Month: June 2021

** Andhra Pradesh Govt. nod for ‘Anandaiah preparation’, excluding eye drops

AYUSH chief says the concoction is not an ayurvedic medicine

The State government on Monday permitted the usage of the herbal preparation being given to COVID patients by B. Anandaiah, an ayurvedic practitioner of Krishnapatnam in Nellore district, by taking into account the findings of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, but kept on hold its decision on the eye drops claimed to be life saving for those with dangerously low levels of oxygen.

While giving the green signal to the herbal preparation, the government warned that COVID patients should not stop taking the drugs prescribed by doctors in the normal course.

** A.P. emerges third on the Sustainable Development Goals India Index 2020-21

With 75 points, Kerala led the table followed by Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in the second position with 74 points each.

Andhra Pradesh shared the third position in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index 2020-21 alongside Goa, Karnataka and Uttarakhand with 72 points each on a 0 – 100 scale. The State’s score last year was 67.

** MoD signs ₹323-cr. deal for airport surveillance radars

They will increase efficiency in flying operations of Navy, Coast Guard

The Defence Ministry on Thursday signed a ₹323.47-crore contract with Mahindra Telephonics Integrated Systems Ltd., Mumbai, for procurement of 11 airport surveillance radars with monopulse secondary surveillance radar for the Navy and Coast Guard.

“The installation of these radars will increase the air domain awareness around airfields and enhance safety and efficiency in flying operations of Navy and Coast Guard,” the Ministry said.

** New geometrical lines discovered in Thar Desert

The authors also suggest that the lines could be contemporary with the neighbouring memorial stones

Using Google Earth images, drone observations and field visits, two independent researchers from France have identified eight sites around Jaisalmer in the Thar Desert, that show linear features resembling geoglyphs. Geoglyphs are large, un-explained geometrical patterns on land usually proposed to be man-made features.

** Netflix to open first global post-production unit in Mumbai in 2022

In a press release, the streamer said the live-action and full-service facility will be operational by June next year

Netflix has announced that it will be unveiling its first fully owned post-production facility in Mumbai in 2022.

** International award for C.N.R. Rao

It relates to his research in energy

Bharat Ratna Professor C.N.R. Rao has been selected for the International Eni Award 2020 for research in energy frontiers. This is considered to be the Nobel Prize in energy research.

Professor Rao has been working on hydrogen energy as the only source of energy for the benefit of all mankind. Storage, photochemical and electrochemical production of hydrogen, solar production of hydrogen and non-metallic catalysis were the highlights of the work.

** BEML manufacturing medical oxygen units

In a bid to mitigate the oxygen shortage in the country, defence PSU major BEML has started manufacturing 960 LMP medical oxygen units at its KGF complex.

The units have been set up under a transfer of technology agreement with Defence Bio Engineering and Electro Medical Laboratory under the DRDO.

** Gecko named after Mizo chieftain who fought British 150 years ago

Cyrtodactylus bengkhuaiai is one of four new species of bent-toed gecko recorded from Meghalaya and Mizoram

A species of pest-controlling lizard new to science has been named after a Mizo chieftain who fought the British forces 150 years ago.

Cyrtodactylus bengkhuaiai, named in honour of chieftain Bengkhuaia, is one of four new species of bent-toed geckos recorded by two groups of scientists in October-November 2020. Two geckos each were found in Mizoram and Meghalaya.

** Pentagon spokesman condoles death of India America Today editor

Tejinder Singh, the founder editor of the Washington-based India America Today newspaper has died, according to a tweet from the publication.

On Tuesday, Pentagon Spokesperson John Kirby paid tributes to Singh calling him “a real gentleman, good reporter, damn good reporter.”

He said at his regular news briefing, “We’d here at the Pentagon would like to take a moment to — to express our condolences and sympathies for the passing of Mr. Tejinder Singh.”

** IIT Ropar develops ‘AmbiTag’ to record real-time ambient temperature

Project Director Dr. Pushpendra P. Singh, said the device will be made available to all companies involved in COVID-19 vaccine transportation at a production cost of ₹400

Indian Institute of Technology in Punjab’s Ropar has developed a first-of-its-kind Internet of Things (IoT) device – AmbiTag.