Category: RECORDS, ALL OTHER excl. Asia & India

** India to convert 150 villages into ‘Villages of Excellence’ with technical help from Israel: Tomar

The Israel government has established 29 Centre of Excellence (CoEs) in 12 States

The Centre on Friday said it has decided to convert as many as 150 villages into ‘Villages of Excellence’ in 12 States with technical assistance from the Israel government.

Already, the Israel government has established 29 Centre of Excellence (CoEs) in 12 States, which are producing more than 25 million vegetable plants, over 3,87,000 quality fruit plants and can train more than 1.2 lakh farmers per year.

The 150 villages that are located around CoEs will be converted into ‘Villages of Excellence.’ “Out of which, 75 villages are being taken up in the first year to commemorate the 75th year of India’s independence, where India and Israel will work together,” Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar conveyed in a meeting with new Israeli Ambassador to India Naor Gilon on January 27 here.

The Minister expressed joy over the completion of 30 years of diplomatic relations between India and Israel and said that the government is satisfied with the functioning of 29 CoEs, according to an official statement.

The Ambassador of Israel, Mr. Gilon, said these CoEs are a great example of cooperation between the two countries and proposed the certification of CoEs to further enhance the standards and quality of services being provided to the farmers.

* BEL to supply IoT devices to US firm

Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Hyperion Global Group, an infrastructure telecommunication distribution company, have entered into a contract to develop, manufacture and supply Internet of Things (IoT) devices for the US market.

As per the contract, BEL will manufacture and supply IoT devices worth US $73 million to Hyperion, based in the US, during the first year of commencement of supply, with a provision to negotiate and supply upgrades of the products, worth US $365 million, in the next five years, said a statement issued by BEL.

The contract was signed on January 21, by BEL’s New York Regional Office and Hyperion in the presence of M V Rajasekhar, Director R&D, BEL, Nick Studebaker, CEO,

** TN doctor conferred MBE by UK for fight against Covid

Dr S Balachandran, a native of Uthukuli, was conferred an MBE (Member of the British Empire) on Monday. Along with two other doctors, Balachandran was given the honour for services to the nation during the pandemic. 

peaking to TNIE, Balachandran’s brother-in-law M Ravi said, “Balachandran studied at the Uthukuli Government High Secondary, and joined Thanjavur Medical College. He completed MD and Diploma in Anaesthesia there in 1989. He served in Karur Government Hospital and Ramanathapuram Government Hospital for several years before moving to the UK.” Now, he leads the board for infection control at the same university.

** A youngster from Kochi hitchhiked across Russia in 27 days

Mr. Presheed travelled from Tuapse along the western coast of Russia on the Black Sea to Vladivostok on the eastern coast near the Sea of Japan.

In his 24 years, Yadukrishnan Presheed from Palarivattom probably has had more adventures than an average man could possibly dream of during a lifetime.

For the youngster doing his journalism course in the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, also known as RUDN University, in Moscow, 2021 turned out to be one of the most memorable years in his already action-packed life.

** The reporters who cover the remotest parts of rural India have now reached the Oscars

As a documentary on news network Khabar Lahariya makes it to the Oscars, we look at a few news networks that report from the most neglected parts of rural India

Winter is setting in, and the pilgrimage centre on the Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh border is yet to shake off its slumber when Sunita and I set out for Gadhchapa village in Uttar Pradesh. Sunita, a reporter with Khabar Lahariya, a multi-lingual news network run by rural women journalists, has traveled an hour by bus from her house in Kol Majra village to reach Karwi town.

Khabar Lahariya is one among a clutch of news outlets and organisations — including the Gaon Connection, People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI), and Lantern Marathi — that are reporting from the most abjectly neglected parts of rural India where most journalists don’t tread.

** Reliance arm to acquire New York city luxury hotel

Mandarin Oriental New York is an iconic luxury hotel located at 80 Columbus Circle, directly adjacent to the pristine Central Park and Columbus Circle in New York city

The Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) on January 8 late night said the Reliance Industrial Investments and Holdings Ltd (RIIHL), its wholly owned subsidiary, had entered into an agreement to acquire the entire share capital of the Columbus Centre Corporation (Cayman), and the indirect owner of a 73.37% stake in the Mandarin Oriental New York, a premium luxury hotel for $ 98.15 million.

Set up in 2003, the Mandarin Oriental New York is an iconic luxury hotel located at 80 Columbus Circle, directly adjacent to the pristine Central Park and Columbus Circle in New York city.

** Bopanna and Ramkumar win Adelaide International

In the one hour and 21 minutes contest, the Indians saved all the four break points they faced and broke their rivals twice

Teaming up for the first-time on the ATP Tour, India’s Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan won the Adelaide International doubles trophy with a hard-fought 7-6 (6) 6-1 win over top seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo on January 9.

Bopanna’s excellent service returns at crucial times and Ramkumar’s all-round game tilted the match in their favour.

** Mayank Agarwal among three nominated for ICC men’s player of month

Agarwal was the architect of the win in Mumbai against New Zealand with a Player of the Match-winning performance of 150 and 62 in the two innings.

India opener Mayank Agarwal was on Saturday nominated for the ICC Player of the Month award for December following his stellar performance in the Test series against New Zealand and South Africa.

Besides Agarwal, New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel and Australian pacer Mitchell Starc were also short-listed for the award.

** Musk reveals how he hired Ashok Elluswamy as Tesla Autopilot Head

Ashok Elluswamy holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from the College of Engineering Guindy, Chennai

Elluswamy was actually the first employee to be hired for Tesla’s Autopilot team, with Musk actually using Twitter to ask people to apply for the role back in 2015.

**India-based Tamara Leisure Experiences strengthens its German portfolio with 4th hotel acquisition

 Tamara Leisure Experiences headquartered in Bengaluru, India has added to its German portfolio of hospitality outlets with the recent acquisition of Moxy Bremen at Uberseestadt in Bremen.

This newly acquired hotel is a three-star property with 128 rooms and is situated to the west of Bremen, a city with 570,000 residents. Uberseestadt, where the hotel is located, is the former port area of the Walle district and is currently being built up as a modern mixed-use business and residential space.