The Centre Saturday approved two key science initiatives to strengthen the research base and accelerate search for science and technology solutions to some of the country’s pressing needs in sectors like clean energy.

The Union Cabinet decided to merge several existing science promotion programmes being run by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under a new initiative called Vigyan Dhara that, it hopes, would result in better fund utilisation, and improve efficiency. It also approved a biotechnology initiative that will push for research and development, industrialisation and manufacturing in the biotechnology sector.

Tamil Nadu-based space startup Space Zone India has launched the country's first hybrid reusable rocket - Rhumi 1 onboard a mobile platform from Pattipulam in Chengalpattu district to take up research on atmospheric conditions.

The rocket made history by launching three Cube satellites into orbit and safely returning to land in just seven minutes, setting a new standard for rapid space missions.

Developed with support from Martin Group, Rhumi 1 was launched into space from the East Coast Road Beach on Saturday on India’s first hydraulic mobile launch system enabling flexible and adaptable launch operations from various locations at different angles between 0 to 120 degrees, according to a statement.

The Union Cabinet Wednesday approved the proposal to hold a third batch of e-auctions for 730 channels under Private FM Radio Phase III policy, covering 234 new cities with an estimated reserve price of `784.87 crore, the Union I&B Ministry said.

The decision is part of the I&B Ministry’s 100-day programme, according to sources in the government. There have been efforts to hold e-auctions for the third batch since 2018, sources said.

In July last year, former I&B minister Anurag Thakur had said 808 FM radio stations will soon be e-auctioned across 284 cities and added that the country has 388 FM radio stations in 113 cities across 26 states and 5 UTs.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday approved setting up of 12 industrial smart cities under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme (NICDP) with an estimated investment of Rs. 28,602 crore.

The project spans across 10 states and is strategically planned along six major corridors. These industrial areas will be located in Khurpia in Uttrakhand, Rajpura-Patiala in Punjab, Dighi in, Maharashtra, Palakkad in Kerala, Agra and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, Gaya in Bihar, Zaheerabad in Telangana, Orvakal and Kopparthy in Andhra Pradesh and Jodhpur-Pali in Rajasthan.

Addressing media persons, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the project will create an investment potential of about Rs 1.52 lakh crore.

Jay Shah, the incumbent secretary of the Board of Cricket for Cricket in India (BCCI), is set to become the youngest chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

He will take over from New Zealand’s Greg Barclay on December 1.

An ICC statement confirmed that Mr. Shah was the only name proposed on Tuesday (August 27, 2024), the deadline for each of the 16 ICC Board of Directors to nominate their preferred candidate.

With Mr. Shah being the lone candidate in the fray, he will be elected unopposed and will take over from Barclay, who will step down in November.

Hockey India on Wednesday, 28 August announced a star-studded 18-member squad for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy in China. Harmanpreet Singh will continue to lead the side in their first assignment after legendary goalkeeper PR Srejeesh announced his retirement.

India, the defending champions will take on China in the opening game against the hosts. Apart from India, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan and China will fight for the top prize in a tournament which will be played in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia from 8-17 September.

Skipper Harmanpreet Singh shared a post on social media, saying that his forces will aim for more glory in China.

"Had a wonderful time with the boys in Paris, and now it's onto the next one in China ???????? Time to make the country proud again," read the post from Harmanpreet Singh on X.

Amazon India has introduced its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered shopping assistant, ‘Rufus,’ to the Indian market. Currently in beta mode, Rufus is available to a select group of customers, with plans for a broader rollout in the coming weeks.

The assistant is designed to enhance the shopping experience by offering personalised product recommendations, shopping list advice, product category comparisons and insights from customer reviews.

Rufus operates on an internal large language model (LLM) specialised for shopping, drawing on Amazon's extensive data, including its product catalog, customer reviews and community discussions. The AI assistant first made its debut in the United States in February 2024, where it was later made widely available to all customers by July.

Amazon has acknowledged that Rufus is still in its early stages, with the technology not always providing perfect responses. The company has committed to continuous improvement of the AI models, encouraging users to provide feedback through thumbs-up or thumbs-down ratings and freeform comments.

Tata AIA Life Insurance has unveiled its latest term insurance product, Sampoorna Raksha Promise. This product is designed to enhance financial security, Tata AIA Life Insurance said.

Here are the key features:

Instant payout: The plan provides an immediate payout of ₹3 lakh upon death claim intimation to cover urgent expenses.

Premium deferral: Policyholders can defer their premium payments for up to 12 months once every five years.

Terminal illness benefit: Upon diagnosis of a terminal illness, 50% of the base sum assured is paid out.

Future premiums are waived, and policy benefits continue.

Plan options:

Life promise: Provides coverage up to age 100 with a specified sum assured payable upon the policyholder's death.

Life promise plus: Similar to Life Promise, but includes a refund of 100% of the total premium paid if the policyholder survives to maturity, excluding modal premiums and discounts.

Three botany teachers from the region have discovered a a new plant species of Cleistanthus Collinus, known as ‘Garadi’ in local parlance, during a taxonomic field exploration in the Ambagad forest in the Bhandara district.

There are 134 Cleistanthus Collinus plant species in the world.

The new one discovered in Ambagad (Bhandara) will be the 135th.

IT services major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) today announced the launch of TCS Pace Studio in Manila, Philippines. This facility is designed for TCS to co-innovate with customers to develop tailored solutions for their unique business needs, boosting digital innovation in the Asia-Pacific region.

TCS Pace Studio in Manila, the fifth of its kind globally, is part of an extensive innovation ecosystem of TCS Pace spanning major global cities. The TCS Pace network also comprises four other Pace Studios situated in Riyadh, Sydney, Letterkenny, and Stockholm, alongside seven Pace Ports located in Tokyo, Amsterdam, New York, Pittsburgh, Toronto, London, and Paris. TCS Pace Studios serve growth markets by fostering dynamic innovation ecosystems.

Harrick Vin, chief technology officer at TCS, said, "TCS Pace Studio is the gateway to a world of possibilities for our customers. It gives them access to TCS' extensive research and innovation ecosystem, facilitating the development of novel solutions across diverse disciplines, with efficiency and at scale. Customers in the Asia-Pacific region can get a hands-on experience of the art of the possible at the TCS Pace Studio in the Philippines.”