1. Kristalina Georgieva: Reappointment as Managing Director of the IMF
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Kristalina Georgieva, a Bulgarian economist, has been reappointed as the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a second five-year term beginning on October 1, 2024.
An Overview of the News
She has been serving as the 12th Managing Director of the IMF since 2019, with her current tenure set to conclude on September 30, 2024.
Career Highlights:
Early Academic and Professional Experience:
Worked as an Assistant Professor at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) from 1977 to 1993.
Joined the World Bank (WB) in 1993 as an environmental economist.
Leadership Roles at the European Commission:
Served as the Vice-President of the European Commission from November 2014 to December 2016.
Held positions including Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, and Vice-President for Budget and Human Resources.
Tenure at the World Bank:
Served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the World Bank from January 2017 to September 2019.
Additionally, acted as the interim President of the World Bank from February 2019 to April 2019.
2. Senior IPS Officer Anurag Kumar Appointed Joint Director of CBI
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Senior IPS officer Anurag Kumar, from the 2004 batch of the Indian Police Service (IPS), has been designated as the Joint Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
An Overview of the News
Anurag Kumar is from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre and is currently working in Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D).
According to an order from the Personnel Ministry, Kumar's appointment to the role of Joint Director in the CBI was confirmed on Friday.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has endorsed his appointment for a tenure extending up to February 24, 2027.
About CBI:
It is serves as India's primary domestic crime investigation agency.
It functions under the purview of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions.
Tasked with investigating a wide range of criminal offenses within the country, the CBI plays a crucial role in upholding law and order.
Founded - 1 April 1963
Headquarters - New Delhi
Founder - Government of India
3. Ashish Chauhan and Sridhar Vembu Appointed to UGC by Ministry of Education
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Ashish Kumar Chauhan, MD and CEO of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), and Sridhar Vembu, CEO of Zoho Corporation, have been appointed as members of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
An Overview of the News
Their tenure spans three years, as per the notification from the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.
Other Appointments
Retired Professor Sachidananda Mohanty, former Vice Chancellor of Central University of Odisha, has been appointed to the UGC. Professor Mohanty brings his extensive experience in academia to the commission.
Professor Shashikala Gulabrao Wanjari, Vice Chancellor of the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA) in New Delhi, Delhi, has been appointed as a member of the UGC. Her tenure, like others', is set for three years or until further orders.
About UGC
The UGC was proposed by the Sargent Report of 1944 to establish a national system of education in India.
Established by an Act of Parliament in 1956, the UGC plays a pivotal role in higher education governance.
The current Chairman of UGC is Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, and its headquarters are located in New Delhi, Delhi.
With these appointments, the total number of members in the UGC has increased from 4 to 8, enriching its expertise and diversity.
4. Appointment of Vo Thi Anh Xuan as Interim President of Vietnam
Tags: Person in news International News
Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Vietnam's Vice-President, aged 54, was appointed as Interim President on March 21, 2024.
An Overview of the News
Vo Thi Anh Xuan succeeded Vo Van Thuong, who resigned from the presidency on March 20, 2024, having served since March 2023.
Vo Thi Anh Xuan will serve as the acting president until the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) elects a new president.
Previous Interim Presidency:
In the 2021-2026 term, Vo Thi Anh Xuan previously held the role of Interim President in January 2023, following the resignation of Nguyen Xuan Phuc. Vo Van Thuong was subsequently elected as President.
Background of Vo Thi Anh Xuan:
Vo Thi Anh Xuan originates from Tinh Bien District, An Giang Province, Vietnam.
She is an alternate member of the 11th Party Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), and a member of the 12th and 13th Party Central Committee. Additionally, she is a delegate to the 14th and 15th National Assembly.
Vo Thi Anh Xuan was elected as Vice President of Vietnam in April 2021, becoming the youngest Vice President at the age of 51.
About Vietnam:
Prime Minister - Pham Minh Chinh
Capital - Hanoi
Currency - Vietnamese dong
5. Bjarni Benediktsson Becomes Iceland's Prime Minister, Replacing Katrín Jakobsdótti
Tags: Person in news International News
Benediktsson took office as Prime Minister of Iceland on April 9, 2024, succeeding Katrín Jakobsdóttir.
An Overview of the News
Before his appointment as PM, Benediktsson served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from October 2023.
He previously held the position of Prime Minister from January to November 2017.
Benediktsson's career began as a District Court attorney in 1998, followed by his election to the Icelandic parliament, Althingi, representing Southwest Iceland in 2003.
Since 2009, he has led the Independence Party.
Benediktsson also served as Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs from 2013 to 2017 and resumed the position from November 30, 2017, until October 14, 2023.
Katrín Jakobsdóttir's Contributions:
Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the second woman to hold the position of PM in Iceland after Jóhanna Sigurðardótti, served as PM since 2017.
She resigned to pursue the presidency and also stepped down as Chairperson of the Left-Green Movement.
Jakobsdóttir has been a Member of Althingi for the Reykjavík North Constituency since 2007.
Her previous ministerial roles include Minister of Education, Science, and Culture, as well as Minister of Nordic Cooperation, from 2009 to 2013.
Iceland's Current Landscape:
Iceland's current President is Guðni Th. Jóhannesson.
Reykjavík serves as the capital.
The currency used is the Icelandic Króna (ISK).
6. Famous Physicist Peter Higgs Passes Away at the Age of 94
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Peter Higgs commenced his teaching journey as a Temporary Lecturer in Mathematics at University College London, UK.
An Overview of the News
In 1960, he relocated to Edinburgh and assumed the role of a Lecturer in Mathematical Physics at the Tait Institute.
Progressing steadily, he ascended through the academic ranks, culminating in his appointment to a Personal Chair of Theoretical Physics in 1980.
Upon retirement in 1996, he was granted the title of Professor Emeritus at the University of Edinburgh.
Awards and Honours:
2015: Royal Society's Copley Medal for his contributions to the theory of the Higgs boson.
2013: Nobel Prize in Physics, jointly with François Englert, for their theoretical discovery explaining the mass of subatomic particles.
2013: Appointed as Companion of Honour in the New Year Honours List for scientific achievements.
2013: Edinburgh Medal from the Edinburgh International Science Festival and the Nonino 'Man of Our Time' Prize.
2004: Wolf Prize in Physics shared with Robert Brout and François Englert.
1997: High Energy and Particle Physics Prize from the European Physical Society shared with Robert Brout and François Englert.
7. India's Jagjit Pavadia appointed Chairman of INCB
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1979 batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Jagjit Pavadia won re-election to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) for his third term from 2025 to 2030.
An Overview of the News
Pavadia previously served two terms on the INCB: 2015–2020 and 2020–2025. Notably, she held the position of President of INCB from 2021 to 2022.
Prior to his tenure at the INCB, Pavadia held several senior positions within the Government of India, including roles in the Central Narcotics Bureau as Narcotics Commissioner of India (2006–2012), Commissioner of Legal Affairs (2001–2005), and . Chief Vigilance Officer at Power Finance Corporation (1996–2001).
About INCB:
The INCB, established in 1968 in accordance with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, acts as an independent and quasi-judicial monitoring body for the implementation of the United Nations (UN) international drug control conventions.
Collaborating with governments around the world, INCB ensures adequate drug supplies for medical and scientific purposes while monitoring governments' control over chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of drugs. Additionally, it helps prevent these chemicals from being trafficked.
About the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
ECOSOC is a primary organ of the United Nations.
It addresses economic, social, cultural and health issues as well as human rights.
ECOSOC monitors the UN's subsidiary bodies and ensures follow-up on major UN conventions.
Paula Narvaez is the current president.
Its membership includes 54 countries including India.
Established in 1945
8. Simon Harris becomes the youngest new Prime Minister of Ireland
Tags: Person in news International News
Simon Harris, aged 37 and leader of the Fine Gael party, elected as the new Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of the Republic of Ireland by members of the Dáil (Irish parliament).
An Overview of the News
Officially installed as Taoiseach on 9th April 2024 after receiving the seal of office from President Michael D. Higgins.
Succeeds Leo Varadkar, who resigned as Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach in March 2024.
Key Points:
Harris becomes the youngest Prime Minister in the history of the Republic of Ireland.
His tenure will extend until the general election scheduled for March 2025.
Members of the Dáil voted 88 to 69 in favor of Harris as Taoiseach.
The 3-party coalition government (Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and the Green Party) has been in power since 2020.
This marks the third change in Taoiseach within less than four years for the coalition government.
About Simon Harris:
Elected as the youngest Teachta Dála (TD), a member of Dáil Éireann, in 2011 at the age of 24.
Held ministerial positions in the Irish government since 2016.
9. Manoj Panda Appointed as Full-Time Member of India's 16th Finance Commission
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Manoj Panda, former Director of the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), appointed as a full-time member of the 16th Finance Commission (FC) by the Government of India (GoI).
An Overview of the News
His term begins from the date he assumes office until the submission of the Report or 31st October 2025.
Panda replaces Niranjan Rajadhyaksha, Executive Director at Artha Global, who was previously appointed as a full-time member of the 16th FC in January 2024.
Background of Manoj Panda:
Economist and Senior Economist at the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) from 1982 to 1992.
Professor and Associate Professor at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), Mumbai, Maharashtra from 1992 to 2008.
Served as the Director of Centre for Economic and Social Studies (CESS), Hyderabad, Telangana.
Director of the IEG, New Delhi, Delhi from 2012 to 2019.
Constitution of the 16th Finance Commission:
Constituted by the GoI in December 2023 with Arvind Panagariya, former Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog, as its Chairman.
In January 2024, three full-time members and one part-time member were appointed.
Current Members of the 16th FC:
Full-time members:
Ajay Narayan Jha, former member of the 15th Finance Commission and former Secretary, Expenditure.
Annie George Mathew, former Special Secretary, Expenditure.
Manoj Panda, newly appointed full-time member.
Part-time member:
Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Advisor, State Bank of India.
Secretary of the 16th FC:
Ritvik Ranjanam Pandey, a 1998-batch IAS officer, holds the position of Secretary.
10. Ingmar De Vos Elected President of ASOIF
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On April 9, 2024, during the 48th ASOIF General Assembly at the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2024 in Birmingham, UK, Ingmar De Vos of Belgium was unanimously elected as the President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF).
An Overview of the News
He will assume office for a four-year term starting on January 1, 2025.
De Vos will succeed Francesco Ricci Bitti of Italy, whose third term as ASOIF President is scheduled to conclude on December 31, 2024.
Background of Ingmar De Vos
Ingmar De Vos began his career as a Belgian Senate Advisor in 1989.
He served as the Director General (DG) of the Belgian Equestrian Federation from 1990 to 1997.
From 1997 to 2011, De Vos held the position of Secretary General of the Belgian Equestrian Federation.
In 2011, he joined the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) as Secretary General, a position he held until 2014.
De Vos was elected President of the FEI on December 14, 2014. He was re-elected for a second four-year term in 2018 and subsequently for a final third term in 2022.
Since 2017, he has been a Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and he has served as an ASOIF Council member since 2019.
