WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM
-AUG 29 CURRENT AFFAIRS
National Sports Day is celebrated on August 29 every year in honour of Indian hockey legend Dhyan Chand on his birthday. Dhyan Chand, often referred to as ‘The Wizard’ for his incredible hockey skills, was born on this day in 1905. In order to pay homage, the Government of India, in 2012, designated this day as the country’s National Sports Day. To commemorate the occasion, TNN presents an infographic celebrating the life and times of the Indian hockey legend.
Aurangzeb Road Renamed After APJ Abdul Kalam, Arvind Kejriwal Tweets ‘Congrats’
One of Delhi’s most elite addresses, Aurangzeb Road, will be renamed after former president APJ Abdul Kalam, and it was announced by someone who was not involved in the decision – Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “Congrats. NDMC jst now decided to rename Aurangzeb Road to APJ Abdul Kalam Road,” tweeted Mr Kejriwal, who has been locked in a fierce turf war with the Centre over who controls the reins of the capital. The decision was taken by the civic body in charge of central Delhi, after an all-clear from the union home ministry. Within an hour, Mr Kejriwal’s comment had been re-tweeted over 900 times and favourited 600 times. Many comments accused him of taking credit for a BJP lawmaker’s proposal. The BJP’s Mahesh Girri wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month suggesting that Aurangzeb Road should be named after Dr Kalam, who died on July 27. “As a tribute to the People’s President, I propose to rename the ‘Aurangzeb Road’ in New Delhi to ‘Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road’. In my opinion, this will be a great way of preserving his memories and legacy forever,” wrote Mahesh Girri.
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM V+ TEAM
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM
India declared maternal and neonatal tetanus free: PM Modi
The WHO has declared that mothers and newborns are free from tetanus at the time of birth in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here. He was inaugurating the Call to Action Summit 2015 – an initiative to reduce child and maternal deaths across the world – and said the event will help the developing countries to tackle health challenges related to women and child. Boasting India’s polio-free status, Modi said: “Indian was declared polio free because of the collective efforts of several stakeholders. I am happy to inform you that today the WHO has declared India maternal and neonatal tetanus free.” Over 600 delegates from across the world will attend the two-day summit to discuss initiatives to reduce maternal and child mortality rate. Health minister J P Nadda and the health ministers of several nations including Senegal, South Sudan, Afghanistan and Ethiopia were among those who attended the event.
The world’s top 20 billionaires under 35
In case you weren’t already feeling sad about paycheck, a top 20 list of the richest people under the age of 35 came out this week. Topping the list is Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. The 31-year-old is worth a staggering $41 billion. Zuckerberg is one of 3 Facebook-made billionaires on the list. The other two are also in the top five; Dustin Moskovitz trails Zuckerberg for the number two spot, and Eduardo Saverin ranks fourth with an estimated net worth of $5.3 billion.
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM V+ TEAM
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM
This year, six of the 20 are women. Huiyan Yang takes the third spot, making her the richest woman on the list. The 34-year- old vice chairman of Chinese real estate developer Country Garden Holdings is worth an estimated $5.9 billion. The richest self-made woman in America on the list is Elizabeth Holmes, who founded blood-test company Theranos at just 19-years-old. The youngest person on the list is Snapchat chief executive Evan Spiegel. At the ripe age of 25, Spiegel has already earned $1.9 billion earning the 15th spot on the list. Airbnb has three billionaires who made the list — who each boast a net worth of $3 billion. While 9 people on the list can thank the tech-industry for their wealth — 11 of them can thank their wealthy parents.
Obama appoints Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs
US President Barack Obama has appointed a diplomat to the newly created post of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs which will analyse and find effective remedies to hostage issues. Jim O’Brien, a seasoned diplomat, was appointed as the First Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs after government’s comprehensive hostage policy review which was completed earlier this summer. “That review recognised the need for fully coordinated action across US agencies in responding to hostage situations and to the military, diplomatic, legal, and humanitarian issues that such situations generate,” Secretary of State John Kerry said. Kerry said that O’Brien is exactly the right person for a job that demands a high level of diplomatic experience and the ability to analyse and find effective remedies to complex problems.
NTPC sets a record in single-day power generation of 733.12 million units
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM V+ TEAM
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM
State-owned NTPCBSE 2.06 % Ltd, India’s largest power generator, has achieved a record highest single-day electricity generation of 733.12 million units. The record generation of 733.12 million units from NTPC’s 18 coal-based power plants, 7 gas-based units and 8 solar and hydro power stations, was achieved on August 27, the company said in a statement. “The Declared Cumulative Capability of the stations was 91.10 per cent and Plant Load Factor (PLF) of 86.34 per cent on the day,” it said. NTPC currently has an installed capacity of 45,548 Mega-Watts (MW) (including 6,196 MW through joint ventures), according to the company website. During financial year 2014-15, NTPC contributed 25 per cent of total electricity generated in India with 16 per cent share of country’s total installed capacity as on March 31.
India loses solar case against US at WTO; to appeal
India has lost another case against the US at WTO as the body ruled that India’s domestic content requirements under its solar power programme were inconsistent with the international norms. India will now approach the appellate body of the Geneva-based WTO against the dispute panel’s ruling, an official said. Last year, the US dragged India to WTO on country’s solar mission plan.
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM V+ TEAM
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM
The US alleged that India’s programme appears to discriminate against the US solar equipment by requiring solar energy producers to use locally manufactured cells and by offering subsidies to those developers who use domestic equipment. It also alleged that forced localization requirements restricted US exports to Indian markets. On January 11, 2010, India launched its national solar policy — Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission. The country has an ambitious target of generating 20,000MW of solar power by 2022.
Greece appoints first female prime minister
A monumental moment in Greek politics happened when Vassiliki Thanou, president of the country’s Supreme Court, was sworn in as the first female prime minister in the nation’s history. The 65-year-old justice was named to head a caretaker government until the country holds early elections next month. After a final effort to get political party leaders to form a coalition led by former Energy Minster Panagiotis Lafazanis failed, President Prokopis Pavlopoulos was obligated to appoint a caretaker administration. The date for Greece’s general elections—the fifth in six years—is to be officially announced in the next few days, but it is likely to be scheduled for Sept. 20, according to Greek political analysts.
Shaktikanta Das new Economic Affairs Secretary; 16 top bureaucratic changes effected
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM V+ TEAM
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM
In a major top-level bureaucratic shakeup, Shaktikanta Das on Friday was named new Economic Affairs Secretary and would be replaced by Gujarat cadre IAS officer Hasmukh Adhia in Department of Revenue, while former Air India chief Sunil Arora will become I&B Secretary. As many as 16 appointments were approved on Friday by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and include 15 RPT 15 new Secretaries and one for the position of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Chairman, a coveted post that has gone to Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer of 1982 batch Raghav Chandra. As per the order issued late by the Department of Personnel and Training, Air India’s current Chairman and Managing Director Rohit Nandan will replace Arora as Secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi has been appointed as new Tourism Secretary.
Tapan Ray named new Corporate Affairs Secretary
Gujarat cadre IAS officer Tapan Ray was appointed as the new Secretary in Corporate Affairs Ministry, where he will replace Anjuly Chib Duggal who has been named as Financial Affairs Secretary. Duggal, who became Corporate Affairs Secretary earlier in 2015, has been now made Secretary in the Department of Financial Services in the Ministry of Finance in place of Hasmukh Adhia who is becoming Revenue Secretary.
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM V+ TEAM
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM
Ray, 1982 batch IAS officer and currently Additional Secretary in the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, would become Corporate Affairs Secretary after Duggal relinquishes charge of the post. Ray, a Mechanical Engineer and then a Law Graduate, is also a Post Graduate in Public Policy and International Affairs and holds diplomas in German language, international law and international business.
Noted Indian scientist Dr Modadugu Vijay Gupta awarded first Sunhak Peace Prize
Noted Indian agriculture scientist Dr Modadugu Vijay Gupta, who has done pioneering work in aquaculture in India, Bangladesh and several Southeast Asian countries, was awarded the first Sunhak Peace Prize which he shared with the President of Kiribati Islands. Gupta, 76, shared the $1 million prize with President of Kiribati Islands Anote Tong here at a glittering function which was attended by invitees from all over the world. Tong, 63, the head of the Pacific Ocean island nation which is facing dire prospects of being engulfed by rising sea waters by 2050, was chosen for the award for his dogged fight to end the carbon emissions which are spelling doom for small island nations. Billed as an alternative to the Nobel Peace Prize, the awards were presented by South Korean religious leader Dr Hak Ja Han Moon, the wife of late Rev Sun Myung Moon, who instituted the awards to recognise and highlight the work of individuals making big efforts for the betterment of the people.
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM V+ TEAM
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM
Messi named Best Player in Europe for second time
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has received the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award for the second time after finishing ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suárez in a live poll of 54 journalists. Lionel Messi’s role in Barcelona’s treble-winning 2014/15 campaign has been acknowledged with the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award – the second time the forward has been honoured in the accolade’s five-year history. The Argentinian international accepted the trophy from UEFA President Michel Platini at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco. Messi, recipient of the inaugural prize in 2011, finished ahead of Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo and club-mate Luis Suárez in a live poll of 54 journalists who selected, via an electronic system, their favourite from the three-man shortlist announced on 12 August.
India to host Commonwealth weightlifting for first time
For the first time in the history of weightlifting, an individual international tournament will be organised in India when it hosts the Commonwealth Youth, Junior and Senior Weightlifting Championships in Pune, Maharashtra from October 11-15. India will field 40 weightlifters- 11 youth (boys & girls), 16 junior (men & women) and 13 senior (men & women) in the Commonwealth Championships. Meanwhile, five weightlifters will take part in the 26 Women & 45 Men Senior Asian Weightlifting Championships to be held in Phuket, Thailand from September 3-12. Another two weightlifters will represent India in the 5th Commonwealth Youth Games to be held at Apia, Samoa from September 3-12.
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM V+ TEAM
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM
The Squads:
For 26 Women & 45 Men Senior Asian Championship: S Mohana Sundaram (56kg), Vikas Thakur (85kg), Md. Jameer Hussain (94kg), Praful Kumar Dubey (105kg), Bangaru Usha (48kg).
Coaches: Kunjarani Devi, Sandip Kumar and Dathan AP.
Danielle Williams wins 100 metres hurdles gold at the World Championships
Jamaica’s Danielle Williams won the world championship 100 metres hurdles gold as her more experienced rivals crumbled under pressure. She took the lead after the last flight, winning in a personal best 12.57 seconds ahead of Germany’s Cindy Roleder who also clocked a best time of 12.59. Bronze went to Aline Talay in a Belarus record 12.66. Danielle, 23, raced in the final alongside her 25-year-old sister Shermaine who finished seventh in 12.95. It was the first time since the championships began in 1983 that two siblings had competed together in a final. Two of the leading American hopes, Dawn Harper Nelson and Keni Harrison, were eliminated at the semi-final stage. Harper Nelson fell and Harrison was disqualified for a false start. In the final, 2013 world champion Brianna Rollins all but wrote off her chances by knocking down the first hurdle. The American rallied but could do no better than fourth place in 12.67, passing Britain’s Tiffany Porter who led to the eighth flight before folding.
World Championships 2015: Tianna Bartoletta wins long jump gold
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM V+ TEAM
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM
American champion Tianna Bartoletta became long world champion once again, snatching the gold medal with a leap of 7.14 metres in the final round. Britain’s Shara Proctor had led the competition after breaking her own national record with a 7.07m jump in the third round. She tried to respond with the last jump of the competition but the 26-year-old Anguilla- born athlete could only register a foul and had to settle for silver. The bronze medal was won by Ivana Spanovic of Serbia who took an early lead and set a national record 7.01m with her opening jump. Bartoletta, 29, last won the world title 10 years ago.
Sergey Shubenkov wins 110m hurdles gold at the World Championships
Sergey Shubenkov ran a Russian record to win 110 metres hurdles gold at the world championships, storming down the track in 12.98 seconds. Hansle Parchment of Jamaica was second in 13.03 and Olympic champion and world record holder Aries Merritt claimed bronze in 13.04 seconds. American Merritt will have a kidney transplant in Arizona next week. Defending champion David Oliver of the United States hit three of his first four hurdles and was never in the race, finishing seventh in 13.33 seconds.
WWW.VIDYARTHIPLUS.COM V+ TEAM