29-30 July 2018 - Daily Current Affairs

29-30 July 2018 - Daily Current Affairs

1. Sourabh Verma lifts Russian Open Badminton trophy 2018

• Former national champion Indian shuttler ‘Sourabh Verma’ (25-year) has lifted the Russian Open Badminton trophy-2018 at Vladivostok.
• In the title clash, Sourabh beat Japan's Koki Watanabe, 18-21, 21-12, 21-17, and win his first title of the season.
• Indian mixed doubles pair Rohan Kapoor and Kuhoo Garg, suffered a 19-21, 17-21 loss to Russia's Vladimir Ivanov and Min Kyung Kim of Korea to settle for runners-up.
• Earlier, Sourabh had won the Chinese Taipei Masters in 2016 and finished runners-up at Bitburger Open the same year.

2. International Army Games 2018 declared open in Moscow

• The Russian Defence minister ‘Sergei Shoigu’ has declared open the International Army Games 2018 at Patriot Park for Moscow region.
• The games are being held at 24 training grounds in seven countries namely Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Iran, Kazakhstan, China and Russia (from 28^th July to 11^th August).
• Indian teams are taking part in two major competitions ‘Tank Biathlon’ event at Alabino ranges, Moscow region and Elbrus Ring competition in Caucasus mountains.
• It is for the first time that Armenia and Iran are co-hosting events of the Army Games.

3. World Badminton Championships kick off in China

• The 2018 World Badminton Championships (XXIV) kicked off in Nanjing, China.
• In Women’s Singles, Star Indian shuttlers PV Sindhu (3^rd seeded) and Saina Nehwal (10^th seeded) have got first-round byes.
• In Men's Singles, Kidambi Srikanth, HS Prannoy and Sameer Verma will open their campaigns today.

Note: The BWF World Championships (also known as the World Badminton Championships) is a badminton tournament sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF).

4. Egypt beat England to win World Junior squash team title

• Egypt defeated England (2-0) to win the boy's title at the WSF-World Junior Squash team championship in Chennai.
• The Czech Republic and US finished third and secured the bronze medal.
• Host India finished 11th overall.

5. Bajrang Punia, Pinki win gold at Yasar Dogu International

• Bajrang Punia has won his second consecutive international gold while Sandeep Tomar had to be content with a silver medal at the Yasar Dogu International in Istanbul, Turkey.
• Indian wrestlers returned with 10 medals (Women-7, Men-3) from the ranking event.
• In the women's competition, Pinki was the lone gold medallist in the 55kg category.

Important Dates

6. 29th July: International Tiger Day

• The International Tiger Day (ITD) is observed globally on 29th July to raise awareness for tiger conservation.
• The goal of the day is to promote a global system for protecting the natural habitats of tigers and to raise public awareness and support for tiger conservation issues.
• According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), only 3,890 tigers are left in the world.
• In 2010, 29th July was decided to be celebrated as Tiger day during the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit.

Note: India Post joined hands in promoting tiger conservation by releasing a special cover to mark Global Tiger Day at Bandipur.

National Affairs

7. Indian Railways launches ‘Mission Satyanishtha’

• The Indian Railways has launched ‘Mission Satyanishtha’ at National Rail Museum, New Delhi.
• The Union Minister of Finance, Piyush Goyal administered the oath to the officers and supervisors at the programme.

The objectives of the Satyanishtha Mission are:

• To train every employee to understand the need and value of ethics in Personal and Public life.
• To deal with ethical dilemmas in life and Public Governance.
• To help understand the policies of Indian Railways on ethics and integrity and the employee’s role in upholding the same.
• To develop inner governance through tapping inner resources.

8. Unified Commanders' Conference 2018 begins today

• The two-day Annual Conference of Unified Commanders’ Conference (UCC)- 2018 has begun in New Delhi to review external security challenges as well as the country's preparedness.
• The Annual Conference provides a platform for discussions at the Apex Level on all ‘Joint Issues’ amongst the three Services & Ministry of Defence.
• It enables stock-taking of the previous year and planning the way ahead for the next year.
• The Conference has been conducted under the tutelage of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) and attended by the Raksha Mantri, Rajya Raksha Mantri, National Security Advisor, the Chiefs of Army, Navy & Air Force.

9. Pradhan lays foundation stone of skill training centre for women

• The Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan laid the foundation stone for permanent campus of National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) for Women at Mohali, Punjab.
• This is the first NSTI Institute for Punjab and only one of its kind in India which is exclusively for women. 
• He a launched India’s first in-phone guide and mobile application “Go whats That” in Chandigarh.
• The Minister has also launched a unique Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK) which would admit differently abled persons as well, also a first of its kind in India at Mohali.

10. Bombali: New strain of Ebola virus discovered in Sierra Leone

• The Joint US-West African Researchers discovered a new strain of Ebola virus ‘Bombali virus strain’ in bats in northern Bombali region of Sierra Leone.
• The Bombali virus is overall sixth known virus strain Ebola virus.
• Ebola virus is a highly fatal haemorrhagic fever that is spread through contact with bodily fluids from infected persons and animals which include non-human primates, bats and forest antelope.

11. Amul awarded marketer of the year

• The marketers of the popular Amul brand of milk and dairy products “GCMMF” has been awarded the 'Marketer of the Year' award by the International Advertising Association of India.
• Amul is marketed by the GCMMF (Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd.), the biggest cooperative owned by 36 lakh farmers of Gujarat with the brand worth Rs 41,000 crore.
• Amul also is known for its marketing and advertising strategies.

12. JP Nadda launches National Viral Hepatitis Control Program

• The Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda has launched the National Viral Hepatitis Control Program to eradicate viral hepatitis by 2030.
• The minister has also released the Operational Guidelines for National Viral Hepatitis Control Program; National Laboratory Guidelines for Viral Hepatitis Testing; and National Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Viral Hepatitis.
• The Department of Posts (DoP) has also released several stamps to generate awareness about various programs of the Government.

13. Radha Mohan Singh launches Meghalaya Milk Mission in Shillong

• The Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh has launched the Meghalaya Milk Mission in Shillong (Meghalaya).
• The mission will facilitate in achieving the Centre’s goal of doubling farmer’s income by 2022 through the promotion of milk business in the state.
• The Rs 215 crores have been sanctioned for the project through National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) to utilisation for various training under dairy farm, chilling centre and purchase of milch animal.
• The Milk Mission will enable the state to substitute the import of milk with the state’s own production.