Daily GK Updates - 8th August, 2016

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. PM Modi launches Mission Bhagiratha and lays foundation stone of key development projects in Telangana: Prime Minister NarendraModi has launched the Telangana government's ambitious Mission Bhagiratha at Komatibanda Village, Gajwel, in Medak District of Telangana. The scheme has been launched by the State Government with an objective to provide safe drinking water to all.The Prime Minister also laid the Foundation Stones for important development projects. These included the 1600 MW Thermal Power station of NTPC at Ramagundam, revival of a Fertilizer Plant at Ramagundam, KalojiNarayanaRao University of Health Sciences, Warangal, and Manoharabad-Kothapalli Railway line.

2. Odisha Government launches special assistance scheme for elderly weavers: The Odisha government launched a special assistance scheme- ‘BaristhaBunakarSahayataYojana’  for elderly weavers to mark the National Handlooms Day (7th August). It has been launched by the state Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik with an aim to improve the financial condition of over 8,000 weavers, who have been working in this field for the last 20 years.

3. Union Minister HRD Minister PrakashJavadekar inaugurates Chhattisgarh’s first IIT: Union Human Resource Development Minister PrakashJavadekar has inaugurated the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) - Raipur at the Government Engineering College campus.

4. IRCTC signs MoU with Manipur Government to provide hospitality and tourism services: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and the Manipur government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which seeks to provide improved hospitality and tourism services to their customers by making 'joint use of their capabilities and facilities'.

5. Zydus acquires derma brand Melgain from IssarPharma: Ahmedabad-headquartered Zydus Group has acquired Melgain brand from Hyderabad based IssarPharma for an undisclosed sum that would marketed in India by Liva Healthcare.

6. Sitaraman Shankar appointed as Network 18 Managing Editor:Network18 has appointed Sitaraman Shankar as Managing Editor - Special Projects. Shankar will work across all digital and TV news properties.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Over 1000 dancing robots set Guinness Record in China: A new Guinness World Record for the most robots dancing simultaneously has been set in China where 1,007 robots shimmied in unison, nearly double the previous record.

2. First ever Pizza-ATM opens in the US: The first-ever 'Pizza ATM' has been installed at a university campus of US by French- based company Paline, which developed the ATM. The pizza vending machine on the campus of Xavier University (XU) in Ohio can hold seventy 12-inch pizzas and dispense them fresh and hot in just three minutes.

OTHER UPDATES:

FINANCE/BANKING:                                 

1. Former RBI Deputy Governor AnandSinha joins IDFC Bank Board: This comes after VinodRai, the former comptroller and auditor general (CAG) of India, who served as a nominee director representing IDFC Limited on the board of IDFC Bank, stepped down after serving on the board for a year.

2. Syndicate Bank launches new products: ArunShrivastava, MD & CEO of Syndicate Bank has launched new products to ease customer transactions. The first products launched by the bank was the fund transfer based on ‘Aadhaar Number through NUUP’, using an ordinary mobile phone without internet connection. While the other one was ‘Fund Transfer through IMPS’ at any branch for instantaneous credit to any bank account.

SPORTS:

3. Gymnast DipaKarmakar becomes first Indian to qualify for Vault Finals: DipaKarmakar, the Indian Gymnast, created history by becoming the first Indian gymnast to enter the Olympic final at the Rio Olympic Centre. The 22-year-old qualified for the final round in the Individual vault final of artistic gymnastics after finishing eighth on the standings.

OBITUARIES:

4. Australia’s surfing champion Bernard Farrelly died at the age of 71: Australian surfing champion Bernard Farrelly, best known as Midget for his slight size, has passed away. He was 71 years old. He won the first official surfing World Championship at Sydney's Manly Beach in 1964 and dominated the sport as it gained popularity during that decade.