CURRENT AFFAIRS JULY 29TH

1. Global Tiger Day: 29 July

Global Tiger Day is being celebrated across the world on 29 July.

• This day is observed every year to create awareness about tiger conservation and protection of the natural habitat of tigers.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the results of the fourth cycle of the All India Tiger Estimation in New Delhi.
• India conducts the All India Tiger Estimation every four years.

2. WHO says Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal & Thailand achieve Hepatitis B control

Bangladesh along with Bhutan, Nepal and Thailand in South-East Asia Region has been able to achieve Hepatitis B control.

• The prevalence of the deadly disease has come down to less than one per cent among five-year-old children says the WHO in its report.
• Reviewing the immunisation data for the region, WHO found that Bangladesh has consistently provided above 90 per cent immunisation to infants for Hepatitis B over the last many years leading to the control of the disease.
• According to WHO data, viral hepatitis kills 4,10,000 people every year.

3. Nepal PM KP Oli inaugurates India-Nepal Logistics Summit

Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli has inaugurated India-Nepal Logistics Summit in Kathmandu.

• He stressed upon smooth and quality logistics between India and Nepal.
• Nepal and India have a significant volume of trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people movement for which smooth and quality logistics including easy transit facilities is very essential.
• The theme of the summit was “Transforming Logistics Landscape”.

4. 7th Economic Census begins from Tripura

The government kicked off the 7th Economic Census from Tripura.

• It will be launched in other states and union territories in August and September.
• The census, conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will be held this year after a gap of five years.
• The data will be collected through the door to door survey of each household and commercial establishment under the provisions of the Collection of Statistics Act 2008.
• The fieldwork is expected to be completed by December and the results at the national level are expected to be available by March 2020.

5. Himalayan Conclave held in Mussoorie

Himalayan Conclave held in Mussoorie in Uttarakhand.

• The objective is to discuss various issues related to the development of the Himalayan States.
• Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is attending the conclave as the chief guest.
• The main agenda for the conclave is water conservation, with focus on conserving rivers, glaciers, lakes and water bodies besides reviving water resources which have dried up over the years.

6. IPS officer VK Johri appointed as next BSF DG

IPS officer VK Johri has been appointed as the next Director-General of Border Security Force.

• Mr Johri, a 1984-batch Indian Police Service officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre, is presently serving as the Special Secretary in RAW, under the Cabinet Secretariat.
• He will take over the charge of the BSF from incumbent Rajni Kant Mishra.

7. Sudarsan Pattnaik wins Peoples Choice Award in the U.S.

International sand artist, Padmashri Sudarsan Pattnaik won People's Choice Prize at Boston International Sand Art Championship in the US.

• Pattnaik was among the 15 top sand artists selected from across the world to participate in the 2019 Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival in Boston.
• Representing India at the festival, Patnaik bagged the award for his sand art on plastic pollution with the message 'Stop Plastic Pollution, Save Our Ocean'.

8. Max Verstappen clinches German Grand Prix

Red Bull's driver Max Verstappen clinched the rain-hit German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

• Verstappen now has the second title of the Formula One season.
• The 21-year-old Verstappen held himself calm and composed in a race littered with crashes and safety cars.
• Four-time former champion Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel claimed the second spot after starting from the rear of the grind.

9. Mary Kom, Simranjit Kaur wins gold in President's Cup Boxing Tournament

Six-time world champion Mary Kom in 51kg category and Simranjit Kaur in 60kg category grabbed a gold each in 23rd President's Cup Boxing Tournament in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia.

• The Olympic bronze medallist Mary decimated Australian April Franks 5-0 in finals.
• Simranjit Kaur defeated Indonesia's Asian Games bronze medallist Hasanah Huswatun 5-0 in the final bout.
• With this, Indian boxers finished their campaign in the Tournament with nine medals comprised of seven gold and two silver.

10. Chandigarh receives affiliation from BCCI to have its own cricket team

Chandigarh has finally received affiliation from the Board of Control for Cricket in India to have its own cricket team.

• Following the development, Chandigarh cricketers, who were earlier forced to represent Punjab or Haryana to be able to play at the national or international level, can now directly represent the city.
• The city can also now have their own team in the Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments organised by the BCCI.
• Delhi is the only other Union Territory with BCCI affiliation.