WHO has launched ‘COVID-19 Law Lab’ Initiative worldwide

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India, Israel jointly develop ultra-rapid testing kit for COVID-19

• Indian (Defence Research and Development Organisation) DRDO scientists along with Defence Research Wing of Israel have been conjointly working on the COVID testing kit.
• The rapid testing kit will generate the initial result of COVID within 30secs.
• The kit has been developed by integration of many novel technologies, which includes artificial intelligence, based online voice test, breathalyser test, isothermal testing and testing using polyamino acids.
• India and Israel are also the members of the world consortium of scientists working on COVID Vaccine.

Fact: Prime Minister of Israel – Benjamin Netanyahu

          Capital of Israel – Jerusalem

WHO has launched ‘COVID-19 Law Lab’ Initiative worldwide

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched an initiative called “COVID-19 Law Lab” – a database of laws that countries had implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• This is the first initiative to learn about the world government’s response in the COVID pandemic.
• The lab project is jointly formed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), WHO, the Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) and the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University.
• The aim of this lab project is to make sure that laws protect the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities across the world.

Fact: WHO Director General – Tedros Adhanom

         Headquarters of WHO - Geneva, Switzerland

NATIONAL NEWS

DST launches INR 15 Crore fund to support India-Russia collaboration joint R&D

• “India-Russia Joint Technology Assessment and Accelerated Commercialization Programme” has launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE) of the Russian Federation.
• The Department of Science and Technology will fund up to INR 15 Crores to ten Indian SMEs/Start-ups and FASIE will provide similar funding to the Russian projects.
• The aim of this programme is to connect Indian and Russian Science & Technology led SMEs and Start-ups for joint R&D.
• This is to strength the ties between the two countries in Technology development and in cross-country technology adaption.
• A dedicated portal www.indiarussiainnovate.org has been developed for this purpose.

Fact: Union Minister of Science & technology – Harsh Vardhan

World Class State of the Art Honey Testing Lab inaugurated in Gujarat

• Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the ‘World Class State of Art Honey Testing Laboratory’, which was formed by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) at Anand in Gujarat.
• There are other initiatives to promote the bee keeping in the country by the agriculture ministry such as ‘Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)’.
• The ‘National Mission for Beekeeping’ is also being implemented through National Bee Board.
• ‘Two Days Online Training Programme on Scientific Honey-bee Production’ being conducted by National Dairying Development Board (NDDB).

Indian Navy’s largest solar plant inaugurated at the INA, Ezhimala, in Kerala

• The Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawal, Flag Officer Commanding-in-chief, Southern Naval Command (SNC), e-inaugurated the 3 MegaWatt (MW) largest Solar Power Plant at the Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala.
• The project is a part of the Indian Government’s initiative of National Solar Mission, to achieve 100 GigaWatt (GW) of solar Power by 2022.
• The Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd (KELTRON) has executed the projects.

Fact: Motto of Indian Naval Academy – “Shaping future Naval Leadership”

         Headquarters of KELTRON – Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

ECONOMIC NEWS

World’s largest 1st Global Fintech Fest held virtually

• The 1st edition of two days long world’s largest Global Fintech Fest (GFF) was held virtually.
• The fest was organised by Payments Council of India (PCI) and Fintech Convergence Council (FCC) at National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
• The theme of the fest is “Fintech: With and Beyond COVID”.
• The aim of the fest was to bring together the global FinTech and Banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector.
• The key happenings in the fest are as follows:

                                 NPCI launched UPI AutoPAy to ease online recurring payments and launched SBM EnKash RuPay Business Card for small business.

                                 Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has formed a high-level committee to look at financial and regulatory technology.

                                 Nandan Nilekani, non-executive chairperson of Infosys Ltd., launched a new credit protocol infrastructure called the ‘Open Credit Enablement Network (OCEN) protocol’.

Amazon Pay collaborated with Acko General Insurance Ltd to offer auto insurance in India

• Amazon Pay, the payments arm of Amazon India has collaborated with Acko General Insurance Ltd to offer auto insurance for both two and four-wheelers in India.
• The key factors of the Insurance plan are as follows:

                                   Quick paperless insurance plan

                                   Instant cash settlements

                                   Select from a list of add-ons where the customers can select from a list of add-ons like zero-depreciation and engine protection.  

                                   Additional benefit for amazon prime members

                                   Payment of insurance – customers can pay for the insurance using Amazon Pay balance, UPI, or any saved card.

Fact: Headquarters of Amazon – Washington, USA

         Founder & CEO – Jeff Bezos

         Headquarters of Acko General Insurance Ltd – Mumbai

ICICI Lombard and PhonePe launched Hospital Daily cash benefit

• ICICI Lombard in partnership with PhonePe has launched Hospital Daily cash benefit under its Group Safeguard Insurance policy, a sachet-based group insurance product.
• A customized hospitalisation policy that allows PhonePe users to get an assured amount if they are hospitalised due to injury or illnesses.

Fact: Headquarters of PhonePe – Bengaluru

          Headquarters of ICICI Lombard – Mumbai

APPOINTMENTS

Rajesh Bhushan appointed as new Health Secretary

• Rajesh Bhushan has been appointed as the new Health Secretary in the Union Health Ministry.
• He was serving as the OSD in the Health Ministry and he will succeed Preeti Sudan.
• He is an IAS officer of 1987 Batch, Bihar Cadre.

OBITUARY

Renowned dancer Amala Shankar passes away

• Eminent dancer and choreographer Amala Shankar passed away in Kolkata at the age of 101.
• She was awarded the Banga Bibhusan by the West Bengal government in 2011 for her contribution in the field of arts.