PUNJAB
Punjabi University develops announcement System at Public places for Deaf and Dumb
In a move to assist the deaf and mute, the researchers at Punjabi University Patiala has developed an announcement system through which any English text can be converted into equivalent ISL (Indian Sign Language) animated video on the click of the button. The announcement system can prove helpful to the deaf and dumb at public places in understanding the message at public places like Railway stations and Airports in their own ISL.
The researchers said they faced a number of challenges for the implementation of this system such as no pre-defined grammar rules for conversion of complex and compound sentences into ISL, no SIGML dictionary, even very less human videos for words to be used for the translation system.
INTERNATIONAL
Norway Research Institute signs an MoU with Clean Ganga Mission for development of sludge management framework
Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research has signed an MoU with cGanga, a think-tank of National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) for development of sludge management framework in India.
In the 5th India Water Impact Summit held virtually, Ola Stedje, Research Scientist at NIBIO announced that his company has signed an MOU for development of sludge management framework in India with cGanga.
India Water Impact 2020 is a five-day long summit, hosting experts and academicians from all over the world to discuss and debate issues related to water conservation, water security and river rejuvenation.
The event is co-organised by National Mission for Clean Ganga and Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies.
Israel Has Established Diplomatic Ties With Bhutan
Israel has established diplomatic ties with Bhutan. The development comes 2 days after Israel and Morocco agreed to normalize ties in a deal brokered with assistance from the USA.
In the past four months, Morocco became the fourth Arab country after the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain (Abraham Accords) and Sudan to engage in hostilities with Israel.
Israel has been supporting Bhutan’s human resource development since 1982, especially in the field of agricultural development, benefiting hundreds of Bhutanese youth.
Despite the lack of formal contact between the two countries, the two countries still maintain a cordial relationship.
Israel briefly had a non-resident ambassador to Bhutan in 2010.
NATIONAL
Nation celebrates Vijay Diwas on 16 December
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute at the National War Memorial on the 50th-anniversary of the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
On the occasion, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh unveiled the logo for ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ to mark the anniversary of the war.
Vijay Diwas is observed every year on December 16 as a mark of victory over Pakistan in the 1971 war that also led to the creation of Bangladesh.
Dept of Posts & India Post Payments Bank unveil new digital payment app ‘DakPay’
Department of Posts and India Post Payments Bank unveiled a new digital payment app DakPay.
The App is launched as part of its ongoing efforts to provide Digital Financial inclusion at the last mile across India.
DakPay is not just a digital payment app but a suite of digital financial and assisted banking services provided by India Post and IPPB through the trusted Postal network across the nation to cater to the financial needs 
of various sections of the society.
This innovative service will not only give access to banking services and postal products online, but also is a unique concept where one can order and avail postal financial services at doorsteps.
British PM Boris Johnson to be Chief Guest at Republic Day Parade next year
The United Kingdom has confirmed that Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be the chief guest at Republic Day Parade in January 2021.
India will be celebrating its 72nd Republic Day at the Red Fort on 26 January 2021.
Boris Johnson would be the first British PM since John Major to be guest of honour at the Rajpath parade in 27 years.
John Major was the chief guest at the January 26 parade in 1993.
In 2020, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade.
Ladakh celebrates New Year ‘Losar’
People in Ladakh region are celebrating Ladakhi New Year, Losar.
Due to considerable Covid19 cases in Leh and strict SOPs in place, this year Losar is observed in a low key.
Symbolic Losar celebrations and special prayers are held at Chokanga Vihara in Leh.
The Losar festival marks the beginning of New year in Ladakh and Tibet region and falls in December.
Losar is Tibetan word for ‘new year’.
It is considered to be the most important festival of the region.
Paul Sein Twa of Myanmar wins 2020 Goldman Environmental Prize for Asia region
The 31st edition of the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize was announced recently.
The award honors one grassroot environmental activist from each of the world’s six geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island Nations, North America, and South and Central America.
The award is dubbed as the “Green Nobel Prize.
Paul Sein Twa of Myanmar wins 2020 Goldman Environmental Prize for Asia region.
NITI Aayog Released A White Paper – Vision 2035
NITI Aayog released a White Paper outlining the measures to be taken to improve public health surveillance.
Vision 2035: Public health surveillance in India is a continuation of efforts to strengthen the health system.
It contributes by suggesting mainstreaming of surveillance by making individual electronic health records the basis for surveillance.
Public Health Surveillance (PHS) is an important function that can span primary, secondary and tertiary care levels. Surveillance is ‘Information for Action’.
Public health surveillance is the continuous, analysis, systematic collection, & interpretation of health-related data, which are essential for planning, implementing and evaluating public health practices
Surveillance is undertaken to inform disease prevention and control measures
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