Daily Current Affairs- 31 August 2024

Daily Current Affairs- 31st August 2024

INTERNATIONAL

India & Malaysia Sign MoU for Strengthening Co-Operation in Tourism

• India and Malaysia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Tourism, Government of Republic of India and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Government of Malaysia for strengthening co-operation in the field of tourism.
• The MoU was signed on 20th August 2024 between Minister of Tourism and Culture from India Shri Ganjendra Singh Shekhawat and Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia Mr. Y B Dato Sri Tiong King Sing. 

INS Tabar Conducts Maritime Partnership Exercise with Spanish Navy Ship Atalaya

• The Indian Navy's frontline frigate, INS Tabar, visited Malaga, Spain, for two days starting 25 August. After leaving on 27 August, it participated in a maritime partnership exercise (MPX) with the Spanish Navy Ship Atalaya in the Mediterranean Sea. 

NATIONAL

Annapurna Devi Launches SHe-Box Portal to Enhance Workplace Safety for Women

• Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Annapurna Devi, launched the new SHe-Box portal, a centralized platform aimed at making workplaces safer for women by addressing complaints of sexual harassment. The launch event was held in New Delhi, it also included the introduction of a revamped ministry website. 

PM Narendra Modi flags off 3 new Vande Bharat Express:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off three new Vande Bharat Express trains on Saturday August 31 through video conferencing, to enhance connectivity in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, The three trains add to the network of more than 100 Vande Bharat Express trains that are operational, connecting more than 280 districts

 Indian Army Launches Project NAMAN: SPARSH-Enabled Service Centres Across India

• The Indian Army launched the first phase of Project NAMAN, in presence of General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff along with Mrs Sunita Dwivedi, President Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA),
• A project designed to provide dedicated support and services to Defence Pensioners, Veterans and their families, Project NAMAN is centred around the implementation of the SPARSH (System for Pension Administration Raksha), digital pension system, which streamlines pension related processes for Defence Pensioners, addressing the critical need for accessible facilitation points for Veterans and Next of Kin (NOK) across the country. 

SPORTS

Paris Paralympics: Avani clinches gold, Mona secures bronze in women’s 10m air rifle

• Reigning Paralympic champion Avani Lekhara continued her winning streak by claiming gold in the women’s 10m air rifle final at the Paris Paralympics 2024. In a remarkable start for India, shooter Mona Agarwal also captured a bronze medal in the same event. 

SCIENCE & TEHNOLOGY   

Hitachi Payment Services and NPCI introduce India’s first Android-Based CRM

• Hitachi Payment Services has launched the country’s first Android-Based Cash Recycling Machine (CRM) at the Global Fintech Fest 2024 (GFF), in collaboration with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). 

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Satish Vadugiri named interim chairmen for IOC, Rajneesh Narang for HPCL

• The government named interim chairmen for top oil firms, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), as appointment of full-time heads is work in progress.
• Satish Kumar Vaduguri, Director (Marketing), IOC has been appointed interim chairman of the company for three months starting September 1, He replaces Shrikant Madhav Vaidya who completes his extended term at month-end.
• The ministry appointed Rajneesh Narang, Director (Finance), HPCL as the chairman and managing director of the company for three-month period starting September 1. 

BANKING & ECONOMY

BOB’s BOBCARD launches high-end credit card ETERNA on RuPay Network

• Bank of Baroda (BOB) launched the Eterna credit card, a high-end card that comes with a range of benefits, ETERNA credit card is a luxury credit card launched at the prestigious Global Fintech Festival 2024 combines the convenience of UPI payments with a suite of exclusive benefits, It is available on the RuPay network for an annual fee of just Rs 2,499.

RBI imposes penalty on UCO Bank & Cent Bank Home Finance

• The Reserve Bank of India has levied penalties on two banks: Rs 2.68 crore on UCO Bank for violating rules on current accounts, interest on deposits, and fraud classification, and Rs 2.1 lakh on Cent Bank Home Finance Ltd for not complying with KYC regulations.