IBA agrees to meet bank unions today to avert strike

Mumbai - The Indian Banks Association has decided to hold further talks with leaders of public sector bank unions who have given a call for four-day nation-wide strike from February 25.

"The IBA has invited us for talks on Monday in Mumbai and we have agreed to participate in the talks," United Forum of Bank Unions (Maharashtra) and All-India Bank Employees Union vice-president Vishwas Utagi said.

The unions have threatened the strike to press wage-hike demand. This will be their fifth strike this fiscal.

IBA has offered a 13 percent hike which will put a burden of Rs 4,095 crore on the banks, against the unions' demand of 19.5 percent hike which would increase the salary bill by Rs 10,000 crore per annum.

Kerry, Zarif hold nuclear talks as deadline looms

Geneva : US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart today took a walk by Lake Geneva and then began intense talks here on Tehran's nuclear programme to remove the "significant gaps" that remain ahead of a key deadline.

The bilateral talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Zarif and Kerry have begun while the P5+1 ?- China, Russia, the UK, the US, France and Germany -- were to meet as a group later.

Ali Akbar Salehi, the director of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's brother and close aide Hossein Fereydoon along with US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz made their maiden appearance in the talks signalling that the deal is entering a sensitive stage.

Now, 'changed' Katy Perry, John Mayer determined to make their relationship work

Washington, Feb. 22 - Katy Perry and John Mayer, who recently rekindled their romance after splitting in February 2014, are reportedly determined to make their relationship work this time.

US mulling 'serious sanctions' against Russia post ceasefire violations in east Ukraine

London, Feb 22 - Secretary of State John Kerry has reportedly warned that the United States is mulling "serious sanctions" against Russia after the recently-forged ceasefire deal failed to hold in east Ukraine.

While accusing Russia of engaging in "an absolutely brazen and cynical process" over the last few days by supporting the rebels and undermining the ceasefire agreement, Kerry, who was a visit to London, warned that the U. S. was not going to "sit there and be part of this kind of extraordinarily craven behaviour at the expense of the sovereignty and integrity of a nation," reported the BBC.

He said that if this failure continued then there will be "further consequences" including, "consequences that would place additional strains on Russia's already troubled economy."

Julianne Moore wins Best Female Lead at 2015 Independent Spirit Awards

Washington, Feb 22 - Julianne Moore has been honored with the Best Female Lead award at 2015 Independent Spirit Awards in LA for her movie 'Still Alice'.

The Hollywood's prestigious award show which was hosted by Kristen Bell and Fred Armisen gave the title of Best Male Lead to Michael Keaton for his latest flick 'Birdman' which also grabbed the 'Best Feature' award, People Magazine reported.

J. K. Simmons nabbed the Best Supporting Male award for 'Whiplash', whereas Patricia Arquette received Best Supporting Female for 'Boyhood', which was also honored for the best direction by Richard Linklater.

'Ida', a movie from Poland was considered as the best Best International Film at the awards ceremony.

Here's the list of other winners:

Gujarat: Swine flu toll reaches close to 200

New Delhi, Feb. 22 - Swine flu has claimed 11 more lives in Gujarat, taking the total death toll in the state to 197 since January this year.

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