Current Affairs 18/01/2024

Thu Jan 18, 2024

Praggnanandhaa Surpasses Viswanathan Anand to Become India’s No.1 Chess Player

Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, an 18-year-old chess prodigy from Chennai, achieved a historic milestone in his career by defeating World Champion Ding Liren from China. The win against Ding Liren not only marked a personal victory for Praggnanandhaa but also led him to surpass the legendary Viswanathan Anand as the top-rated Indian player. With a FIDE live rating of 2748.3, Praggnanandhaa marginally edged past Anand’s rating of 2748. This achievement places Praggnanandhaa as the second Indian, following Anand, to defeat a reigning world champion in classical chess. He had previously defeated Ding Liren at the Tata Steel tournament in 2023 as well.

EPFO Removes Aadhaar as Valid Date of Birth Proof

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has recently issued a circular stating the removal of Aadhaar from the list of acceptable documents for proof of date of birth (DoB) for correction and updation purposes. This decision, effective from January 16, 2024, follows a directive from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and aligns with the Aadhaar Act, 2016, which does not recognize Aadhaar as proof of date of birth.Sumit Nagal Make History at Australian Open By Defeating Seeded Player.

The book “An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy” released

The book "An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy," authored by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. The book “An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy,” authored by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. The book offers an intimate view into the lives of one of India’s most respected couples, Sudha and Narayana Murthy, the co-founders of Infosys. The biography details their early life, love story, and the foundational years of Infosys.

Sue Redfern: first ICC-appointed woman neutral umpire in dual series

Sue Redfern: the inaugural woman-neutral umpire appointed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for a bilateral series.
Redfern's appointment is for the ICC Women's Championship and T20I fixtures featuring Australia and South Africa, marking a significant step forward for gender inclusivity in cricket officiating.
It is committed to providing equal opportunities for women in cricket.

Sarayu River In Ayodhya to get India’s first Solar-Powered Boat

UP is set to launch India's first solar-powered boat on the Sarayu River in Ayodhya.
· The initiative aims to transform Ayodhya into a model solar city and enhance sustainable transportation.
· The UPNEDA has developed the solar boat, and its regular operation plan has been outlined.
· The boat, with the capacity to accommodate up to 30 passengers, will operate from the Naya Ghat.

Today’s History: 18^th January

In 1974, the popular television series "$6 Million Man," starring Lee Majors, premiered on ABC TV.
In 2008, popular Hollywood celebrity George Clooney was announced as a UN messenger of peace.
In 1983, the International Olympic Authority (IOC) restored the Olympic medals of American athlete Jim Thorpe after stripping him in 1913 for "breaking amateurism rules."
In 2015, South African cricketer AB de Villiers made the fastest century in ODI cricket, scoring a hundred in 31 balls in a match against the West Indies.
78, English explorer and naval captain James Cook became the first European to discover the Hawaiian Archipelago.
In 1871, the German Empire was founded, and Wilhelm I was proclaimed Kaiser Wihelm after the end of the Franco-Prussian War.
In 1896, the first X-ray generating machine was exhibited by Henry Louis Smith.
In 1911, American pilot Eugene Ely performed the first aircraft landing on a ship’s flight deck, on the battleship Pennsylvania.
In 1919, the Paris Peace Conference began in Versailles, France, to formally end World War II and dictate terms for the defeated axis powers.
In 1919, the iconic luxury automobile company Bentley Motors Limited was founded in London by Walter Owen Bentley.
In 1967, Albert DeSalvo, the "Boston Strangler," was convicted of killing multiple women and sentenced to life imprisonment.
In 1993, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was officially observed for the first time in the USA.
In 2002, the decade-long Sierra Leone Civil War was declared over.