NATIONAL NEWS
Vote counting for assembly elections in UP, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa, Punjab, and Uttarakhand to be taken up tomorrow
All the necessary preparations have been finalized for the counting of votes in Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Goa, Uttarakhand, and Punjab. In addition, the counting of the votes for the simultaneous By-poll to Majuli Assembly Seat in Assam will also be taken up together. The counting process will commence at 8.00 AM. The counting trends and the results of five legislative assemblies will be available on the website of the Election Commission and will be updated every few minutes. Amid the ongoing COVID pandemic and to ensure complete COVID safe arrangements during the counting, the Election Commission of India has rolled out the strict COVID protocols for the Counting Day.
Union Cabinet approves MoU signed between ICMR and Oxford University.
The Union Cabinet has given its approval to the MoU signed between Oxford University and the Indian Council of Medical Research. The MoU aims at capacity building for the Indian scientists and researchers, collection of data compliant with the international standards and regulatory requirements. Both the parties have also agreed on exchange and share ideas on three-vector borne diseases in the elimination phase and emerging infections. It will also work to develop a three-year work plan on capacity strengthening, training on data management, exchange of research fellows, among others.
Cabinet approves setting up of National Land Monetization Corporation
The Union Cabinet has given its approval to the setting up of the National Land Monetization Corporation for undertaking the surplus land monetization. NLMC will be a wholly-owned government company with an initial authorized share capital of Rs. 5,000 crores and paid-up share capital of Rs. 150 crores. It will undertake the monetization of surplus land and building the assets of Central Public Sector Enterprises and other government agencies. NLMC is also expected to own, hold, manage and monetize the surplus land and the building assets of CPSEs under the closure.
FIH Men’s Hockey pro league matches between India and Germany postponed
FIH Men’s Hockey Pro League matched between India and Germany have been postponed due to the high number of COVID cases affecting the German team. The matches were scheduled to be played on March 12 and 13, 2022, in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. As per an official release, the International Hockey Federation, India and Germany have already been working together to find alternative dates. The women’s match between India and Germany will be played as planned on March 12-13 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Hungary elects first-ever female president
The Hungarian parliament has elected Katalin Novak, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as the EU member’s first-ever female president. Novak, who most recently served as a minister for family policy, portrayed her election as a victory for women. She was elected to the mostly ceremonial role by 137 votes to 51 in the parliament dominated by Orban’s right-wing Fidesz party ahead of opposition challenger Peter Rona, an economist. Novak will succeed Janos Ader, a co-founder of Orban’s governing right-wing Fidesz party who has held the job since 2012. She will take office after Ader’s term expires May 10.
Yoon Suk Yeol elected as new South Korean President
Yoon Suk-yeol has been declared as the winner of the 2022 South Korean presidential election to be elected as the new President of the country. He is scheduled to assume office as president on May 10, 2022, for a fixed term of five years. Yoon Suk-yeol will succeed incumbent President Moon Jae-in. With more than 98 per cent of the ballots counted, Yoon had 48.6 per cent of the votes against his rival Lee Jae-Myung’s 47.8 per cent. Yoon is to take office in May and serve a single five-year term as leader of the world’s 10th-largest economy.
