NATO, Russia to Hold more High-level Talks Despite Tensions
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that the military organisation and Russia have agreed to try to schedule more meetings, despite tensions over Moscow's military buildup near Ukraine.
Speaking after chairing a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, Stoltenberg said that both parties had expressed the need to dialogue and explore a schedule of future meetings.
There are significant differences between NATO allies and Russia on this issue.
He underlined that Ukraine has the right to decide its future security arrangements on its own, and that NATO would continue to leave its door open to new members.
US: First Coin Featuring Black Woman
Maya Angelou became the first black woman to appear on US coin. The coin was rolled out by US Mint as a part of the American Women Quarters Programme.
She is known for her speaking voice and lyrical prose. She is an African American. She died at the age of 86 in 2014.
She has produced seven autobiographies, several books of poetry, three books of essays. Her autobiographies brought her fame. Her first autobiography "I know the Caged Bird Sings" fetched international recognition.
The coin has Maya on one side and the US first President George Washington on the other side. Maya is shown along an eagle in the coin.
She has received more than 30 honorary degrees. In 1992, she read the "On the Pulse of Morning" at the inauguration of President Clinton. In 2010, President Obama presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2013, she won the Literarian Award.
PGCIL Inks Pact with Africa50 for Kenya Transmission Project
State-owned Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) inked a pact with pan-African infrastructure investment platform Africa50 to continue the development of the Kenya Transmission Project on a public-private partnership basis.
The project entails the development, financing, construction, and operation of the 400kV Lessos-Loosuk and 220kV Kisumu-Musaga transmission lines under the public-private partnership (PPP) framework.
Once completed, the project will be the first independent power transmission (IPT) in Kenya and will set a reference point in Africa as the first financing of transmission lines on a PPP basis.
Vodafone Idea, Tata Teleservices, TTML Will Not Become PSUs
Telecom operators Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL), Tata Teleservices Ltd and Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Ltd (TTML) will not become public sector undertakings after their interest payable on dues are converted into government equity.
The three debt-ridden companies have proposed to convert their interest liability payable to the government into equity.
Post conversion, the government would have 35.8 per cent in VIL and the shareholding in TTML at around 9.5 per cent.
UCO Bank Launches RuPay Select Contactless Debit Card
UCO Bank launched the UCO Bank RuPay Select Contactless Debit Card for its premium customer segment in association with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), on the occasion of the 79th Inauguration Day of the bank.
This contactless debit card comes with a host of benefits and has been curated keeping in mind the needs and lifestyle of premium/HNI customers of the bank.
The card also offers an ATM withdrawal limit of Rs. 50,000 along with a purchase of up to Rs. 2 lakh at POS or e-commerce.
New Zealand Spinner Ajaz Patel Wins ICC Player of the Month Award
India-born New Zealand cricketer Ajaz Patel won the Men's ICC Player of the Month award for December following his stupendous 10-wicket haul against Virat Kohli and Co. in the second Test in Mumbai. The left-arm spinner was nominated for the award alongside India opener Mayank Agarwal and Australian pacer Mitchell Starc but beat them to it on the back of his incredibly rare feat.
Ajaz picked up 14 wickets in the Mumbai Test match in early December against India, including all 10 in the first innings, to become only the third player in Test history, after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble, to achieve the remarkable milestone.
Indu Malhotra to Head SC Panel to Probe PM's Security Breach
The Supreme Court appointed a five-member committee headed by former apex court judge Justice Indu Malhotra to probe the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Punjab.
The bench also appointed the Inspector General of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Director General of Police of Chandigarh, the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Additional DGP (Security) of Punjab as members to the panel.
The top court's order has come on the plea of an organisation, Lawyers Voice, seeking a thorough investigation into the breach in Modi's security in Punjab to ensure there is no such incident in the future.
NCP to Ally with SP for UP Polls; Contest in Goa, Manipur
In a significant political development, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar announced that his party would contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Manipur.
While the NCP would be joining the SP-led alliance in Uttar Pradesh, in Manipur, the party is cobbling up an understanding with the Congress, with which it shares power in Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
S. Somanath New ISRO Chief
S. Somnath, an eminent rocket scientist, was appointed as the chairperson of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). K Sivan, the outgoing chairperson, will be completed his extended term.Sivan was appointed as the ISRO chief in January 2018 and was given a one-year extension till January 14, 2022.
Somanath's appointment as the Space secretary and the Space Commission Chairman is for a combined tenure of three years from the date of joining of the post, inclusive of an extension in tenure beyond the age of superannuation in public interest.
HDFC Bank Adjudged 'Best Private Bank in India' at the Global Private Banking Awards 2021
HDFC Bank was adjudged Best Private Bank in India at the Global Private Banking Awards 2021, organised by Professional Wealth Management (PWM).
For the Global Private Banking Awards 2021, PWM received over 120 submissions which were reviewed by a panel of 16 judged from four continents.
HDFC Bank Private Banking, part of India's largest privately-owned bank, provides customers with a product suite across all asset classes for "optimal asset allocation" depending on clients' risk profiles and goals.
Leading companies operating in the education technology space have formed a consortium – India EdTech Consortium (IEC) – which would adhere to a common "code of conduct".
Companies and start-ups such as Byju's, Careers 360, Great Learning, Harappa, Times Edutech & Events Ltd, Scalar, Simplilearn, Toppr, Unacademy, upGrad, Vedantu and WhiteHat Jr have joined the IEC as of now.
The consortium members will adhere to a common 'code of conduct' and institute a two-tier grievance redressal mechanism to protect the rights of the learners.
IIM-Lucknow Launches Advanced Management Program in Financial Services and Capital Markets
To strengthen professionals' skill sets and understanding of financial services, IIM Lucknow and Imarticus Learning launched an advanced management program in financial services and capital markets.
Designed by academicians at IIM Lucknow, the program will provide mid-level management professionals with in-depth domain exposure in corporate finance, valuation and modelling, equity research, investment banking, risk management, corporate banking, digital banking, treasury operations, and finTech.
The program will cover key aspects of financial services and capital markets. Each of the course modules will have live virtual teaching and learners will also be given access to the campus immersion at IIM Lucknow twice – once at the beginning, and once at the end of the program.
India Skills 2021 national competition concluded with more than 200 participants who were felicitated by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. As many as 270 winners of the Competition felicitated with 61 gold, 77 silver, 53 bronze and 79 medallions of excellence. More than five hundred competitors from across the country participated in the competition to showcase their talent from 54 industrial sectors. These sectors include car paint, patisserie and confectionery, welding, additive manufacturing, cyber security, floristry, among others.
Odisha finished first out of 26 states and union territories of this year in the 'IndiaSkills 2021' contest with 51 medals. Odisha won 10 gold, 18 silver, 9 bronze, and 14 medallions.
With 30 medals, Maharashtra remained in second place, while Kerala took third place with 25 medals.
The winners of the India Skills 2021 competition will also have the opportunity to compete in the World Skills International Competition in Shanghai, China, in October 2022.
The competitions were held at multiple locations, including Pragati Maidan and offsite locations in the National Capital Region, from 7 to 9th of this month.
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