Monday, June 8, 2009

Banking, Insurance and Financial Sector: A vision of the Future

Banking, Insurance and Financial Sector: A vision of the Future*
G. N. Bajpai


Introduction
Financial markets are a part of the changing business paradigms, across the globe. In fact, the financial markets are the first to unleash the creativity and imagination and lead the revolution. Today, globalization of competencies, thinking and perspectives has been the part of Strategic Action Plan of all the major players in the financial markets, globally.
The cut throat competition across the market operators and the pressure to perform by the stakeholders has resulted in competition being fiercer than ever before. I think, both the business landscape and chemistry of the competition has changed significantly over the period of time. All around, there is a fresh thinking on the financial products, structure of market players and possibilities for value creation. I would say financial markets are being redefined, reinvented and reconfigured on a persistent basis.

Speech by Shri G. N. Bajpai, Chairman, Securities and Exchange Board of India at 15th All India Conference of Chartered Accountants held at New Delhi on January 4, 2003.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Extreme Bodies - Most Fingers and Toes - Living Person

Extreme Bodies - Most Fingers and Toes - Living Person: "Most Fingers and Toes - Living Person

WHO:
Pranamya Menaria and Devendra Harne
WHAT:
25
WHERE:
India
WHEN:


There are two holders for this record:
Pranamya Menaria (India; born August 10, 2005) has 25 in total (12 fingers and 13 toes). This is as a result of the condition Polydactyly and Syndactyly.
Devendra Harne, pictured above, (India; born January 9, 1995) also has 25 in total (12 fingers and 13 toes) as a result of the condition polydactylism."

Extreme Bodies - Tallest Man

Extreme Bodies - Tallest Man: "Tallest Man

WHO:
Robert Pershing Wadlow
WHAT:
2.72 m (8 ft 11 in)
WHERE:
Alton, Illinois, USA
WHEN:
Last measured on July 15, 1940

The tallest man in medical history for whom there is irrefutable evidence is Robert Pershing Wadlow. He was born at Alton, Illinois, USA, on February 22, 1918, and when he was last measured on June 27, 1940, was found to be 2.72 m (8 ft 11.1 in) tall.

Wadlow died at 1:30 a.m. on July 15, 1940, in a hotel in Manistee, Michigan, as a result of a septic blister on his right ankle caused by a brace, which had been poorly fitted only a week earlier. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Alton, in a coffin measuring 3.28 m (10 ft 9 in) long, 81 cm (32 in) wide and 76 cm (30 in) deep.

Wadlow's greatest recorded weight was 222.71 kg (35 st 1 lb) on his 21st birthday and he weighed 199 kg (31 st 5 lb) at the time"

Guinness World Records - Human Body - Home Page

Guinness World Records - Human Body - Home Page: "Human Body
MOST TATTOOED PERSON
The ultimate in multi-layered tattooing is represented by the chainsaw juggling, unicycling, sword-swallowing Lucky Diamond Rich (Australia, born New Zealand), who has spent over 1,000 hours having his body modified by hundreds of tattoo artists. He began by having a full collection of colourful designs from around the world tattooed over his entire body. But not content with stopping there, Lucky next opted for a 100% covering of black ink, including eyelids, the delicate skin between the toes, down into the ears, and even his gums. He is now being tattooed with white designs on top of the black, and coloured designs on top of the white!"

Extraordinary Animals - Most Calves - Single Birth

Extraordinary Animals - Most Calves - Single Birth: "Most Calves - Single Birth

WHO:
Maximo Jr. Olivares
WHAT:
Five
WHERE:
Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico
WHEN:
March 18, 2005

The most calves born in a single birth is five, all of whom were born on March 18, 2005 at the Santa Clara Ranch, Congregacion Garza, Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The owners are Mr Guadalupe Olivares Garza & Sons."

Extraordinary Animals - Highest Ranking Camel

Extraordinary Animals - Highest Ranking Camel: "Highest Ranking Camel

WHO:
Bert
WHAT:
Reserve Deputy Sheriff
WHERE:
Los Angeles, California, USA
WHEN:
April 5, 2003

The world's highest ranking law-enforcement camel is Bert, who was accepted as Reserve Deputy Sheriff for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, San Dimas, USA on April 5, 2003 and regulary goes on patrol with his handler Nance Fite (USA)."

Guinness World Records - Natural World - Home Page

Guinness World Records - Natural World - Home Page: "Natural World
LARGEST MONKEY
The male mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) or man-ape of equatorial West Africa has an average head and body length of 61-76 cm (24-30 in) and a tail length of 5.2-7.6 cm (2-3 in). Adult males weigh an average of 25 kg (55 lb), although specimens weighting up to 54 kg (119 lb) and measuring 50.8 cm (20 in) to the shoulder have been known. The mandrill is also one of the most colourful mammals, recognized by its naked vivid-blue rump, red-striped face and yellow beard."

Internet - Largest Wireless Internet Provider

Internet - Largest Wireless Internet Provider: "Largest Wireless Internet Provider

WHO:
NTT DoCoMo
WHAT:
45,687,117 subscribers
WHERE:
Japan
WHEN:
January 2006

NTT DoCoMo (Japan) is the world's largest wireless internet provider, with 45,687,117 subscribers to their i-mode service as of January 2006."

Structures - Highest Library

Structures - Highest Library: "Highest Library

WHO:
JW Mariott Hotel
WHAT:
230.9 m
(757 ft 6 in)
WHERE:
Shanghai, China
WHEN:
2004

The library on the 60th floor of the JW Marriott Hotel at Tomorrow Square in Shanghai, China, is situated at 230.9 m (757 ft 6 in) above street level. Membership is available to members of the public and the 103 shelves in the library contains an ever-expanding collection of Chinese and English books. The library measures 57 m² (614 ft²). To walk to the library from the lobby would entail climbing around 1,435 steps."

Structures - Highest Concrete Dam

Structures - Highest Concrete Dam: "Highest Concrete Dam

WHO:
Grande Dixence
WHAT:
285 m (935 ft)
WHERE:
River Dixence, Switzerland
WHEN:
1961

Grande Dixence, on the river Dixence in Switzerland, is the highest concrete dam in the world. It was built between 1953 and 1961 to a height of 285 m (935 ft), with a crest length of 700 m (2,297 ft), using 5,960,000 m³ (7,800,000 yd³, 210,400,000 ft³) of concrete."

Buildings - Largest Offshore Gas Platform

Buildings - Largest Offshore Gas Platform: "Largest Offshore Gas Platform

WHO:
Troll
WHAT:
656,000 tonnes
WHERE:
Off Norway, North Sea.
WHEN:
1996

The Troll Offshore Gas Platform, located off Norway in the North Sea, is the heaviest man made mobile object ever made, with a dry weight of the gravity base structure at 656,000 tonnes. Standing 369m tall, it was made from 245,000m3 of concrete, (the equivalent to 215,000 foundations for ordinary homes) and 100,000 tonnes of steel (approximately 15 Eiffel towers).
Owned by Shell Oil, the platform was constructed by Norwegian Contractors from July 1991 at a cost of NOK4,150million."

Buildings - Heaviest Building Moved Intact

Buildings - Heaviest Building Moved Intact: "Heaviest Building Moved Intact

WHO:
Fu Gang Building
WHAT:
15,140.4 metric tones
(33.3 million lb)
WHERE:
Guangxi Province, China
WHEN:
November 10, 2004

The heaviest building moved intact is the Fu Gang Building at West Bank Road Wuzhou, in the Guangxi Province of China. It was successfully relocated by the Guangzhou Luban Corporation on November 10, 2004.The building weighs 15,140.4 metric tones (33.3 million lb) and is 34 m (111 ft) tall. The building was moved 35.62 metres horizontally and it took eleven days to complete the relocation."

Amazing Science - Largest Dental Caps

Amazing Science - Largest Dental Caps: "Largest Dental Caps

WHO:
Spike
WHAT:
50 cm (19 in) long
WHERE:
Calgary Zoo, Alberta, Canada
WHEN:
July 4, 2002

The world's largest dental caps measure 50 cm (19 in) long, 13 cm (5 in) in diameter and weigh 13 kg (28 lb) each. They were fixed onto a pair of cracked tusks belonging to Spike, a resident Asian elephant, at the Calgary Zoo, Alberta, Canada during a 3 hour 30 minute operation on July 4, 2002. The stainless steel caps were designed and manufactured by the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology with metal donated by Corus Steel and adhesive by 3M (all Canada)."

Amazing Science - Largest Plate Inserted in Human Skull

Amazing Science - Largest Plate Inserted in Human Skull: "Largest Plate Inserted in Human Skull

WHO:
Tom Thompson
WHAT:
15 x 11 cm
(5.9 x 4.33 in)
WHERE:
Decatur, Georgia, USA
WHEN:
April 30, 1971

Tom Thompson (USA) had a titanium plate measuring 15 x 11 cm (5.9 x 4.33 in) inserted into the left side of his head by neurosurgeons at DeKalb General Hospital, Decatur, Georgia, USA on April 30, 1971. The surgery took place after he had been struck by a car and pronounced dead on arrival at the local hospital."

Gadgets - Largest Mobile/Cell Phone

Gadgets - Largest Mobile/Cell Phone: "Largest Mobile/Cell Phone

WHO:
Cricket Communications and Samsung Mobile
WHAT:
4.57 x 3.42 x .74 m (15 x 11.2 x 2.5 ft)
WHERE:
Illinois, USA
WHEN:
11 March 2009

The largest functioning mobile phone is a scaled up Samsung SCH-r450. It measures 4.57 x 3.42 x .74 m (15 x 11.2 x 2.5 ft), was achieved by Cricket Communications and Samsung Mobile, and was unveiled at an event coordinated by creative agency Neverstop (all USA) in Chicago, Illinois, USA, on 11 March 2009."

People & Places - Largest Human Chain

People & Places - Largest Human Chain: "Largest Human Chain

WHO:
Bangladesh Awami League
WHAT:
5 milion people
1,050 km (652.4 miles)
WHERE:
From Teknaf to Tentulia, Bangladesh
WHEN:
December 11, 2004

On December 11, 2004, over 5 million people joined hands to form a human chain, 1,050 km (652.4 miles) long from Teknaf to Tentulia, Bangladesh."

Big Money - Most Valuable Pair of Jeans

Big Money - Most Valuable Pair of Jeans: "Most valuable pair of jeans

WHO:
Levi Strauss & Co
WHAT:
$60,000 (£33,230)
WHERE:
USA
WHEN:
June 15, 2005

An original pair of Levi Strauss & Co (USA) 501 jeans aged over 115 years old were sold by Randy Knight (USA) to an anonymous collector (Japan) for $60,000 (£33,230) through internet auction site eBay on June 15, 2005."

Big Money - Most Valuable Guitar

Big Money - Most Valuable Guitar: "Most valuable guitar

WHO:
Reach Out To Asia
WHAT:
US$2.7 million (then £1.57 million)
WHERE:
Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Doha, Qatar
WHEN:
November 17, 2005

A Fender Stratocaster guitar signed by a host of music legends fetched US$2.7 million (then £1.57 million) at a charity auction for Reach Out To Asia at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Doha, Qatar, on November 17, 2005. Stars who signed the guitar included Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page and Brian May (all UK). The Reach Out To Asia campaign seeks to support worthy causes around the world, with particular emphasis on the Asian continent."

Guinness World Records - Modern Society - Home Page

Guinness World Records - Modern Society - Home Page: "Modern Society
FASTEST GAME OF OPERATION
The fastest time to complete the game of Operation was 21.87 seconds achieved by Maharoof Decibels (India) at the Guinness World Records Pavilion in Global Village, Dubai, UAE, on 28 November 2008."

Golden Oldies - Oldest Tandem Parachute Jump (Female)

Golden Oldies - Oldest Tandem Parachute Jump (Female): "Oldest Tandem Parachute Jump (Female)

WHO:
Estrid Geertsen
WHAT:
100 years 60 days
WHERE:
Roskilde, Denmark
WHEN:
September 30, 2004

Estrid Geertsen (Denmark, b. August 1, 1904) made a tandem parachute jump on September 30, 2004 from an altitude of 4,000 m (13,100 ft) over Roskilde, Demark, at the age of 100 years 60 days."

Golden Oldies - Oldest Wall of Death Rider

Golden Oldies - Oldest Wall of Death Rider:
WHO:
Jerry De Roye
WHAT:
September 4, 1927
WHERE:
USA
WHEN:
As of 1956

The oldest rider to regularly perform in public on the Wall of Death is Jerry De Roye (USA, b. Gerald Jones, September 4, 1927). He continues to present his Trick'n'Stunt performances on the vertical Wall of Death riding a 1927 V-Twin Indian Type 101 'Scout' motorcycle.

Jerry first watched a Wall of Death stunt when he was 11 years old on a visit to a local musement park and immediately decided it was all he wanted to do in life. However, when he approached riders to ask to be trained many were reluctant as competition in the business was fierce and the last thing they wanted was another rider on the circuit. By chance though, during a stay in hospital, he was browsing through a magazine when he saw an ad that asked for a Wall of Death rider. As soon as he left hospital he went to the address not expecting Eddie Monte to open the door. Monte a.k.a. Speedy Williams was Jerry's idol when he had regularly visited fair grounds as a youngster. After a few months of training Jerry was ready but there was one thing missing: a name. Shortening Gerald to Jerry, picking out Roye from a magazine about musician"

Unusual Skills - Strangest Diet

Unusual Skills - Strangest Diet: "Strangest Diet

WHO:
Michel Lotito
(aka Mr Mangetout)
WHAT:
900 g (2 lb) of metal per day
WHERE:
France
WHEN:
As of 1959

Michel Lotito (aka Monsieur Mangetout) from Grenoble, France, has been eating metal and glass since 1959. Gastroenterologists have described his ability to consume 900 g (2 lb) of metal per day as 'unique'. Mangetout - Michel's nickname - literally translates as 'eats everything'. Michel says bananas and hard-boiled eggs make him sick."

Longest Cricket Marathon

Longest Cricket Marathon

WHO:
Raymond Terrace District Cricket Club
WHAT:
66 hr 16 min
WHERE:
New South Wales, Australia
WHEN:
24-27 January 2009
The longest cricket marathon is 66 hr 16 min and was achieved by Raymond Terrace District Cricket Club at the King Park Sports Complex, Raymond Terrace, New South Wales, Australia, on 24-27 January 2009.
Surpassed the old record by more than 6 hours.