Current Affairs for BANK, IBPS Exams - 29 August 2022

::National::

Supreme Court issues notice to UP govt on journalist Siddique Kappan's bail plea

The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from the Uttar Pradesh government on the bail plea of Kerala-based journalist SiddiqueKappan, arrested in October 2020 while on his way to Hathras where a Dalit woman had died after allegedly being gang-raped.
A bench comprising Chief Justice UdayUmeshLalit and S RavindraBhat fixed the plea for final disposal on September 9.
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had earlier this month rejected the bail application of Kappan, who was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the alleged Hathras conspiracy case.
The FIR had been filed under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the UAPA against four persons having alleged links with the Popular Front of India (PFI).
The PFI had been accused in the past of funding protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act across the country.
The police had earlier claimed that the accused was trying to disturb the law and order in Hathras.

Printed Study Materials for IBPS, SBI Bank Exam

::International::

Malaysia: 6.1 magnitude earthquake occurs near capital city Kuala Lumpur

An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 on the Richter scale hit near Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur on Monday, according to the National Centre for Seismology.
"Earthquake of Magnitude:6.1, Occurred on 29-08-2022, 08:59:15 IST, Lat: -0.97 & Long: 98.68, Depth: 10 Km, Location: 566km SW of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia", the National Centre for Seismology said in a statement.
The quake occurred at around 8.59 am today with the epicentre at 566 km SW of Kuala Lumpur and the depth at 10 Km. The latitude was found to be -0.97 whereas the longitude was 98.68.
Earlier, an earthquake hit the waters off the southwestern coast of Sumatra island at around 9:30 pm, nearest to Bengkulu, South Sumatra and Lampung provinces.
The epicentre of the quake was in the sea about 64 kilometres from shore.
However, no casualties or damages were immediately reported by authorities.

::Economy::

Rupee rises by 8 paise to 79.84 on weak dollar ahead of Fed chair speech

The rupee appreciated by 8 paise to close at 79.84 against the US dollar on Friday, supported by a weak dollar in the overseas markets and a positive trend in domestic equities.
However, higher crude prices in the international markets restricted the rupee's gain, forex dealers said.
At the interbank forex market, the local unit opened at 79.87 against the greenback. It witnessed an intra-day high of 79.81 and a low of 79.94 against the American currency during the session.
It finally ended at 79.84 against the US dollar, up 8 paise from its previous close of 79.92.
"Rupee continued to consolidate in a narrow range ahead of the Jackson Hole symposium. Dollar weakened against its major crosses after the GDP number released from the US came in line with expectation," said GaurangSomaiya, Forex& Bullion Analyst, MotilalOswal Financial Services.
Market participants remained cautious as they waited for a speech by the Federal Reserve chairman.
"The Fed Chairman's speech in Jackson Hole will be scrutinized for any indication that an economic slowdown might alter the Fed's strategy. We expect the USDINR(Spot) to trade sideways with a positive bias and quote in the range of 79.40 and 80.05," Somaiya added.
Asian and emerging market peers were mixed this Friday, while some inflows into capital market aided sentiments, said SriramIyer, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities.

Forex reserves fall $6.7 bn to $564 bn in 7 days, at 2-yr low: RBI

The country’s foreign exchange reserves fell by $6.69 billion to $564 billion for the week ended August 19, latest data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed. The reserves are at its lowest level since October 2020.
In the last two weeks, the foreign exchange reserves fell by almost 9 billion.
According to data released by the RBI on Friday, the fall was mainly due to a decline in foreign currency assets, by $5.8 billion, followed by gold reserves by $704 million.
Foreign exchange reserves hit an all-time high for the week ended September 3, 2021 when it hit $642 billion – which was equivalent to covering more than 14 months of imports projected for 2021-22. In almost one year, reserves are down by $78 billion. The current level of reserves can cover about 9 months of imports projected for 2022-23.
The central bank has been selling dollars in the foreign exchange market aggressively to curb any sharp fall in the rupee, which is one of the main reasons for the reserves to fall. The rupee has fallen almost 7 per cent against the dollar in 2022.

::Science and tech::

NASA's Artemis 1 moon mission to lift off on 29-08-2022

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is all prepared to launch its most potent unmanned rocket to orbit the moon August 29. The Artemis I mission aims to put the rocket in deep-space orbit before turning to Earth after over 42 days to start the new expedition of human exploration on the moon.
The Artemis 1 mission’s spacecraft will blast off from Kennedy Space Center in the scheduled launch window set to open for two hours at 8:33 am EDT (6:03 pm as per Indian time). NASA has affirmed of going with schedule as it says that despite chances for rain showers increasing toward the later part of the launch window, the weather is 80% favourable for launch.
In the latest updates, the Artemis I Mission Management Team, after giving the approval to proceed toward tanking operations, has gone for a weather hold on tanking operations (fuelling the rocket) for the Artemis 1 SLS moon rocket because of a lightning risk near the launch pad.
Earlier on Saturday, it was reported that lightning rods at the launch site were struck during a storm. However, then launch director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson hoped to attempt launch at 8:33 a.m. EDT, even after a delay in the start of tanking by up to 2 hours.
Jack Black, Chris Evans, and Keke Palmer will all make special cameos during the launch’s live broadcast. The American national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner,” will also be performed in a special performance by Josh Groban and Herbie Hancock. Additionally, the Philadelphia Orchestra will perform “America the Beautiful” under YannickNézet-Séguin, along with the cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

::Sports::

Bhaichung Bhutia lashes at Sikkim FA for not backing him in AIFF elections

Former India captain and AIFF presidential candidate BhaichungBhutia on Sunday alleged that political pressure has led to his home state body Sikkim FA not supporting him in the upcoming general body elections. The 45-year-old Bhutia, one of the biggest legends in Indian football, is set for a straight fight for the AIFF president's post in the September 2 polls. His opponent, former MohunBagan and East Bengal goalkeeper KalyanChaubey, is believed to be the front-runner with backing from politically important state associations like Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh. Chaubey is a BJP leader in Bengal.
Bhutia, known as 'Sikkimese Sniper' during his playing days for his goal-scoring prowess, alleged meddling from some ruling Sikkim KrantakariMorcha (SKM) party leaders by way of pressurising Sikkim FA president MenlaEthenpa to vote against him. "I suggest that the few SKM party leaders trying to interfere into the elections to back off. They have persuaded the SFA president to vote against me when he should be requested to abstain," he said at a press conference in Gangtok.