Exim Bank gives $30 million line of credit to Ghana
The Export-Import (Exim) Bank has provided a $30 million line of credit to Ghana for potable water project in the country. Exim Bank has entered into an agreement with Ghana for a line of credit (LoC) of $30 million (about Rs 210 crore) for financing rehabilitation and up-gradation of potable water system in Yendi, Ghana, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in a release on November 7.
Under the arrangement, financing of export of eligible goods, works and services from India would be allowed subject to their being eligible for export under the Foreign Trade Policy of India and whose purchase may be agreed to be financed by the Exim Bank.
Moody's revises outlook on 6 Indian financial companies from 'stable' to 'negative'
Moody's Investors Service revised its outlook on six financial institutions to negative from stable on November 8. These are EXIM India, HDFC Bank, Hero FinCorp, HUDCO, IRFC, and SBI.
At the same time, Moody's has maintained its outlook on Bank of India, Canara Bank, Syndicate Bank and Union Bank as stable.
The development comes after Moody’s Investors Service, on November 7, changed its outlook on India’s ratings to 'negative' from 'stable', citing increasing risks that the country’s economic growth will remain lower than in the past.
The outlook partly reflects the ineffectiveness of the government and its policy in addressing economic weakness, which led to an increase in debt burden from already-high levels, the rating agency said.
India to host 2023 Men's Hockey World Cup
India will host the 2023 Men's Hockey World Cup from 13th to 29th of January.
Making this announcement today, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said India will play host to the men's tournament while Spain and the Netherlands have been named as the co-hosts of the 2022 Women's World Cup scheduled to be held from 1st to 22nd of July.
The decisions were made during FIH's Executive Board Meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland today.
The FIH further said that the venues of both the men's and women's World Cups will be announced by the host nations at a later date.
Senior IAS officer Arvind Singh takes over as AAI chairman
Arvind Singh, a 1988-batch IAS officer of Maharashtra cadre, on Wednesday took charge as the chairman of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), an official release said.
The AAI, which comes under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, owns and manages more than 100 airports across the country.
Prior to this appointment, Singh was the additional chief secretary (Energy) of Maharashtra government.
He also worked as chairman and managing director of Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited and Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited.
US announces increase in H-1B work visa application fee by 10
The US has announced the increase of H-1B work visa application fee by 10 US Dollars as part of its revised selection process. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made the announcement yesterday. It said, the non-refundable fee will support the new electronic registration system to make the H-1B cap selection process more efficient. Petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions, will first have to electronically register with the USCIS during a designated registration period.
USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli said the electronic registration system is part of an agency-wide initiative to modernise immigration system while deterring fraud.
The H-1B program allows US companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the application of a body of highly specialised knowledge with bachelor's or a higher degree in the specific speciality, or it's equivalent.
Venkaiah Naidu inaugurates 10th Asian Conference of Emergency Medicine
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has stressed on the urgent need to attach high priority to emergency medicine and services in the country. Inaugurating 10th Asian Conference of Emergency Medicine in New Delhi today, Mr Naidu said, there is a need to develop programs and manuals to train citizens in emergency first aid procedures such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation as it will help in saving a life while waiting for emergency services. He also stressed on the need to invest in providing timely and high-quality Emergency Health Services in India.
The Vice President expressed happiness that the Government of India has made it mandatory for all medical college hospitals to have full-fledged Emergency Departments by 2022 with an aim to improve trauma care. He stressed on the need to include Emergency medicine and trauma care in the curriculum of Undergraduate courses. He added that Medical students must be trained to deal with the whole gamut of situations relating to emergency medicine.
West Bengal based writer Abhisek Sarkar wins award at Dhaka Lit-fest
The ninth edition of the Dhaka Lit-fest started on Thursday with a galaxy of writers and book lovers thronging the venue ground at the Bangla Academy.
Over the three day of the festival 200 speakers, performers and thinkers, will take part in discussions on diverse topics.
The special focus of this year's lit-fest is on Indigenous Languages as the UNESCO has marked 2019 as the year of Indigenous Language Protection.
Renowned literary personalities and authors from Bangladesh and abroad like William Dalrymple, Monica Ali, H M Naqvi, Prayaag Akbar, Shashi Tharoor are participating in the festival.
Three books launched on Guru Nanak Dev Ji at Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College
Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today unveiled three books on Guru Nanak Dev Ji in New Delhi. The books were launched in the run-up to 550th Birth Anniversary celebration of Guru Nanak Dev Ji at a function at Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College. The National Book Trust has published these titles - 'Guru Nanak Bani', 'Nanak Bani', and 'Sakhian Guru Nanak Dev' to spread the message of Guru Nanak Dev’s writings among readers of Indian sub-continent. These books, published originally in Punjabi, shall be translated into 15 major Indian languages. Speaking on the occasion, Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said, the teachings and philosophy of Guru Nanak Dev are still relevant in today's world.
Addressing the gathering, Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank called upon the people to take the message of the Guru Nanak Dev in every nook and corner of the globe.
Govt sets up Rs.25,000 crore fund to revive stalled housing projects
The government has decided to set up 25 thousand crore rupees fund to revive stalled housing projects. The decision was taken by the Union Cabinet at a meeting held yesterday in New Delhi.
Briefing media after the meeting, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the government will put in 10 thousand crore rupees in the Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) while State Bank of India and Life Insurance Corporation will provide 15 thousand crore rupees taking the total size to 25 thousand crore rupees.
Women's Cricket: India win three-match series against West Indies
In Women's Cricket, India won the three match series 2-1 beating the West Indies by 6 wickets in the 3rd and final ODI match in North Sound, Antigua last night.
Indian women achieved the victory target of 195 runs comfortably with 47 balls to spare. For India, Smriti Mandhana was the highest scorer with 74 off 63 balls.
Earlier, the hosts were all out at 194 in 50 overs after electing to bat.