General Knowledge(GK) (or) General Awareness

Correct Answer :   Mohammed Shami

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Mohammed Shami became India’s highest wicket-taker in ODI World Cup history during the India versus Sri Lanka 2023 World Cup match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

With 45 wickets in ODI World Cups, Shami went past Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath after his fifer against the Lankans.

Zaheer and Srinath have 44 wickets in World Cups for India.

Shami also entered the top 10 list of the highest wicket-takers in ODI World cup history, which is topped by Glenn McGrath’s 71 scalps.

Among active international cricketers, only Mitchell Starc and Trent Boult are above Shami in the list with 56 and 49 wickets, respectively.

Shami picked his third World Cup five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on November 2. Shami is now level with Starc in having the most five-wicket hauls in ODI World Cups.

Most wickets for India in ODI World Cup :

* Mohammed Shami - 45 wickets in 14 matches
* Zaheer Khan - 44 wickets in 23 matches
* Javagal Srinath - 44 wickets in 34 matches
* Jasprit Bumrah - 33 wickets in 16 matches
* Anil Kumble - 31 wickets in 18 matches

Top 10 all-time wicket-takers in ODI World Cup :

* Glenn McGrath (AUS) - 71 wickets in 39 matches
* Muthiah Muralidaran (SL) - 68 wickets in 40 matches
* Mitchell Starc (AUS) - 56 wickets in 24 matches
* Lasith Malinga (SL) - 56 wickets in 29 matches
* Wasim Akram (PAK) - 55 wickets in 38 matches
* Chaminda Vaas (SL) - 49 wickets in 31 matches
* Trent Boult (NZ) - 49 wickets in 26 matches
* Mohammed Shami (IND) - 45 wickets in 14 matches
* Zaheer Khan (IND) - 44 wickets in 23 matches
* Javagal Srinath (IND) - 44 wickets in 34 matche.

Source : Thehindu

Correct Answer :   51%

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Zurich Insurance Company is set to make a substantial investment in Kotak General Insurance, marking a significant move in the insurance industry.

The Swiss-based Zurich Insurance will acquire a 51% stake in Kotak General Insurance, with plans to increase its ownership over-time. This development is poised to bring innovation and growth to the Indian insurance market.


Key Details of the Deal :

* Zurich Insurance is set to invest Rs.4,501 crore in Kotak General Insurance to acquire a 51% stake.
* The investment will made through a combination of fresh insurance and share purchases. The exact split between the two has not been disclosed.
* Zurich has the option to acquire an additional 19% stake within three years of its initial acquisition.
* Kotak Mahindra Bank will retain management control of the general insurance arm until Zurich increases its stake to 70%.

Background and Significance :

* First Foreign Partner: This joint venture with Zurich is Kotak Mahindra Bank’s first partnership with a foreign entity in nearly six years. It is a significant move, as all non-bank businesses within the Kotal group are currently 100%.
* General Insurance Arm: Kotak General Insurance had faced financial challenges in the past, with a loss of Rs.117 crore in FY23, higher than the Rs.83 crore loss in FY22. However, the company is well-capitalized with an 183% solvency ratio in FY23.
* Past Ventures: The bank has explored previous joint ventures, with Goldman Sachs for the capital market and securities business (1992- 2006) and Old Mutual for the life insurance business (ended in 2017). Both of these partnerships lasted for 14 years each.


Leader’s Insights :

Correct Answer :   Nandini Das

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he British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding, a prestigious international non-fiction award has been claimed by India-born author Nandini Das for her debut book, ‘Courting India: England, Mughal India, and the Origins of Empire.’ This remarkable work, hailed as the “true origin story of Britain and India told through England’s first diplomatic mission to the Mughal courts,” secured the top spot this year at a ceremony held at the British Academy in London.


Nandini Das: A Fresh Perspective on the Origins of Empire :

Nandini Das, a 49-year-old academic and Professor in the English faculty at the University of Oxford, has ventured to offer a fresh perspective on the beginnings of the British Empire. Her book delves into the historical account of the arrival of the first English ambassador in India, Sir Thomas Roe, during the early 17th century. In doing so, Das provides a unique lens through which to examine the intricate interactions between England and Mughal India, laying the groundwork for the empire that would eventually come into being.


The British Academy Book Prize: Fostering Cultural Understanding :

The British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding, previously known as the Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize, was established in 2013. Its mission is to recognize and celebrate exceptional works of non-fiction that exemplify academic rigor and originality while also contributing to the public’s understanding of diverse world cultures and their interactions. Now in its 11th year, this award continues to honor books that enhance global cultural understanding at a time when the need for cross-cultural comprehension is more pressing than ever.

List of Shortlisted authors :

Rewarding Excellence :

Nandini Das will be awarded GBP 25,000 as the winner of the British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding. However, the accolades do not end there. The shortlisted authors, including Kris Manjapra, Tania Branigan, Daniel Foliard, Irene Vallejo, and Dimitris Xygalatas, will each receive GBP 1,000 for their exceptional contributions to non-fiction literature.

Correct Answer :   Quinton De Kock

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South Africa's star opener Quinton de Kock continued his superb form in the ongoing Cricket World Cup 2023 as he hit a century during Proteas match against New Zealand at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Wednesday (1st Nov 2023).

With four hundreds, de Kock becomes only the third player in the history of ODI World Cups to score four hundreds or more in a single edition of the Men's ODI World Cup.

Previously, Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara hit four hundreds in 2015 ODI World Cup. Sangakkara's heroics in 2015 World Cup was followed by Rohit Sharma slamming five centuries in the 2019 World Cup.

The century is de Kock's fourth hundred of the tournament. The 30-year-old has also hit tons against Bangladesh, (174) Australia (109) and Sri Lanka (100).

During the knock against New Zealand de Kock became the first batter in this World Cup to cross the 500-run mark. His score of 174 also remains the highest individual score by a batter in this edition of the World Cup.

de Kock's hundred against the Kiwis is his 22nd ODI ton which puts him at third spot in the list of South African batters with most ODI centuries.  Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers with 27 hundreds and 25 hundreds respectively as the two two South African batters with most ODI hundreds.

de Kock's knock came to an end when he hit a ball by Tim Southee to Glenn Phillips at backward point. de Kock walked back after scoring 114 in 116 balls.

Before the start of the World Cup, de Kock had announced that he would retired from the ODIs after the end of the tournament..

Source : CNBC

Correct Answer :   Aishwary Tomar

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Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar won the gold in rifle 3-position event with a 0.8 point margin over Tian Jiaming of China in the 15th Asian shooting championship in Changwon, Korea, on Wednesday (1st Nov 2023).

There was no question of Olympic quota for India in the event, as Swapnil Kusale and Akhil Sheoran had already won the maximum possible two Olympic quota in the event for the country in the World Championships.

The Indian team was pushed to the silver by China which was dominant with a world record of 1777 points, 13 better than India.

India won both the mixed trap gold medals. Manisha Keer and Prithviraj Tondaiman won the gold by beating Korea 141-136. The junior mixed trap gold was won by Aadya Tripathi and Shardul Vihan with a total of 131.

The other Indian team of Bhavya Tripathi and Bakhtyaruddin Malek shot 130, but was ineligible to be among the medals.

China topped the medals table with 33 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze. India was second with 21 gold, 21 silver and 13 bronze. Host Korea won 16 gold, 22 silver and 19 bronze.

The Results :

* 50m rifle 3-position: Men: 1. Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar 463.5 (591); 2.Tian Jiaming (Chn) 462.7 (593); 3. Du Linshu (Chn) 450.3 (597); 9. Akhil Sheoran 587; 11. Swapnil Kusale 586; RPO: Goldi Gurjar 585; Niraj Kumar 582.

* Team: 1. China 1777 (WR); 2. India 1764; 3. Japan 1760. Trap: Mixed team: 1. India (Manissha Keer, Prithviraj Tondaiman) 141; 2. Korea 136; 3. China 134 and Kuwait 133; 12. India-2 (Preeti Rajak, Kynan Chenai) 125.

* Junior mixed team: 1. India-2 (Aadya Tripathi, Shardul Vihan) 131; 2. Kazakhstan 125(4); 3. China 125(3) and Chinese Taipei 117; 5. India (Bhavya Tripathi, Bakhtyaruddin Malek) 130. 25m centre fire pistol: 1. Song Jong-Ho (Kor) 587; 2. Phan Xuan Chuyan (Vie) 582; 3. Pradeep Singh Shekhawat 582; 5. Prabhjot Singh 580; 9. Yogesh Singh 575; 14. Rajendra Bagul 568.

* Team: 1. Korea 1743; 2. India 1737; 3. Vietnam 1730..

Source : Sport Star

Correct Answer :   Max Verstappen

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Max Verstappen split the Ferrari front row of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to snatch the lead of the Formula One Mexico City Grand Prix 2023 by the first corner.

* He drove off to his record 16th victory of the season.

* Red Bull's three-time season champion collected his third consecutive win at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and broke his own season victories record set last year.

* Verstappen started from third and won from the same spot as he did in 2021..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Zahid Hussain

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Zahid Hussain from Anantnang on Sunday (29th Oct 2023) bagged silver medal at Asian Shooting Championship 2023 in South Korea.

Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council on X (Formerly Twitter) wrote: put your hands together and congratulate Zahid hussain from Anantnag who won silver medal at Asian Shooting Championship South Korea.”

The Asian Shooting Championships 2023 is a qualifying event for the Paris 2024 Olympics. A total of 24 Olympic quotas are on offer with the top two finishers (one per country) in each of the 12 Olympic shooting events securing a spot for their national teams.

Source : Greater Kashmir

Correct Answer :   Shaheen Afridi

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Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Afridi reached a significant milestone on Tuesday (31st Oct 2023) as he claimed his 100th wicket in ODIs.

Bowling first in their World Cup match against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the left-arm pacer did what he is best known for - strike in his first over.

Afridi trapped Tanzid Hasan lbw with one that nipped back in, claiming his 100th wicket in his 51st ODI.

He thus became the quickest fast bowler to the the milestone. Australian left-am pacer Mitchell Starc had previously held the record (52 matches).

Afridi also is the third quickest bowler overall to 100 ODI wickets. Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane holds the record for being the fastest to three figures - 42 matches. Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan is second on 44.

Left-arm quick Afridi had enjoyed a successful 2023 World Cup. He had already risen to second in the list of top-wicket takers during Bangladesh's innings in Kolkata, with 15 wickets in his seventh match of the tournament at an economy of under 5.5.

He had earlier picked a five-wicket haul in a high-scoring match against Australia and has an average of under 20 in this World Cup..

Source : The National News

Correct Answer :   David Wiley

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England seamer David Willey on Tuesday (31st Oct 2023) announced that he will retire from all international cricket, effectively at the end of his team’s World Cup 2023 campaign in India.

“I never wanted this day to come. From a young boy, I’ve only ever dreamed of playing cricket for England.

So, with careful thought and consideration, it is with great regret that I feel the time has come for me to retire from all forms of International cricket at the end of the World Cup,” Willey wrote on his social media account.

The left-arm seamer has featured in three matches so far during the defending champion’s disastrous World Cup campaign, picking up five wickets while adding 42 runs in three innings.

The 33-year-old made his ODI debut in May 2015 and subsequently marked his T20I debut the same year. He has amassed 94 wickets in One-Dayers from 70 appearances besides 625 runs with the bat. He has also picked up 51 wickets from 43 T20Is.

Willey was part of the English T20 side that finished runner-up in India in the 2016 T20 World Cup and also went onto win the title in Australia in 2022..

Source : The Hindu

Correct Answer :   Bangalore

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10-year-old Vihaan Talya Vikas from Bengaluru, was awarded the best photographer in his category at the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year (WPY) competition held in London.

Organised by the Natural History Museum, London, the competition showcases the finest wildlife photography from around the world. The event is also considered as the ‘Oscars of Photography’. Vihaan’s photo of a spider along with Krishna’s carving clicked on the outskirts of the city and helped him bag the award.

Inspired by his father’s passion for wildlife photography, Vihaan said, “I am very happy and excited to receive this award. I like doing photography because it helps us think creatively and connect with nature.”

The competition this year saw submissions from 95 countries in different categories. A total of 50,000 images were submitted, out of which the top 100 were considered for the competition and 11 were chosen in different categories, with Vihaan winning the under-10 category award.

Vihaan’s image will be part of the WPY59 collection and will be presented in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition at the Natural History Museum, which will tour around 25 venues across 4 continents to create awareness about the protection of wildlife.

A student of Kumarans School, Vihaan’s journey began at the age of 7, under the guidance of his father.

Dhritiman Mukherjee, Wildlife and Conservation Photographer and Competition Judge, said, “Vihaan’s image served the purpose of art, concept, conservation and science very nicely.” He also appreciated the young boy’s thought process behind it and the composition of the image..

Source : New Indian Express