29th August 2014 - Daily Current Affairs

• The United States warned today that it was considering new sanctions against Russia over its involvement in the latest fighting in Ukraine.
• The World Health Organization said today that the number of Ebola cases was increasing rapidly and could exceed 20,000 before the virus is brought under control, as the death toll topped 1,500.
• Libya's toothless interim government, led by prime minister Abdullah al-Thani, announced it had tendered its resignation to the elected parliament, days after a rival Islamist administration was created.
• Artists from South Africa and India will feature in the "Shared History Festival" at Johannesburg.
• This is 8th Edition of the Festival.
• This is 14th Day Programme.

• Today is National Sports Day. The Greatest Hockey Player of all time, Dhyan Chand's 109th Birthday Today.
• Defence Ministry today scrapped a scam-tainted tender worth over Rs. 6,000 crore to procure 197 light utility helicopters for Army and Air Force to replace the vintage fleet of Cheetah and Chetak Choppers used to move troops and equipment to high altitude locations like Siachen.
• Defence Ministry clears proposals worth over Rs. 17,500 Crore including for midlife upgrade of submarines.
• Notwithstanding a better fender balance in the southern part of the country, child marriage has been found to be on the rise in Kerala in recent years, according to UNICEF.

• The Justice Mukul Mudgal Committee, which is conducting probe against ICC President N. Srinivasan and 12 prominent players in the IPL betting and spot-fixing scandal, today filed its interim report in a sealed cover before the Supreme Court.
• P.V. Sindhu enters semifinal of World Badminton Championship, confirms at least bronze medal; beats China's Shixian Wang 19-21, 21-19, 21-15.

• Cristiano Ronaldo crowned UEFA Best Player in Europe.
• President Pranab Mukherjee today conferred the National Sports Awards at a function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on the occasion of National Sports Day.
• The winners are (15 Reciepients):-
• Arjuna Awards:-
• Akhilesh Varma (Archery)
• Tintu Luka (Athletics)
• H.N. Girisha (Paralympics)
• V. Diju (Badminton)
• Geetu Ann Jose (Basketball)
• Jai Bhagwan (Boxing)
• Ravichandran Ashwin (Cricket)
• Anirban Lahiri (Golf)
• Mamta Pujari (Kabaddi)
• Saji Thomas (Rowing)
• Heena Sidhu (Shooting)
• Anaka Alankamany (Squash)
• Tom Joesph (Volleyball)
• Renubala Chanu (Weightlifting)
• Sunil Rana (Wrestling)

• Dronacharya Awards (5 Reciepients):-
• Mahabir Prasad (Wrestling)
• N. Lingappa (Athletics-Lifetime)
• G. Manoharan (Boxing-Lifetime)
• Gurucharan Sing Gogi (Jodo-Lifetime)
• Jose Jacob (Rowing-Lifetime)

• In an apparent sign of revival, the Indian economy expanded by 5.7 per cent during the first quarter of the current financial year to log the highest growth yet in nine quarters, official data showed today.