29th August Current Affairs

World

Scientists discover deep-sea coral reef in US

Scientists have discovered a giant deep-sea coral reef system off the coast of the US state of South Carolina.

A pair of dives in a submersible called Alvin confirmed the existence of the coral reef and based on observations, researchers estimate the reef is at least 85 miles long.

Coral reefs form more easily near the surface of the water, where the sun can feed the algae.

India

Sushma inaugurated ‘Jaipur Foot’ camp in Hanoi

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj inaugurated a ‘Jaipur Foot’ camp in Hanoi, Vietnam on 27th August, 2018.

Ms. Swaraj is in Vietnam on the first leg of a four-day two-nation tour, which aims at deepening India’s strategic cooperation with Vietnam and Cambodia.

The Jaipur-based Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti has started an artificial limb fitment camp.

Supreme Court Notice To Centre, WhatsApp

Responding to a plea, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the government and messaging service provider WhatsApp.

The plea sought direction to restrain Whatsapp from proceeding with its payments systems unless it fully complies with RBI’s provisions.

Whatsapp does not comply with the provision of mandating a Grievance Officer and KYC norms laid down by the Reserve Bank of India.

Resignation

Anil Ambani resigns as Director of RNAVAL

Anil D Ambani has resigned as the Director of Reliance Naval and Engineering Ltd (RNAVAL).

Ambani resigned in compliance with provisions of Section 165 of the Companies Act, 2013, prescribing the limit on directorships to only 10 public companies.

Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited operates the country’s largest integrated shipbuilding facility.

Sports

Sindhu won silver in badminton at Asian Games

PV Sindhu won silver medal in badminton at the Asian Games 2018.

PV Sindhu was defeated by Taiwan’s Tai Tzu Ying.

It was for the first time that an Indian had ever reached the finals of a badminton singles event at the Asian Games.

It is the first time that India has won two individual medals at the Asian Games with Saina Nehwal clinching a bronze earlier.

Women’s compound archery team won silver medal

Indian women’s team won silver medal in the compound archery team event at the 2018 Asian Games.

The Indian team comprised Muskan Kirar, Madhumita Kumari and Jyothi Surekha Vennam.

The Indian team was defeated by South Korea in the finals at the 18th Asian Games.

Sudha Singh won silver in women’s steeplechase

Sudha Singh clinched the silver in women’s 3000m steeplechase event in the Asian Games in Jakarta.

Bahrain won the gold medal, while Vietnam won the bronze medal.

Sudha won a gold medal when women’s 3000m steeplechase was introduced in the Asian Games in 2010.

Neena Varakil wins silver in women’s long jump

Neena Varakil won a silver medal in the women’s long jump event at the ongoing Asian Games in Indonesia.

Vietnam won the gold medal and the bronze medal was won by China.

Varakil’s best jump of 6.51m came in the fourth attempt, which was enough to fetch her the silver.

Neeraj won gold medal in javelin throw

Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian javelin thrower to win an Asian Games gold medal.

Neeraj Chopra’s gold is India’s only second medal in javelin throw in Asian Games history after Gurtej Singh won a bronze in 1982 in New Delhi.

He won a gold in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018.

Dharun won silver medal in 400m hurdles

Dharun Ayyasamy broke the national record in the men’s 400 metres hurdles to claim the silver medal at the Asian Games in Jakarta.

It is India’s first medal in the hurdles event since Joseph Abraham won a gold in Asian Games 2010.

Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba won the gold medal at the Asian Games 2018.

Business

FDI growth up 23% in April-June 2018

According to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion data, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India grew by 23% to USD 12.75 billion during the April-June quarter of 2018-19.

Key sectors that received maximum foreign investment include services, trading, telecommunications, computer software and hardware, and power.

Singapore was the largest source of FDI during April-June 2018-19.

Appointments

Satya appointed Asst Secretary-General of UNEP

United Nations has appointed Indian development economist and UN official Satya S Tripathi as Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the New York Office of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Satya has served as Senior Adviser on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at UNEP since 2017.

UN Environment is the leading agency at the world body focussed on the environment.