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September 13, 2021
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts voted as the World's Best Hotel Brand for the Second Consecutive Year by 'Travel + Leisure USA World's Best Awards 2021'
Photo: The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts voted as The World’s Best Hotel Brand.
MUMBAI, India, Sept. 13, 2021 — The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, owned and managed by a Brookfield Asset Management-sponsored private real estate fund, has been voted the World’s Best Hotel Brand for the second consecutive year by Travel + Leisure USA World’s Best Awards 2021.
“The Leela is the epitome of true Indian luxury infused with a distinct aesthetic that celebrates India’s rich art, cuisine, and culture ingrained in its offering of India’s heritage to the world. This honor is a recognition of the brand’s consistency in pursuing excellence and its commitment towards curating authentic luxury experiences with the graciousness of Indian hospitality,” the hotel spokesperson said.
“Travel + Leisure USA’s World’s Best Awards are a renowned benchmark of excellence for travel and hospitality companies globally. They honor the finest travel experiences in the world selected by Travel + Leisure’s global readership of discerning travelers. Readers rate their experiences and evaluate hotels across the world on characteristics such as rooms, location, service, cuisine, and value,” the spokesperson added.
“We are truly humbled and excited to be voted The World’s Best Brand by the readers of Travel + Leisure USA for the second consecutive year. It is a testament to the Leela brand’s recognition and an appreciation of our teams’ hard work and dedication. We go above and beyond every day to deliver an impeccable luxury experience and make every guest’s stay a memorable one,” said Mr. Anuraag Bhatnagar, Chief Operating Officer, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts.
“Being recognized as ‘The World’s Best Hotel Brand’ for the second year in a row is a tremendous achievement for The Leela hospitality business. Congratulations to the entire Leela team that has ensured the highest delivery of services despite the challenging time the world has witnessed this past year,” said Ankur Gupta, Managing Partner Brookfield Asset Management. “These awards are also a recognition of the appreciation that Indian hospitality enjoys globally and the limitless potential of India’s travel and tourism industry. Brookfield is committed to growing The Leela hospitality business domestically and internationally while retaining its authentic Indian luxury offering.”
Headquartered in Mumbai, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts operates ten award-winning properties in major cities and leisure destinations across India. These include the flagship hotel in the capital city of New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Udaipur, Jaipur, Gurugram, East Delhi, Goa, Mumbai, and Gandhinagar. According to Leela, it “celebrates each hotel through its unique location, art, culture, and cuisine with thoughtful services, celebratory rituals, and immersive experiences.” The brand has a marketing alliance with US-based Preferred Hotels & Resorts and is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance.
Source: The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:30 PM | View the original post
U.S. News & World Report Unveils the 2022 Best U.S. Colleges Rankings
Photo: Princeton University. Image Credit: Emil Mondoa.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2021 — U.S. News & World Report has released the 2022 U.S. News Best Colleges. In its 37th year, the rankings evaluate more than 1,400 colleges and universities on up to 17 measures of academic quality.
“Students and faculty continue to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether it’s through remote learning, mask-wearing, or vaccine requirements,” said Kim Castro, editor and chief content officer of U.S. News. “As communities work through these challenges, U.S. News is committed to providing information on the academic quality of institutions across the country, so prospective students and their families can make informed decisions throughout their college search.”
New in this year’s edition of the rankings is the Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs. U.S. News is publishing a brand-new ranking of more than 690 schools with Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree programs.
Princeton University is No. 1 among National Universities this year, and Williams College is the top school among National Liberal Arts Colleges. For Top Public Schools, the University of California—Los Angeles ranks No. 1 among National Universities. And the United States Naval Academy is No. 1 for Top Public Schools among National Liberal Arts Colleges.
• 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges
• National Universities - Top 3
- 1. Princeton University (NJ)
- 2. Columbia University (N.Y.) (tie)
- 2. Harvard University (M.A.) (tie)
- 2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (tie)
• National Liberal Arts Colleges - Top 3
- 1. Williams College (MA)
- 2. Amherst College (MA)
- 3. Swarthmore College (P.A.)
• Top Public Schools
• National Universities - Top 3
- 1. University of California—Los Angeles
- 2. University of California—Berkeley
- 3. University of Michigan—Ann Arbor
• National Liberal Arts Colleges - Top 3
- 1. United States Naval Academy (MD)
- 2. United States Military Academy (NY)
- 3. United States Air Force Academy (C.O.)
• Top Performers on Social Mobility
• National Universities - Top 3
- 1. University of California—Riverside
- 2. University of California—Irvine
- 3. Rutgers University—Newark (N.J.)
• National Liberal Arts Colleges - Top 3
- 1. Bennett College (NC)
- 2. Tougaloo College (MS)
- 3. Lake Forest College (I.L.)
Source: U.S. News & World Report
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:20 AM | View the original post
September 12, 2021
Pecco Bagnaia secures Extraordinary Maiden Victory in Aragón MotoGP. Jack Miller gets the fifth place.
Photos: Jack Miller and Pecco Bagnaia at the MotoGP Grand Prix of Aragón. September 12, 2021. Images Credit: DUCATI.
Aragon, Spain, September 12, 2021 — The MotoGP Grand Prix of Aragón, held this afternoon at the MotorLand Aragón in Alcañiz, ended with an extraordinary victory for Pecco Bagnaia, who secured his first MotoGP success.
The Ducati Lenovo Team rider, who took pole position yesterday (the 50th premier class pole for Ducati) and first also this morning in the warm-up, produced a masterpiece today. As he took the lead after the start, Pecco held on to it from start to finish and held off Marc Márquez, who was always close to his Desmosedici GP 21. With three laps to go, the Spanish rider started to attack Bagnaia, who could respond to them, remaining firmly in the lead. After a fierce duel on the last lap, the rider of the Bologna-based squad was finally able to get the better of Márquez, crossing the finish line in the first place with a gap of 673 thousandths on his opponent.
In qualifying, Jack Miller closed the thirteenth round of the 2021 MotoGP season in fifth place. After the first lap, the Australian rider tried to follow his teammate and the Spaniard, but a problem towards the second part of the race led him to make a mistake. As a result, Miller went wide and was passed by Mir and Aleix Espargaro, finishing in fifth place, eventually crossing the line.
After today’s race, Bagnaia remains second in the overall standings, 53 points behind leader Quartararo, while Miller is fifth, 85 points off the top of the posts. Ducati returns to the top of the manufacturer’s standings, while the Ducati Lenovo Team is second in the teams’ standings.
• Francesco Bagnaia (#63 Ducati Lenovo Team) - 1st
- “Today’s victory was incredible. We knew we were strong, but also that Marc Márquez is particularly fast on this track. When I took the lead, I tried to push right away because I knew he was behind. The last four laps were tough, and I couldn’t wait for the race to finish because he kept passing me. In the end, we did it, and it is an indescribable emotion. Today’s win was not taken for granted: I came here with several questions, as I had never managed to be fast and finish the race in the points since 2019 until now at the MotorLand. Instead, this year, since FP1, everything has been perfect. I’m thrilled.”
• Jack Miller (#43 Ducati Lenovo Team) - 5th
- “Today didn’t go as we hoped. I would have liked to achieve something more, but we had a small technical problem in the second part of the race that led me to make a few mistakes. In the beginning, I felt perfect on the bike and was able to push to try and stay with Pecco and Marc. But then, when I started to struggle, I made a mistake and let Mir and Espargaro pass me, and from there, all I could do was manage to keep the fifth place and save the tires. Anyway, I am happy for Pecco and all the guys on the team! He has always been fast this year and finally got his first win, so I congratulate him!”
• Luigi Dall’Igna (Ducati Corse General Manager)
- “It was an incredible race, and I’m so excited. Pecco was amazing! He did a masterpiece, riding flawlessly and beating Marc Márquez who showed his form today. This first win was crucial for Pecco, and he deserves it, as do all the guys at Ducati Corse who have worked so hard to achieve this victory. I’m delighted.”
The Ducati Lenovo Team riders will be back on track in less than a week, from 17th-19th September. It would be the second home Grand Prix for the Bologna-based squad at the San Marino and Riviera di Rimini GP, scheduled at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.
Source: DUCATI
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Six riders away at the front! 💨@PeccoBagnaia maintains the lead but @FabioQ20 is falling into the clutches of the sensational @LecuonaIker! ✊#AragonGP ðŸ pic.twitter.com/kKH1EkWESY
— MotoGP™ðŸ (@MotoGP) September 12, 2021
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:46 AM | View the original post
September 10, 2021
Center for Security in Politics at UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy announces New Working Group to study Digital Remote Voting
• The new group will consist of experienced election security and cybersecurity experts, election administrators, and engineers to explore new voting methods that expand the ease and accessibility of voting.
• The goal is to engage in an academically rigorous process to evaluate and develop a set of security, accessibility, and election administration standards necessary for vendors and election officials to implement safe and secure digital ballot return options.
Photo: Clock Tower, University of California, Berkeley. Image Credit: Keegan Houser.
Photo: 2020 U.S. Presidential. Countdown to November 2020 Election. Image Credit: GPA Photo Archive / Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress. Public Domain. File Photo.
BERKELEY, Calif., September 10, 2021 — Center for Security in Politics (CSP) at the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy has announced the formation of a new working group to rigorously assess the risks and opportunities associated with digital remote voting. The group will determine the feasibility of technical and implementation standards to enable digital ballots’ safe and secure return. Further, it would develop those standards and, where possible, outline the technologies necessary to meet the criteria.
As part of CSP’s mission to address critical global risks and public policy problems and create actionable solutions for policymakers, the working group will evaluate new methods to make voting more accessible, resilient, and secure for all Americans.
The group will consist of academic researchers, election administrators, cryptographers, and cybersecurity and election security experts. The first meeting took place on August 31, 2021.
“How people think about - and participate - in voting is changing,” said Professor Janet Napolitano, founder and faculty director for the Center for Security in Politics at UC Berkeley. “We cannot turn a blind eye to the lessons of the 2020 election or overlook the voters who face inherent barriers to voting. Instead, we need academically rigorous, evidence-based standards that will guide the development of safe and secure remote balloting technology.”
Recent advances in technology present a historic opportunity to explore new voting methods that could expand the ease and accessibility of voting. The 2020 presidential election cycle made it clear that voters need multiple options to cast their ballots, especially those displaced during a natural disaster, serving in the military, or unable to mark their ballot independently. Remote digital voting could address these barriers and expand access to new voters.
Digital remote voting comes with its own set of challenges, including voter and device authentication and vote verification. The group will study best practices from other countries and analyze the risks, rewards, and trade-offs. Digital remote voting is already available to military and overseas voters in 31 states and disabled voters in 8 states. Still, there are currently no national standards for security and to protect the anonymity of voters’ ballots. Over 330 jurisdictions in 8 states used mobile voting in 2020 during the November federal election.
“The last few years have publicly highlighted what election officials have long known: there are risks in administering elections,” said group convener Mike Garcia. He is a cybersecurity expert who previously ran digital identity at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and has been working with states and localities on election security since 2017.
“There’s been a lot of noise around technologies relating to digital remote voting, both from vendors wanting to sell such technologies and from cybersecurity experts who almost universally oppose them,” says Jeremy Epstein, an expert in voting security. “Very little of the debates have been understandable to policymakers. Having a report from a balanced group of experts can help inform the discussion and give guidance to election officials who are frequently caught in the middle, unsure of the ‘least dangerous’ path forward.”
“There is no one approach to voting that works for everyone in the country,” said Garcia. “Moreover, no individual should forfeit their right to vote because the authorities suddenly call them to fight a wildfire or serve overseas on Election Day. Officials’ experience enables them to manage risk with mail-in ballots and in-person voting successfully. Still, the relative newness and technical nature of digital ballot return demand a focused effort. Digital remote voting is already happening. Now is the time to properly scan its use and provide unbiased guidance on managing risk to ensure it is secure, resilient, and accessible.”
Source: Center for Security in Politics, UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
— The editor holds a certificate in ‘Solving Public Policy Problems’ from UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:28 AM | View the original post
Ricoh announces RICOH GR IIIx, a High-End, Compact Digital Camera.
• The newest addition to the popular GR Series features a newly developed lens for high-quality street photography at a standard viewing angle.
Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation today announced the RICOH GR IIIx. This high-end digital compact camera features a newly developed GR lens with a 40mm angle of view in the 35mm format. The RICOH GR IIIx blends professional-grade image quality with a compact, lightweight body perfect for dramatic and inspiring street photography.
Source: Ricoh Imaging Americas Corporation
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:28 AM | View the original post
September 9, 2021
James Bond's DB5, from Hero Collector Books, is the First Official History of 007's iconic Aston Martin
NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2021 — Hero Collector Books today announced the release of James Bond’s DB5, the first official in-depth history of 007’s famous Aston Martin. The book will be published on Sept. 28 to coincide with the 25th James Bond film, No Time To Die, which features the DB5 prominently.
It is the first time EON Productions, the makers of the James Bond films, have authorized an official history of this iconic car which made its debut in Goldfinger and appeared in eight 007 films. The book has been carefully researched in close collaboration with EON and Aston Martin and draws on both their archives. It includes storyboards, diagrams, design materials, and many rare and beautiful photographs covering every detail of the car, from over-riders to the exhaust.
James Bond’s DB5 has forewords by Daniel Craig, James Bond producer Michael G. Wilson, and Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman.
As Reichman says, “There are no other cars that enjoy such an exciting connection to such a beloved character. I hope this book demonstrates that among all the technical and marketing data that underpins car production, the indelible truth remains: great cars are wonders to behold, blending creativity with one crucial factor: fun. Bond enjoys the DB5. I hope you enjoy it too.”
This beautiful coffee table book covers the entire story, starting with the Bond producers’ initial letters to Aston Martin before detailing the modifications made to the car for the filming of Goldfinger, including EON’s original drawings and rare pictures of the cast and crew on location in Switzerland. Next, it explores the fascinating history of the DB5 that went on tour. Next, it covers every subsequent appearance of the DB5 in the Bond movies and includes the inside story of how it got destroyed in Skyfall before returning in triumph in No Time To Die. Finally, its appearance in the latest Bond film is covered in-depth, with unique photography and insider reports from the shoot in Matera, Italy.
Hero Collector Books, a division of Eaglemoss, is focused on publishing entertaining, in-depth books based on the world’s leading film and television properties. The books shed new light on some of the world’s most beloved and iconic brands. They include lavishly illustrated encyclopedias, in-depth behind-the-scenes books, official histories, and new and light-hearted takes on classic characters.
James Bond’s DB5, written by Will Lawrence and Simon Hugo, runs 280 pages.
Source: Hero Collector Books
|GlobalGiants.Com|
SKYFALL (2012) | Train fight | James Bond 007
“Take the bloody shot!” For the SKYFALL (2012) train chase, Daniel Craig (James Bond) and Ola Rapace (Patrice) performed their own stunts attached to safety wires while the train was traveling at 40mph.
The World Is Not Enough (1999) | Pierce Brosnan as James Bond.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 11:23 AM | View the original post
September 8, 2021
'Sarva Mangal Mangalye' Track by Shivali Released on Eros Now; Music Produced by Arjun
Mumbai, India, Sep 08, 2021 — With everything circling up in the world, Singer Shivali Bhammer and the highly renowned Music Producer Arjun felt it was the right time to release an energetic mantra that praises the mother Goddess - Durga Ma.
According to Eros Now Music, “The mantras are potent. Even repeating the words in your head uplifts you, motivates you and pushes an individual towards positivity. The pandemic is a reminder of the existence of the greater power in this world. Durga is fierce, strong, and the force of all consciousness. Shivali aimed to capture that strength and resilience in an uplifting and upbeat version of the mantra.”
“Most of her songs have a more soulful, mid-tempo, pop, and ‘rhythm and blues’ vibe. But, the production of Sarva Mangal Mangalye is more focused on House/EDM (Electronic dance music) spectrum. That’s because she wanted her listeners to feel energized and revitalized by the track. It should rejuvenate and motivate people to feel that they can achieve anything they want and that the power of Durga is with them and inside them,” the music company ‘Eros Now’ explained.
Shivali stated that “You are not alone. I understand life has been extremely frustrating and tough for many, but we have a choice, either we can wallow, or we rise. The power of Durga Ma can help us and inspire us. We have to find that kind of strength and resilience in ourselves and fulfill our ambitions and dreams. If we keep going and keep trying, we don’t know which door might open, but one definitely will!”
“The aim is to get the listeners hooked. If they get hooked, it’ll mean they are repeating this powerful mantra. She believes millennials and the younger generation will appreciate the song,” the music company elaborated.
• The Mantra: Sarva Mangala Mangalye, Shive Sarvartha Sadhika. Sharanye Trayambake Gauri, Narayani Namostute.
• Meaning: The one who bestows auspiciousness on one and all, the one who accomplishes all objectives, to the mother of the three worlds, O Gauri, I bow again and again to you.
The music video will be on the Eros Now channel, Spotify, Apple Play, iTunes, and other streaming platforms.
Source: Eros Now Music
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Sarva Mangal Mangalye | Shivali Bhammer | Eros Now Music
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 9:26 AM | View the original post
Chitkara University Chandigarh Bags A+ NAAC Accreditation
Chandigarh, India, Sep 08, 2021 — Chitkara University Chandigarh has been awarded a rating of A+ by the prestigious National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). The rating places it among India’s 5% Higher Education Institutions (HEI) with such a coveted grade.
The Peer Team praised the University for its excellent infrastructure for education innovation and research and neat, clean, green, and well-maintained campus.
Dr. Ashok K Chitkara, Chancellor of Chitkara University, said, “It is the hard work by our students, staff, and faculty for years that resulted in securing this recognition. Moreover, the University has a well-defined research promotion policy which has succeeded in the development of state-of-the-art advanced facilities.”
Pro-Chancellor Dr. Madhu Chitkara expressed her sincere thanks to all stakeholders and said, “We develop the curricula following standardized procedures revised at regular intervals by taking feedbacks from all our stakeholders. We consider the local, regional, and global developmental needs regarding employability and entrepreneurship while designing the course. The experimental, participative, and project-based learning are in practice through blended mode. We have adopted a flexible CBCS (Choice Bases Credit System) that gives freedom to the students to undergo a multidisciplinary approach. The assessment process is well defined to evaluate the attainment level in critical thinking and problem-solving skills.”
Established in 1994, NAAC is an autonomous body of UGC which assesses and accredits Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). NAAC has identified a set of seven criteria to serve as the basis of its assessment procedures: Curricular Aspects; Teaching-learning & Evaluation; Research, Innovations & Extension; Infrastructure & Learning Resources; Student Support & Progression; Governance, Leadership & Management; and Institutional Values & Best Practices.
By studying in a NAAC accredited institution, students get a chance to learn in a cutting-edge environment and earn a degree that would have global recognition. In addition, they get instant identification as an alumnus of a credible institute and get better placement opportunities as the industry prefers hiring students from higher-graded institutions.
Source: Chitkara University Chandigarh
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:36 AM | View the original post
September 5, 2021
World's First: Aeroplane flies through a tunnel at 245 kph to set World Records.
• Italian pilot Dario Costa clears Turkey’s dual Çatalca Tunnels in under 44 seconds.
Photos: Dario Costa. Aerobatic Airshows. Location: Turkey. Saturday, September 04, 2021. Images provided by & copyright © Red Bull.
Just after dawn on Saturday, September 4, 2021, professional race and stunt pilot Dario Costa of Italy wrote a new chapter in aviation history. He flew a race plane through the narrow confines of two enclosed auto tunnels just outside Istanbul. In near-darkness and closely surrounded by the concrete arc of the walls, Costa executed a tricky takeoff inside the first tunnel, flashed through an open-air gap, and then continued his 245kph flight through the second tunnel, flying less than 1m from the asphalt.
Costa, 41, won the top category of the Italian Aerobatic Championship and became the first Italian pilot to join, and earn a race win in, the Red Bull Air Race Challenger Class. He has over two decades of flying experience and numerous aviation feats to his credit. He has flown more than 60 airplane models and logged over 5,000 hours in the air - more than half in high-performance aerobatics.
Tunnel Pass was by far Costa’s most demanding and complex undertaking yet, requiring a team of 40 people, specially developed training techniques, and more than a year of preparation. Throughout, the project was shrouded in secrecy to limit variables and distractions, allowing complete focus for a successful flight that was no more than a simple idea on paper 12 months ago.
Located outside Istanbul on Northern Marmara Highway and initially put into service in March 2020, the dual Çatalca tunnels are state-of-the-art; but were designed for automobile traffic, not the flight of an aircraft.
From takeoff to exiting the second tunnel, the flight lasted 43.44 seconds, covering a distance of 2,260m / 2.26km and reaching a top speed of 245kph.
Changes to airflow, combined with the highly sensitive steering of the aircraft, required pilot reaction times of less than 250 milliseconds and delicate hand movements of mere millimeters throughout the flight. One of the most critical moments came at the 360m gap between tunnels, which exposed the race plane to crosswinds as Costa prepared to thread it into the low, narrow opening of the second tunnel.
Costa described: “Everything seemed to be happening so fast, but when I got out of the first tunnel, the plane started to move to the right because of the crosswinds, and in my head, everything slowed down at that moment. I reacted and focused on getting the plane back on the right path to enter the other tunnel. Then in my mind, everything sped up all over again.”
When the race plane shot out of the other side, Costa pulled it into a celebratory loop before landing. The ecstatic pilot said: “I’d never flown in a tunnel in my life - nobody had ever done it .”
The achievement set a new Guinness World Record: Longest Tunnel Flown through with an Aeroplane (1,610 m). Four other notable records were:
- First airplane flight through a tunnel.
- Longest flight under a solid obstacle (1,610 m).
- First airplane flight through two tunnels.
- First airplane takeoff from a tunnel.
Péter Besenyei, 65, mentored Costa. Besenyei is a Hungarian aerobatic and racing pilot, an aviation legend renowned for his role in developing and competing in the Red Bull Air Race. Besenyei is also well known for feats such as flying upside down under the Chain Bridge in Budapest.
Besenyei said: “To fly in a tunnel is not a normal situation. The main point is the mindset. Because flying straight at one meter off the ground and following a centerline is technically not so difficult if you are over a runway. But in the tunnel, especially a dark tunnel, coming out of the tunnel into the light and then back into another dark tunnel is different. And also, some airwaves can affect the flight, and you should expect some bumps. So it’s difficult in your mind because you know that if you make a mistake, the wall is hard.”
Source: Red Bull
|GlobalGiants.Com|
WATCH: Stunt pilot Dario Costa from Italy flies an aircraft through the Tunnel Pass system near Istanbul pic.twitter.com/mVu25o0AhI
— Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) September 5, 2021
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:16 PM | View the original post
September 3, 2021
Rashtrapati Bhavan invites Applications for Visitor's Awards 2021 from Faculty Members and Students of Central Universities of India.
Photo: The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, at the ‘At Home Reception,’ on the occasion of the 72nd Republic Day Celebrations, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 26, 2021. [File Photo]
Photo: The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, presenting the 5th Visitor’s Awards, 2019, at the Conference of Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi, December 17, 2019. [File Photo]
Photo: The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, addressing the Conference of Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi, December 17, 2019. [File Photo]
New Delhi, India, August 25, 2021 — Rashtrapati Bhavan has invited online applications from faculty members and students of Central Universities of India for the Visitor’s Awards 2021 in the following three categories:
Visitor’s Award for Innovation.
Visitor’s Award for Research in (a) Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, (b) Physical Sciences, and (c) Biological Sciences.
Visitor’s Award for Technology Development.
The last date for applying is October 31, 2021.
The Government of India instituted the Visitor’s Awards in 2014 to promote healthy competition amongst Central Universities and motivate them to adopt best practices from around the world in pursuit of excellence.
The President of India, in his capacity as the Visitor of Central Universities, presents the Awards.
The Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace) is the official residence of the President of India in New Delhi.
Source: President’s Secretariat, New Delhi
|GlobalGiants.Com|
— UPDATE —
September 3, 2021
• Education Minister of India meets Central Universities Vice-Chancellors •
New Delhi, September 3, 2021 — India’s Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, virtually met the Vice Chancellors of 45 Central Universities under the Ministry of Education on September 3, 2021. It is his first formal meeting with the Central Universities’ Vice-Chancellors in a group.
The items for discussion included:
- Implementation of National Education Policy 2020
- Academic Bank of Credit
- Multiple Entry-Exit System
- Open and Online Education
- Glue Grant for Education Institutions
- Start of Academic Session 2021-22
Source: Ministry of Education
GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:48 AM | View the original post
September 2, 2021
Times Higher Education (THE) announces World University Rankings 2022; The University of Oxford tops the List.
Photo: University of California, Berkeley. A view of the campus from far. Image Credit: Daniel Parks.
London, September 2, 2021 — The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2022 include more than 1,600 universities across 99 countries and territories, making them the largest and most diverse university rankings to date.
The ranking table results from 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across four areas: teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and international outlook.
Times Higher Education said this year’s ranking analyzed more than 108 million citations across over 14.4 million research publications and included survey responses from almost 22,000 scholars globally. “Overall, we collected over 430,000 data points from more than 2,100 institutions that submitted data,” THE added.
The University of Oxford tops the ranking for the sixth consecutive year. At the same time, mainland China has two institutions in the top 20 for the first time: Peking University and Tsinghua University share 16th place.
Institut Polytechnique de Paris is the highest new entry at 95th place, following a merger of five institutions.
The US is the most-represented country overall, with 183 institutions. It is also the most represented in the top 200 (57). However, its share of universities in this elite group is falling.
Mainland China now has the joint fifth-highest number of institutions in the top 200 (up from joint seventh last year), overtaking Canada and on a par with the Netherlands.
Six new countries feature in the table compared with last year: Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Palestine, and Tanzania.
Harvard University tops the teaching pillar, while the University of Oxford is tops in research.
• Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2022
TOP 100
- University of Oxford — United Kingdom
- California Institute of Technology — United States
- Harvard University — United States
- Stanford University — United States
- University of Cambridge — United Kingdom
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — United States
- Princeton University — United States
- University of California, Berkeley — United States
- Yale University — United States
- The University of Chicago — United States
- Columbia University — United States
- Imperial College London — United Kingdom
- Johns Hopkins University — United States
- University of Pennsylvania — United States
- ETH Zurich — Switzerland
- Peking University — China
- Tsinghua University — China
- University of Toronto — Canada
- University College London — United Kingdom
- University of California, Los Angeles — United States
- National University of Singapore — Singapore
- Cornell University — United States
- Duke University — United States
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor — United States
- Northwestern University — United States
- New York University — United States
- London School of Economics and Political Science — United Kingdom
- Carnegie Mellon University — United States
- University of Washington — United States
- University of Edinburgh — United Kingdom
- University of Hong Kong — Hong Kong
- LMU Munich — Germany
- University of Melbourne — Australia
- University of California, San Diego — United States
- King’s College London — United Kingdom
- The University of Tokyo — Japan
- University of British Columbia — Canada
- Technical University of Munich — Germany
- Karolinska Institute — Sweden
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne — Switzerland
- Paris Sciences et Lettres - PSL Research University Paris — France
- Heidelberg University — Germany
- KU Leuven — Belgium
- McGill University — Canada
- Georgia Institute of Technology — United States
- Nanyang Technological University, Singapore — Singapore
- The University of Texas at Austin — United States
- The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — United States
- Chinese University of Hong Kong — Hong Kong
- University of Manchester — United Kingdom
- Washington University in St Louis — United States
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — United States
- Wageningen University & Research — Netherlands
- Australian National University — Australia
- The University of Queensland — Australia
- Seoul National University — South Korea
- Monash University — Australia
- University of Sydney — Australia
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — United States
- Fudan University — China
- Kyoto University — Japan
- Boston University — United States
- University of Southern California — United States
- Brown University — United States
- University of Amsterdam — Netherlands
- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology — Hong Kong
- University of California, Davis — United States
- University of California, Santa Barbara — United States
- Utrecht University — Netherlands
- UNSW Sydney — Australia
- Leiden University — Netherlands
- Erasmus University Rotterdam — Netherlands
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin — Germany
- Humboldt University of Berlin — Germany
- Delft University of Technology — Netherlands
- Zhejiang University — China
- University of Zurich — Switzerland
- University of Tübingen — Germany
- University of Warwick — United Kingdom
- University of Groningen — Netherlands
- McMaster University — Canada
- Emory University — United States
- Free University of Berlin — Germany
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University — China
- Ohio State University (Main campus) — United States
- University of Glasgow — United Kingdom
- University of Minnesota — United States
- University of Montreal — Canada
- University of Science and Technology of China — China
- Sorbonne University — France
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University — Hong Kong
- University of Bristol — United Kingdom
- University of Maryland, College Park — United States
- Michigan State University — United States
- Institut Polytechnique de Paris — France
- University of Copenhagen — Denmark
- Ghent University — Belgium
- University of California, Irvine — United States
- Dartmouth College — United States
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) — South Korea
• The University of Oxford remains at the top of the table, retaining the top spot for an impressive sixth consecutive year.
In a year dominated by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the rankings reflect the vital role of universities in understanding and managing the crisis. Many institutions worldwide saw significant boosts in their citation scores (a measure of a university’s research influence and impact in spreading new knowledge and ideas) from Covid-19 focused research.
Professor Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, said: ‘My colleagues and I are delighted to have achieved the top ranking again. There are many excellent universities around the world, and we are proud to be in their company.
‘This past year has demonstrated to our public, governments, and even ourselves how much universities can contribute to society. For example, 170 countries are using the vaccine Oxford developed.’
Source: Times Higher Education
|GlobalGiants.Com|
— The Editor holds various certifications from several of the above TOP 100 — The University of Oxford, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California Berkeley, Cornell University, University of Michigan, Delft University of Technology Netherlands, and Dartmouth College.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:34 AM | View the original post
September 1, 2021
Leading Afghanistan war correspondents to discuss the fall and future of Afghanistan at National Press Club, Washington DC
Photos: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken addresses the press on the U.S. government’s efforts to bring Americans home and support the broader evacuation from Afghanistan, at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on August 25, 2021. State Department photos by Ron Przysucha. [File Photos]
WASHINGTON, September 1, 2021 — In the lead up to the 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, a panel of leading Afghanistan war correspondents will discuss the collapse of Afghanistan and the impact of the U.S. military withdrawal during a virtual Headliners event at 11 a.m. on September 3, hosted by National Press Club President Lisa Matthews of the Associated Press (AP).
Panelists include Atia Abawi, formerly NBC/CNN, Tom Bowman of National Public Radio, Kathy Gannon of AP, and Saad Mohseni, CEO of MOBY Media Group.
The panel convenes three days after the Biden Administration’s August 31 withdrawal deadline and one week after the deadliest day for U.S. troops in a decade, the Kabul airport bombing that killed 13 American service members and more than 90 Afghans.
This one-hour Headliner event program will stream live on the Club’s website and YouTube Channel as part of the Club’s Virtual Headliner series and is accessible to both the press and the general public.
With years of combined experience covering what’s been called “the forever war,” the journalists will share insights on humanitarian, military, and political consequences of an Afghanistan now under Taliban control.
The panel will talk about the groups now targeting America’s Afghan allies, the plight of Afghan women, the future of the Afghan media and female journalists, and the fate of billions of dollars worth of U.S.-made weapons.
About the panelists:
Atia Abawi is a journalist and author who spent five years reporting in Kabul, Afghanistan, where she first worked as an Afghanistan correspondent for CNN. She subsequently set up and managed the news bureau for NBC News, where she secured NBC’s first exclusive interview with President Hamid Karzai in a decade. Abawi is also the author of “The Secret Sky” and “A Land of Permanent Goodbyes.”
Tom Bowman has served as Pentagon reporter for National Public Radio since 2006 and previously covered the Defense Department for The Baltimore Sun. He has reported extensively from Afghanistan, embedding for dozens of trips with U.S. soldiers and Marines.
Kathy Gannon is news director for Afghanistan and Pakistan for the Associated Press and has covered the region for AP since 1988.
Saad Mohseni, CEO of the MOBY Group, in 2002 launched what has become Afghanistan’s most influential private media group and TOLONews, Afghanistan’s first 24/7 news and television network. Before starting MOB, Mohseni served as an economic advisor to the Afghan government. Time magazine has recognized him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the “World’s Leading Professional Organization for Journalists.” The Club has about 3,000 reporters, editors, and professional communicators worldwide, representing nearly every major news organization. It hosts almost 2,000 events per year in its 54,000 square foot facility in downtown Washington, just three blocks from the White House.
Source: National Press Club, Washington, DC
|GlobalGiants.Com|
— The Editor is a Member of the National Press Club.
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 10:16 PM | View the original post
