** The Hindu Group wins five WAN-IFRA South Asia awards

Campaigns created by The Hindu Group bagged five awards at the WAN-IFRA South Asian Digital Media Awards 2021. ‘Bring Back Milk Bikis Classic’, a campaign for Britannia received gold in the ‘best in audience engagement’ category. In the same category, The Hindu Group won silver for the ‘Brain-teasing activities’ campaign for Kissan (HUL).

The Hindu Group won gold for the ‘Let’s Crack CSE’ campaign done for Indian edu-tech start-up Unacademy, and bronze for the ‘Bring Back Milk Bikis Classic’ campaign in the ‘best branded/sponsored content campaign’ category, according to a press release.

Further, ‘Freedom Sale 2021’ has won bronze for the ‘best reader revenue initiative

** Advertising industry veteran Gerson da Cunha dies aged 92

Da Cunha started his career as a journalist, then headed the ad agency Lintas before working with UNICEF

Ad man Gerson da Cunha, a multi-faceted personality, who was also very passionate about civic activism in later years, died here on Friday. He was 92.

Da Cunha, who started his career as a journalist working for the Press Trust of India after graduating in science and then jumped into advertising, was associated with a slew of platforms engaged in civic activism, including AGNI (Action for Good Governance and Networking in India).

** Samanvi bags The Hindu & SaReGaMa M.S. Subbulakshmi Award, 2021

Udupi student pips four finalists for Voice of the Year prize

Samanvi, a second year B. A. student from Udupi, was on Friday awarded The Hindu & SaReGaMa M.S. Subbulakshmi Award, 2021, Voice of the Year, presented by Parry’s Amrit Brown Sugar at the Grand Finale held at The Music Academy here.

“I plan to pursue music as a career,” said the youngster who has been undergoing training with Guru V. Aravinda Hebbar in Gurukulavasam and under Chitravina N. Ravikiran.

Ms. Samanvi, who has been learning and performing along with her long-time friend Archana, will get to record an album with SaReGaMa.

The award was presented by Aruna Sairam, renowned Carnatic vocalist and guru, and Navaneeth L.V., CEO, The Hindu Group.

** Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant heads out for next round of sea trials

Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant now sails to undertake complex manoeuvres to establish specific readings of how the ship performs in various conditions

The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant has headed out for the next set of sea trials on January 9, shortly after two high-profile visits — that of the President and the Vice-President of India within a span of about two weeks.

** Former RBI governor Urjit Patel appointed vice president of AIIB

He has been appointed vice-president of Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Urjit Patel has been appointed vice-president of the Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Mr. Patel will serve a three-year term as one of the multilateral development bank’s five vice-presidents, and will take the place of former Gujarat Chief Secretary D.J. Pandian who had been, as Vice-President, leading the AIIB’s investment operations and all sovereign and non-sovereign lending in South and Southeast Asia.

** Bopanna and Ramkumar win Adelaide International

In the one hour and 21 minutes contest, the Indians saved all the four break points they faced and broke their rivals twice

Teaming up for the first-time on the ATP Tour, India’s Rohan Bopanna and Ramkumar Ramanathan won the Adelaide International doubles trophy with a hard-fought 7-6 (6) 6-1 win over top seeds Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo on January 9.

Bopanna’s excellent service returns at crucial times and Ramkumar’s all-round game tilted the match in their favour.

** Google doodle honours educator Fatima Sheikh on her 191st birth anniversary

Fatima Sheikh played an instrumental role in co-founding one of India’s first school for girls, alongside Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule.

Google on January 9, 2022, honoured educator and social reformer Fatima Sheikh, on her 191st birth anniversary with a doodle on their homepage.

Sheikh who according to a statement by Google is regarded to be “India’s first Muslim woman teacher,” played an instrumental part in co-founding the Indigenous Library alongside Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule in 1848.

** Captain Harpreet Chandi becomes first Indian-Origin woman to reach South Pole solo in 40 days

Harpreet Chandi completed her solo journey to the South Pole on the 40th day after traveling 700 miles. Captain Harpreet Chandi started her preparations in French Alps where she underwent the crevasse training. She also trekked across Langjökull Glacier in Iceland and spent 27 days on the Icecap in Greenland.

** Some of the most complex cloud projects are coming out of India, Microsoft executive says

In an exclusive interview with The Hindu, Shivir Chordia, Azure Business Group Lead at Microsoft India, spoke about the growing cloud ecosystem, the pandemic’s role in driving cloud adoption across different sectors, and more.

** Mayank Agarwal among three nominated for ICC men’s player of month

Agarwal was the architect of the win in Mumbai against New Zealand with a Player of the Match-winning performance of 150 and 62 in the two innings.

India opener Mayank Agarwal was on Saturday nominated for the ICC Player of the Month award for December following his stellar performance in the Test series against New Zealand and South Africa.

Besides Agarwal, New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel and Australian pacer Mitchell Starc were also short-listed for the award.