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Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi share World Blitz Chess Championship Title 2024

In the World Blitz Chess Championship 2024, Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi shared the title after their final match ended in a tie in New York on 31 December 2024.

World Blitz Chess Championship 2024 – Open Section:

  • Carlsen led 2-0 and needed just a draw in the third game to secure the title.
  • Nepomniachtchi leveled the score 2-2, forcing tiebreaks.
  • After three draws in sudden-death games, Carlsen proposed sharing the title, which Nepomniachtchi accepted.

Women’s Section: Ju Wenjun from China defeated Lei Tingjie in the final to win the World Blitz Championship, completing a double after drawing five games.

India’s Performance: R. Vaishali, India’s lone hope in the knockouts, overcame an initial loss in the quarterfinals against China’s Zhu Jiner, winning 2.5-1.5 after four games. In the semifinals, Vaishali lost to Ju Wenjun in a one-sided match, 0.5-2.5.

West Bengal lifts Santosh Trophy by defeating Kerala

West Bengal clinched the prestigious Santosh Trophy national football championship title by defeating Kerala 1-0 in the final held on December 31, 2024, at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad.

This victory marks West Bengal’s record-extending 33rd title in the tournament’s history.

The match-winner came in the added time of the second half when Robi Hansda scored from close range after Aditya Thapa‘s header into the box.

The team, led by coach Sanjoy Sen, showcased incredible performance throughout the tournament, overcoming the absence of key striker Naro Hari Shrestha due to injury.

Romania and Bulgaria fully join Schengen border-free zone

Full Membership: Romania and Bulgaria officially became full members of the Schengen zone on January 1, 2025.

13-Year Wait: This marks the end of a 13-year wait for the two countries to join the borderless area.

Expanded Zone: The Schengen zone now includes 29 members, expanding the borderless area significantly.

Economic Impact: Analysts estimate that joining the Schengen zone will boost Romania’s and Bulgaria’s GDP by at least one percentage point.

Historic Moment: Leaders on both sides hailed the expansion as a historic achievement.

Austria’s Objections: Austria had previously blocked their full entry over migration concerns but dropped its objections after a border protection agreement was reached.

Improved Travel: The removal of land border checks will ease travel and strengthen economic ties between Romania, Bulgaria, and other Schengen countries.

NPCI Lifts UPI User Limit for WhatsApp Pay

WhatsApp Pay UPI User Limit Removed: On 31 December 2024, The NPCI has lifted the unified payments interface (UPI) user onboarding cap for WhatsApp Pay, allowing it to extend services to its entire Indian user base of over 500 million.

Previous Restrictions: WhatsApp Pay was previously limited to onboarding 100 million users, with expansion permitted in phases.

Compliance: WhatsApp Pay must adhere to existing UPI guidelines applicable to third-party app providers (TPAPs).

UPI Transaction Cap Deferred: The rule capping any single app’s UPI transaction share at 30% has been deferred until December 31, 2026.

UPI Growth: UPI processes over 13 billion monthly transactions, with Google Pay and PhonePe controlling over 85% of the market. Between January and November 2024, UPI recorded 15,547 crore transactions worth ₹223 lakh crore.

UPI’s Impact: Since its 2016 launch, UPI has transformed financial access in India, benefiting 300 million individuals and 50 million merchants.

NPCI Vision: NPCI continues to drive innovations in retail payment systems, aiming for a secure, accessible, and cost-effective digital economy aligned with India’s vision of becoming a fully digital society.

World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 from February 5th to 9th, 2025

India will host the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 from February 5th to 9th at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, marking its first-ever hosting of this global event. The summit aims to position India as a global hub for content creation and foster collaborations in the media and entertainment industry.

Key focus areas include AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics), technological advancements, sustainable production, and global market strategies, attracting industry leaders and innovators worldwide.

India’s first glass bridge over sea in Kanyakumari

India’s first glass bridge over the sea was inaugurated in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, on 30 December 2024 by Chief Minister MK Stalin.

The 77-meter-long bridge, built at a cost of ₹37 crores, connects the 133 ft tall Saint Tiruvalluvar statue (renamed as the “Statue of Wisdom”) with the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.

Part of the silver jubilee celebrations of the Tiruvalluvar statue, the bridge offers tourists a breezy walk with a clear view of the sea below.

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