Today's Current Affairs 1st January 2023

INTERNATIONAL

Lula sworn in for third term as Brazil's president

• Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office for a third term as Brazil’s president, vowing to fight for the poor and the environment and “rebuild the country” after far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro’s divisive administration. The 77-year-old veteran leftist, who previously led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, took the oath of office before Congress, capping a remarkable political comeback for the metalworker-turned-president less than five years after he was jailed on controversial, since-quashed corruption charges.
• It is the first time since the end of Brazil’s 1965-1985 military dictatorship that an incoming leader has not received the yellow-and-green presidential sash from his predecessor. Foreign dignitaries including 19 heads of state were in attendance as Lula, who previously led Brazil through a watershed boom, took the oath of office for a new four-year term.

 NATIONAL

ISRO, Andhra University set up equipment to predict rip currents, prevent drowning at sea

• Indian Space and Research Organization (ISRO), National Centre for Earth Sciences (NCES), and the Andhra University (AU) have researched and concluded that constant rip current zones at blue flag-certified Rushikonda beach and RK Beach have become a danger to the beach visitors.
• Between 2012 to 2022, over 200 people drowned in the sea at various beaches in and around Visakhapatnam and 60 percent of deaths occurred in RK Beach.
• ISRO, NCES, and Andhra University have conducted research and set up equipment to identify Rip currents to warn marines and local police.

 SPORTS

Chess: India’s Koneru Humpy wins silver medal at World Blitz Championships

• Former World rapid champion K. Humpy produced a superlative performance to claim India’s first-ever silver medal from the World blitz chess championship that concluded in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Humpy defeated China’s Zhongyi Tan to win Silver in the 17th and final round. Fourth-seeded Humpy scored an impressive 12.5 points, just half a point behind the gold medal winner Bibisara Balabayeva of Kazakhstan. Humpy is the second Indian to win a medal at World Blitz, after Viswanathan Anand.
• 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.

Hockey Haryana Women’s U-18 team wins Khelo India Youth Games 2022

• Hockey Haryana’s women’s team won the Khelo India Youth Games 2022 Women’s Under 18 Qualifiers after defeating Madhya Pradesh (2-0) in the final at Bhubaneswar. In the final match, Pooja and Gurmail Kaur scored a goal each for Haryana to end the contest in their favour. Odisha stepped up to claim third place after beating Hockey Jharkhand 2-1 in the 3rd and 4th place encounter. Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Jharkhand have qualified for the Khelo India Youth Games (Women) to be held in Madhya Pradesh next year.

Hockey Madhya Pradesh clinch KIYG 2022 (Men's Under 18) Qualifiers title

• In Hockey, Madhya Pradesh defeated Odisha 6-5 to clinch Khelo India Youth Games 2022 Men’s Under-18 Qualifiers title in Bhubaneswar. In a thrilling final, Jamir Mohammad was the star of the final, scoring a hat-trick, while Ali Ahmed, Mohammad Zaid Khan and captain Ankit Pal scored one goal each for Madhya Pradesh. On the other hand, Anmol Ekka, Paulus Lakra, Deepak Minz and Akash Soreng scored one goal each for Odisha. Haryana defeated Jharkhand 2-0 to secure the third position in the competition. Amandeep and Roshan scored the goals for Haryana.With this, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Haryana and Jharkhand have qualified for the Khelo India Youth Games to be held in Madhya Pradesh next year.

 OBITURY

Former Pope Benedict XVI dies in Vatican monastery aged 95

• Statement released by the Vatican, the former Pope Benedict XVI has passed away in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican. He was 95 years old. The head of the Catholic Church, former Pope Benedict, was the first pope in 600 years to resign. He resigned in 2013 and was replaced by the present pope Francis. Pope Benedict was the first German to become pope in 1000 years. He was the head of the Vatican City from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. He was born as Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, in the southern German village of Marktl, close to Austria.
• Pope is a title which is given to the Bishop of Rome who is the head of the Roman Catholic Church. He is also the head of the sovereign country of Vatican City. Roman Catholics are the largest of the three major branches of Christianity.

Tata Group veteran RK Krishnakumar, 84, passes away in Mumbai

• R Krishnakumar, a close confidante of Ratan Tata and a group veteran, passed away. Kerala-born Krishnakumar, who had served at multiple positions in the group, including heading its hospitality arm Indian Hotels, was 84. He had been active with the Tata Trusts after his retirement from executive roles and was reportedly a part of the team which worked alongside Ratan Tata in the Cyrus Mistry ouster episode. In 2009, Krishnakumar was awarded Padma Shri.
• Krishna Kumar, well known as KK, was instrumental in the 271 million pounds buy-out of Tetley in 2000, which not only catapulted Tata Global Beverages to the No. 2 spot among the world’s tea makers but also brought the group and India Inc to the international stage. He served as the managing director (MD) of Tata Global Beverages from May 1991 to January 1998.

 APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Ajay Kumar Srivastava becomes new MD and CEO of Indian Overseas Bank

• Ajay Kumar Srivastava has been elevated as Managing Director and CEO of Indian Overseas Bank with effect from January 1, 2023 from his current posting as executive director. He started his banking career as a probationary officer in 1991 with Allahabad Bank where he worked in various capacities in different parts of the country. He is an astute and hardcore banker with Vast field-level experience and has the distinction of having successfully led the largest and most critical areas of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Delhi while working at a senior level in Allahabad Bank.
• After the successful completion of about 27 years in Allahabad Bank he was elevated as Executive Director of IOB in October 2017.
• He made strategies for each of the key areas and successfully implemented them at the ground level with the support of the Board.

International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 kick starts

• The Government of India sponsored the proposal for International Year of Millets (IYM) 2023 which was accepted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The declaration has been instrumental for the Government of India to be at the forefront in celebrating the IYM. PM Narendra Modi has also shared his vision to make IYM 2023 a ‘People’s Movement’ alongside positioning India as the ‘Global Hub for Millets’.
• Recognising the enormous potential of Millets, which also aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Government of India (GoI) has prioritized Millets. In April 2018, Millets were rebranded as “Nutri Cereals”, followed by the year 2018 being declared as the National Year of Millets, aiming at larger promotion and demand generation. The global millets market is projected to register a CAGR of 4.5% during the forecast period between 2021-2026.

 RANKING & REPORTS

1,668 journalists killed from 2003-2022 in connection with their work

• A total of 1,668 Journalists have been killed worldwide with murders, contract killings, ambushes, war zone deaths, and fatal injuries. These journalists have been killed in connection with their work in the last two decades from 2003 to 2022. The reports gave an average of more than 80 journalists being killed every year.
• Christopher Deloire, RSF Secretary General said that behind the figures, there are the faces, personalities, talent, and commitment of those who have paid with their lives for their information gathering their search for the truth, and their passion for journalism.