1. Koneru Humpy win’s Silver at the World Chess Blitz championship
Tags: place in news Sports Person in news
Former Indian World Rapid Chess champion Koneru Humpy won the silver medal in the women's section of the FIDE World Blitz Chess Championship that concluded in Almaty, Kazakhstan on 30 December 2022.
She finished on 12.5 points, just half a point behind the winner Bibisara Balabayeva of Kazakhstan. Koneru Humpy has won the World Rapid Chess Championship 2019.
World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2022
The International Chess governing body FIDE organises World Rapid and Blitz chess championship at the end of the year. This year it was held in Kazakhstan's capital Almaty from 26-30 December 2022.
World Rapid Chess Championship
It was held on 26 and 28 December at Almaty, Kazakhstan.
In the Rapid section the Men’s title was won by No.1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway. It was the 4th time that Carlsen has won the Rapid title.
The women's title was won by the Chinese Grand Master Tan Zhongyi.
Savitha Shri of India won the Bronze medal in the world Rapid section.
World Blitz Chess Championship
It was held on 29 and 30 December at Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The men’s section was won by Magnus Carlsen. He became the first player in chess history to hold the Classical chess world championship, Rapid world championship and the Blitz world Championship at the same time.
Women's Section
The women's section was won by Bibisara Balabayeva of Kazakhstan.
Koneru Humpy came second and won the Silver medal.
Indian medal winners in the Rapid and Blitz event
Only three Indian’s Viswanathan Anand, Koneru Humpy and Savitha Shri have won medals at the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz chess championship.
Viswanathan Anand won the Gold medal in World Rapid and Bronze medal in World Blitz Championship 2017.
FIDE
The International Chess Federation or French acronym FIDE Fédération Internationale des Échecs) is an international organization that was set up on 20 July 1924 in Paris, France.
It is the international body which governs world chess championships.
President of FIDE: Arkady Dvorkovich,
Headquarters of FIDE: Lausanne, Switzerland
2. Ajit Kumar Saxena assume charge as the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of MOIL
Tags: Economy/Finance Person in news
Ajit Kumar Saxena has assumed the charge of Chairman-Cum-Managing Director of the public sector enterprise MOIL Limited.
Prior to this assignment, Shri Saxena held the position of Director (Operations) at RINL-Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. He has 36 years’ experience in the Steel Sector with wide experience in technical, operational and project management areas.
Ajit Kumar Saxena will remain in office till his retirement, 31st December 20225 or until further notice.
MOIL
MOIL is a Schedule “A” Miniratna Category-I Company under the Union Ministry of Steel. It was originally incorporated as Manganese Ore (India) Limited in 1962 and its name was changed to MOIL Limited during 2010-11.
The company operates 11 manganese ore mines in India. It has 7 mines located in the Nagpur and Bhandara districts of Maharashtra and four in the Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh.
At present the Government of India owns 53.35% shares in the company, Government of Maharashtra (5.96%), Government of Madhya Pradesh (5.38%) and Public (35.31%).
Headquarters: Nagpur, Maharashtra
3. G Kamala Vardhan Rao appointed the chief executive officer of FSSAI
Tags: National Person in news
G Kamala Vardhana Rao was appointed the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on 29 December 2022.
G Kamala Vardhana Rao is a 1990 batch IAS officer from Kerala cadre. He was previously the managing director of the Indian Tourism Development Corporation.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been set up under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
- It was set up on 5 September 2008.
- It comes under the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
- FSSAI is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
Headquarters: New Delhi
4. N Chandrasekaran appointed as the head of the Maharashtra government advisory council
Tags: Economy/Finance Person in news State News
The Maharashtra government has appointed Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran as the head of the new Economic Advisory Council of Maharashtra. This was announced by the deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in the state Legislative Council in Nagpur on 29 December 2022.
He said that the government has set up the Economic Advisory Council, to make Maharashtra a trillion dollar economy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set a target of India becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25.
The Economic Advisory Council will function as a private research organization with focus on issues related to agriculture, banking, engineering and education.
The State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP) of Maharashtra in 2021-22 was $430.62 billion. It is the biggest state economy in India and its contribution to the Indian Economy is 15%. (Source India Brand Equity Foundation, Government of India)
Chief Minister of Maharashtra: Eknath Shinde
5. Brazil's legendary footballer Pele dies at the age of 82
Tags: Person in news
Brazilian football legend Pele, who won a record three World Cups has passed away at the age of 82 on 28th December.
Important facts
Pelé, who had a colon tumor removed by surgery in 2021, was admitted to the Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo in November due to poor health.
He died of multiple organ failure as a result of progression of colon cancer.
About Pele
Pelé was born in 1940 in Tres Carcass – an inland town about 155 miles northwest of Rio de Janeiro.
He is credited with scoring a world record 1,281 goals in 1,363 appearances during a career spanning 21 years, including 77 goals in 92 appearances for his country.
He was the only player to win the World Cup three times, lifting the trophy in 1958, 1962 and 1970, Pele was named Fifa's Player of the Century in 2000.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, became a global star when, at the age of 17, he helped Brazil win the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.
He scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Wales in the quarter-finals, a hat-trick against France in the semi-finals and two goals in a 5–2 win in the final.
Pelé made his football debut for club side Santos at the age of 15, in a 7–1 win over Corinthians de Santo André.
6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Heeraben passed away in Ahmedabad
Tags: Person in news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother Heeraben (100) passed away at a hospital in Ahmedabad on 30th December.
Important facts
She was admitted to the U N Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Center in Ahmedabad earlier this week due to health problems.
The Prime Minister regularly visited Raison and spent time with his mother during most of his visits to Gujarat.
In an emotional tweet, the Prime Minister said that a glorious century has now fallen at the feet of God.
Paying tributes to his mother, the Prime Minister said that he felt the presence of a trinity in his mother, who epitomizes the journey of a life devoted to ascetics, selfless karmayogis and values.
Recalling his mother's meeting on her 100th birthday, the Prime Minister said she exhorted her to act wisely and live life with purity.
About Heeraben Modi
On 18 June 1923 Heeraben Modi was born in Visnagar, Mehsana, Gujarat.
She was married to a tea seller named Damodardas Mulchand Modi. She lived with the prime minister's younger brother Pankaj Modi in Raisan village, a neighbourhood of Gandhinagar.
In November 2016, Hiraben Modi made headlines after photographs of her standing in line in front of an ATM in support of her son's decision to implement demonetisation went viral on social media.
Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India in 2014, but Heeraben came to Delhi to meet him two years later.
PM Modi's mother was recently seen voting in the Gujarat Assembly elections. She reached the polling booth in Raisan village near Gandhinagar on a wheelchair and was accompanied by Pankaj Modi.
7. India, Cyprus signs three agreement during S. Jaishankar visits to Nicosia
Tags: place in news Person in news International News
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar who is on a three day visit (29-31 December 2022) to Cyprus signed a number of agreements with his Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides in the capital Nicosia on 29 December 2022. This is the first visit of S. Jaishankar to Cyprus.
Three agreement signed
Both the ministers signed agreements to;
- Increase defence and military cooperation between the two countries ,
- Letter of Intent on immigration and mobility to check illegal migrations , as well as the agreement on
- Cyprus joining the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
S. Jaishankar also released the commemorative stamp on the 75 years of Indian Independence and 60 years of establishing diplomatic ties with Cyprus.
The minister said India and Cyprus were collectively working on pressing issues such as food and energy security, maritime security, as well as on sustainable environment.
During his three-day visit to Cyprus, Jaishankar will call Annita Demetriou, President of the Cyprus Parliament's House of Representatives.
He will also address the business and investment community of Cyprus, apart from an interaction with the Indian Diaspora.
Republic of Cyprus
It is an island European country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
It gained its Independence from Britain in 1960. The country has a majority population which are of Greece descent while the minority population are of Turkish origin.
Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 and created a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983. Except Turkey no country recognises Turkish Cyprus.
India also recognises the Cyprus government.
Capital: Nicosia
Currency: Euro
President: Nicos Anastasiades
8. US Vice-President Kamala Harris names Indian-American Rajeev Badyal to the National Space Council Advisory Group
Tags: Person in news International News
The American Vice President Kamala Harris has named Indian American Rajeev Badyal to the National Space Council's Users Advisory Group (UAG). The UAG is tasked to maintain a robust and responsible US space enterprise and preserve space for current and future generations. The UAG is headed by US Air Force Rtd General Lester Lyles.
Rajeev Badyal is currently the vice-president of Project Kuiper of Amazon. Under Project Kuiper a number of Low Earth Orbit satellites will be launched by Amazon that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world.
The UAG will provide the National Space Council advice and recommendations on matters related to space policy and strategy, government policies, laws, regulations, treaties, international instruments, programmes, and practices across the civil, commercial, international, and national security space sectors.
Kamala Harris
She is the first woman to be elected as the Vice-President of the United States.
She was elected as the Vice President in 2020 and Joe Biden was elected as the President of the United States of America.
Her mother Shyamala Gopalan was a Tamilian who immigrated to the United States and married a Jamaican Donald Harris.
9. Benjamin Netanyahu sworn in as the Prime minister of Israel for a record 6th time
Tags: Person in news International News
Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Israel for the sixth time on 29 December 2022. 73 years old Netanyahu was ousted from power 18 months ago. He replaced Yair Lapid whose party failed to win a majority in the Israeli Parliamentary election held on 1 November 2022. This was the 5th general election in Israel in the past four years.
The longest serving Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu heads a coalition government which is considered to be one of the most right wing governments in the history of the country.
The Israeli Parliament is called the Knesset. It is a unicameral house which has a term of four years. It has 120 members.
In the 120 member Israeli Parliament called as Knesset, Netanyahu has the support of 64 members. It included his Likud party supported by the ultra-orthodox Shas, United Torah Judaism, the far-right Otzma Yehudit, Religious Zionist Party, and Noam.
However the controversial leader is already facing protest in the country. During his speech to the Knesset thousands of people gathered outside the Knesset to protest against his government.
The Israeli Parliament is called the Knesset. It is a unicameral house which has a term of four years. It has 120 members.
State of Israel
It is a small country located in West Asia. It is the only Jewish nation in the world with the Jews constituting ¾ population of the country.
Israel was created by dividing the Palestine region into two. The Arab part was called Palestine and the Jewish part was called Israel.
It came into being on 14 May 1948.
Capital: Jerusalem (But it is not recognised internationally). The Government of India also doesn't accept Jerusalem as the capital of Israel .
Currency: Israeli shekel
Parliament: Knesset
President: Isaac Herzog
10. Surya Kumar Yadav and Smriti Mandhana included in the ICC T 20 cricketer of the year award nominee list
Tags: Sports Person in news
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the list of nominated players for its various categories of year end awards.
2022 ICC Women’s T 20 cricketer of the year nominee
Indian opening batter Smriti Mandhana, Pakistan’s all-rounder Nida Dar, New Zealand’s all-rounder Sophie Devine and Australian all-rounder Tahlia McGrath have been nominated for the ICC Women’s T 20 cricketer of the year 2022.
2022 ICC men’s T 20 cricketer of the year
Indian batter Suryakumar Yadav, Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe, Sam Curran of England and Pakistan’s wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan have been nominated for the ICC men’s T 20 cricketer of the year 2022.
2022 ICC women’s ODI cricketer of the year nominee
South African bowler Shabnim Ismail, New Zealand All-rounder Amelia Kerr, England’s all-rounder Nat Sciver and Australia’s Wicketkeeper batter Alyssa Healy have been nominated for the ICC women’s ODI cricketer of the year 2022.
2022 ICC Men’s ODI cricketer of the year Nominee
Pakistan’s Captain Babar Azam, Australian spinner Adam Zampha, Zimbabwe’s batter Sikandar Raza and West Indian batsmen Shai Hope have been nominated for the ICC Men's ODI cricketer of the year 2022.
Earlier Arshdeep Singh, Yastika Bhatia and Renuka Singh were included in the 2022 ICC emerging player of the year award nominee list.
International Cricket Council (ICC)
It is an international body which governs the men’s and women’s international cricket.
Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Chairman of ICC: Greg Barclay of New Zealand
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ICC: Geoff Allardice of Australia
