CAG Girish Chandra Murmu Selected as External Auditor of ILO in Geneva
Comptroller and Auditor General, Girish Chandra Murmu was selected as External Auditor of the International Labour Organization in Geneva for a four-year term from 2024 to 2027. The decision was taken after a rigorous selection process. CAG will take over from the incumbent External Auditor of ILO, Supreme Audit Institution of Philippines. CAG's appointment is a recognition of its standing among the international community as well as its professionalism, high standards, global audit experience and strong national credentials.
ILO had formed a Selection Panel for appointment of External Auditor and invited bids from the Supreme Audit Institutions. Based on the technical experience and other criteria, ILO shortlisted three Supreme Audit Institutions - India, Canada and United Kingdom - for technical presentations. In Geneva, a three-member team from CAG of India presented the strengths, approach and skill set and the vast experience of auditing International Organizations to the tripartite selection panel of ILO.
UN Approves Resolution Calling for Russia to Leave Ukraine
The UN General Assembly approved a nonbinding resolution that calls for Russia to end hostilities in Ukraine and demands the withdrawal of its forces, sending a strong message on the eve of the first anniversary of the invasion that Moscow's aggression must end.
The 141-7 vote with 32 abstentions was slightly below the highest vote for the five previous resolutions approved by the 193-member world body since Russia sent troops and tanks across the border into its smaller neighbour on Feb. 24, 2022.
The General Assembly has become the most important UN body dealing with Ukraine because the Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, is paralyzed by Russia's veto power. Its resolutions are not legally binding, unlike Security Council resolutions, but serve as a barometer of world opinion.
World's Largest Ice Rink Stays Shut for First Time Due to Mild Canada Winter
Canada's renowned Rideau Canal Skateway, the world's largest natural ice skating rink, will not open this season for the first time due to a lack of ice, its operator said, blaming the closure on climate change.
The 7.8 km (4.9 mile) Rideau Canal Skateway, first opened over 50 years ago, is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Canada's capital city Ottawa that is a top attraction for skating enthusiasts seeking outdoor thrills during Canada's usually biting cold winters.
The National Capital Commission (NCC), which maintains and operates the Skateway has previously said that it can only open when the ice is at least 12 inches (30 cm) thick, for which there must be 10 to 14 consecutive days of temperatures between -20 Celsius and -10 Celsius.
Thomas Cook, Pine Labs Launch UPI Payment Facility for Foreign Visitors
Pine Labs and Thomas Cook (India) Limited have partnered with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to enable payments via UPI for foreign nationals from G20 countries.
The prepaid payment product is issued by Pine Labs under the PPI authorisation from RBI. This facility can be accessed on arrival in India at Thomas Cook's airport counters.
When encashing foreign currency at Thomas Cook's counter, instead of collecting rupees in cash, the customer can open a Pine Labs Fave Money prepaid account loaded with the rupee value.
The customer would need to download the Pine Labs Fave app and sign in to use the preloaded money by scanning any UPI QR code at merchant outlets. On departure, the balance can be encashed at Thomas Cook's airport counters.
Sri Lanka Gives Nod to $442-million Wind Project of Adani Group
Crisis-hit Sri Lanka approved a $442-million wind power project of Adani Green Energy, barely a month since the Indian multinational conglomerate's stocks plummeted following U.S.-based short-seller Hindenburg's damaging report on the Group.
As per the Board of Investment (BOI) of Sri Lanka, the project would likely create 2,000 jobs, and in two years, generate about 350 MW of power.
The BOI's approval effectively takes the Adani Group's total investments in the island nation over the $1 billion-mark. It has already committed to pumping in $700 million at a strategic port terminal in Colombo, and work on the West Container Terminal began in November 2022.
NSE Indices Launches India's first Municipal Bond Index
NSE Indices Ltd, an NSE arm, launched the country's first ever municipal bond index.
The new Nifty India Municipal Bond Index will track the performance of municipal bonds issued by Indian municipal corporations across maturities and having investment grade credit rating, NSE Indices said in a statement.
The index was launched at a Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) workshop on Municipal Debt Securities in Bengaluru.
Presently, the index has 28 municipal bonds issued by 10 issuers all having credit rating in the AA category. The index constituents are assigned weights based on their outstanding amount.
Spain's Sergio Ramos Announces Retirement from International Football
Paris Saint-Germain's and former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos announced his retirement from international football. Ramos who was part of Spain's World Cup and Euro winning teams had represented Real Madrid in La Liga and now plays for PSG in Ligue 1.
Ramos made his Spain debut in 2005 while still a teenager playing for Sevilla. He played in seven major tournaments for his country, winning three, but was left out of the squad by Luis Enrique for Euro 2020, played in 2021, and the 2022 World Cup. His last appearance for La Roja came on March 31, 2021, when he played four minutes in a 3-1 win over Kosovo.
Women's T20 World Cup Semis: South Africa Creates History, Qualify for Final
A thrilling match saw South Africa deliver when it mattered to beat in-form England and march into the World Cup final against Australia.
The Proteas posted a very competitive first-innings score of 164/4 thanks to half-centuries from openers Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt.
And the momentum swung back and forth during England's chase, with England's openers getting off to a lightning start, Brits clinging on to four catches to remove each of England's top four, and Ayabonga Khaka taking three wickets in a match-changing over.
It all came down to Shabnim Ismail's final over, with England requiring 13 runs to win and they fell six runs short.
The result means that South Africa are through to their first-ever World Cup final in any format.
Namami Gange Executive Committee Approves 9 Projects
The Namami Gange Executive Committee approved nine Projects, worth over one thousand two hundred Crore rupees for Pollution abatement in Ganga Basin and Ghat Development. Out of these projects, seven pertain to the abatement of pollution in the Ganga Basin and two to ghat development. The decision was taken during the 47th meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the chairmanship of NMCG Director General G. Asok Kumar.
As per the Ministry of Jal Shakti, under the approved projects various sewage treatment plants and other work will be done to clean the River Ganga, in several states, including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The Ghat development in Bihar, one project for the development of Atal Ghat Manjhi, Saran, Bihar was approved at an estimated cost of ten crore rupees.
NTPC Ranks Top Independent Power Producers
State-run NTPC Limited, which is India's largest power generating company, was ranked top independent power producers and energy traders globally in the S&P Global Commodity Insights Top 250 Global Energy Company Rankings-2022.
These rankings are based on four key metrics- asset worth, revenues, profits and return on investment.
With a share of 17 per cent of the installed capacity, NTPC currently contributes 24 per cent of the total electricity produced in India.
Churchgate Railway Station in Mumbai will Now be Known as First Indian RBI Governor C. D. Deshmukh
The Churchgate railway station in Mumbai will soon be called as 'Chintamanrao Deshmukh station', named after the first governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) C. D. Deshmukh.
The decision was taken at Shiv Sena's national executive meeting where chief minister Eknath Shinde was also appointed the party's mukhya neta.
The move is being perceived as Shinde's attempt to appropriate the legacy of Deshmukh, who was described by Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray as "the only Maharashtra leader in Delhi with self-respect" for stepping down in protest against a Union government proposal to move a bill in Parliament bifurcating Bombay State into Gujarat and Maharashtra, and making the city of Bombay a Union Territory.
As per experts, by renaming Churchgate station after Deshmukh, Shinde wants to send out a loud political message that he cares for the cause of Mumbai and Maharashtra, and is not a pawn in the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government.
Gujarat Assembly Passed Bill to Curb Paper Leak in Recruitment Exams
The Gujarat Legislative Assembly unanimously approved a Bill that calls for up to 10 years in prison for malpractices in order to stop paper leaks in government recruitment examinations.
According to the bill's terms, the offender would also be responsible for paying a fine that cannot be less than Rs. 10 lakh or greater than Rs. 1 crore.
The Gujarat Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Methods) Bill, 2023, introduced by Minister of State for the Home Harsh Sanghavi, was approved with support from members of the opposition Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The bill aims to stop "unfair means," which include leaking or attempting to leak a question paper, obtaining a question paper illegally, and solving a question paper illegally.
Aiding an examinee during an examination in exchange for money is another kind of unfair means.
Any person who hinders or threatens a member of the inspection team or a person the examination authority has selected to do their duties may be penalised with up to three years in prison and a fine of at least Rs. 1 lakh.
The bill stated that every offence committed under the Act must be looked into by a police official with at least the level of police inspector, preferably a deputy superintendent of police.
Angavastra for Students Graduating Delhi University this Year
At the 99th convocation of Delhi University, students and officials of Delhi University will no longer be seen wearing a hat and a gown. Rather, students would wear traditional attire when graduating.
This year, students will be given a shawl or an angavstra to wear along with the traditional attire that has been mandated this year onwards. A convocation committee, set up by the DU vice-chancellor about two months ago, came up with new design ideas for the attire which were sent to the academic and executive councils for approval.
The administration and teachers will also be donning traditional Indian outfits for the convocation. The ethos behind the idea is to move away from the colonial mindset prevailing for many years.
The tree of life symbol along with the logo of Delhi University in purple will be prominent on the attire. The colour of the dresses will be different for different categories of students.
Bombay High Court Quashes ECIR against Founder of Jet Airways
The Bombay High Court quashed the enforcement case information report (ECIR) registered by the Enforcement Directorate against Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal and his wife Anita Goyal in an alleged money laundering case.
The central probe agency's ECIR was based on an FIR registered by the police against the Goyals for alleged cheating and forgery on a complaint filed by Akbar Travels.
After hearing both sides, a Division Bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan quashed the ECIR registered, and all proceedings against the Goyals on the grounds of "being illegal and contrary" to law. Generally, an ECIR, somewhat similar to an FIR, is registered on the basis of a criminal case registered by the police, the CBI , or any other agency.
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