Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today deliver a keynote address virtually at this year’s High-Level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council session to be held at the UN headquarters in New York.

The Prime Minister will be speaking at the valedictory session along with his Norwegian counterpart and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The annual High-level Segment convenes a diverse group of representatives from the Government, the private sector, civil society and academia. The theme of this year’s High-level Segment is Multilateralism after COVID19: What kind of UN do we need at the 75th anniversary.

Our correspondent reports, this session will focus on critical forces shaping the course of multilateralism and explore ways to bolster the global agenda through strong leadership, effective international institutions, a broadening of participation and enhanced significance of global public goods.

This will be the first opportunity for Mr Modi to address the broader UN membership since India’s overwhelming election as a non-permanent member of the Security Council on 17th of last month, for the term 2021-22.

Several high-profile Twitter accounts were hijacked on July 15 -- including those of US presidential candidate Joe Biden, reality television show star Kim Kardashian, former US President Barack Obama, billionaire Elon Musk and rapper Kanye West, among many others -- used to solicit digital currency.

Many hours after the first wave of hacks, the cause of the breach had not yet been made public.

In a sign of the seriousness of the problem, Twitter took the extraordinary step of preventing at least some verified accounts from publishing messages altogether.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed a virtual conclave on World Youth Skills Day organised by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The Prime Minister presented a new mantra for the youth to skill, reskill and upskill in order to remain relevant in the rapidly changing business environment and market conditions.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed on the vital role of skilled migrant workers in changing the local economy.

Referring to the portal launched recently for mapping the skilled employees and employers, PM Modi stated that it will help the skilled workers, including the migrant workers who have returned to their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to access jobs easily and the employers to contact skilled employees at the click of a mouse.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually address the valedictory of high-level segment of United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on Friday.
 
This will be Prime Minister Modi's first speech at the United Nations after India reinstated it's place as a non permanent member in the Security Council earlier this year.
 
ECOSOC serves as the central forum for discussing international economic and social issues and formulating policy recommendations addressed to member states of the United Nations. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Council since it's formation in 1945.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a video address on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day today. The day marks the 5th anniversary of the launch of Skill India Mission. A Digital Conclave is being organized by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to mark the occasion.
 
Our Correspondent reports that skill India is an initiative of the Government of India to empower the youth with skill sets, making them more employable. Skill India offers courses across several sectors which are aligned to the standards recognised by both, the industry and the government under the National Skill Qualification Framework.
 
The courses enhance the technical expertise and companies don’t have to invest in training for the particular job profile.

Google Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai has announced an investment of 75,000 crore rupees in India through Google for India Digitisation Fund to help accelerate country's digital economy.

Addressing the sixth annual edition of the "Google for India" virtual event yesterday, Mr. Pichai said the fund would be used over the next five to seven years through equity investments and tie-ups.

The tech giant asserted that the latest move is a reflection of the company's confidence in the future of India and its digital economy.  He said the investments will focus on four key areas of India's digitisation.

Given the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in the country, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, IRDAI, has allowed 30 general and health insurers to launch short-term ‘Corona Kavach' health insurance policies. The policy will cover medical expenses occurred due to coronavirus disease.
 
The insurance regulator said that it has designed a standard Covid specific product addressing basic health insurance needs of insuring public with common policy wordings across the industry. The sum insured amount of the policy ranges between fifty thousand rupees to five lakh rupees.
 
This policy can be availed by persons between the age of 18 to 65 years. People can avail the Corona Kavach policy for Self, spouse, parents, parents-in-law and dependent children up to 25 years of age.

Ningombam has been associated with Manipur Hockey for several years and was instrumental in supporting talented players and the development of the sport at the grassroots level.

Gyanendro Ningombam was named as the officiating president of Hockey India in an Executive Board meeting held on Friday. The decision followed the resignation of Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad, who stepped down from the position on July 07, citing family commitments.

"In the Hockey India Emergent Executive Board meeting convened today where the resignation of Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad was accepted, the Hockey India Executive Board under the Rules & Regulations of the Hockey India Constitution subsequently nominated and approved Hockey India's Senior Vice President Gyanendro Ningombam as the new Officiating President," Hockey India said in a statement.

The Amazonia-1 earth observation satellite has gained importance in the wake of recent Amazon wildfires

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up to lift off Brazil’s Amazonia-1 satellite next month onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)

As per a report in the Financial Express, Amazonia-1 will be the first satellite for Earth Observation that is designed, assembled and tested in Brazil.

The launch of the Brazilian satellite is confirmed, but there is not clarity on a date for the planned launch. The report quoted a top diplomat as saying that it all depends on the ISRO as to when it is planning to blast off the satellite.

The images provided by Amazonia-1 will help in observing and monitoring the deforestation of the Amazon region, the report adds. The satellite has gained special importance in the wake of recent fires in the Amazon.