07th August 2019 Current Affairs
Lok Sabha passed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019
- On August 5, 2019, Lok Sabha passed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 through a voice vote which aims to prohibit commercial surrogacy in India.
- The Bill defines surrogacy as a practice where a woman gives birth to a child for an intending couple with the intention to hand over the child after the birth to the intending couple.
Note:
About Lok Sabha
Seats: 545 (543 Elected + 2 Nominated)
Founded: 17 April 1952
Bank Retail loan growth slips to 5-year low in the first half of 2019 at 7.3 %: RBI
- According to the latest monthly data of RBI (Reserve Bank of India), the retail personal credit disbursement growth in the first half of 2019(January -June) was 7.3%, which is the slowest rate of disbursement by banks in 5 years.
- The last slowdown was seen in the year of 2014 that registered a credit growth of 6.4%.
Note:
About RBI
Headquarters: Mumbai
Founder: British Raj
Founded: 1 April 1935, Kolkata
Governor: Shaktikanta Das
Mastercard launches identity check express to secure online transactions
- Mastercard launched the Identity Check Express, a next-generation, mobile-first authentication solution that aims to redefine e-commerce journey for Indian consumers.
- It will help eliminate needless friction & enhance the security of online transactions.
Steve Smith becomes second fastest to score 25 test centuries overtaking ViratKohli
- Former Australian captain Steve Smith has overthrown Indian Skipper ViratKohli to become the second fastest batsman to score 25 test centuries during the second innings of the first Ashes test match against England.
- The chart is topped by Australian cricketer, Sir Don Bradman.
Note:
About Australia
Capital: Canberra
Currency: Australian dollar
Legendary Aussie athlete Sally Pearson announces her retirement
- Former Olympic champion and Australia’s most awarded athlete, Sally Pearson (32) has announced her retirement after suffering from persistent injuries throughout the past year.
- Pearson was also a popular athlete.
Note:
About Australia
Capital: Canberra
Currency: Australian dollar
Former New Zealand Captain Brendon McCullum announces retirement from all forms of cricket
- Former New Zealand Captain Brendon McCullum, aged 37, has announced retirement from all forms of cricket.
- He will retire after the conclusion of the ongoing Global T20 Canada, which will be played against Montreal Tigers on August 11, 2019.
- He plays for Toronto Nationals.
Note:
About New Zealand
Currency: New Zealand dollar
Capital: Wellington
Microsoft’s Bill Gates regains the spot of second richest person in the world in Bloomberg Billionaire Index
- Bill Gates has never ranked lower than No. 2 in the seven-year history of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
- LVMH, Arnault’s luxury-goods maker, advanced to a record and pushed his net worth to $107.6 billion and ahead of Gates by more than $200 million.
Note:
About Microsoft
CEO: Satya Nadella
Founded: 4 April 1975
Founders: Bill Gates, Paul Allen
India’s Naaz Joshi wins Miss World Diversity for the third consecutive time
- Indian transsexual Naaz Joshi has been crowned Miss World Diversity 2019 in Port Louis, Mauritius.
- With this, she has become the first person ever to win the title for three consecutive years as she won the same title twice before in 2017 and 2018.
Note:
About Mauritius
Currency: Mauritian rupee
Capital and largest city: Port Louis
Rajesh Kumar Srivastava designated as the new director (exploration) in ONGC, while Sandeep Kumar Gupta appointed as the director (finance) in IOC
- ONGC Rajesh Kumar Srivastava has taken over as the new director (exploration), replacing A K Dwivedi who superannuated last week.
- Separately, IOC said Sandeep Kumar Gupta has taken over as the director (finance) of the company.
- He replaces A K Sharma who retired from service in May.
Note:
About ONGC
Headquarters: Vasant Kunj, Delhi
CEO: Shashi Shanker
Kandikuppa Sreekant is the new Chairman and MD of Power Grid
- On August 6, 2019, The Indian state-owned electric utilities company, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. has appointed Kandikuppa Sreekant as its chairman and managing director(MD) till December 31, 2023, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
- He replaces Ravi P Singh (director (personnel), who holding the post of chairman &MD of the company give away the additional charge.
Note:
About Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd.
Founded: 23 October 1989
Headquarters: Gurgaon, India
Iran launched 3 new precision-guided missiles “Yasin”, “Balaban” & “Ghaem”
- On August 6, 2019, Iran unveiled three precision-guided missiles “Yasin”, “Balaban” and a new series of “Ghaem” in Tehran.
- The air-to-air missiles were developed jointly by the Ministry of Defence of Iran and Sa Iran, also known as Iran Electronics Industries.
Note:
About Iran
President: Hassan Rouhani
Capital: Tehran
Currency: Iranian rial
Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj passes away in New Delhi
- Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj (2014-19) passed away after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.
- She was the 2nd woman to hold the foreign ministry office.
- She had won from Vidisha constituency in Madhya Pradesh for a 2nd term in 2014.
Cancer researcher becomes first woman to win 4,000km cycling race
- A German cancer researcher Fiona Kolbinger has become the 1st woman to win 4000 km cycling race.
- She took 10 days, 2 hours & 48 mins to complete the challenge & started from Burgas in Bulgaria to Brest in France.
- She was one of 40 women to start the race.
Note:
About Germany
Capital: Berlin
Currency: Euro
Hilary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton teamed up for the book on ‘Gutsy Women’
- Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and daughter Chelsea Clinton have joined forces to write “The Book of Gutsy Women,” which will honor major female figures.
- The book will come out on Oct. 1.
India, Israel explore new areas of cooperation to boost financial ties
- Israel and India are exploring to open new vistas of partnership in the world of finance, including collaboration between market regulators and allowing Israeli investment in corporate bonds, taking advantage of a favourable climate in both countries.
- Malka, with decades of experience in economic affairs, was handpicked by Netanyahu as the envoy to New Delhi to help boost Indo-Israeli economic partnership.
Note:
About Israel
Prime minister: Benjamin Netanyahu
Capital: Jerusalem
Try out the quiz ?
1. Which International settlement & clearing houses has launched the Identity Check Express?
Mastercard launched the Identity Check Express, a next-generation, mobile-first authentication solution that aims to redefine e-commerce journey for Indian consumers.
2. Lok Sabha has passed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2019. The aim of this Bill is to........
Lok Sabha passed the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 through a voice vote which aims to prohibit commercial surrogacy in India.
3. According to monthly data of RBI what is the bank retail loan growth rate?
According to the latest monthly data of RBI (Reserve Bank of India), the retail personal credit disbursement growth in the first half of 2019(January -June) was 7.3%, which is the slowest rate of disbursement by banks in 5 years.
4. Who has overtaken Virat Kohli to become the second fastest batsman to score 25 test centuries?
Former Australian captain Steve Smith has overthrown Indian Skipper ViratKohli to become the second fastest batsman to score 25 test centuries during the second innings of the first Ashes test match against England.
5. Olympic champion Sally Pearson has announced her retirement. She is from which nation?
Former Olympic champion and Australia’s most awarded athlete, Sally Pearson (32) has announced her retirement after suffering from persistent injuries throughout the past year.
6. Captain Brendon McCullum has announced about his retirement from all forms of cricket. He was the former captain of which cricket team?
Former New Zealand Captain Brendon McCullum, aged 37, has announced retirement from all forms of cricket.
7. According to Bloomberg Billionaire Index, who has regained his position as the second highest person in the world?
Bill Gates has never ranked lower than No. 2 in the seven-year history of the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
8. Naaz Joshi has won the crown of Miss World Diversity 2019 in Port Louis, Mauritius. They belongs from which country?
India’s Naaz Joshi wins Miss World Diversity for the third consecutive time. Indian transsexual Naaz Joshi has been crowned Miss World Diversity 2019 in Port Louis, Mauritius.
9. Who is the new director of ONGC?
Rajesh Kumar Srivastava designated as the new director (exploration) in ONGC, while Sandeep Kumar Gupta appointed as the director (finance) in IOC
10. Who is the new Chairman and MD of Power Grid Corporation of India?
The Indian state-owned electric utilities company, Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd. has appointed Kandikuppa Sreekant as its chairman and managing director(MD) till December 31, 2023, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
11. Which country has launched 3 new precision-guided missiles “Yasin”, “Balaban” & “Ghaem”?
Iran unveiled three precision-guided missiles “Yasin”, “Balaban” and a new series of “Ghaem” in Tehran.
12. Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has passed away. She was elected from Vidisha constituency. Vidisha is situated in which state?
Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj (2014-19) passed away after suffering a massive cardiac arrest. She had won from Vidisha constituency in Madhya Pradesh for a 2nd term in 2014.
13. Cancer researcher Fiona Kolbinger has become the 1st woman to win 4000 km cycling race. She is from which country?
A German cancer researcher Fiona Kolbinger has become the 1st woman to win 4000 km cycling race.
14. Who is the writer of “The Book of Gutsy Women”?
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and daughter Chelsea Clinton have joined forces to write “The Book of Gutsy Women,” which will honor major female figures.
15. India has partnership with which country in the world of finance including collaboration between market regulator?
Israel and India are exploring to open new vistas of partnership in the world of finance, including collaboration between market regulators and allowing Israeli investment in corporate bonds, taking advantage of a favourable climate in both countries.
