IIT researchers to create 'Gandhipedia'

NATIONAL NEWS

IIT researchers to create 'Gandhipedia'

• Two IITs and the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) have joined hands to develop 'Gandhipedia', an online repository of books, letters and speeches written by Mahatma Gandhi, to commemorate his 150th birth anniversary.
• The entire project will be done with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI), an IIT Kharagpur.

Blackbuck partners IDFC Bank, YES Bank to offer free FASTags to truckers

• Online trucking platform BlackBuck has partnered with private lenders IDFC Bank and Yes Bank to provide FASTags to truck owners free of cost.
• Truck owners can order FASTags on BlackBuck's Boss App, a digital services platform exclusively for truck fleet owners, and it will be delivered at their doorstep free of cost until December 31.
• BlackBuck offers free FASTags to truck owners across India. The FASTags on BlackBuck Boss app are provided in partnership with IDFC Bank and Yes Bank. The initiative is expected to help over 3 million trucks in India become FASTag compliant.

Assam govt sets up Anti-Depredation squads

• The Assam government has set up 15 Anti-Depredation Squads of the Forest department to deal with human-wildlife conflicts in the state.
• The anti-depredation squads will be stationed in 15 major human-wildlife conflict districts of the state to deal with the problem and ensure the safety of both humans and animals.
• The squads would help the Forest Department to reduce casualties in conflict situations.

SUMMIT

NATO Summit 2019 in Watford, United Kingdom

• The United Kingdom (UK) hosted two days organised 2019 NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Summit in London.
• The year 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the summit. It was attended by NATO leaders and chaired by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.
• The purpose of the summit was to make the heads of state and heads of government of NATO member countries to evaluate and provide strategic direction for Alliance activities.

INSURANCE

HDFC ERGO launches my- health Woman Suraksha - A special health insurance for women

• HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company, India's third-largest non-life insurance provider in the private sector.
• The my- health Woman Suraksha policy is specially designed to cover women against numerous illnesses and contingencies they may face during their lifetime, thereby providing financial aid in case of medical contingencies.
• According to the National Health Portal of India, women in India face numerous health issues like breast cancer, malnutrition, lack of maternal health. This policy will cover various types of cancers & related surgeries, pregnancy and neonatal (newborn baby) complications and assaults & burns.
• The policy will also cover women from critical illnesses like Cardiac ailments, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and others along with post-diagnosis support like Molecular Gene profiling test, Second Medical opinion and counselling to support women through the illness.

AWARD

Florence Nightingale Awards 2019-Kerala nurse who died treating NIPAH patient honoured posthumously

• President Ram Nath Kovind presented the National Florence Nightingale Awards to 36 nursing personnel at an awards ceremony in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on December 5, 2019.
• The awards were conferred on the occasion of International Nurses Day.
• The World Health Organisation also announced the year 2020 as the ‘Year of Nurses and Midwives’.
• The year 2020 also commemorates the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, after whom the nursing awards have been named.

OBITUARY

Bob Willis Passed away

• Bob Willis, the former England cricket captain, has died aged 70, his family announced.
• The pace bowler made 90 Test match appearances for his country and took 325 wickets, placing him fourth in the all-time list of England bowlers.
• He famously played a key part in the memorable 1981 third Test defeat of Australia at Headingley that was won from a seemingly impossible position, taking a career-best 8-43.
•  He enjoyed a long career in broadcasting after his retirement in 1984, first for the BBC and then latterly on Sky.

SPORTS

Roger Federer’s face to go on Swiss coin

• Tennis legend Roger Federer will become the first living person in Switzerland to have a coin minted in his honour. The Federal Mint, Swissmint, has created a 20-franc silver coin bearing Federer’s image.
• It’s the first time in its history that Swissmint has created a commemorative coin to honour a living person.