1. Vikram Misri Appointed India's Foreign Secretary
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Vikram Misri assumed charge as India's new Foreign Secretary, succeeding Vinay Kwatra.
An Overview of the News
Misri is a 1989-batch Indian Foreign Service officer with extensive diplomatic experience.
Misri previously served as Deputy National Security Advisor and played a crucial role in India-China relations post the Galwan Valley clashes.
He served as India's ambassador to China from 2019 to 2021, navigating challenging bilateral relations.
Misri has also held ambassadorial positions in Spain (2014-2016) and Myanmar (2016-2018).
His diplomatic career includes assignments in Pakistan, the US, Germany, Belgium, and Sri Lanka.
Notable Roles and Achievements:
Misri has the rare distinction of having served as private secretary to three Indian Prime Ministers.
He is regarded as an expert on China, contributing significantly to India's diplomatic strategies.
Misri's tenure as ambassador to China was marked by efforts to manage and improve bilateral ties amidst tensions.
He has navigated diverse foreign policy challenges in various diplomatic postings across the globe.
Known for his diplomatic acumen and strategic insights, Misri brings a wealth of experience to his new role as Foreign Secretary.
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2. KP Sharma Oli sworn in as Nepal PM
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KP Sharma Oli took oath as Nepal PM on 14 July.
An Overview of the News
The swearing-in ceremony took place at Shital Niwas, the main building of Rashtrapati Bhavan in Kathmandu at 10:45 am IST.
A group of ministers were also inducted into the Cabinet along with Oli.
Oli was appointed PM for the third time to lead the new coalition government.
He will replace Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, who lost the trust vote in the House of Representatives on 12 July.
Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed Oli from the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML)-Nepali Congress (NC) alliance as the new PM.
Oli presented the signatures of 165 members of the House of Representatives - 77 of which were from his party and 88 from the NC.
About Nepal
The kingdom of Nepal was established by the Shah dynasty.
It is a landlocked country in South Asia.
President - Ram Chandra Paudel
Capital - Kathmandu
Currency - Nepalese Rupee
3. Gagan Narang Named Chef-de-Mission for Paris 2024 Olympics
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Gagan Narang, a four-time Olympian and 2012 Olympic Games bronze medalist, appointed as Chef-de-Mission for the Indian contingent at Paris 2024 Olympics.
An Overview of the News
Gagan Narang replaces MC Mary Kom in this crucial administrative role.
PV Sindhu, star shuttler and India's two-time Olympic medalist, selected as the female flag bearer.
Achanta Sharath Kamal, prominent table tennis player, chosen as the male flag bearer.
They will lead the Indian contingent during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics.
Role of Chef-de-Mission
The Chef-de-Mission oversees athlete welfare, manages their needs, and coordinates with the organizing committee to ensure a smooth participation for the Indian contingent.
Indian Olympic Association
President: P. T. Usha
Founded: 1927.
Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
4. Sanath Jayasuriya Appointed Interim Head Coach of Sri Lanka Men's Cricket Team
Tags: Person in news International News
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appointed Sanath Jayasuriya as the interim head coach of the men’s national team.
An Overview of the News
Jayasuriya will hold the position until the completion of the upcoming tour of England.
Sanath Jayasuriya steps in to replace Chris Silverwood, who resigned following Sri Lanka's disappointing performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
The team finished third in Group D, managing only one win in four games during the T20 World Cup.
Jayasuriya's Background
Prior to the T20 World Cup, Jayasuriya was part of Sri Lanka's contingent as a Cricket Consultant.
He has previously served Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) as a selector.
Jayasuriya currently holds the role of full-time Cricket Consultant for SLC.
Sanath Jayasuriya has played 586 matches for Sri Lanka across all formats.
He accumulated an impressive 21,032 runs and took 440 wickets in his career.
Chris Silverwood's Tenure
Chris Silverwood’s coaching tenure included a T20 Asia Cup triumph in 2022.
Under Silverwood, Sri Lanka also secured a runner-up position in the 50-over Asia Cup in 2023.
The team achieved several victories in bilateral series during his tenure.
Upcoming England Tour
Sri Lanka will travel to England for a three-match Test series.
The first Test will be played in Manchester, starting on 21 August.
The second and third Tests will be held in London, at Lord's and The Oval respectively.
5. Gautam Gambhir Appointed as Head Coach of Team India (Senior Men)
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Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the Head Coach of Team India (Senior Men).
An Overview of the News
The Cricket Advisory Committee (Ashok Malhotra, Jatin Paranjpe, and Sulakshana Naik) unanimously recommended his appointment.
Gambhir will take charge starting from the upcoming away series against Sri Lanka on July 27, 2024.
Background
Previous Head Coach: Rahul Dravid's term ended after the ICC T20 World Cup, 2024.
Application Process: The BCCI invited applications for the position on May 13, 2024, to appoint Dravid’s successor.
Rahul Dravid’s Tenure Highlights
Under Dravid's guidance, Team India won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2024.
The team finished as runners-up in the ICC 50-over World Cup, 2023, hosted in India.
Team India was also the runners-up in the ICC World Test Championship, 2023, hosted in England.
The team showcased dominance in bilateral series at home.
Gautam Gambhir’s Profile
Gambhir is a former Indian opener with significant contributions to Indian cricket.
He played crucial roles in India’s victories in the 2007 ICC World T20 and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
As captain, he led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.
In 2024, he served as a mentor for KKR, helping them secure their third IPL title.
Skills: He is known for his exceptional batting prowess and strategic acumen.
Responsibilities as Head Coach
Gambhir will oversee the development and performance of the Indian cricket team.
He aims to cultivate a culture of excellence, discipline, and teamwork.
Nurturing young talent will be a key focus.
He will prepare the team for future challenges on the global stage.
6. Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi appointed Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court
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Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, effective immediately.
An Overview of the News
Sarangi was earlier serving as a judge in the Orissa High Court and was recommended for the post by the Supreme Court collegium in December last year.
Justice Muhammad Mustaque Ayumanthakath, currently a judge in the Kerala High Court, has been appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court from July 5.
Muhammad Mustaque's appointment follows the retirement of Chief Justice Ashish Jitendra Desai, who has reached the age of 62.
Justice Chandrasekhar, a judge of the Jharkhand High Court, has been transferred to the Rajasthan High Court.
Other Appointments
Justice Sheel Nagu has been appointed as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva has been appointed as the new Acting Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
About Jharkhand
Founded - 15 November 2000
Before was - Part of Bihar
Capital - Ranchi
Chief minister - Hemant Soren
Governor - C. P. Radhakrishnan
Symbols of Jharkhand
Bird - Koel
Flower - Palash
Mammal - Indian elephant
Tree - Sal
7. Renowned Albanian Novelist and Poet Ismail Kadare Passes Away at 88 in Tirana
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Ismail Kadare, a renowned Albanian novelist and poet, passed away at 88 in Tirana, Albania.
An Overview of the News
Kadare was born on 28th January 1936, in Gjirokaster, Albania.
He initially focused on short stories before publishing his first novel, "The General of the Dead Army" (1963), which was later adapted into an Italian drama film directed by Luciano Tovoli.
In 1990, Kadare sought political asylum in France and issued statements advocating for democratization.
Noted Works Of Ismail Kadare
Themes: Kadare's novels often draw on Balkan history and legends.
Translations: His works have been published in about 30 languages.
Popular Works:
Chronicle in Stone (1977)
Broken April (1978)
The Concert (1988)
Awards and Honours
French Government Recognition:
Made a lifetime member of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences of France in 1996.
Appointed Commander of Arts and Letters in 1996.
Awarded the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor title by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2023.
International Awards:
Prix Mondial Cino Del Duca (1992)
Inaugural Man Booker International Prize (2005)
Prince of Asturias Award of Arts (2009)
Jerusalem Prize (2015)
8. Siddhartha Mohanty Reappointed MD and CEO of LIC
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Siddhartha Mohanty, who served as Chairman of Life Insurance Corporation(LIC) from April 2023 to June 2024, has been re-designated as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective from June 30, 2024.
An Overview of the News
Siddhartha Mohanty served as Chairman of LIC from April 2023 until June 29, 2024.
He was additionally appointed as MD and CEO of LIC starting from June 2024 until June 7, 2025.
He initially held the interim chairman position from March 2023 for a term of 3 years.
Currently, LIC has four other Managing Directors: M. Jagannath, Tablesh Pandey, Sat Pal Bhanoo, and R. Doraiswamy.
Background of Siddhartha Mohanty:
Siddhartha Mohanty began his career with LIC as an apprentice officer in 1985.
Over nearly 40 years, he has held various roles within LIC, including Executive Director (Legal) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at LIC Housing Finance Limited (HFL).
From 2019 to 2021, he served as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LIC HFL.
Siddhartha Mohanty has also held positions such as Senior Divisional Manager in Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and Cuttack (Odisha) during his tenure at LIC.
Currently, he holds the position of Director on the Board of Kenindia Assurance Limited, a Life and Non-Life Insurance Company based in Kenya.
About LIC
It is India's largest life insurance company and investment company.
Known for innovative and profitable policies.
Sets benchmarks in the insurance market.
It is owned by the Government of India and under the Ministry of Finance.
Chairman: Siddhartha Mohanty
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Established: 1956
9. Oscar-Winning Screenwriter Robert Towne Dies at 89 in Los Angeles
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Robert Towne, the acclaimed American screenwriter who won an Oscar, died at 89 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
An Overview of the News
Towne was born on November 23, 1934, in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Career Beginnings:
Started as a screenplay writer for television series:
"The Lloyd Bridges Show" (1962)
"The Outer Limits" (1995)
"The Man from U.N.C.L.E" (2015)
Wrote the screenplay for "Last Woman on Earth" (1960), produced by Roger Corman
Notable Works:
Wrote and directed:
"Personal Best" (1982)
"Tequila Sunrise" (1988)
"Without Limits" (1998)
"Ask the Dust" (2006)
Screenwriter for:
"Days of Thunder" (1990)
"The Firm" (1993)
"Mission: Impossible" (1996)
"Mission: Impossible 2" (2000)
Awards & Honors:
1975: Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Writing and Original Screenplay for "Chinatown" (1974)
Also won for "Chinatown":
British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) for Best Screenplay
Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Motion Picture
Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay Motion Picture
1975: National Society of Film Critics (NSFC) award for best screenplay for "Shampoo"
1997: Lifetime Achievement award by the Writers Guild of America
2002: Hollywood Film Award for Outstanding Achievement in Screenwriting
10. Viswanathan Anand Wins 10th Leon Masters Title
Tags: Sports Person in news
Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand, the 15th World Chess Champion, has won the 37th edition of the Magistral Tournament "Ciudad de León" (Leon Masters).
An Overview of the News
Anand defeated Grand Master (GM) Jaime Santos Latasa of Spain (3-1) in the Finals.
The tournament took place from 27th June to 1st July 2024 in León, Spain.
This victory marks Anand's 10th Leon Masters title.
Achievements
10th Leon Masters Title: Previous triumphs in 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2016
India's First Chess Grand Master: Achieved in 1988
5-time World Champion: Titles won in 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2012
Honours and Awards
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award: First recipient in 1991-92, India's highest sports award
Padma Vibhushan Award: First sportsperson to receive this honor in 2007
