29th July 2014 - Daily Current Affairs Updates

29th July 2014 - Daily Current Affairs Updates


National Affairs

• Addressing the 86th foundation day and awards ceremony of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in New Delhi today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed all the farmers of the nation saying, "Everyone who has contributed to the field of agriculture needs to be given a standing ovation. I request you to applaud the farmers who feed the people of India, and not me."

International Affairs

1. After culmination of holy month of Ramzan, Eid-ul-Fitr celebrated across the country today.
2. Today is International Tiger Day 2014. It is an annual event held every 29th July to raise awareness of the problems facing tigers as their population plummet to an all-time low.
3. The EU has agreed to impose asset freezes and travel bans on business figures and entities closely associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin who have benefited from the Ukraine crisis.
4. India has warned its 6,000-odd nationals in Libya to stay away from conflict zones and use all available means to exit the country as rival militias fight for control of the Tripoli International Airport with rockets, artillery and cannons.
5. US Secretary of State John Kerry today said time has come to transform bilateral relationship into a historic partnership that can create a more prosperous future for the world. 
6. China plans to scale up its trade ties with Nepal as a new bridge to improve the connectivity between the two countries through Tibet will open in October this year.
7. The United Nations imposed sanctions on the North Korean shipping company that operates a ship seized by Panama in July 2013 for carrying undeclared military equipment from Cuba ordered all countries to freeze its assets. 
8. The only power plant supplying electricity to the Gaza Strip was knocked out of commission by Israeli shelling.

People in News

• Haryana Power Minister Ajay Singh Yadav resigned today.

Business & Economy

1. India’s largest e-commerce firm Flipkart today said it has raised $1 billion (over Rs 6,000 crore) in fresh funding from a group of investors, the largest so far in the fiercely competitive online shopping segment in the country.

Science & Technology

• NASA's Opportunity rover has now clocked more miles on Mars than any man-made vehicle to reach another celestial body. Since arriving on the Red Planet in 2005, the solar-powered robot has journeyed across 40 kilometres of Martian terrain.

Sports

• ICC warns England's Moeen Ali not to wear wristbands in support of the people of  Gaza during international matches.
• Commonwealth Games 2014
• India's Vikas Thakur wins silver medal in men's 85kg weightlifting.
• Indian shooter Harpreet Singh wins Silver Medal in 25 meter rapid fire pistol event.
• Sanjeev Rajput wins silver and Gagan Narang bronze medal in 50m Rifle 3 positions
• 16-year-old Nigerian weightlifter (53kg category) Chika Amalaha failed a doping test after becoming the youngest-ever female to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the sport.