- Manipur gets waste management plant to preserve green cover
In an endeavour to protect and preserve the green cover of northeastern state of Manipur, a solid waste treatment plant has been set up at Lamdeng at Lamdeng in Imphal West.
The plant, set up under a state government initiative, is helping the state manage solid and industrial waste.
The operations of the plant, which will treat, process, recycle and disposing solid waste of Imphal, has been handed to a private agency Eco Care Private Limited.
- Assam CM inaugurates skill development centres across state
With an aim to promote skill development in northeast India, the centre and the states have been rolling out various projects.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated various skill development centres across the state.
Focusing on the need to nurture skilled manpower in the state, Sonowal recently inaugurated around 249 skill centres in the state to impart vocational training to the native youth and help them become financially independent.
- Defence innovation hub to come up in Coimbatore
A Defence Innovation Centre would be set up in Coimbatore by industry body CODISSIA to assist small industries in manufacturing components for the defence sector.
The Defence Ministry would release Rs 20 crore as an initial funding to the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (CODISSIA) to set up the innovation centre.
- J-K to launch welfare scheme for workers in unorganised sector
The Jammu and Kashmir government is set to launch a major welfare initiative for workers in the unorganised sector to provide them institutionalised socio- economic security.
The social security scheme would be launched by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh on January 8.
Under the scheme, named “Muhafiz” (Guardian), around three lakh workers registered with the Jammu and Kashmir Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (JKBOCWWB) would be covered under accidental, life and disability insurance.
- Govt to set up FTII in Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh would get its first Film and Television Institute, being set up by the union government as part of tapping the potential of the North Eastern region.
This would be the second such one in the country. The first Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) was set up in Pune, an autonomous institute operating under the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.
- Indian Navy& Cochin Port Trust enter into MoU
The Indian Navy and Cochin Port Trust (CPT) have entered into an Memorandum of Understanding for utilising the Port’s berthing facility at Mattancherry wharf for Naval ships.
As per the MoU, Cochin Ports Q2 and Q3 berths at Mattacherry wharf, totaling 228 metre quay length, would be be handed over to the Indian Navy for five years for berthing their ships.
- International kite festival begins in Gujarat
The international kite festival was inaugurated by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani at Sabarmati Riverfront in Gujarat.
Kite enthusiasts from across India and also foreign countries are participating in the week-long festival that is being celebrated across cities in Gujarat.
The state government-sponsored festival will culminate on January 14, which is celebrated as Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti).
- ‘World Sweet Festival’ in Hyderabad from January 13
India and other countries at the ‘World Sweet Festival to be held Hyderabad from January 13. The sweets from around 25 states in India and 15 foreign countries, to be prepared locally by members of various associations, will be displayed at the event, being organised by the Telangana government.
The sweet festival is being organised to showcase the cosmopolitan nature of Hyderabad in a sweet way.
- Paytm Payments Bank, IndusInd tie-up for FD facility
Paytm Payments Bank has partnered Induslnd Bank to introduce a facility to create a fixed deposit when the customer balance exceeds Rs 1 lakh at the end of day.
Paytm Payments Bank customers can redeem their deposits instantly, anytime without paying any pre-closure or miscellaneous charges and can earn up to 6.85 per cent annual interest.
| Paytm Payments Bank MD and CEO | Renu Satti |
- AIIB plans to issue first USD bonds this year
China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), in which India is a second largest shareholder, plans to issue its first US dollar-denominated bond with minimum worth of a USD billion by June this year.
The Beijing-based AIIB is a multilateral development bank initiated by China. The bank has an authorised capital of USD 100 billion.
It prioritises investment in energy, power generation, transport, rural infrastructure, environmental protection and logistics in Asia.
- Iceland Becomes 1st Country to Legalise Equal Pay
Iceland has stepped up for equality and has become the first country in the world to legalise equal pay.
According to a law passed by the parliament in June, all companies, both private and public, need to prove that their wage practices don’t discriminate against women. The only difference in wages that may exist, should be on the basis of education, output, and skills.
- After Dubai, Dhoni to launch his cricket academy in S’pore
Indian wicket-keeper batsman MS Dhoni is all set to open a cricket academy in Singapore. The 36-year old stalwart will inaugurate his second such venture in overseas territory on January 20 at St Patrick’s School.
During November last year, Dhoni had launched his first global cricket academy at Al Quoz in Dubai.
The seasoned campaigner has launched the academy in association with Singapore national women’s team captain GK Diviya. A couple of players from the men’s team such as Chetan Suryavanshi and Chaminda Ruwan will also be involved with its operation.
- Sports Minister Rathore Launches ‘Khelo India’ Logo
The Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Col. Rajyavardhan Rathore, stated that Khelo India would go a long way in achieving the twin objectives of mass participation and promotion of excellence in sports.
The Sports Minister launched the simple yet vibrant Khelo India logo at the Nehru Stadium. Khelo India School Games will be staged from January 31.
- Elina Svitolina Wins Brisbane International
Elina Svitolina secured her first WTA title in Australia with a straight-sets victory in the Brisbane International final, while Nick Kyrgios moved a step closer to claiming his first ATP title on home soil with a semifinal win over defending champion Grigor Dimitrov.
- Federer leads Switzerland to Hopman Cup title
Nineteen-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer defeated Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the men’s singles match in the Mastercard Hopman Cup 2018 final.
Seventeen years after his first Hopman Cup triumph, the Swiss has presented Belinda Bencic with the chance to clinch the title up against Angelique Kerber in the women’s singles.
- Actor-comedian Jerry Van Dyke dead at 86
English Actor and comedian Jerry Van Dyke, who is famous for his role in the sitcom “Coach”, passed away at the age of 86.
Van Dyke is also known for starring in classic musical films such as “Mary Poppins” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”.
- 1st astronaut to fly solo around the Moon dies at 87
John Young, a legendary US astronaut who went into space six times, orbited the moon and then walked on its craggy surface, has died
Young was a man of many firsts: the only astronaut to fly in the Gemini, Apollo and space shuttle programmes (and the first to command a shuttle flight); and the first to fly into space six times.
