Manoj Kohli appointed as SoftBank India head

SoftBank India has appointed  Manoj Kohli as its country head. The former Bharti Airtel executive, who has an experience of over 40 years, was head of Airtel’s international operations besides working at companies like DCM Shriram and Escotel before joining SoftBank.

In this new role, Kohli will be responsible for supporting SoftBank, SoftBank Vision Fund, and their portfolio companies’ interests in India. He will be responsible for government relations and public policy efforts, working closely with portfolio company founders and CEOs to address government and policy issues and secure required approvals to enable their businesses to run smoothly and achieve their full business potential

SoftBank has also been beefing up its team in India as earlier this month Vision Fund roped in Vikas Agnihotri, who was till recently Google India’s interim country head, as its first operating partner in the country. SoftBank Vision Fund has been building a team in India, which started with the hiring of Sumer Juneja last year to lead investments.

The World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative survey: Sri Lanka tops the list

According to a new survey conducted by the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) taken among 97 countries globally, Sri Lanka topped the breastfeeding rate. The rank is based on the performance on ten indicators of policies and programs.

WBTi uses color-code to rank countries. Sri Lanka earned a green color code, which implies the best level of performance. Sri Lanka has been making an effort to support and provide supportive measures for breastfeeding since 2005. It has demonstrated a high level of commitment towards the health and nutrition of mothers and babies.

Global Talent Competitiveness Index: India moves up eight places to rank 72

The ‘2020 Global Talent Competitiveness Index‘ report compiled by INSEAD in collaboration with human resource firm Addeco and Google was released in Davos, Switzerland. India has moved up eight places to 72nd rank. The list was topped by Switzerland, followed by US and Singapore. Sweden (4th), Denmark (5th), the Netherlands (6th), Finland (7th), Luxembourg (8th), Norway (9th) and Australia (10th) secured the top 10 positions in the list.

In the BRICS grouping, China was ranked 42nd, Russia ranked 48th, South Africa 70th and Brazil at 80th position. This year’s GTCI report explores how the development of artificial intelligence (AI) is not only changing the nature of work but also forcing a re-evaluation of workplace practices, corporate structures and innovation ecosystems. The report noted that the gap between high income, talent rich nations and the rest of the world is widening. More than half of the population in the developing world lack basic digital skills.

POLNET 2.0 commissioned by Union Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai commissioned a revamped and upgraded POLNET 2.0 at a national conference. It will bolster the police communication services. The new platform is armed with a robust multi-media facility and is a captive satellite-based network that provides video, audio and data connectivity across the country, especially in times of disasters when regular communication either gets jammed or crashes.

To communicate better during law and order problems and disasters, including linkup from remote border and coastal areas, the Directorate of Coordination Police Wireless (DCPW) has brought out an enhanced communication platform for police and security forces.

DCPW that operates the police network services POLNET in the country was set up in 1946 and it was placed under the Ministry of Home Affairs in 1950 with the primary mandate of coordination between state and central police and security agencies for radio communication and frequency allocation.

The World Archery lifts suspension on Indian archers

The World Archery has conditionally lifted the suspension of the Archery Association of India following elections in New Delhi on 18 January. The decision was made by executive board postal vote. Indian archers are allowed to compete in World Archery events as of Thursday 23 January 2020.

The federation has been instructed to update its constitution to clarify athlete membership, develop a strategic plan and resolve other governance issues. A progress report is required every three months. The Archery Association of India had been suspended since Monday 5 August 2019, with Indian athletes only allowed to compete under a neutral flag at events that directly affected their qualification chances for the Olympics.

Union Minister Arjun Munda was elected as President of the Archery Association of India (AAI), which were held in presence of three observers, including one from the World Archery. The elections were held as per the Delhi High Court order and the two bitter rivals clashed for the first time. World Archery had sent an Observer, Kazi Rajib Uddin Ahmed Chapol.

Alistair Shearer’s “The Story of Yoga: From Ancient India to the Modern West” launched

Book titled ‘first definitive history’ of Yoga, “The Story of Yoga: From India to the Contemporary World” has been written by Scottish cultural historian Alistair Shearer, published by Penguin Random House.

The book reveals history boasting a colourful cast of characters past and present, in an engaging tale of scholars and scandal, science and spirit, wisdom and waywardness. The book is divided into 2 parts – Today and Yesterday, with 9 chapters, including “The Age of invasions”, “Female fitness” and “Yoga Goes West”.

Terry Jones, ‘Monty Python’ star Passes Away at 77

Terry Jones, a star of the seminal comedy group ‘Monty Python‘ who delivered some of the most famous lines in comedic history, passes away at age 77. In 2016 it was announced that Jones had been diagnosed with dementia.

Jones was a major creative force behind the surrealist troupe’s pioneering works, which flitted between styles and tones and cemented the six-man group as one of the most influential acts in the British cultural canon.

India’s 1st Mahatma Gandhi convention centre inaugurated in Niger

Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and President of Niger Mahamadou Issoufou have inaugurated India’s first Mahatma Gandhi convention centre in Niger. It is the first convention centre established in Africa by India to honour the memory of Mahatma Gandhi. The centre will be landmark for India-Niger friendship, and also a symbol of India’s firm commitment towards Africa.

The convention centre has been designed as a spacious, modern and eco-friendly facility, including a 2,000 capacity Plenary Hall, to witness high-level and wide-ranging participation from African Union member states and other high-level conventions. The bilateral relations have expanded significantly in recent years. India has provided Lines of Credit to Niger for projects in transport, electrification, solar energy and potable drinking water.