1. Grabar-Kitarovic elected Croatia's first woman presidentOpposition challenger Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has become the
first female president of Croatia, winning by the narrowest of margins.
She secured 50.5% of the vote with 99% of ballots counted, while incumbent Ivo Josipovic was close behind on 49.5%.
Mr Josipovic has conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent.
The challenger's win is a sign that Croatia may be shifting to the right after the centre-left coalition's failure to end six years of downturn.
The election was seen as a key test for the main parties ahead of parliamentary elections expected to be held towards the end of 2015.
Ms Grabar-Kitarovic is a politically conservative member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), which pushed the country towards independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.
The 46-year-old is a former foreign minister and assistant to the Nato secretary general.
She secured 50.5% of the vote with 99% of ballots counted, while incumbent Ivo Josipovic was close behind on 49.5%.
Mr Josipovic has conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent.
The challenger's win is a sign that Croatia may be shifting to the right after the centre-left coalition's failure to end six years of downturn.
The election was seen as a key test for the main parties ahead of parliamentary elections expected to be held towards the end of 2015.
Ms Grabar-Kitarovic is a politically conservative member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), which pushed the country towards independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.
The 46-year-old is a former foreign minister and assistant to the Nato secretary general.
2. Bangladesh appoints Surendra Kumar Sinha as new chief justice
President Abdul Hamid has "signed the paper appointing the new chief justice," a Bangabhaban presidential palace spokesman told media.
A Law Ministry statement said 64-year-old Sinha would take over on January 17, as present Chief Justice Muzammel Hossain will retire on January 16.
Sinha was the senior most judge in the apex Appellate Division of the Supreme Court after Hossain. Unitary Bangladesh's Supreme Court comprises two divisions – the Appellate Division and the High Court division.
President Abdul Hamid has "signed the paper appointing the new chief justice," a Bangabhaban presidential palace spokesman told media.
A Law Ministry statement said 64-year-old Sinha would take over on January 17, as present Chief Justice Muzammel Hossain will retire on January 16.
Sinha was the senior most judge in the apex Appellate Division of the Supreme Court after Hossain. Unitary Bangladesh's Supreme Court comprises two divisions – the Appellate Division and the High Court division.
3. Kotak Bank launches social networked Jifi savings account
After launching a Jifi current account in March last year, Kotak Mahindra Bank today announced the launch of Jifi Saver, a social savings bank account that can be managed via Twitter and Facebook.
“Developed for today’s tech savvy and socially connected consumers with an active digital life, Jifi Saver will take care of their needs such as online shopping, on-the-go transactions, financial planning, etc. It also offers all benefits and functionalities of a regular savings bank account,” Kotak said in a statement.
Jifi Saver enables customers to earn regular savings interest rate of 6% p.a. on balance of above Rs. 1 lakh and 5% p.a. on balance up to Rs. 1 lakh offered by the bank to all its savings account holders.
Customers can open a Jifi Saver account online, using their Facebook or Twitter credentials. Thereafter, they will receive a Jifi debit card, and a free subscription to Kotak MoneyWatch (KMC) platinum plan for the first year, which will assist them to track expenses and plan their finances, the statement added.
The account offers extra transaction points for purchase from select ecommerce partners by making online purchases using their debit card. In addition, benefits such as mobile and DTH recharge via Twitter, reward and transaction points, 25 free at par cheques per quarter and unlimited free transactions at Kotak Mahindra Bank ATMs are also offered.
Jifi Saver is available in 27 cities across the country.
4. US to host international Anti-terror Summit on 18 February 2015
The United States announced that it will host an international Anti-terror Summit in Washington. The summit will be held on 18 February 2015 and will aim on preventing violent extremism that was seen in attack on Charlie Hebdo’s Paris office.
The meeting will highlight best practices (domestic and international) and emerging efforts from several US communities carrying out pilot programs to address extremism.
The US Attorney General Eric Holder announced about the summit from Paris where he had joined an emergency conference on terrorism. The conference was held in the wake of a terror spree in France in first week of January 2014 in which 17 people (in attack and manhunt) were killed.
5. National Youth Day observed across India on 12 January
National Youth Day was observed across India on 12 January 2015. The day is observed annually to mark the birth anniversary of social reformer, philosopher and thinker Swami Vivekananda.
This is the 152nd birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and his birth anniversary is being celebrated as National Youth Day in India since 1985.
The Union Government in 1984 had declared that 12 January, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda will be observed as the National Youth Day.
6. Foreign investors add Indian online property portals to shopping cart
Indian businessman Navin Bhartia's Internet habits make him a dream customer for billionaire foreign media moguls like Rupert Murdoch.
The 45-year-old from Kolkata likes to buy homes online, sometimes without visiting them. In the last four years, he has bought five properties for 40 million rupees ($641,900) on Proptiger.com, partly owned by Murdoch's News Corp.
Foreign investors like Murdoch have already put more than $200 million into portals that help people like Bhartia buy homes. Spurring the interest is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vow to provide a house to every Indian family by 2022 as the country's growing army of Internet users embrace e-commerce.
"Scale and growth of businesses like (online retailer) Flipkart are a proxy that consumers in India are comfortable doing transactions on the Internet," said Mukul Singhal, principal at India-China fund SAIF Partners, which has invested $10 million in Proptiger. News Corp has a $30 million stake.
India's Internet legion, already bigger than Indonesia's 250 million population and growing at an annual rate of more than 20 percent, has also lured property portal investment from the likes of Japanese telecoms-to-media firm SoftBank Corp. Last week Google Inc's Google Capital unit invested an undisclosed sum in a site called Commonfloor.com.
The need for long-term capital for start-ups like Proptiger and Housing.com also makes India more attractive for foreign investors compared to China, where local money dominates, according to one investor, speaking on condition of anonymity.
7. Roger Federer won Brisbane International Tennis title
17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer of Switzerland on 11 January 2015 won the Brisbane International Tennis title. He won the Brisbane title for the first time.
In the finals played at Brisbane in Australia, he defeated third seeded Milos Raonic of Canada 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4.
With this he became the third tennis player in open era to win 1000 ATP titles. The other two players are Jimmy Connors of the US (1253) and Ivan Lendl of the US (1071).
At the presentation, he was awarded the trophy by Roy Emerson of Australia and a special award for 1000 wins by Australian legend Rod Laver.
Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player and he is currently ranked world No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
8. SDSC-SHAR director MYS Prasad chosen for Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Award 2015
The director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota Range (SHAR) MYS Prasad was selected for the Vikram Sarabhai memorial award 2015. The award will be presented to MYS Prasad by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA).
Prasad was selected for his outstanding contribution to Research and Development in the field of space science in his long career at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Generally, the ISCA awards are presented at the inaugural function of the Indian Science Congress but this award will be presented in a separate function that will be organised by ISCA.
9. Tech Mahindra signed definitive agreement to acquire Swiss firm SOFGEN Holdings Limited
Tech Mahindra signed definitive agreement to acquire the Swiss firm SOFGEN Holdings Limited. Company did not disclose the details of the deal.
The deal is aimed at boosting the financial services offering by Tech Mahindra so as reach the top line target of 5 billion US dollar by 2015.
With this acquisition, Tech Mahindra will have the capability to offer a unique combination of change the bank and run the bank services to retail banking, private banking and wealth management customers globally.
This is the third deal Tech Mahindra has struck since November 2014. In November 2014, it had announced the acquisition of Lightbridge Communications for 240 million US dollar. In first week of January 2015, it formed a joint venture with Avion Systems, in which it will hold a minority stake.
SOFGEN offers solutions related to core banking. It has the second largest pool of Avaloq consultants globally and is Temenos’ most prolific partner. It has offices in Geneva, Chennai, Singapore, London and New York and it employs 450 people.
The Chairman of the SOFGEN is Alexander Dembitz.
10. NRIs can vote through postal ballots
The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that the EC’s recommendation to extend voting rights to NRIs through postal ballots have been accepted in letter and spirit.
Taking note of the submissions, a bench comprising Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and A.K. Sikri asked the Centre to inform it about “further steps taken to implement the suggestions.”
The bench posted the matter after eight weeks, asking the Centre to do the needful at the earliest.
“Since the views and recommendation have been accepted let them go ahead with the follow-up. They will have to carry out the follow-up process at the earliest,” the bench said.
The Centre’s stand was clarified by Additional Solicitor General P.L. Narasimha, who said certain amendments are required to be carried out and the ministry of law is working on them, taking into consideration the EC recommendations.
On November 14 last year, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to make its stand clear on the EC’s proposal for allowing NRIs to cast their votes through proxy voting and e-ballots in polls in India.
After launching a Jifi current account in March last year, Kotak Mahindra Bank today announced the launch of Jifi Saver, a social savings bank account that can be managed via Twitter and Facebook.
“Developed for today’s tech savvy and socially connected consumers with an active digital life, Jifi Saver will take care of their needs such as online shopping, on-the-go transactions, financial planning, etc. It also offers all benefits and functionalities of a regular savings bank account,” Kotak said in a statement.
Jifi Saver enables customers to earn regular savings interest rate of 6% p.a. on balance of above Rs. 1 lakh and 5% p.a. on balance up to Rs. 1 lakh offered by the bank to all its savings account holders.
Customers can open a Jifi Saver account online, using their Facebook or Twitter credentials. Thereafter, they will receive a Jifi debit card, and a free subscription to Kotak MoneyWatch (KMC) platinum plan for the first year, which will assist them to track expenses and plan their finances, the statement added.
The account offers extra transaction points for purchase from select ecommerce partners by making online purchases using their debit card. In addition, benefits such as mobile and DTH recharge via Twitter, reward and transaction points, 25 free at par cheques per quarter and unlimited free transactions at Kotak Mahindra Bank ATMs are also offered.
Jifi Saver is available in 27 cities across the country.
4. US to host international Anti-terror Summit on 18 February 2015
The United States announced that it will host an international Anti-terror Summit in Washington. The summit will be held on 18 February 2015 and will aim on preventing violent extremism that was seen in attack on Charlie Hebdo’s Paris office.
The meeting will highlight best practices (domestic and international) and emerging efforts from several US communities carrying out pilot programs to address extremism.
The US Attorney General Eric Holder announced about the summit from Paris where he had joined an emergency conference on terrorism. The conference was held in the wake of a terror spree in France in first week of January 2014 in which 17 people (in attack and manhunt) were killed.
5. National Youth Day observed across India on 12 January
National Youth Day was observed across India on 12 January 2015. The day is observed annually to mark the birth anniversary of social reformer, philosopher and thinker Swami Vivekananda.
This is the 152nd birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and his birth anniversary is being celebrated as National Youth Day in India since 1985.
The Union Government in 1984 had declared that 12 January, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda will be observed as the National Youth Day.
6. Foreign investors add Indian online property portals to shopping cart
Indian businessman Navin Bhartia's Internet habits make him a dream customer for billionaire foreign media moguls like Rupert Murdoch.
The 45-year-old from Kolkata likes to buy homes online, sometimes without visiting them. In the last four years, he has bought five properties for 40 million rupees ($641,900) on Proptiger.com, partly owned by Murdoch's News Corp.
Foreign investors like Murdoch have already put more than $200 million into portals that help people like Bhartia buy homes. Spurring the interest is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vow to provide a house to every Indian family by 2022 as the country's growing army of Internet users embrace e-commerce.
"Scale and growth of businesses like (online retailer) Flipkart are a proxy that consumers in India are comfortable doing transactions on the Internet," said Mukul Singhal, principal at India-China fund SAIF Partners, which has invested $10 million in Proptiger. News Corp has a $30 million stake.
India's Internet legion, already bigger than Indonesia's 250 million population and growing at an annual rate of more than 20 percent, has also lured property portal investment from the likes of Japanese telecoms-to-media firm SoftBank Corp. Last week Google Inc's Google Capital unit invested an undisclosed sum in a site called Commonfloor.com.
The need for long-term capital for start-ups like Proptiger and Housing.com also makes India more attractive for foreign investors compared to China, where local money dominates, according to one investor, speaking on condition of anonymity.
7. Roger Federer won Brisbane International Tennis title
17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer of Switzerland on 11 January 2015 won the Brisbane International Tennis title. He won the Brisbane title for the first time.
In the finals played at Brisbane in Australia, he defeated third seeded Milos Raonic of Canada 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4.
With this he became the third tennis player in open era to win 1000 ATP titles. The other two players are Jimmy Connors of the US (1253) and Ivan Lendl of the US (1071).
At the presentation, he was awarded the trophy by Roy Emerson of Australia and a special award for 1000 wins by Australian legend Rod Laver.
Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player and he is currently ranked world No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
8. SDSC-SHAR director MYS Prasad chosen for Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Award 2015
The director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota Range (SHAR) MYS Prasad was selected for the Vikram Sarabhai memorial award 2015. The award will be presented to MYS Prasad by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA).
Prasad was selected for his outstanding contribution to Research and Development in the field of space science in his long career at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Generally, the ISCA awards are presented at the inaugural function of the Indian Science Congress but this award will be presented in a separate function that will be organised by ISCA.
9. Tech Mahindra signed definitive agreement to acquire Swiss firm SOFGEN Holdings Limited
Tech Mahindra signed definitive agreement to acquire the Swiss firm SOFGEN Holdings Limited. Company did not disclose the details of the deal.
The deal is aimed at boosting the financial services offering by Tech Mahindra so as reach the top line target of 5 billion US dollar by 2015.
With this acquisition, Tech Mahindra will have the capability to offer a unique combination of change the bank and run the bank services to retail banking, private banking and wealth management customers globally.
This is the third deal Tech Mahindra has struck since November 2014. In November 2014, it had announced the acquisition of Lightbridge Communications for 240 million US dollar. In first week of January 2015, it formed a joint venture with Avion Systems, in which it will hold a minority stake.
SOFGEN offers solutions related to core banking. It has the second largest pool of Avaloq consultants globally and is Temenos’ most prolific partner. It has offices in Geneva, Chennai, Singapore, London and New York and it employs 450 people.
The Chairman of the SOFGEN is Alexander Dembitz.
10. NRIs can vote through postal ballots
The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that the EC’s recommendation to extend voting rights to NRIs through postal ballots have been accepted in letter and spirit.
Taking note of the submissions, a bench comprising Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and A.K. Sikri asked the Centre to inform it about “further steps taken to implement the suggestions.”
The bench posted the matter after eight weeks, asking the Centre to do the needful at the earliest.
“Since the views and recommendation have been accepted let them go ahead with the follow-up. They will have to carry out the follow-up process at the earliest,” the bench said.
The Centre’s stand was clarified by Additional Solicitor General P.L. Narasimha, who said certain amendments are required to be carried out and the ministry of law is working on them, taking into consideration the EC recommendations.
On November 14 last year, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to make its stand clear on the EC’s proposal for allowing NRIs to cast their votes through proxy voting and e-ballots in polls in India.
1. Grabar-Kitarovic elected Croatia's first woman presidentOpposition challenger Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has become the
first female president of Croatia, winning by the narrowest of margins.
She secured 50.5% of the vote with 99% of ballots counted, while incumbent Ivo Josipovic was close behind on 49.5%.
Mr Josipovic has conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent.
The challenger's win is a sign that Croatia may be shifting to the right after the centre-left coalition's failure to end six years of downturn.
The election was seen as a key test for the main parties ahead of parliamentary elections expected to be held towards the end of 2015.
Ms Grabar-Kitarovic is a politically conservative member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), which pushed the country towards independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.
The 46-year-old is a former foreign minister and assistant to the Nato secretary general.
She secured 50.5% of the vote with 99% of ballots counted, while incumbent Ivo Josipovic was close behind on 49.5%.
Mr Josipovic has conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent.
The challenger's win is a sign that Croatia may be shifting to the right after the centre-left coalition's failure to end six years of downturn.
The election was seen as a key test for the main parties ahead of parliamentary elections expected to be held towards the end of 2015.
Ms Grabar-Kitarovic is a politically conservative member of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), which pushed the country towards independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.
The 46-year-old is a former foreign minister and assistant to the Nato secretary general.
2. Bangladesh appoints Surendra Kumar Sinha as new chief justice
President Abdul Hamid has "signed the paper appointing the new chief justice," a Bangabhaban presidential palace spokesman told media.
A Law Ministry statement said 64-year-old Sinha would take over on January 17, as present Chief Justice Muzammel Hossain will retire on January 16.
Sinha was the senior most judge in the apex Appellate Division of the Supreme Court after Hossain. Unitary Bangladesh's Supreme Court comprises two divisions – the Appellate Division and the High Court division.
President Abdul Hamid has "signed the paper appointing the new chief justice," a Bangabhaban presidential palace spokesman told media.
A Law Ministry statement said 64-year-old Sinha would take over on January 17, as present Chief Justice Muzammel Hossain will retire on January 16.
Sinha was the senior most judge in the apex Appellate Division of the Supreme Court after Hossain. Unitary Bangladesh's Supreme Court comprises two divisions – the Appellate Division and the High Court division.
3. Kotak Bank launches social networked Jifi savings account
After launching a Jifi current account in March last year, Kotak Mahindra Bank today announced the launch of Jifi Saver, a social savings bank account that can be managed via Twitter and Facebook.
“Developed for today’s tech savvy and socially connected consumers with an active digital life, Jifi Saver will take care of their needs such as online shopping, on-the-go transactions, financial planning, etc. It also offers all benefits and functionalities of a regular savings bank account,” Kotak said in a statement.
Jifi Saver enables customers to earn regular savings interest rate of 6% p.a. on balance of above Rs. 1 lakh and 5% p.a. on balance up to Rs. 1 lakh offered by the bank to all its savings account holders.
Customers can open a Jifi Saver account online, using their Facebook or Twitter credentials. Thereafter, they will receive a Jifi debit card, and a free subscription to Kotak MoneyWatch (KMC) platinum plan for the first year, which will assist them to track expenses and plan their finances, the statement added.
The account offers extra transaction points for purchase from select ecommerce partners by making online purchases using their debit card. In addition, benefits such as mobile and DTH recharge via Twitter, reward and transaction points, 25 free at par cheques per quarter and unlimited free transactions at Kotak Mahindra Bank ATMs are also offered.
Jifi Saver is available in 27 cities across the country.
4. US to host international Anti-terror Summit on 18 February 2015
The United States announced that it will host an international Anti-terror Summit in Washington. The summit will be held on 18 February 2015 and will aim on preventing violent extremism that was seen in attack on Charlie Hebdo’s Paris office.
The meeting will highlight best practices (domestic and international) and emerging efforts from several US communities carrying out pilot programs to address extremism.
The US Attorney General Eric Holder announced about the summit from Paris where he had joined an emergency conference on terrorism. The conference was held in the wake of a terror spree in France in first week of January 2014 in which 17 people (in attack and manhunt) were killed.
5. National Youth Day observed across India on 12 January
National Youth Day was observed across India on 12 January 2015. The day is observed annually to mark the birth anniversary of social reformer, philosopher and thinker Swami Vivekananda.
This is the 152nd birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and his birth anniversary is being celebrated as National Youth Day in India since 1985.
The Union Government in 1984 had declared that 12 January, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda will be observed as the National Youth Day.
6. Foreign investors add Indian online property portals to shopping cart
Indian businessman Navin Bhartia's Internet habits make him a dream customer for billionaire foreign media moguls like Rupert Murdoch.
The 45-year-old from Kolkata likes to buy homes online, sometimes without visiting them. In the last four years, he has bought five properties for 40 million rupees ($641,900) on Proptiger.com, partly owned by Murdoch's News Corp.
Foreign investors like Murdoch have already put more than $200 million into portals that help people like Bhartia buy homes. Spurring the interest is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vow to provide a house to every Indian family by 2022 as the country's growing army of Internet users embrace e-commerce.
"Scale and growth of businesses like (online retailer) Flipkart are a proxy that consumers in India are comfortable doing transactions on the Internet," said Mukul Singhal, principal at India-China fund SAIF Partners, which has invested $10 million in Proptiger. News Corp has a $30 million stake.
India's Internet legion, already bigger than Indonesia's 250 million population and growing at an annual rate of more than 20 percent, has also lured property portal investment from the likes of Japanese telecoms-to-media firm SoftBank Corp. Last week Google Inc's Google Capital unit invested an undisclosed sum in a site called Commonfloor.com.
The need for long-term capital for start-ups like Proptiger and Housing.com also makes India more attractive for foreign investors compared to China, where local money dominates, according to one investor, speaking on condition of anonymity.
7. Roger Federer won Brisbane International Tennis title
17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer of Switzerland on 11 January 2015 won the Brisbane International Tennis title. He won the Brisbane title for the first time.
In the finals played at Brisbane in Australia, he defeated third seeded Milos Raonic of Canada 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4.
With this he became the third tennis player in open era to win 1000 ATP titles. The other two players are Jimmy Connors of the US (1253) and Ivan Lendl of the US (1071).
At the presentation, he was awarded the trophy by Roy Emerson of Australia and a special award for 1000 wins by Australian legend Rod Laver.
Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player and he is currently ranked world No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
8. SDSC-SHAR director MYS Prasad chosen for Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Award 2015
The director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota Range (SHAR) MYS Prasad was selected for the Vikram Sarabhai memorial award 2015. The award will be presented to MYS Prasad by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA).
Prasad was selected for his outstanding contribution to Research and Development in the field of space science in his long career at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Generally, the ISCA awards are presented at the inaugural function of the Indian Science Congress but this award will be presented in a separate function that will be organised by ISCA.
9. Tech Mahindra signed definitive agreement to acquire Swiss firm SOFGEN Holdings Limited
Tech Mahindra signed definitive agreement to acquire the Swiss firm SOFGEN Holdings Limited. Company did not disclose the details of the deal.
The deal is aimed at boosting the financial services offering by Tech Mahindra so as reach the top line target of 5 billion US dollar by 2015.
With this acquisition, Tech Mahindra will have the capability to offer a unique combination of change the bank and run the bank services to retail banking, private banking and wealth management customers globally.
This is the third deal Tech Mahindra has struck since November 2014. In November 2014, it had announced the acquisition of Lightbridge Communications for 240 million US dollar. In first week of January 2015, it formed a joint venture with Avion Systems, in which it will hold a minority stake.
SOFGEN offers solutions related to core banking. It has the second largest pool of Avaloq consultants globally and is Temenos’ most prolific partner. It has offices in Geneva, Chennai, Singapore, London and New York and it employs 450 people.
The Chairman of the SOFGEN is Alexander Dembitz.
10. NRIs can vote through postal ballots
The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that the EC’s recommendation to extend voting rights to NRIs through postal ballots have been accepted in letter and spirit.
Taking note of the submissions, a bench comprising Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and A.K. Sikri asked the Centre to inform it about “further steps taken to implement the suggestions.”
The bench posted the matter after eight weeks, asking the Centre to do the needful at the earliest.
“Since the views and recommendation have been accepted let them go ahead with the follow-up. They will have to carry out the follow-up process at the earliest,” the bench said.
The Centre’s stand was clarified by Additional Solicitor General P.L. Narasimha, who said certain amendments are required to be carried out and the ministry of law is working on them, taking into consideration the EC recommendations.
On November 14 last year, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to make its stand clear on the EC’s proposal for allowing NRIs to cast their votes through proxy voting and e-ballots in polls in India.
After launching a Jifi current account in March last year, Kotak Mahindra Bank today announced the launch of Jifi Saver, a social savings bank account that can be managed via Twitter and Facebook.
“Developed for today’s tech savvy and socially connected consumers with an active digital life, Jifi Saver will take care of their needs such as online shopping, on-the-go transactions, financial planning, etc. It also offers all benefits and functionalities of a regular savings bank account,” Kotak said in a statement.
Jifi Saver enables customers to earn regular savings interest rate of 6% p.a. on balance of above Rs. 1 lakh and 5% p.a. on balance up to Rs. 1 lakh offered by the bank to all its savings account holders.
Customers can open a Jifi Saver account online, using their Facebook or Twitter credentials. Thereafter, they will receive a Jifi debit card, and a free subscription to Kotak MoneyWatch (KMC) platinum plan for the first year, which will assist them to track expenses and plan their finances, the statement added.
The account offers extra transaction points for purchase from select ecommerce partners by making online purchases using their debit card. In addition, benefits such as mobile and DTH recharge via Twitter, reward and transaction points, 25 free at par cheques per quarter and unlimited free transactions at Kotak Mahindra Bank ATMs are also offered.
Jifi Saver is available in 27 cities across the country.
4. US to host international Anti-terror Summit on 18 February 2015
The United States announced that it will host an international Anti-terror Summit in Washington. The summit will be held on 18 February 2015 and will aim on preventing violent extremism that was seen in attack on Charlie Hebdo’s Paris office.
The meeting will highlight best practices (domestic and international) and emerging efforts from several US communities carrying out pilot programs to address extremism.
The US Attorney General Eric Holder announced about the summit from Paris where he had joined an emergency conference on terrorism. The conference was held in the wake of a terror spree in France in first week of January 2014 in which 17 people (in attack and manhunt) were killed.
5. National Youth Day observed across India on 12 January
National Youth Day was observed across India on 12 January 2015. The day is observed annually to mark the birth anniversary of social reformer, philosopher and thinker Swami Vivekananda.
This is the 152nd birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and his birth anniversary is being celebrated as National Youth Day in India since 1985.
The Union Government in 1984 had declared that 12 January, the birthday of Swami Vivekananda will be observed as the National Youth Day.
6. Foreign investors add Indian online property portals to shopping cart
Indian businessman Navin Bhartia's Internet habits make him a dream customer for billionaire foreign media moguls like Rupert Murdoch.
The 45-year-old from Kolkata likes to buy homes online, sometimes without visiting them. In the last four years, he has bought five properties for 40 million rupees ($641,900) on Proptiger.com, partly owned by Murdoch's News Corp.
Foreign investors like Murdoch have already put more than $200 million into portals that help people like Bhartia buy homes. Spurring the interest is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vow to provide a house to every Indian family by 2022 as the country's growing army of Internet users embrace e-commerce.
"Scale and growth of businesses like (online retailer) Flipkart are a proxy that consumers in India are comfortable doing transactions on the Internet," said Mukul Singhal, principal at India-China fund SAIF Partners, which has invested $10 million in Proptiger. News Corp has a $30 million stake.
India's Internet legion, already bigger than Indonesia's 250 million population and growing at an annual rate of more than 20 percent, has also lured property portal investment from the likes of Japanese telecoms-to-media firm SoftBank Corp. Last week Google Inc's Google Capital unit invested an undisclosed sum in a site called Commonfloor.com.
The need for long-term capital for start-ups like Proptiger and Housing.com also makes India more attractive for foreign investors compared to China, where local money dominates, according to one investor, speaking on condition of anonymity.
7. Roger Federer won Brisbane International Tennis title
17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer of Switzerland on 11 January 2015 won the Brisbane International Tennis title. He won the Brisbane title for the first time.
In the finals played at Brisbane in Australia, he defeated third seeded Milos Raonic of Canada 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-4.
With this he became the third tennis player in open era to win 1000 ATP titles. The other two players are Jimmy Connors of the US (1253) and Ivan Lendl of the US (1071).
At the presentation, he was awarded the trophy by Roy Emerson of Australia and a special award for 1000 wins by Australian legend Rod Laver.
Roger Federer is a Swiss professional tennis player and he is currently ranked world No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
8. SDSC-SHAR director MYS Prasad chosen for Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Award 2015
The director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota Range (SHAR) MYS Prasad was selected for the Vikram Sarabhai memorial award 2015. The award will be presented to MYS Prasad by the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA).
Prasad was selected for his outstanding contribution to Research and Development in the field of space science in his long career at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Generally, the ISCA awards are presented at the inaugural function of the Indian Science Congress but this award will be presented in a separate function that will be organised by ISCA.
9. Tech Mahindra signed definitive agreement to acquire Swiss firm SOFGEN Holdings Limited
Tech Mahindra signed definitive agreement to acquire the Swiss firm SOFGEN Holdings Limited. Company did not disclose the details of the deal.
The deal is aimed at boosting the financial services offering by Tech Mahindra so as reach the top line target of 5 billion US dollar by 2015.
With this acquisition, Tech Mahindra will have the capability to offer a unique combination of change the bank and run the bank services to retail banking, private banking and wealth management customers globally.
This is the third deal Tech Mahindra has struck since November 2014. In November 2014, it had announced the acquisition of Lightbridge Communications for 240 million US dollar. In first week of January 2015, it formed a joint venture with Avion Systems, in which it will hold a minority stake.
SOFGEN offers solutions related to core banking. It has the second largest pool of Avaloq consultants globally and is Temenos’ most prolific partner. It has offices in Geneva, Chennai, Singapore, London and New York and it employs 450 people.
The Chairman of the SOFGEN is Alexander Dembitz.
10. NRIs can vote through postal ballots
The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that the EC’s recommendation to extend voting rights to NRIs through postal ballots have been accepted in letter and spirit.
Taking note of the submissions, a bench comprising Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and A.K. Sikri asked the Centre to inform it about “further steps taken to implement the suggestions.”
The bench posted the matter after eight weeks, asking the Centre to do the needful at the earliest.
“Since the views and recommendation have been accepted let them go ahead with the follow-up. They will have to carry out the follow-up process at the earliest,” the bench said.
The Centre’s stand was clarified by Additional Solicitor General P.L. Narasimha, who said certain amendments are required to be carried out and the ministry of law is working on them, taking into consideration the EC recommendations.
On November 14 last year, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to make its stand clear on the EC’s proposal for allowing NRIs to cast their votes through proxy voting and e-ballots in polls in India.
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