In the on-going tussle between Jalan Kalrock Consortium (JKC) and the creditors of Jet Airways, the former has written to the head of the Jet Airways management committee (MC) and the erstwhile Resolution Professional (RP) Ashish Chhawchharia, stating that Sanjiv Kapoor remains the CEO-designate till the airline’s ownership is transferred by the lenders to the consortium.

The consortium, the successful bidder of the defunct airline Jet Airways, has also asked Chhawchharia to remain within the ambit of his powers. 

 India will contribute 25% of global demand by 2040 and achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025 said Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. While elaborating India's 4-plank energy security strategy, which is based on diversifying supplies, increasing E&P, alternate energy sources and energy transition through a gas-based economy, Green Hydrogen etc, the minister said India increased the ethanol blending in petrol from 1.53% in 2013-14 to 10.17% in 2022 and advanced its target to achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol from 2030 to 2025-26.

The Govt. is also setting up five 2G ethanol biorefineries in the country at Panipat (Parali) in Haryana, Bathinda in Punjab, Bargarh (Parali) in Odisha, Numaligarh (Bamboo) in Assam and Devangere in Karnataka.

The minister further said India increased the number of its crude oil suppliers from 27 countries in 2006-07 to 39 in 2021-22, adding new suppliers like Columbia, Russia, Libya, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea etc., while strengthening our relationship with countries like US and Russia.

Puri said government intends to increase India's exploration acreage to 0.5 million sq. km. by 2025 and 1.0 million sq. km. by 2030. The Centre has also increased the rate for Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants under the SATAT scheme from Rs. 46/kg to Rs. 54/kg and is taking steps to ensure bio manure produced during CBG production is bundled with fertilizers like urea.

India is investing Rs.19,744 crores into the National Green Hydrogen Mission for developing green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes) per annum.

Indian Cricketers' Association (ICA) on  Jan 12 announced it will provide medical insurance cover of Rs 1.5 lakh to its members, a move that will benefit over 100 retired cricketers.

With the BCCI's medical reimbursement scheme applicable to only those cricketers who have played 10 or more first-class matches, many of ICA's members were not eligible for the same.

The premium is being paid in its entirety by the ICA.

In the last year and more, ICA has also made direct contributions amounting to nearly six lakh rupees to many former cricketers in need of financial and/or medical assistance.

All the above money has been released from the ICA Welfare Fund which was set up with contributions from some leading former Indian cricketers and corporates.

In its first year of operation itself, the ICA distributed benefits worth Rs 52 lakh to as many as 60 people that includes retired first-class cricketers, widows of first-class cricketers as also one former Indian blind cricketer.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the fixtures and venues for the warm-up matches ahead of the inaugural ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup.

This historic event will see 16 teams compete in 41 matches between January 14 - 29, 2023 across four venues in Benoni and Potchefstroom.

Participating teams will play two official warm-up matches on 9 and 11 January 2023 in four venues around the Gauteng province, namely, St Stithians College, Steyn City School, Tuks Oval and Hammanskraal Oval.

ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup Warm-Up Fixtures

India will play Australia in its warmup match on January 9 at Steyn City School. Scotland will face the United States of America on the same day at St Stithians College.

India's arch-rival Pakistan will also be in action on January 9 at Tuks Oval while Indonesia will also take on Zimbabwe at Hammanskraal Oval.

In the afternoon of January 9th, the United Arab Emirates will play Sri Lanka at St Stithians College, hosts South Africa will meet Bangladesh at Steyn City School, New Zealand will square against Rwanda at the Tuks Oval and the last match of the day will pit West Indies against England at the Hammanskraal Oval.

India will lock horns with Bangladesh in its second warm-up game at St Stithians College on January 11 for the first game of the day. In the second game, the United States of America will be up against the United Arab Emirates at Steyn City School.

England will face Indonesia at Tuks Oval for the third match of the day. Rwanda will be up against Ireland at the Hammanskraal Oval in the day's fourth warm-up game.

Hosts South Africa will take on Australia at the St Stithians College on the fifth of the match day. Sri Lanka will have the challenge of Scotland against them at Steyn City School in the sixth match.

Zimbabwe will be pitted against the West Indies in the seventh match of the day at the Tuks Oval while the last warm-up game will see Pakistan square off against New Zealand at the Hammanskraal Oval

Australia pulled out of an upcoming one-day series against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates on  Jan 12  citing Taliban moves to further restrict women's rights.

The men's team were due to face their Afghan counterparts in three games, which form part of the ICC Super League, in March following a tour to India.

But Cricket Australia said that following consultations with stakeholders, including the Australian government, it would no longer take place.

Australia will forfeit 30 competition points for the series, which go towards World Cup qualification. But they have already secured automatic qualification to the 50-over tournament in India in October.

Q1. Which of the following has hosted the first Voice of Global South virtual summit ?

1. Indonesia
2. Nepal
3. Bhutan
4. India
5. None of These

Q2. Name the top Maoist leader who has been killed by the police killed in encounter on Telangana-Chhattisgarh border ?

1. B. Sudhakar alias "Kiran"
2. Prashant Bose alias "Kishan-da"
3. Hidma
4. Muppala Lakshmana Rao
5. None of These

Q3. Name the country which has pulled out of an upcoming one-day series against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates on  Jan 12  citing Taliban moves to further restrict women's rights ?

1. England
2. Australia
3. South Africa
4. Ireland
5. None of These

Q4. Name the Indian-origin Cabinet minister who will on January 14 take oath as the tenth premier of Canada's territory of Yukon, becoming the second politician of Indian heritage to head a region in the country ?

1. Ranj Pillai
2. Harjit Sajjan
3. Navdeep Bains
4. Bardish Chagger
5. None of These

Q5. What amount the Cabinet on  Jan 11  has approved a for promoting RuPay debit cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions ?

1. Rs 2,600 crore
2. Rs 4, 500 crore
3. Rs 6 ,400 crore
4. Rs 8 ,200 crore
5. None of These

Answers

1 -------------4  India

2-------------3   Hidma

3-------------2 Australia

4------------1   Ranj Pillai

5--------------1 Rs 2,600 crore

An Indian-origin man has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Fort Bend Toll Road Authority and the Grand Parkway Toll Road authority in the US state of Texas.

Swapan Dhairyawan, 57, was appointed based on his background, community outreach, and financial expertise.

As a Director of the autonomous body, Dhairyawan will oversee the maintenance, expansion, budget, and economic impact for the county.

Dhairyawan was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award by the India Culture Center of Houston during the 75th-anniversary celebrations of India's Independence Day last year.

He immigrated to the United States in 1999 after completing his Bachelor in Commerce and Economics in 1986 and a Master's in Advanced Accounting and Auditing in 1988 from Mumbai University.

He also completed a professional cost and management accountant's degree from the Institute of Costs and Works Accountants of India in Calcutta in 1990.

Later he received his Certified Public Accountant license from the Texas State Board in 2004 and started his practice, MD & Associates LLP.

Nothing suspicious was found on the Moscow to Goa international flight which had made an emergency landing at Jamnagar airport in Gujarat a day before following a bomb threat.

After nearly 15 hours, the Azur Air international flight finally took off for its destination Goa at around 1:20 pm on Jan 10  with all passengers and crew members.