News in Short

• The Biden administration restored some sanctions relief to Iran’s atomic program as talks aimed at salvaging the 2015 nuclear deal enter a critical phase.
• Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed several sanctions waivers related to Iran’s civilian nuclear activities. The move reverses the Trump administration’s decision to rescind them.
• The waivers are ultimately intended to entice Iran back to the 2015 deal that it has been violating since former President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed U.S. sanctions.

• Jio Platforms Ltd. Has announced an investment of US$ 15 million in Two Platforms Inc., a Silicon Valley based deep tech startup for a 25% equity stake on a fully diluted basis.
• Two is an Artificial Reality company with focus on building interactive and immersional AI experiences. After text and voice, it believes the next chapter of AI is visual and interactive.
• Two plans to bring its interactive AI technologies first to consumer applications, followed by entertainment and gaming, as well as enterprise solutions including retail, services, education, health and wellness.

• Ibrahim Sutar, polyglot folk singer, who toured India spreading the message of Hindu-Muslim unity, died in Mahalingpur in Bagalkotdistrict of Karnataka.
• The founder of ‘BhavaikyateBhajanaMela’ began his career as a Harikathebhajan singer going around villages and towns.
• He sang songs and gave lectures, quoting from multiple scriptures without the need to read from notes. He was equally well-versed in Kannada and Urdu.
• In his later life, he emerged as a public speaker, visiting schools, colleges and Lingayat mutts to speak on vachana and dasa literature. He was honoured with the Karnataka Rajyotsava award in 1995, and the Padmashri in 2018.

• Skier Arif Khan led a small four-strong Indian contingent during the Winter Olympics opening ceremony amid a diplomatic boycott of the event by the country.
• Arif will be the lone Indian competitor at the Games, having qualified in Slalom and Giant Slalom events. India sent a six-member contingent to the Games including a coach, a technician and a team manager.
• Arif is the first Indian to secure qualification in two events of the same edition of the Games and his competitions are slated for February 13 and 16.

• Justin Langer has resigned as head coach of the Australia cricket team, ending weeks of speculation over whether he would be offered a new contract.
• Langer’s departure followed media reports that he had reacted angrily during a recent meeting with Cricket Australia over his contract and had been asked to reapply for the role.
• He took over as coach in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in 2018 and his contract was due to expire in June.