.

Colin Ackermann becomes first seven-wicket taker in T-20

Leicestershire skipper Colin Ackermann stunned the world with his record-breaking bowling performance against Birmingham Bears as he became the first-ever seven-wicket taker in the T20 cricket.

• Colin Niel Ackermann is a South African cricketer who plays for Leicestershire County Cricket Club.

APPOINTMENTS

Kandikuppa Sreekant becomes Power Grid CMD

State-owned Power Grid Corporation has anounced Kandikuppa Sreekant as the company’s chairman and managing director.

AWARDS

India’s Naaz Joshi creates History as she wins 3rd Consecutive Miss World Diversity Title

India’s transsexual woman Naaz Joshi has made the country proud with a third successive victory in the beauty pageant Miss World Diversity. Naaz was crowned Miss World Diversity 2019 in Port Louis, Mauritius.

OBITUARIES

Noted educationalist Mrs YGP passes away

Noted educationalist and founder of the Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan (PSBB) Group of Schools, YG Rajalakshmi Parthasarathy, has passed away following a cardiac arrest at the age of 93.

Former DMK Minister Jennifer Chandran passes away

Former Fisheries Minister S. Jennifer Chandran, who served as a Minister in the DMK government from 1996-2001, has passed away after renal failure.

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