Daily Current Affairs 1st January 2023

2022-12-31

Charging station company ‘Fortum Charge and Drive’ in association with financial institution ‘Pine Labs’ has launched a new ‘Rupay Prepaid’ card for vehicle charging facility.
It is also informed that this card can be used at all charging stations across India from January 1, 2023.
- Also electric vehicle customers can use this prepaid card not only at charging stations but also at various public places like malls, shops and restaurants.

An MoU for production of Goat Pox vaccine and “Lumpi-ProVac” vaccine was signed in Nagpur on 29th December,2022 in the presence of Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries and the Chief Minister and Deputy CM of Maharashtra.
Lumpi-ProVacind is used for the prophylactic immunization of animals against Lumpy Skin Disease,ICAR is involved in developing indigenous vaccine Lumpi-ProVac for LSD.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin today (31.12.2022) flagged off mobile workshops for inspection and maintenance of government vehicles in the places where there are no government automatic workshops on behalf of the Transport Department at the Chief Secretariat.
The Chief Minister inaugurated 7 Government Mobile Workshops at Madurai, Dindigul, Dharmapuri, Kanchipuram, Vellore, Salem and Tirunelveli at an estimated cost of Rs.1 Crore 2 Lakh 48 thousand.

“Chennai Sangam – Namma Ooru Festival-2023” jointly organized by the Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu will be held from 14th to 17th January. It will be inaugurated by Chief Minister M.K.Stalin.
Earlier in 2007 DMK in Tamil Nadu, during the regime, the Chennai Sangam program was started. Now after ten years, on the occasion of Pongal festival in 2023, it has been decided to hold Chennai Sangam in 16 places like parks, grounds and beaches in Chennai.

The Union Finance Ministry revises the interest rate on small savings schemes including National Savings Certificates, Post Office Deposits every quarter (3 months) of the financial year.
Accordingly, the Union Government has announced a 1.1 percent increase in the interest rate for small savings from January to March, the last quarter of the current financial year.
- There is no change in interest rate for Thangamal Savings Scheme, Public Provident Fund.

Wang Yi, who served as China’s foreign minister, has been appointed a member of the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s Political Bureau (Politburo), the top decision-making body in China.
After that, Qin Gang (56), who is currently the country’s ambassador to the United States, has been appointed as the new foreign minister.

The World Blitz Chess Championship was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where Norway’s Magnus Carlsen topped the men’s category with 16 points and was crowned the title for the 6th time.
Bibisara Balabayeva of Kazakhstan won the gold medal in the women’s category with 13 points,India’s Koneru Hampi finished second with 12.5 points and won the silver medal. Russia’s Shuvalova Palina won the bronze medal with 12 points.
- Indian player Koneru Hampi became the first Indian player to win a medal at the World Blitz Championship.

Akhilesh Das Gupta Memorial All India Senior Ranking Badminton Tournament held from 23rd to 29th December 2022 at Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, in that tournament Ashmita Salika won the title in women’s category.
Also in the men’s final, Tamil Nadu’s Rithvik Sanjeev won the gold medal. 19-year-old Rithvik became the first player from Tamil Nadu to win the men’s singles title in this tournament.

Former Pope Benedict XVI has died at his Vatican residence, aged 95, almost a decade after he stood down because of ailing health.
Pope Benedict XVI, who served as leader of the Catholic Church from 2005 until his resignation in 2013, he became the first Pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415.

Global Family Day is celebrated on January 1 as a day of peace and sharing. Global Family day was bringing out efforts for world peace at the end of the 20th century.
Its aim is to unite and spread a message of peace by considering and promoting the idea that Earth is one Global Family so as to make the world a better place to live for everyone.

New Year has been celebrated since about 4 thousand years ago. During the Babylonian reign, the New Year dates back to the equinox of March.
Later, the Roman calendar was developed based on the sun. This Julian calendar was almost identical to the current Gregorian calendar. January 1st is celebrated as New Year’s Day in honor of the Roman god Janus.
- Oceania is the first place in the world to welcome the New Year. Kiritimati Island is the first inhabited place to celebrate the New Year, starting at 3:30 PM IST on December 31.
- Howland and Baker Islands near the US are the last uninhabited islands to ring in the New Year. They celebrate the New Year on January 1 at 5:30 PM IST.