1. Name the world's longest domestic cat, (48.5in (1.23m)) who has died at the age of eight after a year-long battle with Cancer?
Stewie.
The cat was awarded the record, measured from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail, by the Guinness Book of Records in 2010. He was also the record-holder for world's longest cat tail.
2. The Director of the United States Secret Service who announced his retirement on February 1, 2013?
Mark J. Sullivan.
He was the Director of the United States Secret Service from May 31, 2006 to March 27, 2013. Sullivan succeeded W. Ralph Basham and was sworn in as the 22nd Director of the Secret Service on May 31, 2006. He was succeeded by Julia Pierson on March 27th, 2013. Sullivan is stepping down less than a year after the agency became embroiled in a prostitution scandal, which involved 13 agents and officers in Cartegena, Colombia ahead of a visit by President Obama.
3. Name the Ordinance promulgated by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, on 3 February 2013, in light of the protests in the 2012 Delhi gang rape case?
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013.
The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013 is an Indian legislation passed by the Lok Sabha on 19 March 2013, and by the Rajya Sabha on 21 March 2013,which provides for amendment of Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act, and Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 on laws related to sexual offences. The Bill received Presidential assent on 2 April 2013 and deemed to come into force from February 3,2013.
4. Man of the match winners of 5 ODI cricket matches played between Australia and West Indies held in Australia in February 2013:
First ODI between West Indies and Australia held in Perth on February 1, 2013:
Man of the Match: Mitchell Starc (Australia).He took 5 wickets conceding 20 runs.
Result: Australia won by 9 wickets.
Second ODI between West Indies and Australia held in Perth on February 3, 2013:
Man of the Match: George Bailey (Australia).He scored unbeaten 125 runs.
Result: Australia won by 54 runs.
Third ODI between West Indies and Australia held in Canberra on February 6, 2013:
Man of the Match: Shane Watson (Australia).He scored 122 runs.
Result: Australia won by 39 runs.
Fourth ODI between West Indies and Australia held in Sydney on February 8, 2013:
Man of the Match: Kieron Pollard (West Indies).He scored unbeaten 109 runs.
Result: Australia won by 5 wickets.
Fifth ODI between West Indies and Australia held in Melbourne on February 10, 2013:
Man of the Match: Adam Voges (Australia).He scored unbeaten 112 runs.
Result: Australia won by 17 runs.
Series Australia won the 5-match series 5-0.
5. Who won the Player of the series award in the 5 ODI cricket matches played between Australia and West Indies held in Australia in February 2013?
Mitchell Starc (Australia).
6. Cricketer who has been appointed as the Vice-President of The India Cements Ltd. (ICL)?
Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
7. Which state won the overall championship at the 58th national schools meet held in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh?
Kerala.
Kerala won 33 gold, 26 silver, and 18 bronze medals and an overwhelming tally of 304 points, far ahead of Maharashtra (12-12-6, 106 points) and Punjab 8-10-12, 88 points) which came in second and third. Kerala won the overall championship for the 16th time.
8. Which cricketer has been the most expensive player of the 6th edition of the Indian Premiere League (IPL)?
Glen Maxwell.
He is Australian All-Rounder. Mumbai Indians bought him for a million dollars. The second most expensive player is Sri Lanka’s Ajanta Mendis. Pune warriors acquired his services for 750 thousand dollars.
9. Solicitor-General of India who resigned from his post on February 4, 2013 after difference of opinion between him and Union Law Minister Ashawani Kumar on certain issues?
Rohinton Nariman
Mr. Nariman was appointed as the second most senior law official of the country on July 23, 2011 following the resignation of Gopal Subramanium on July 14, 2011.
10. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has slapped a penalty notice of approximately Rs 100 crore against an IPL team for allegedly violating forex laws in its business operations. Which is that IPL team?
Rajasthan Royals.
11. Man of the match winners of 3 Test cricket series between South Africa and Pakistan held in South Africa in February 2013:
First Test between South Africa and Pakistan held in Johannesburg from February 1-4:
Man of the Match: Dale Steyn (South Africa).He took 6 wickets conceding 8 runs in first innings and took 5 wickets in second innings.
Result: South Africa won by 211 runs.
Second Test between South Africa and Pakistan held in Cape Town from February 14-17:
Man of the Match: Robin Peterson (South Africa).He took 2 wickets in first innings and took 3 wickets in second innings. He scored valuable 84 runs in the first innings.
Result: South Africa won by 4 wickets.
Third Test between South Africa and Pakistan held in Centurion from February 22-24:
Man of the Match: Kyle Abbott (South Africa).He took 7 wickets in first innings and took 2 wickets in second innings.
Result: South Africa won by 4 wickets.
Series South Africa won the 3-match series 3-0.
12. Who won the Player of the series award in the 3 Test cricket series between South Africa and Pakistan held in South Africa in February 2013?
AB de Villiers (South Africa).
13. Austrian skydiver who set the world record for skydiving an estimated 39 kilometres (24 mi), reaching an estimated speed of 1357.64 km/h?
Felix Baumgartner.
He became the first person to break the sound barrier without vehicular power on his descent.
14. Government of which country dissolved as a result of the assassination of its opposition leader Chokri Belaid?
Tunesia.
On 6 February 2013 Chokri Belaid, the leader of the leftist opposition and prominent critic of Ennahda, was assassinated. He was a Tunisian lawyer and politician who was an opposition leader with the left-secular Democratic Patriots' Movement. As a result of his assassination, Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali announced his plan to dissolve the existing national government and to form a temporary "national unity" government.
15. Name the business woman, worked as a mediator in the battle tank parts deal who was arrested by the CBI on February 7, 2013?
Subi Mally.
The deal had involved the Steel and Industrial Forgings Ltd (SIFL) in Thrissur and ordnance factories in the country for supplying parts for the battle tanks. She allegedly took Rs 18 lakh as commission for mediating the deal.
16. Which cricketer has equalled Sunil Gavaskar's record of 81 first class centuries?
Sachin Tendulkar.
He achieved this landmark in the match against Rest of India in Irani Cup. The break up of his 81 centuries is: India in Tests (51), Ranji Trophy (18), Duleep Trophy (3), Irani Cup (2), Yorkshire (1) and India against other first class teams (6).When he reached 106, he also completed 25,000 runs in first class cricket.
Tunesia.
On 6 February 2013 Chokri Belaid, the leader of the leftist opposition and prominent critic of Ennahda, was assassinated. He was a Tunisian lawyer and politician who was an opposition leader with the left-secular Democratic Patriots' Movement. As a result of his assassination, Tunisian Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali announced his plan to dissolve the existing national government and to form a temporary "national unity" government.
15. Name the business woman, worked as a mediator in the battle tank parts deal who was arrested by the CBI on February 7, 2013?
Subi Mally.
The deal had involved the Steel and Industrial Forgings Ltd (SIFL) in Thrissur and ordnance factories in the country for supplying parts for the battle tanks. She allegedly took Rs 18 lakh as commission for mediating the deal.
16. Which cricketer has equalled Sunil Gavaskar's record of 81 first class centuries?
Sachin Tendulkar.
He achieved this landmark in the match against Rest of India in Irani Cup. The break up of his 81 centuries is: India in Tests (51), Ranji Trophy (18), Duleep Trophy (3), Irani Cup (2), Yorkshire (1) and India against other first class teams (6).When he reached 106, he also completed 25,000 runs in first class cricket.
17. The first indigenously built Weapon System Integrated (WSI) helicopter which was handed over to the Indian Army by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on February 8, 2013?
Rudra (ALH WSI Mk-IV).
The Rudra is the Mk-IV variant of Advanced Light Helicopter. The helicopter is fitted with weapons, targeting systems, warning and counter measure systems and survivability features.
18. Name of the world's first bionic man who is unveiled at London's Science Museum by Bertolt Meyer on February 5, 2013?
Rex.
The $1 million humanoid has a distinctly human shape and boasts prosthetic limbs, a functional artificial blood circulatory system complete with artificial blood, as well as an artificial pancreas, kidney, spleen and trachea. Eighteen companies and universities lent artificial limbs, organs and other parts for incorporation into Rex.
19. The 2001 Indian Parliament attack case convict who was secretly hanged at Delhi's Tihar Jail on 9 February 2013?
Mohammad Afzal Guru.
He was convicted by Indian court for the December 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament, and sentenced to death by a special Prevention of Terrorism Act Court in 2002. The Delhi High Court confirmed the judgment in 2003 and his appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court of India in 2005. The sentence was scheduled to be carried out on 20 October 2006, but Guru was given a stay of execution after protests in Jammu and Kashmir and remained on death row. On 3 February 2013, his mercy petition was rejected by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee. He was secretly hanged at Delhi's Tihar Jail on 9 February 2013 and afterward buried inside jail grounds.
20. What is the name given to the execution of Afzal Guru, the key collaborator of the Pakistani jihadis who attacked Indian Parliament on December 13, 2001?
Operation Three Star.
21. Who is appointed as director general of National Museum, Delhi?
Venu.V.
22. Who is the new Chairman & Managing Director of Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT), Kochi (Kerala)?
Jaiveer Srivastava.
23. Who has assumed charge as Executive Director of Corporation Bank with effect from January 28, 2013?
Bibhas Kumar Srivastav.
24. Which team won the inaugural Hockey India League (HIL) held in 2013?
The Ranchi Rhinos.
The first season of HIL was played from 14 January to 10 February, 2013 and was contested among five teams out of which Ranchi Rhinos became champions after defeating Delhi Waveriders 2–1 in the final. HIL, is a professional league for field hockey competition in India. It is organised by Hockey India. The tournament is contested among five franchisee-based teams (originally planned as six) consisting of players from India and around the world.
25. Which team won Irani Cup-2013?
Rest of India.
Rest of India retained the Irani cup cricket title by virtue of their first innings lead against Mumbai (the 2012–13 Ranji champions.)
26. Chinese table tennis player and three-time world men's singles champion who died on February 13, 2013?
Zhuang Zedong.
He is a well-known political personality during the tumult of the Cultural Revolution. His chance meeting with American table tennis player, Glenn Cowan, during the 31st World Table Tennis Championship, later referred to as Ping Pong Diplomacy, triggered the first thawing of the ice in Sino-American relations since 1949. In 1961, at the 26th World Table Tennis Championship, he won his first men's singles championship, and at the next two World Table Tennis Championships, the 27th and 28th in 1963 and 1965 respectively, he again won the men's singles championship.
27. Name the nuclear-capable and short-range ballistic missile which is successfully test fired by Pakistan on February 11, 2013?
Hatf IX.
28. Which country won the Africa Cup of Nations-2013?
Nigeria.
The final of Africa Cup of Nations-2013 was contested between Nigeria and Burkina Faso. Sunday Mba scored the only goal as Nigeria won the final 1–0. Nigeria will represent CAF at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. The Africa cup of Nations is organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
29. The head of the Catholic Church who announced his resignation on 11 February 2013?
Pope Benedict XVI.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope in 2005 after John Paul II's death. He is Supreme Pontiff emeritus or Pope emeritus of the Catholic Church. He was Pope from 2005 to 2013. In that position, he was both the leader of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City State. Benedict was elected Pope on 19 April 2005 in a papal conclave, celebrated his Papal Inauguration Mass on 24 April 2005, and took possession of his cathedral, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, on 7 May 2005.
His resignation became effective on 28 February 2013. He is the first pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415, and the first to do so on his own initiative since Pope Celestine V in 1294.
30. COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS OF GRAMMY AWARDS-2013.
Here is the list of winners of the 55th Annual Grammy Awards:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Babel, Mumford and Sons
RECORD OF THE YEAR: “Somebody That I Used to Know,” Gotye Feat. Kimbra
BEST NEW ARTIST: Fun.
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM: Uncaged, Zac Brown Band
BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION: “No Church in the Wild,” Kanye West and Jay-Z, Feat. Frank Ocean and The-Dream
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM: Stronger, Kelly Clarkson
BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE: “Lonely Boy,” The Black Keys
BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM: Channel Orange, Frank Ocean
SONG OF THE YEAR: “We Are Young,” Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Fun. Featuring Janelle Monae)
BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE: “Blown Away,” Carrie Underwood
BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE: “Set Fire to the Rain,” Adele
BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE: “Somebody That I Used To Know,” Gotye Feat. Kimbra
BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM: Impressions, Chris Botti
BEST DANCE RECORDING: “Bangarang,” Skrillex Feat. Sirah
BEST DANCE/ELECTRONICA ALBUM: Bangarang, Skrillex
BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM: Kisses On The Bottom, Paul McCartney
BEST HARD ROCK/METAL PERFORMANCE: “Love Bites (So Do I),” Halestorm
BEST ROCK SONG: “Lonely Boy,” Dan Auerbach, Brian Burton & Patrick Carney, songwriters (The Black Keys)
BEST ROCK ALBUM: El Camino, The Black Keys
BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM: Making Mirrors, Gotye
BEST R&B PERFORMANCE: “Climax,” Usher
BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE: “Love on Top,” Beyoncé
BEST R&B SONG: “Adorn,” Miguel
BEST R&B ALBUM: Black Radio, Robert Glasper Experiment
BEST RAP PERFORMANCE: “N****s in Paris,” Jay-Z and Kanye West
BEST RAP SONG: “N****s in Paris,” Shawn Carter, Mike Dean, Chauncey Hollis & Kanye West, songwriters (W.A. Donaldson, songwriter) (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
BEST RAP ALBUM: Take Care, Drake
BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE:” Pontoon,” Little Big Town
BEST COUNTRY SONG: “Blown Away,” Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
BEST NEW AGE ALBUM: Echoes of Love, Omar Akram
BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO: “Hot House,” Gary Burton & Chick Corea, soloists
BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM: Radio Music Society, Esperanza Spaulding
BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM: Unity Band, Pat Metheny Unity Band
BEST LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE ALBUM: Dear Diz (Every Day I Think Of You), Arturo Sandoval
BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM: Ritmo!, The Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Big Band
BEST GOSPEL/CONTEMPORARY PERFORMANCE:“10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord),” Matt Redman
BEST GOSPEL SONG:“Go Get It,” Erica Campbell, Tina Campbell & Warryn Campbell, songwriters (Mary Mary)
BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN SONG (Tie):“10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord),” Jonas Myrin & Matt Redman, songwriters (Matt Redman)
“Your Presence Is Heaven,” Israel Houghton & Micah Massey, songwriters (Israel & New Breed)
BEST GOSPEL ALBUM:Gravity, Lecrae
BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM:Eye On It, TobyMac
BEST LATIN POP ALBUM:MTV Unplugged Deluxe Edition, Juanes
BEST LATIN ROCK, URBAN OR ALTERNATIVE ALBUM:Imaginaries, Quetzal
BEST REGIONAL MEXICAN MUSIC ALBUM (Including Tejano):Pecados Y Milagros, Lila Downs
BEST TROPICAL LATIN ALBUM:Retro, Marlow Rosado Y La Riqueña
BEST AMERICANA ALBUM:Slipstream, Bonnie Raitt
BEST BLUEGRASS ALBUM:Nobody Knows You, Steep Canyon Rangers
BEST BLUES ALBIM:Locked Down, Dr. John
BEST FOLK ALBUM:The Goat Rodeo Sessions, Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile
BEST REGIONAL ROOTS ALBUM:The Band Courtbouillon, Wayne Toups, Steve Riley & Wilson Savoy
BEST REGGAE ALBUM:Rebirth, Jimmy Cliff
BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM:The Living Room Sessions Part 1, Ravi Shankar
BEST CHILDREN’S ALBUM:Can You Canoe?, The Okee Dokee Brothers
BEST SPOKEN-WORD ALBUM:Society’s Child: My Autobiography, Janis Ian
BEST COMEDY ALBUM:Blow Your Pants Off, Jimmy Fallon
BEST MUSICAL THEATER ALBUM:Once: A New Musical, Steve Kazee & Cristin Milioti, principal soloists; Steven Epstein & Martin Lowe, producers (Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, composers/lyricists) (Original Broadway Cast With Steve Kazee, Cristin Milioti & Others)
BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA:Midnight In Paris, (Various Artists)
BEST SCORE SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA:The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, composers
BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA:“Safe & Sound” (From The Hunger Games), T Bone Burnett, Taylor Swift, John Paul White & Joy Williams, songwriters (Taylor Swift Featuring The Civil Wars)
BEST INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION:“Mozart Goes Dancing,” Chick Corea, composer (Chick Corea & Gary Burton)
BEST INSTRUMENTAL ARRANGEMENT:“How About You,” Gil Evans, arranger (Gil Evans Project)
BEST INSTRUMENTAL ARRANGEMENT ACCOMPANYING VOCALISTS:“City Of Roses,” Thara Memory & Esperanza Spalding, arrangers (Esperanza Spalding)
BEST RECORDING PACKAGE:Biophilia, Michael Amzalag & Mathias Augustyniak, art directors (Björk)
BEST BOXED OR SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION PACKAGE:Woody At 100: The Woody Guthrie Centennial Collection, Fritz Klaetke, art director (Woody Guthrie)
BEST ALBUM NOTES:Singular Genius: The Complete ABC Singles, Billy Vera, album notes writer (Ray Charles)
BEST HISTORICAL ALBUM:The Smile Sessions (Deluxe Box Set), Alan Boyd, Mark Linett, Brian Wilson & Dennis Wolfe, compilation producers; Mark Linett, mastering engineer (The Beach Boys)
BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, NON-CLASSICAL:The Goat Rodeo Sessions, Richard King, engineer; Richard King, mastering engineer (Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile)
BEST REMIXED RECORDING, NON-CLASSICAL:Promises (Skrillex & Nero Remix), Skrillex, remixer (Nero), Joseph Ray, Skrillex & Daniel Stephens, remixers
BEST SURROUND SOUND ALBUM:Modern Cool, Jim Anderson, surround mix engineer; Darcy Proper, surround mastering engineer; Michael Friedman, surround producer (Patricia Barber)
BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, CLASSICAL:Life & Breath – Choral Works By René Clausen, Tom Caulfield & John Newton, engineers; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer (Charles Bruffy & Kansas City Chorale)
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, CLASSICAL:Blanton Alspaugh
BEST ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE:“Adams: Harmonielehre & Short Ride In A Fast Machine,” Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor (San Francisco Symphony)
BEST OPERA RECORDING:“Wagner: Der Ring Des Nibelungen,” James Levine & Fabio Luisi, conductors; Hans-Peter König, Jay Hunter Morris, Bryn Terfel & Deborah Voigt; Jay David Saks, producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus)
BEST CHORAL PERFORMANCE:“Life & Breath – Choral Works By René Clausen,” Charles Bruffy, conductor (Matthew Gladden, Lindsey Lang, Rebecca Lloyd, Sarah Tannehill & Pamela Williamson; Kansas City Chorale)
BEST CHAMBER MUSIC/SMALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE: “Meanwhile,” Eighth Blackbird
BEST CLASSICAL INSTRUMENT SOLO:“Kurtág & Ligeti: Music For Viola,” Kim Kashkashian
BEST CLASSICAL VOCAL SOLO:“Poèmes,” Renée Fleming (Alan Gilbert & Seiji Ozawa; Orchestre National De France & Orchestre Philharmonique De Radio France)
BEST CLASSICAL COMPENDIUM:“Penderecki: Fonogrammi; Horn Concerto; Partita; The Awakening Of Jacob; Anaklasis,” Antoni Wit, conductor; Aleksandra Nagórko & Andrzej Sasin, producers
BEST CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL COMPOSITION:“Hartke, Stephen: Meanwhile – Incidental Music To Imaginary Puppet Plays,” Stephen Hartke, composer (Eighth Blackbird)
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL:Dan Auerbach
BEST REMIXED RECORDING, NON-CLASSICAL:“Promises (Skrillex & Nero Remix)” Skrillex, remixer (Nero) Joseph Ray, Skrillex & Daniel Stephens, remixers
BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO:“We Found Love,” Rihanna Featuring Calvin Harris, Melina Matsoukas, video director; Juliette Larthe, Ben Sullivan, Candice Ouaknine & Inga Veronique video producers
BEST LONG FORM MUSIC VIDEO:“Big Easy Express,” Mumford & Sons, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros & Old Crow Medicine Show Emmett Malloy, video director; Bryan Ling, Mike Luba & Tim Lynch, video producers.
31. Chairman and chief executive of Italy’s biggest defence company, Finmeccanica, who has been arrested over allegations he paid bribes to secure a deal to sell 12 helicopters to India?
Giuseppe Orsi.
He was arrested on corruption and tax fraud charges during a dawn raid on his home. Bruno Spagnolini, the chief executive of the group's wholly owned Anglo-Italian helicopter company AgustaWestland, was also arrested on the same charges.
32. Which country won the 3 T20 cricket series played against New Zealand held in New Zealand in February 2013?
England.
England won the series 2-1.
33. Name the asteroid which passed extraordinarily close to the earth on February 15, 2013?
2012 DA14
2012 DA14 is a near-Earth asteroid with an estimated diameter of 30 meters (98 ft) and an estimated mass of 40,000 metric tons. During its 2013 close passage, the asteroid passed 27,700 km (17,200 mi) from the surface of Earth. This is a record close approach for a known object of this size. About 16 hours before the closest approach of 2012 DA14, an asteroid entered Earth's atmosphere above Russia, which was, however, unrelated to it because it had a significantly different orbit.
34. Which sport is removed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from the core sports group of the 2020 Olympics?
Wrestling.
35. Which country had conducted its third underground nuclear test on February 12, 2013?
North Korea.
North Korea's two previous nuclear tests were conducted in 2006 and 2009.
36. Malayalam Director who has been selected for the J C Daniel Award for 2012 for his overall contribution to Malayalam cinema?
J.Sasikumar.
He directed more than 141 movies in his film career which began in the mid-1960s. He is often referred to as Hit maker Sasikumar mainly due to the commercial success of his films.
He directed maximum number of films in Malayalam cinema. He also directed Maximum number of films having the same actor as hero: 84 (Prem Nazir). He holds the world record for Maximum number of films directed in a year by any director in world cinema: 15 films in 1977.
37. Olympic sprinter and double amputee, who was arrested and charged with shooting and killing his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, at his South Africa home?
Oscar Pistorius.
38. On 15 February 2013, a small asteroid entered Earth's atmosphere over a country in northern Eurasia with an estimated speed of 18.6 km/s (over 41,000 mph) and quickly became a brilliant superbolide meteor. Which is that country?
Russia.
The dazzling light of the meteor was brighter than the sun, and bright enough to cast moving shadows during the morning in Chelyabinsk. Chelyabinsk is a city and the administrative center of Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia.
39. Known as "ape woman" or "the world's ugliest woman”, who was buried in Mexico on Feb. 12, 2013, more than 150 years after her death?
Julia Pastrana.
Julia Pastrana (1834 – 25 March 1860) was a woman from Mexico. She was born with a genetic condition called hypertrichosis terminalis (or generalized hypertrichosis lanuginosa); that is, her face and body were covered with straight black hair. Her ears and nose were unusually large and her teeth were irregular. This latter condition was also caused by a rare disease undiagnosed in her lifetime, namely Gingival hyperplasia, which thickened her lips and gums.
40. Name the nuclear-capable ballistic missile successfully test fired by Pakistan on 15 February 2013?
Hatf-II Abdali.
Surface to surface Hatf-II Abdali has a range of 180 km and capable of carrying nuclear as well as conventional warheads with high accuracy.
41. Name the high skilled immigration bill introduced in U.S.Congress to create more than 125,000 new visas to attract global talents to America?
Startup 3.0.
The bill called Startup 3.0 proposes to help increase America's access to talent by creating a new set of conditional visas for 75,000 immigrant entrepreneurs and 50,000 foreign STEM (Science technology, engineering and math) graduate students.
42. Who has become the oldest women’s world No 1 after her three-set win over Petra Kvitova in the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open in Doha?
Serena Williams.
She eclipsed the previous oldest mark set by Chris Evert, who was 30 years and 11 months when she was number one in November 1985.
43. The president of the International Wrestling Federation who has quit in the wake of the International Olympic Committee’s decision to remove the sport from the 2020 Olympics?
Raphael Martinetti.
44. The highest-ranked female judoka in history who died on February 9, 2013?
Keiko Fukuda.
She was a Japanese-born American martial artist. She was the last surviving student of Kano Jigoro, founder of judo. She was a renowned pioneer of women's judo, being the first woman promoted to 6th dan (1972) (dan- a Japanese mark of level), and later 9th dan (2006), by the Kodokan. She is also the first and, so far, only woman to have been promoted to 10th dan in the art.
45. Name the humanitarian institution based in Geneva and a three-time Nobel Prize Laureate, which celebrated its 150th anniversary on 17 February, 2013?
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
On 17 February 1863 five Swiss citizens gathered in Geneva to create an international committee for relief to the wounded, which in 1875 was renamed the International Committee of the Red Cross. The ICRC is now one of the largest international humanitarian organizations, with almost 13,000 staff working in behalf of the victims of armed conflict and other violence in 92 countries. The ICRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement along with the International Federation and 186 National Societies. It is the oldest and most honoured organization within the Movement and one of the most widely recognized organizations in the world, having won three Nobel Peace Prizes in 1917, 1944, and 1963.
46. Romanian movie which won the Golden Bear Award for best film at the 63rd International Film Festival in Berlin?
Child’s Pose.
Director Calin Peter Netzer and producer Ada Solomon received the award from the legendary filmmaker Wong Kar Wai, chairman of the jury of Berlin Film Festival-2013.
The Grand Prize of the Jury was given to the film “An episode in the life of an iron picker” of the Bosnian director Danis Tanovic. One of the protagonists of this film, Nazif Mujic, won the Silver Bear for Best Actor. The Chilean actress Paulina Garcia received the best actress award for her role in the film Gloria.
The Silver Bear for best directing went to the American director David Gordon Green for his movie Prince Avalanche. Iranian director Jafar Panahi won the Silver Bear for best script/screenplay for his film Closed Curtain.
47. Which country won the 2013 Women's Cricket World Cup?
Australia.
The 2013 Women's Cricket World Cup was the tenth Women's Cricket World Cup, which was hosted by India for the third time. India previously hosted the World Cup in 1978 and 1997. Australia won the tournament for the sixth time, beating West Indies by 114 runs in the final.
48. Footballer who scored his 300th official goal for Barcelona?
Lionel Messi .
49. Who is the President of the Republic of Ecuador?
Rafael Correa.
Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado was the former president pro tempore of the Union of South American Nations.
50. Who won Brazil Open 2013 Title defeating David Nalbandian in the final?
Rafael Nadal.
51. Who won 2013 Grenke Classic Chess Trophy?
Viswanathan Anand.
52. Home Minister of Nagaland who was arrested for allegedly transporting Rs 1.10 crore in cash, arms and ammunition and liquor in a vehicle in Wokha district?
Imkong. L. Imchen.
53. The famous poet, literary critic and writer who is appointed as Chairman of the Sahitya Academy?
Vishwanath Prasad Tiwari.
He is the 12th president of Sahitya Academy. It is the first time, when a Hindi author has received this distinction.
54. The Australia women's allrounder who has announced her retirement from international cricket in February 2013?
Lisa Sthalekar.
She is an Indian-born former female Australian international cricketer. She announced her retirement from international Cricket a day after Australian team won the 2013 Women's Cricket World Cup.
55. Publisher of the 91-year-old American general interest family magazine has filed for bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in White Plains, New York in February 2013. Which is that magazine?
Reader’s Digest.
RDA Holding Co, publisher of the 91-year-old Reader's Digest magazine, has filed for bankruptcy to cut US$465 million in debt and focus on North American operations as consumers shift from print to electronic media. Reader’s Digest last filed for bankruptcy in August 2009, wiping out the investment of private-equity firm Ripplewood Holdings, which bought into the company in 2006.
56. India has recently cancelled a deal for 12 Italian helicopters following allegations raised in Rome about nearly 350 crores paid as kickbacks to Indian officials including a former Air Force chief. What is the name of the helicopter manufacturer?
AgustaWestland.
The Ministry of Defence issued a formal show cause notice to AgustaWestland seeking cancellation of contract for procurement of 12 AW101 helicopters for the use of VVIPs.
57. Who is the new Chief of Staff, Southern Command of India?
Lt Gen K Surendranath.
58. The Congress Government in Himachal Pradesh decided to remove the name of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee from the free ambulance service “The Atal Swasthya Yojna” in the State. The new name of the free ambulance service is?
National Ambulance Service.
59. Prime Minister of Tunisia who resigned recently after failing to form a non-partisan government to end a political crisis exacerbated by the assassination of a senior opposition figure?
Hamadi Jebali.
60. Kepler, NASA’s telescope launched in 2009, detected a new planet in February 2013, which orbits a star 210 light years away in the constellation Lyra. What is the name of that planet?
Kepler-37b.
Kepler-37b is an extra solar planet (exoplanet) orbiting Kepler-37 in the constellation Lyra. As of February 2013 it is the smallest extrasolar planet discovered around a main-sequence star with a mass and radius slightly greater than the Earth's Moon.
61. On February 21, 2013, President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari signed into law a controversial bill that will give Pakistan's intelligence agencies sweeping powers to conduct surveillance and collect electronic data by tapping phones and eavesdropping on emails. What is the name of that bill?
The "Investigation for Fair Trial Bill 2013".
The bill was passed by the National Assembly or lower house of parliament on December 20 and by the Senate or upper house on February 1.
62. Who is appointed as the chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA)?
T.S Vijayan.
He was the former chief of LIC (Life Insurance Corporation) and he succeeds J. Hari Narayan.
63. IAS officer who has been selected for IRDS Indian award for his activities against corruption?
Raju Narayanaswami.
The award is in the name of Manju Nath, who was killed by real estate mafia when acting as chief engineer of National Highway Development authority.
64. Prime Minister of Bulgaria who resigned on February 20, 2013 after public anger over rising electricity prices, corruption and worsening living standards?
Boiko Borisov.
65. Complete list of winners of Kerala state film awards -2012.
Best Film: Celluloid
Best Second Film: Ozhimuri
Best Actor: Prithviraj (Celluloid,Ayalum Njanum Thammil)
Best Actress: Rima Kallingal (Nidra,22 Female Kottayam)
Best Director: Lal Jose (Ayalum Njanum Thammil)
Best Popular Movie: Ayalum Njanum Thammil
Best Script: Anjali Menon (Manjadikuru)
Best Story: Manoj Kanna (Chayilyam)
Best Second Actor: Manoj K.Jayan (Kaliyachan)
Best Second Actress: Sajitha Madathil (Shutter).
Best Debutant Director: Farook Abdul Rahiman (Kaliyachan)
Best Cinematography: Madhu Neelakantan (Annayum Rasoolum)
Best Music: M.Jayachandran (Celluloid)
Best Lyrics: Rafeeq Ahamad
Best Male Playback Singer: Vijay Yesudas
Best Female Playback Singer: Sithara
Best Background Music: Bijibal (Ozhimuri,Kaliyachan)
Best Art Direction: Suresh Kolllam (Celluloid)
Best Comedian: Salim Kumar (Ayalum Njanum Thammil)
Best Editing: Ajith Kumar.B (Annayum Rasoolum)
Best Child Artists: Vyjyanthi (Manjadikuru), Master Minon (101 Chodyangal)
Best Sound Design: M.R.Rajakrishnan
Best Dubbing Artist: Vimmi Mariam George
Best Makeup: Roshan (Mayamohini)
Best Costumes: S.B.Satheesh (Celluloid)
Best Children’s Film: Black Forest
Best Colourist: Jaydeep
Jury Special Mention: Sriram and Vaikom Vijayalakshmi.
66. Who is appointed as the new Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court?
Pius.C. Kuriakose.
67. Who won the man of the match award in the first test between Australia and India held in Chennai from February 22-26, 2013?
M.S. Dhoni (India).
He scored 224 runs in first innings.
Result: India beat Australia by 8 wickets.
68. List of winners at the Independent Spirit Awards-2013
The Independent Spirit Awards, the top accolades for the U.S. independent film industry, handed out honors for the best films and performances of 2012. Here is the complete list of winners at the Independent Spirit awards:
• Best Feature:
o Silver Linings Playbook – Producers: Bruce Cohen, Donna Gigliotti, Jonathan Gordon
• Best Director
o David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook
• Best Screenplay
o David O. Russell – Silver Linings Playbook
• Best First Feature
o The Perks of Being A Wallflower – Writer/Director: Stephen Chbosky, Producers: Lianne Halfon, John Malkovich, Russell Smith
• Best First Screenplay
o Derek Connolly – Safety Not Guaranteed
• Best Supporting Female
o Helen Hunt – The Sessions
• Best Supporting Male
o Matthew McConaughey – Magic Mike
• Best Female Lead
o Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook
• Best Male Lead
o John Hawkes – The Sessions
• Best Cinematography
o Ben Richardson – Beasts of the Southern Wild
• Best International Film
o Amour – Director: Michael Haneke
• Best Documentary
o The Invisible War - Director: Kirby Dick, Producers: Amy Ziering, Tanner King Barklow
69. COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS OF OSCAR AWARDS-2013:
The 85th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best films of 2012 and took place February 24, 2013, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. During the ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented Academy Awards (commonly referred to as (Oscars) in 24 categories.
BEST PICTURE "Argo"
BEST ACTOR Daniel Day-Lewis for "Lincoln"
BEST ACTRESS Jennifer Lawrence for "Silver Linings Playbook"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Anne Hathaway for "Les Miserables"
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Christoph Waltz for "Django Unchained"
BEST DIRECTOR Ang Lee for "Life of Pi"
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY "Argo"
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY "Django Unchained"
BEST ANIMATED FILM "Brave"
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM "Amour"
BEST MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG) "Skyfall" from "Skyfall" (Music and Lyric by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth)
BEST MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE) Mychael Danna for "Life of Pi"
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN "Lincoln"
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY "Life of Pi"
BEST DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE) "Searching for Sugar Man"
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS "Life of Pi"
BEST MAKEUP "Les Miserables"
BEST COSTUME DESIGN "Anna Karenina"
BEST FILM EDITING "Argo"
BEST SOUND EDITING "Skyfall" "Zero Dark Thirty"
BEST SOUND MIXING "Les Miserables"
BEST SHORT FILM (ANIMATED) "Paperman"
BEST SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION) "Curfew"
BEST DOCUMENTARY (SHORT) "Inocente"
70. Which professional football club won English League Cup-2013 defeating Bradford City 5-0 in the final?
Swansea City.
71. Who made history by becoming the first female president of South Korea?
Park Geun-hye.
She is the eleventh president of South Korea. She is the first woman head of state in modern history of Northeast Asia. Prior to her presidency, she was the chairwoman of the conservative Grand National Party (GNP) between 2004 and 2006 and between 2011 and 2012. The GNP changed its name to "Saenuri Party" in February 2012. Park was also a member of the Korean National Assembly, and had served four consecutive parliamentary terms as a constituency representative between 1998 and 2012; starting her fifth term as a proportional representative from June 2012. Her father was Park Chung-hee, President of South Korea from 1963 to 1979
72. Who has been re-elected as Cuba’s president on February 24, 2013?
Raul Castro.
Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez is elected as the first vice president of Cuba.
73. Scottish Roman Catholic cardinal who resigned as archbishop on February 2013 after allegations that he had engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with junior priests?
Keith O'Brien.
He served as the Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh from 1985 to 2013. He was elevated to the cardinalate in 2003. As of July 2013 O'Brien remained Britain's most senior Catholic.
74. The Indo-French satellite which is successfully launched by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh on February 25, 2013?
Saral.
Launched with an aim at oceanographic studies, SARAL was accompanied by six foreign mini and micro satellites onboard ISRO's workhorse rocket PSLV. An Indian rocket carrying seven satellites, Indo-French satellite SARAL, world's first smart phone-operated nano satellite, a space telescope satellite and four other foreign satellites, lunched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
75. Noted playback singer who won Madhya Pradesh government’s prestigious “Lata Mangeshkar Samman Alankaran-2013”?
Hariharan.
The Lata Mangeshkar award is given to musician and playback singer in alternate year. Rajesh Roshan has won the award last year. Lata Mangeshkar award was started by Madhya Pradesh in 1984-85. The first recipient of the award was maestro music composer Naushad.
76. Which Pope will be known as "pope emeritus"?
Pope Benedict XVI.
Pope Benedict XVI will be known as "pope emeritus" and can continue to wear the white papal cassock after his historic resignation.
77. The former Indian-American director of Goldman Sachs convicted of insider trading, who has been ordered to pay the bank more than $6.2 million for legal expenses connected to his case?
Rajat Gupta.
78. The former French Resistance fighter whose 2010 manifesto Time for Outrage inspired social protesters, died on February 15, 2013?
Stephane Hessel.
He was a diplomat, ambassador, writer, concentration camp survivor, French Resistance member and BCRA agent. His short book “Time for Outrage!” sold 4.5 million copies worldwide. Hessel and his book were linked and cited as an inspiration for the Spanish Indignados, the American Occupy Wall Street movement and other political movements.
79. Education researcher who has won 2013's million-dollar Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) Prize with his 'Hole in the Wall' experiment, showing slum children learning to work a computer and teaching each other minus adult supervision.?
Sugata Mitra.
