current affairs 08 December 2022

Three Indian billionaires on Forbes Asia Heroes of Philanthropy list.

• Three Indian billionaires - Gautam Adani, Shiv Nadar, and Ashok Soota were listed in the 16th edition of Forbes Asia's Heroes of Philanthropy list.
• Gautam Adani (Adani chairman): For having pledged ₹60,000 crores ($7.7 billion) when he turned 60 in June 2022.
• Shiv Nadar (HCL co-founder & chairman): For having channelled close to $1 billion of his wealth to various social causes.
• Ashok Soota (Happiest Mind chairman): Pledged ₹600 crore to the medical research trust.

Indian-origin, Veena Nair won Prime Minister's prize in Australia.

• Indian-origin teacher, Veena Nair was honoured with the 2022 Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in secondary schools in Australia.
• She is ViewBank College's Head of Technology and STEAM project leader.
• She was awarded for demonstrating practical application of STEAM to students, and how they can use their skills to make a real impact in the world.
• She started her teaching career in Mumbai, where she provided computers to low socio-economic schools.

AGEL becomes world’s largest wind-solar hybrid power developer.

• Adani Green Engergy Limited (AGEL) has commissioned a 450 MW wind-solar hybrid power plant in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
• With the new hybrid plant, AGEL has become the largest operational hybrid power generation capacity of 1,440 MW.
• AGEL has a total operational generation capacity of 7.17 GW, making it the largest wind-solar hybrid power farm developer.
• According to the company, the plant has Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) with SECI at Rs 2.67/kwh for 25 years.

Mirabai clinches silver at Weightlifting World Championships 2022.

• Tokyo Oylmpic medallist, Mirabai Chanu has secured the silver medal in 49kg category, at the ongoing 2022 World Weightlifting Championships, held in Bogotá, Colombia.
• She managed to lift a total weight of 200kg (87kg in snatch and 113kg in clean and jerk).
• She lost to Jiang Huihua from China, who won the gold with a total effort of 206kg (93kg+113kg).
• While Hou Zhihua settled for bronze medal with the total lift of 198kg (89kg+109kg).

Spice Money partners with Axis Bank for financial inclusion in rural India.

• Spice Money has partnered with Axis Bank to facilitate opening of instant, zero balance savings or current accounts for rural citizens through its Adhikari network.
• Aim: To bridge the rural-urban divide and bring financial inclusivity by providing access to banking products to the last mile at their doorstep.
• A regulated entity under RBI, the fintech firm delivers various financial services such as cash deposit and withdrawal, and insurance premium to the rural masses.