21ST AUGUST
Contents
PM MODI LAUNCHED PROJECTS IN SOMNATH, GUJARAT
AMAZON ALEXA GETS AMITABH BACHCHAN’S VOICE
HURUN GLOBAL 500 MOST VALUABLE COMPANIES LIST
FACEBOOK LAUNCHED ‘SMALL BUSINESS LOANS INITIATIVE’
INT. DAY TO TRIBUTE VICTIMS OF TERRORISM.
INDIA CELEBRATING SANSKRIT WEEK: 19-25 AUGUST
AKSHAY URJA DIWAS OBSERVED ON 20TH AUGUST
PM MODI LAUNCHED PROJECTS IN SOMNATH, GUJARAT
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple projects in Somnath, Gujarat on August 20, 2021, via video conferencing.
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister of State (MoS) for Tourism Shripad Naik were also present at the event through video conferencing.
- Projects inaugurated:
- Somnath Promenade: This project is developed under PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) Scheme, at a cost of over Rs. 47 crore.
- Somnath Exhibition Centre: This centre has been developed on the premises of ‘Tourist Facilitation Centre’. It displays the exhibits from dismantled parts of the old Somnath temple and its sculptures having Nagar style temple architecture of old Somnath.
- Reconstructed temple precinct of Old (Juna) Somnath: This temple is also known as Ahilyabai Temple because it was built by Queen Ahilyabai of Indore. The reconstructed project has been completed by Shree Somnath Trust with a total outlay of Rs 3.5 crore.
- Foundation Stone: The project for which the foundation stone was laid was Shree Parvati Temple. Total outlay of the project is Rs. 30 Crore. The project includes the construction of the temple in Sompura Salats Style, development of Garbha Griha and Nritya Mandap.
(SOURCE: INDIAN EXPRESS)
AMAZON ALEXA GETS AMITABH BACHCHAN’S VOICE
- Amazon has launched the voice of the 78-year-old Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan as a part of its efforts to amuse existing users and attract new consumers to use its voice assistant over Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri.
- With the new launch, the US tech giant has also brought its celebrity voice feature to India. The feature initially arrived in the US with the voice of American actor and producer Samuel L. Jackson in 2019.
- Amazon has made Amitabh Bachchan’s voice available on Alexa at an introductory price of Rs. 149 (MRP Rs. 299) for one year.
- Once the payment is confirmed, you will be able to start interacting with the actor’s voice.
- Amazon worked on enabling Bachchan’s voice on Alexa for the last few months. The experience is aimed to please his fans and attract new users to the voice assistant.
(SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA)
HURUN GLOBAL 500 MOST VALUABLE COMPANIES LIST
- Apple is the world’s most valuable company (USD 2,443 billion) according to the Hurun Global 500 Most Valuable Companies list 2021.
- The world’s top six valuable companies remained unchanged as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Facebook and Tencent.
- Globally, the US-led with 243 companies, up by one; followed by China 47, down by four, Japan was third with 30 and the UK was fourth with 24. While India is ranked 9th with 12 companies.
- Reliance Industries (USD 188 billion) ranked at 57 is the top Indian company in the list.
- As many as 12 Indian companies found a place among the Hurun Global 500 for 2021 as Wipro Ltd, Asian Paints Ltd and HCL Technologies Ltd made it to the list of 500 most valuable firms in the world, while ITC Ltd dropped out.
(SOURCE: THE ECONOMIC TIMES)
FACEBOOK LAUNCHED ‘SMALL BUSINESS LOANS INITIATIVE’
- Facebook India has launched the “Small Business Loans Initiative” in India in partnership with the online lending platform Indifi.
- India is the first country where Facebook is rolling out this programme. The objective of this initiative is to help small and medium businesses (SMBs) that advertise on Facebook to get quick access to credit/loans through independent lending partners.
- This will make business loans more easily accessible to small businesses, and reduce the credit gap within India’s MSME sector. It is open to businesses registered across 200 towns and cities of India.
- About the Indifi: Indifi is the first lending partner that Facebook has tied up with and the programme is built with the potential to bring more partners on board.
- Through Facebook’s partnership with Indifi, small businesses that advertise with Facebook can get loans at a predefined interest rate of 17-20 per cent per annum.
- The programme will also enable small businesses to apply for loans without collateral through a quick online application.
(SOURCE: JAGRAN JOSH)
INT. DAY TO TRIBUTE VICTIMS OF TERRORISM
- United Nations observes 21st August every year as the International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism.
- The day is observed to pay tribute to the individuals across the globe who have been attacked, injured, traumatized or lost their lives because of terrorist attacks.
- This year, the 3rd commemoration of the day will focus on the response to the pandemic and cancellation of many memorials and commemorations, it is critical to take the time to remember and honour the victims of terrorism.
- History of International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism:
- The day was designated by United Nations General Assembly in 2017 and the first time the day was observed in 2018.
- The General Assembly, in its resolution 72/165 (2017), established 21 August as the International Day of Remembrance of and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism in order to honour and support the victims and survivors of terrorism and to promote and protect the full enjoyment of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
(SOURCE: HINDUSTAN TIMES)
INDIA CELEBRATING SANSKRIT WEEK: 19-25 AUGUST
- In 2021, India is observing the Sanskrit Week from August 19 to August 25, 2021, to promote, popularise and cherish the importance of ancient language.
- In 2021, Sanskrit Day will be celebrated on August 22, 2021.
- The day is celebrated on the full moon day of the month of Shravan, which also marks the occasion of Raksha Bandhan each year.
- World Sanskrit Day was first declared in 1969, by the Indian Government on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
(SOURCE: THE HINDU)
AKSHAY URJA DIWAS OBSERVED ON 20TH AUGUST
- Akshay Urja Diwas (Renewable Energy Day) is observed every year on 20 August to raise awareness about the developments and adoption of renewable energy in India.
- The Akshay Urja Day was initiated by the Indian Ministry for New & Renewable Energy Sources in 2004.
- Energy such as Biogas, Solar Energy, Wind energy, hydro-electrical power are few examples of Akshay Urja. The main motive of Akshya urja Diwas is to make people aware that they have to think about renewable energy (Akshya Urja) apart from traditional energy.
- History of Indian Akshay Urja Day: Indian Akshay Urja Day was established in 2004 to support renewable energy development programs and promote its use instead of traditional sources of energy.
- The very first event relating to Akshay Urja Diwas was organized in New Delhi. In 2004, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has released a commemorative stamp, and 12,000 schoolchildren formed a human chain to promote renewable energy.
- The 20th of August wasn’t chosen at random to be the date of the observance. This day marks the birthday anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India.
(SOURCE: MONEY CONTROL)