Month: January 2022

** 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.

** Less than 100 workers of Foxconn return to one of the dormitories, operations to resume in phased manner

Resuming operations with full workforce to take some more months

Less than 100 workers at Foxconn’s plant in Sriperumbudur have returned to one of the dormitories. The plant is likely to reopen on January 12, however resuming of operations with the full 15,000 workforce will take some more months, as corrective measures have to be implemented in full, according to sources, besides there is a change in local management.

The plant which makes Apple iPhones, was shut down last month after a food poisoning incident affected more than 100 women workers. Apple has placed the plant on probation and Foxconn has apologised for the incident, while assuring of corrective action.

** Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy inaugurates 144 PSA oxygen plants

“Besides establishing the oxygen plants, the government is providing a 30% subsidy to private hospitals with over 100-bed capacity for setting up oxygen plants,” the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh said.

Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, on January 10, virtually inaugurated 144 Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants set up at various government hospitals in the State.

On the occasion, Mr. Reddy said the government has been taking all measures to contain coronavirus ahead of the third wave and as part of it, 144 oxygen plants have been installed in government hospitals at a cost of ₹426 crore.

** Sri Lanka launches luxury train service in Jaffna with India’s assistance

India had provided AC Diesel Multiple Units under the loan facility

Sri Lanka has launched a luxury train service connecting the country’s Tamil-dominated Jaffna district to the capital city Colombo with the help of a Line of Credit offered by India, in another significant landmark in bilateral ties.

The intercity rail service with all facilities was launched on Sunday for passengers travelling from Colombo’s Mount Lavinia suburb to Jaffna’s Kankesanthurai port suburb in the north, covering a distance of approximately 386 kms.

** The Hindu Group wins five WAN-IFRA South Asia awards

Campaigns created by The Hindu Group bagged five awards at the WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2021. ‘Bring Back Milk Bikis Classic’, a campaign for Britannia received gold in the ‘best in audience engagement’ category. In the same category, The Hindu Group won silver for the ‘Brain-teasing activities’ campaign for Kissan (HUL).

The Hindu Group won gold for the ‘Let’s Crack CSE’ campaign done for Indian edu-tech start-up Unacademy, and bronze for the ‘Bring Back Milk Bikis Classic’ campaign in the ‘best branded/sponsored content campaign’ category, according to a press release.

Further, ‘Freedom Sale 2021’ has won bronze for the ‘best reader revenue initiative

** Advertising industry veteran Gerson da Cunha dies aged 92

Da Cunha started his career as a journalist, then headed the ad agency Lintas before working with UNICEF

Ad man Gerson da Cunha, a multi-faceted personality, who was also very passionate about civic activism in later years, died here on Friday. He was 92.

Da Cunha, who started his career as a journalist working for the Press Trust of India after graduating in science and then jumped into advertising, was associated with a slew of platforms engaged in civic activism, including AGNI (Action for Good Governance and Networking in India).

** Samanvi bags The Hindu & SaReGaMa M.S. Subbulakshmi Award, 2021

Udupi student pips four finalists for Voice of the Year prize

Samanvi, a second year B. A. student from Udupi, was on Friday awarded The Hindu & SaReGaMa M.S. Subbulakshmi Award, 2021, Voice of the Year, presented by Parry’s Amrit Brown Sugar at the Grand Finale held at The Music Academy here.

“I plan to pursue music as a career,” said the youngster who has been undergoing training with Guru V. Aravinda Hebbar in Gurukulavasam and under Chitravina N. Ravikiran.

Ms. Samanvi, who has been learning and performing along with her long-time friend Archana, will get to record an album with SaReGaMa.

The award was presented by Aruna Sairam, renowned Carnatic vocalist and guru, and Navaneeth L.V., CEO, The Hindu Group.

** Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant heads out for next round of sea trials

Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant now sails to undertake complex manoeuvres to establish specific readings of how the ship performs in various conditions

The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant has headed out for the next set of sea trials on January 9, shortly after two high-profile visits — that of the President and the Vice-President of India within a span of about two weeks.

** Former RBI governor Urjit Patel appointed vice president of AIIB

He has been appointed vice-president of Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Urjit Patel has been appointed vice-president of the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Mr. Patel will serve a three-year term as one of the multilateral development bank’s five vice-presidents, and will take the place of former Gujarat Chief Secretary D.J. Pandian who had been, as Vice-President, leading the AIIB’s investment operations and all sovereign and non-sovereign lending in South and Southeast Asia.