Category: Records, Bengaluru (Bangalore)

NATIONAL RECORD BREAKER: SPORTS, AQUATICS: Dhinidhi Desinghu 12-year-Old Bengaluru’s Little Swimming Champ Breaks 13-year-old Swimming Record

Bengaluru’s Dhinidhi Desinghu has been making waves in the swimming circuit. The 12-year-old rose to prominence last year when she set national records in the 100m freestyle, 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley at the Junior and Sub-Junior National Aquatic Championship.

This year, she has kept up her gold-winning performances, bagging three gold medals in the Karnataka Mini Olympics in May and following it up with three more golds at the Karnataka Junior and Sub-Junior Aquatic Championship, including a recording-breaking effort in 100m freestyle (59.64 seconds) that rewrote a 13-year-old record.

The youngster has the tough task of balancing her academics and swimming commitments. “Since school timings have changed after the easing of the pandemic restrictions, it is a bit more stressful and my academic workload has increased since the previous year. But I am able to cope,” says Dhinidhi, a Grade 7 student at Kendriya Vidyalaya DRDO in CV Raman Nagar.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: BUSINESS & ECONOMY/ MINING, DRONES: Tata Steel Signs MoU with Bengaluru Start-up Aarav Unmanned Systems (AUS) for Drone-based Mining Solutions, Analytics & Geo-Technical Mapping

Tata Steel will also work jointly with AUS to provide exclusive drone-based solutions, including mine analytics and geo-technical mapping, to Tata Steel group companies.

Domestic giant Tata Steel on Wednesday said it has inked a pact with a Bengaluru-based startup for drone-based mining solutions for effective mine management.

The primary goal of this collaboration is to jointly develop and offer sustainable and end-to-end integrated solutions that will focus on efficiency, safety, and productivity of open cast mining operations.

“Tata Steel has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Aarav Unmanned Systems (AUS), a Bangaluru-based startup, providing end-to-end drone solutions… for effective mine management,” the company said in a statement.

Tata Steel will also work jointly with AUS to provide exclusive drone-based solutions, including mine analytics and geo-technical mapping, to Tata Steel group companies across mining locations in India, it said.

On the partnership, D B Sundara Ramam, vice president, Raw Materials, Tata Steel, said: Drone survey enabled digitalisation and other technology will assist in gathering impactful and actionable insights. We see enormous potential in redefining core mining processes such as exploration and mine planning using drone data and adequate analytics.

source/content: business-standard.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: NATIONAL, KARNATAKA: AVIATION & DEFENCE: Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) Signs $100m Contract with Honeywell for HTT-40 Engines

There is potential requirement of 70 aircraft.

Defence Public Sector Undertaking Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Wednesday signed a contract worth over $100 million with Honeywell for supply and manufacture of 88 TPE331-12B engines/kits along with maintenance and support services to power the Hindustan Trainer Aircraft (HTT-40), the basic trainer aircraft

The contract was exchanged by Eric Walters, Senior Director OE Sales, Honeywell Defense & Space, and B Krishna Kumar, Executive Director (E & IMGT) in the presence of R Madhavan, Chairman & Managing Director, HAL.

Entering into this ‘Manufacturing & Repair license agreement for Honeywell TPE331-12B Turboprop engine’ marks a major milestone in the execution of 70 HTT-40 aircraft contract with IAF.

HAL is working closely with Honeywell for its support for export potential of HTT-40. HAL and Honeywell are exploring other areas such as 1MW Turbo Generators, manufacturing, Repair & Overhaul of TPE 331-10GP / 12JR engines for variants of Dornier.

“HAL has successfully developed the Basic Trainer Aircraft (HTT-40) to address the basic training requirements of the IAF.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES, DRUG PATENT: Bengaluru-based firm Synergia Biosciences Develops a nanoemulsion intra-nasal platform for Brain-Related Disorders and gets International Patent

City-based Synergia Biosciences unveiled a nanotechnology-based intra-nasal platform of medicine for brain-related disorders.

It has acquired patents for the same in the United States of America, the European Union, India, and Japan. 

Synergia Biosciences said they have developed the platform in which lipophilic drugs can be dissolved for the intra-nasal spray mode of administering to patient.

“We have patented the composition of the platform and the process to arrive at that,” Sambratha Shetty, Chief Operating Officer, Synergia Biosciences said. 

The nanoemulsion platform presently is best suited to treat various brain-related disorders from cluster headaches, migraine, schizophrenia, dementia, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and vertigo, binge drinking, depression, among others.

“One of the biggest challenges in drugs treating brain-related disorders is that it is very difficult to make the drug reach the target area. But with the intra-nasal route, it bypasses the first pass metabolism, increases bioavailability of the drug, and causes rapid absorption (less than 5 minutes),” Ms. Shetty explained.

Synergia has stabilised the nanoemulsion for four drugs: two antipsychotic ones, an analgesic, and an antiemetic. The same platform can be tweaked to carry vaccines and insulin, Synergia claimed. 

“The technology is non-invasive and mainly cost-effective. It is an affordable way to treat multiple diseases. This is a strategic technology which will help India treat multiple diseases at an affordable cost,” said Tobby Simon of Synergia Foundation.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: INNOVATION: Karnataka Tops NITI Aayog’s ‘India Innovation Index 2022’

Report suggests steps to secure a place in Global Innovation Index’s top 25 nations.

Karnataka has bagged the top rank in NITI Aayog’s India Innovation Index, 2022, which determines innovation capacities and ecosystems at the sub-national level. The State has held this position, under the Major States category, in all three editions of the Index so far.

In the Index released on Thursday, Manipur secured the lead in the Northeast and Hill States category, while Chandigarh was the top performer in the Union Territories and City States category.

Karnataka was followed by Telangana, Haryana, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar and Gujarat were at the bottom of the index.

Pointing out that India’s average innovation score is arguably insufficient, given the country’s ambitious targets to be named among the top 25 nations in the Global Innovation Index, the report by the government think tank has recommended measures, such as increasing Gross Domestic Expenditure on R&D (GDERD), promoting private sector participation in R&D and closing the gap between industry demand and what the country produces through its education systems.

The report went on to state that countries that spend less on GDERD fail to retain their human capital in the long run and the ability to innovate is dependent on the quality of human capital; India’s GDERD as a percentage of GDP stood at about 0.7%.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: INVESTMENT, BUSINESS & ECONOMY, ENGINEERING: Global Multi-National Pratt and Whitney (PW) to Set up Engineering Centre in Bengaluru Making it their First such Facility in the Asia-Pacific region.

To be operational in 2023, facility will be the fifth globally.

Aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney (PW) on Monday said it will set up an engineering centre in Bengaluru, that is slated to commence operations in January 2023.

The centre, which will be its first facility in Asia Pacific and fifth globally, will enable the firm to offer engineering services on contract to its domestic and international customers, a spokesperson said.

PW’s integrated global engineering operations currently has centres in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Poland.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: ARTS & CULTURE: New Book ‘Vasane’ by Indu Antony takes the Reader on an Olfactory Journey of Bengaluru Through the Nose.

City-based artist and author Indu Antony’s book Vasané, takes readers on an olfactory journey of Bengaluru.

You  must have heard that scents are more closely linked to our memories than pictures or sounds. The smell of the filter coffee you shared with your friends after an exhausting lecture, remembering the perfume your first love interest wore, or remembering home every time you smell your mother’s signature dish being cooked, all trigger memories. It’s not only our fondest memories that are drenched by smells, but so is our city.

In her book Vasané (smell in Kannada), artist and author Indu Antony captures the many smells that make up the city of Bengaluru.

“Every city has its distinct smell. Mumbai, Goa, all these cities have smells that characterise them, but with Bengaluru, there are so many smells that make up this city,” says Antony about her 70-page book. “Because of Covid, our sense of smell was lost. Not just by those who had it, but wearing masks also restricted our ability to smell things around us,” says the author.

According to Antony, this project published by Mazhi Books, connects with the city beyond the visual, about associating smells with the city. She collaborated with Avinandan, a perfumer whose family business, Sathyanarayana Traders, is a wholesale retailer of sandal, oud, and musk perfumes. Together, the duo created 12 unique smells in 1 ml bottles each, which readers get with the book, so that they can apply them to the pages and experience the city through the olfactory sense.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: ARTS & CULTURE: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Conferred Suriname’s Highest Civilian Award ‘The Grand Cordon’

Spiritual leader and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been honoured with South American nation Suriname’s highest civilian honour for his humanitarian work.

The spiritual leader was decorated with the Grand Cordon – honorary order of the yellow star (Ere-Orde van de Gele Ster) by President Chandrikapersad Santokhi at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace, a statement issued by Art of Living said.

In his address, President Santokhi said: “We are honoured that you’re shining a light worth seeing and feeling, now and also for the future generation. With this declaration, may you lead us all to peace and harmony…The people of Suriname welcome you with a warm heart.”

dw

NATIONAL : KARNATAKA: HEALTH & MEDICAL SCIENCES: New Book Released – The ‘Operative Manual of Neurosurgery’ Authored by Dr. Balaji Pai, HOD, Dept. of Neurosurgery, Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute (BMCRI)

The atlas of neurological procedures titled ‘Operative Manual of Neurosurgery’ is a technical guide for junior neurosurgeons and neurosurgical residents.

The atlas is a guide for junior neurosurgeons before they enter the operation theatre

Junior neurosurgeons and neurosurgical residents can now delve into the technical nuances of operative neurosurgery through a new atlas of neurological procedures performed in neuro departments across the country. 

The atlas – an illustrative operating manual of neurological procedures – has been brought out by Balaji Pai S., Head of the Department of Neurosurgery at the State-run Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI). The atlas is set to be released on Saturday.

Complimentary to teaching

Speaking to The Hindu on Friday, he said many neurosurgeons are not exposed to the wide variety of neurosurgical procedures and may not have performed these procedures individually or even observed them. “The atlas is a guide for the junior neurosurgeons before they enter the operation theatre. It cannot substitute hands-on training and knowledge gained by assisting seniors and operating under supervision. This atlas is a compliment to these teaching methods,” he said.

Aimed at assisting and educating neurosurgical residents and junior neurosurgeons, the atlas will help these surgeons and also boost their confidence, the doctor said.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: NATIONAL, AVIATION & AEROSPACE: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Safran Helicopter Engines to Create JV to make Chopper Engines

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Safran Helicopter Engines have signed an agreement to create a new joint venture to develop helicopter engines. Through an MoU signed by R Madhavan, Chairman & Managing Director, HAL, and Franck Saudo, Chief Executive Officer, Safran Helicopter Engines, in presence of Olivier Andries, CEO, Safran.

Both the partners will extend their partnership by establishing a new aero-engine company in India. It will be dedicated to the development, production, sales and support of helicopter engines and one of its main objectives will be to meet the requirements of HAL and Ministry of Defence’s future heli­copters, including the 13-ton­ne Indian Multi-Role Helicopter.

Madhavan said: “We now look forward to utilize this opportunity to leverage HAL’s experience in manufacturing of more than 15 types of aircraft and helicopter engines to co-develop and manufacture engine with immediate focus on IMRH and its naval variant the Deck Based Multi Role Helicopter. This partnership will involve and utilize the Indian Defence manufacturing ecosystem within India”.

Saudo said the partnership with HAL recently illustrated the development and production of the Shakti engine, “and the inauguration of our joint venture Helicopter Engines MRO Pvt Limited (HE-MRO). With a fleet of over 1,000 engines, India’s Armed Forces are one of the largest operators of Safran-designed helicopter engines.”

HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines already have multiple partnerships, including the Shakti engine, which powers HAL-produced helicopters, including the Dhruv, Rudra and the Light Combat Helicopter. The Ardiden 1U variant also powers the new Light Utility Helicopter. Through HE-MRO joint venture in Goa, HAL and Safran Helicopter Engines will also provide Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul services for TM333 and Shakti engines in se­rvice with Armed Forces, and will be operational by 2023-

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)