Germany Becomes 5th Country to Sign ISA Framework Agreement
Germany became the 5th country to sign the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement after amendments to it entered into force on 8th January 2021, opening its Membership to all Member States of the United Nations. Ambassador of Germany to India Walter J. Lindner deposited signed copies of the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement with the Ministry of External Affairs, the depositary of the Agreement.
Membership to the ISA was earlier limited to 121 countries, which were partially or entirely located within the tropics. This didn't allow major solar energy economies such as Germany to join the alliance that is being increasingly seen as a foreign policy tool. The initiative was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India Africa Summit and a meeting of member countries ahead of the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015. The framework agreement of the International Solar Alliance opened for signatures in Marrakech, Morocco in November 2016.
Louis Vuitton Overtakes Jeff Bezos as World's Richest Person
Bernard Arnault, Chairman of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH), has become the richest person in the world after surpassing Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The French businessman's net worth is estimated at $198.9 billion, as per the Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List.
Arnault had earlier become the world's richest person in December 2019, January 2020 and May 2021.
As per the latest rankings, Bezos's net worth stood at $194.9 billion while Elon Musk is placed third. Tesla and SpaceX chief Musk's net worth is estimated at $185.5 billion.
Ladakh Glacier Retreating, May Influence Summer and Winter Pattern
Establishing with observations that the Pensilungpa Glacier located in Zanskar, Ladakh, is retreating due to an increase in the temperature and decrease in precipitation during winters, a study shows how it is possible that the precipitation of summer periods at higher altitudes will change from snow to rain, and that may influence the summer and winter pattern.
Since 2015, a team of scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), Dehradun, has ventured to study the less explored region of the Himalayas, focusing on Zanskar, Ladakh.
Axis Bank Crosses one Million Customers on WhatsApp Banking
Axis Bank has crossed the milestone of over one million customers on its WhatsApp banking channel with a total request count of 6 million till now. Axis Bank had launched banking services on WhatsApp in January 2021 and has since witnessed robust organic growth in its customer base for WhatsApp banking.
After signing up for the service, customers can inquire and get details of products across savings account, credit and debit cards, deposits and personal loans. Non-financial service requests can also be initiated, such as locating ATMs or getting updates on third-party deals available on credit and debit cards.
ICICI Prudential Life Ties up with NPCI for UPI Autopay
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has tied up with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to provide a Unified Payments Interface Autopay facility to its customers. This tie-up is another step in the company's digitalisation journey, which provides customers with a hassle-free and seamless experience across the policy lifecycle.
ICICI Prudential Life Ties up with NPCI for UPI Autopay
ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has tied up with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to provide a Unified Payments Interface Autopay facility to its customers. This tie-up is another step in the company's digitalisation journey, which provides customers with a hassle-free and seamless experience across the policy lifecycle.
While purchasing a life insurance policy, customers can link their bank accounts with UPI Autopay for payment of premium.
The UPI Autopay e-mandate can be activated by customers by using their smartphones to make regular renewal premium payments in a paperless format.
The UPI payment mode is fast becoming a preferred route of payment due to the contactless and frictionless experience it provides.
Customers can set up the e-mandate facility to make their regular renewal premium payments and ensure financial security for self and their families.
Customers can enable the UPI Auotpay feature on their UPI apps. Alternatively, it can be enabled for banks through an e-mandate.
Microsoft Working on Single Unified OneNote App for Windows
American tech is working on plans to unify its OneNote and OneNote for Windows 10 apps into a single unified OneNote app.
According to The Verge, Microsoft has taken all the improvements in its Windows 10 UWP OneNote app and brought them over to the traditional OneNote desktop app instead.
These improvements to the traditional OneNote desktop app that installs as part of Office will appear in a series of updates over the next 12 months. The new updates include a visual refresh and key existing features currently unique to OneNote for Windows 10.
Olympic ice hockey medalist Emma Terho has been elected to represent the world's athletes on the IOC's executive board.
The International Olympic Committee said that Terho won a vote of its athletes' commission members to be their chairwoman. The position comes with a seat on the IOC board.
Terho was standing against pole vaulter world record holder Yelena Isinbaeva, who was elected an IOC member by athletes at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics at the height of the Russian doping scandal.
Terho represented Finland at five Winter Olympics and twice took home a bronze medal.
She replaces Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry on the IOC board.
Rekha Sharma Gets 3-year Extension as NCW Chairperson
Rekha Sharma was given a three-year extension as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW).
Sharma assumed the charge of NCW chairperson in August 2018.
She has been associated with the Commission as a member since August 2015 and held the additional charge as the chairperson from September 29, 2017, before becoming its regular chief.
Zoological Survey of India Gets First Female Director in 100 Years
India's Zoological Survey (ZSI) has got a female head for the first time in its 105 year history. The inspiring Dhriti Banerjee becomes the first woman appointed there.
The Indian government approved the appointment of Dhriti Banerjee as the director of ZSI. Banerjee who is a prolific scientist, conducting research in zoogeography, taxonomy, morphology and molecular systematics, will be taking charge sometime in the next week.
Founded in July 1916, the ZSI has its headquarters in Kolkata. It has 16 regional centres under the Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change. ZSI started hiring women scientists as late as 1949, nearly three decades since its inception. Mira Mansukhani created a benchmark by entering the male dominated organisation as the first women employee.
India to Carry Out Military Drill with China and Pakistan
As India makes efforts to thwart threats at its borders from China and Pakistan, troops from the three countries are set to take part in a mega anti-terror drill of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Russia aimed at expanding cooperation to deal with the growing menace of terrorism and extremism. As part of the SCO initiative, the Peace Mission Exercise is conducted for member states.
Peace Mission-2021 is an anti-terrorist command and staff exercise of member countries. More than 3,000 soldiers are expected to participate in the drill. The Indian Army will be conducting air reconnaissance and protecting facilities during the joint drills with the Chinese People`s Liberation Army and the Pakistan Army. The joint exercise will be conducted by the Central Military Commission of Russia from September 11 to September 25 at the Donguzsky training ground in the Orenburg region in Urals.
Two-times Olympian Shankar Subramaniam, alias "Babu" Nayaran passed away. He was India's goalkeeper during the 1956 and 1960 Olympics. Besides representing Maharashtra in football and basketball, Narayan emerged as one of the most reliable goalkeepers in India. His decade-long career for the national team also included the stellar effort of India finishing fourth in the 1956 Olympics and representing India in the 1964 Asian Games.
Subramaniam was born in Palakkad district in Kerala, Narayan was a star in Mumbai's local circuit during his appearances for Matunga Students, Matunga Gymkhana, Caltex and Tata Sports Club. He was part of Maharashtra's Santosh Trophy-winning campaign in 1964.
2nd IEEE International Conference on Range Technology by DRDO
The 2nd Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) International Conference on Scope Technology (ICORT-2021) took place in August 2021. The conference was held by the Institute Integrated Test Range (ITR) Chandipur, a laboratory of the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). It was launched by the Department of Defense R & D Secretary-General and DRDO Chair Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy. The event brought together speakers from around the world who presented their technical achievements on multiple themes related to the testing and evaluation of defense systems.
The government of West Bengal has received four SKOCH awards for its schemes under the Ease of Doing Business initiative. The State scheme 'Silpasathi'-the online single window portal won the platinum award while the Auto-Renewal of Certificate of Enlistment through the online system for urban areas has received the gold award.
Online issuance of trade licences in rural areas and the E-Nathikaran: the online system for registration, preparation and submission of deeds have won two silver awards. The state government will ensure that the ease of doing business in West Bengal continues to be one of the foremost in the country.
Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award Renamed Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award will henceforth be called Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. This decision was taken "respecting the sentiments of citizens across the country".
Major Dhyan Chand was among India's foremost sportspersons who brought honour and pride for India. It is fitting that our nation's highest sporting honour will be named after him.
Ladakh Launches 'Pani Maah' to Raise Awareness about Clean Water
'Pani Maah' or water month has been launched in Ladakh to inform villagers about the importance of clean water. The Ladakh government has also announced a reward of Rs. 2.5 million for the first block in each district that achieves the status of 'Har Ghar Jal'. 'Pani Maah' campaign will adopt a three-pronged approach — focussing on water quality testing, planning and strategizing water supply, and seamless functioning of Pani Sabha in villages.
Dr. K. Sivan vir$tually in$augurates Health QUEST Study in Hospitals
Dr. K Sivan, Secretary, DOS/Chairman, ISRO formally inaugurated the Health QUEST study (Health Quality Upgradation Enabled by Space Technology of ISRO) which will be undertaken by 20 private hospitals across India. Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Health was the guest of honour and spoke on the occasion. The objective of the study is to strive towards reducing human errors and achieve zero defect and quality service in the Emergency and Intensive Care units of hospitals. The study aims to upgrade the healthcare systems standards of the country in line with the ISRO quality standards and best practices. The procedures and practices of Quality Assurance mechanism in vogue in ISRO will be shared with the study team for setting the parameters to establish health care quality standards.
During his inaugural address Dr. Sivan assured the support from ISRO for completing the study and achieving the quality goal. The event was co-organised by Association of Health Care Providers India (AHPI) and Society for Emergency Medicine in India (SEMI). The CEOs and Coordinators of the 20 hospitals have participated in the virtual event.
India's First Heart Failure Biobank Starts in Kerala
The first Heart Failure Biobank in the country has come up at the National Centre for Advanced Research and Excellence in HF (CARE-HF) at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Kerala. The Biobank is open to study genetic, metabolomics and proteomic markers of health outcomes in heart-failure patients.
Biobanks are an important resource of collections of high-quality biological human samples that can be used to understand molecular pathways and to improve the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of heart failure.
The biospecimens include blood, serum and tissue samples obtained during open-heart surgery and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and genomic DNA collected from heart-failure patients.
Bollywood actor Sonu Sood launched Travel Union, a rural business to business (B2B) travel tech platform to democratise travel services.
Travel Union members (travel agents) will work towards serving the travel needs of rural customers at every district, block and gram panchayat level. With a mission to support, digitally empower and build a leading travel agent business community in rural India at zero investment, Travel Union aims to be the largest rural digital travel services platform.
The platform aggregates all available price options for a particular offering and shows Travel Union members the lowest prices they can offer their customers. It provides inventory, competitive prices, and state-of-the-art technology directly from airlines, railways, hotels, trips, wholesalers and aggregators.
World's Earliest-Known Coin Mint and Spade Coin Discovered in China
Archaeologists have uncovered 2,640- to 2,550-year-old clay moulds for casting spade coins as well as fragments of finished spade coins at Guanzhuang in Xingyang, Henan province, China. The technical characteristics of the moulds demonstrate that the site — which was part of the Eastern Zhou period (770-220 BCE) bronze foundry — functioned as a mint for producing standardized coins.
The origins of metal coinage and the monetization of ancient economies have long been a research focus in both archaeology and economic history.
Of these, the hollow-handle spade coin (kongshoubu) minted in China is a likely candidate for the first metal coinage.
The spade coin was an imitation of practical metal spades, but its thin blade and small size indicate that it had no utilitarian function.
World's Earliest-Known Coin Mint and Spade Coin Discovered in China
Archaeologists have uncovered 2,640- to 2,550-year-old clay moulds for casting spade coins as well as fragments of finished spade coins at Guanzhuang in Xingyang, Henan province, China. The technical characteristics of the moulds demonstrate that the site — which was part of the Eastern Zhou period (770-220 BCE) bronze foundry — functioned as a mint for producing standardized coins.
The origins of metal coinage and the monetization of ancient economies have long been a research focus in both archaeology and economic history.
Of these, the hollow-handle spade coin (kongshoubu) minted in China is a likely candidate for the first metal coinage.
The spade coin was an imitation of practical metal spades, but its thin blade and small size indicate that it had no utilitarian function.
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