General Awareness

PERSONS IN NEWS - December 2019

Dec 2019

Jan 02, 2020

David Stern Dies

David Stern, the former commissioner of the US National Basketball Association (NBA), died at the age of 77.
He had been in a serious condition after suffering a brain haemorrhage in December.
Stern was the NBA's longest-serving commissioner, holding the job for 30 years until retiring in February 2014.
He is credited with massively increasing the sport's revenues and popularity at home and abroad during his tenure.

Sri Lanka's Shavendra Silva New Acting Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed army commander Shavendra Silva as a new acting Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) after Ravindra Wijegunaratne stepped down from the post.

Jan 01, 2020

Mukund Naravane New Army Chief

General Manoj Mukund Naravane took over as Army Chief from General Bipin Rawat, who has been appointed India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), in what is being seen as the most significant change in top military management in the country and would require the CDS to strike a delicate balance with the three chiefs to strengthen cross-service cooperation and build consensus.

Sonny Mehta, Editor-in-chief of Alfred A Knopf Dies

Sonny Mehta, the urbane and astute head of Alfred A Knopf who guided one of the book world's most esteemed imprints to new heights through a blend of prize-winning literature by Toni Morrison and Cormac McCarthy among others and blockbusters such as 'Fifty Shades of Grey' and 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo', died at age 77.

Artist Syd Mead Dies

Legendary visual artist Syd Mead, who had famously designed the futuristic look-and-feel of sci-fi classics like Blade Runner, Alien and Tron, died at the age of 86.
The US-based iconic artist Syd Mead started his professional career as a designer at Ford Motor Company, has also worked with several other successful Hollywood blockbusters from yesteryears, like Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Aliens, Timecop and Mission Impossible III.

Dec 31, 2019

Footballer Dhanarajan Dies

Footballer Dhanarajan Radhakrishnan, who represented Kolkata heavyweights Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, died while playing a match in Perintalmanna, Kerala after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest.
Radhakrishnan who began his career at erstwhile Chirag United, played professional football for 11 years. Besides being part of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, he has also represented Mohammedan Sporting from 2012-14.

Bipin Rawat India's First Tri-Service Chief

Army chief, General Bipin Rawat, who was due to retire after serving three years as Chief of Army Staff (COAS), assumed charge as India's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).
The day before Rawat's retirement, the defence ministry announced that the Government decided to appoint General Bipin Rawat as the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) with effect from 31.12.2019 and until further orders and extension in service of Rawat.
With Rawat elevated to the post of CDS, Lieutenant Gen Manoj Mukund Naravane will take over as COAS.

Dec 30, 2019

Pejavara Mutt's Chief Vishwesha Teertha Swami Dies

The head of the Sri Pejavara Adhokshaja Mutt, Vishwesha Teertha Swami, died in Karnataka's Udupi after battling ill health for the past few days. He was 88.
Doctors at the Kasturba Hospital, where he was in the intensive care unit (ICU) since he was hospitalised on December 20 after developing breathing difficulties, had said that his condition was very critical. They had also said that there was a further decline in his condition.
"Pejavara Mutt Seer Vishwesha Teertha Swami ji passed away at 9:30am. His mortal remains will be kept at Ajjarakadu Mahatma Gandhi Maidan for three hours, where he'll be given state honours. CM BS Yediyurappa will be coming there." Udupi legislator K. Raghupati Bhat was quoted as saying.

Hemant Soren Back as Jharkhand Chief Minister

Mamata Banerjee, Ashok Gehlot, Tejaswi Yadav, Sitaram Yechury, Stalin, Kanimozhi among those who attended Hemant Soren's swearing-in ceremony
Hemant Soren, executive president of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, was sworn in as the 11th Chief Minister of Jharkhand at the Morabadi Ground in Ranchi.
Governor Draupadi Murmu administered the oath to Mr. Soren, while three others, two MLAs from the Congress and one from the Rashtriya Janata Dal, were inducted into the Ministry.
The 44-year-old JMM leader took over as Chief Minister of tribal-dominated Jharkhand for the second time. He was deputy Chief Minister in the Arjun Munda Ministry in 2010 and went on to become Chief Minister in 2013.

Veteran Political Cartoonist Vikas Sabnis Passes Away

Veteran Political cartoonist Vikas Sabnis passed away last night in Mumbai due to cardiac arrest. He was 69. He was unwell and undergoing treatment since last few days. His last rites will be performed in Mumbai this morning.
He had completed 50 years of illustrious career in 2018. Inspired by Bal Thackeray and RK Laxman, he had started his career in 1968. Since then, for over 50 years, Sabnis has worked as a staff cartoonist at various newspapers, including the Times of India and the Mid-day.
He made caricatures and political cartoons on various subjects and issues. These range from local to international levels.

Dec 29, 2019

Kashmir Gets New IGP

Kashmir's inspector general of police (IGP), Swayam Prakash Pani was transferred while Vijay Kumar was brought in his place. Pani has been posted as IGP Armed in place of Kumar. Kumar who joined IPS in 1997, has been serving in the Armed wing since June 2019. Pani had joined as the youngest IGP of J&K in February 2008 after serving as DIG, south Kashmir. He has been a key officer to fight militancy in Kashmir. He remained IGP during the operation all out launched against militants by the security agencies as well as during the period after the nullification of special status of J&K. Muneer Ahmad Khan, additional director general of police(ADGP) law and order and security has been given additional charge of director SSG, J&K.

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