Apple becomes first company worth over $700 billion

US technology giant Apple Inc. became the first company to reach a market value of $700 billion. It was able to hit this milestone after its shares rose 1.9 per cent and closing at $122.02, which in turn increased company’s market value to $710 billion.

India Cements transfers CSK to new subsidiary

The Board of India Cements Ltd. has cleared the decks for transfer of IPL franchise rights of Chennai Super Kings to its wholly owned subsidiary, Chennai Super Kings Cricket Ltd. While doing so, the Board approved a reorganisation plan for the newly formed subsidiary. For the first time in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a cricket franchise will be owned by the shareholders of a company.

ICICI Bank launches digital service ‘Pockets’

ICICI Bank has launched the first digital bank in the country, ‘Pockets’, on a mobile phone. Anyone, including those who are not ICICI Bank customers, can easily download the e-wallet from Google Playstore, fund it from any bank account, and start transacting immediately. This wallet uses a virtual Visa card, which enables the users to transact on any website or mobile application in India. Customers can also request for a physical card to use it at any retail outlet. The wallet allows users to instantly send money to any e-mail id, mobile number, friends on Facebook and bank account. The limit for transaction is of worth Rs.10,000, if it is not linked to a savings account of ICICI Bank.

International Buddhist meet in Odisha from Feb 13

In a bid to promote the state’s Buddhist tourism circuits at the international level, the Odisha government has decided to hold the 3rd International Buddhist Conference at Bhubaneswar from Feb 13, said Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda on Wednesday. Panda said the three-day event will be attended by about 150 Buddhist scholars and monks from across the world, including Japan and Sri Lanka.

World’s biggest solar telescope being built in Hawaii

To be launched in 2019, the world’s biggest solar telescope based in Maui, Hawaii, would significantly improve the forecasting of space weather hazards, say researchers from the University of Sheffield in Britain. The development of this telescope provides great potential for us to make earlier forecasts of space weather hazards, such as identifying solar winds which can cause huge disruption to life on Earth. With a four-metre diameter primary mirror, the telescope will be able to pick up unprecedented detail on the surface of the Sun – the equivalent of being able to examine a one pound coin from 100 km away.