Current Affairs

Super 30 Founder, Mathematician Anand Kumar Felicitated With US Education Excellence Award

Super 30 founder and noted mathematician Anand Kumar has been felicitated in the US with a prestigious teaching award for his contributions towards imparting education to the country's needy students.

The Education Excellence Award 2019 was presented to Kumar, 46, by the Foundation For Excellence (FFE) at a function on the occasion of the organisation's 25th anniversary gala in San Jose, California over the weekend.

Speaking at the event, Anand exhorted the strong Indian community living in the USA and across the world to help education become the strongest weapon to fight all the problems of the world.



Rajnath Singh becomes first defence minister to fly indigenously-built Tejas fighter jet

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flew on board India’s indigenously-built Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas in Bengaluru, Karnataka on September 19.

Singh is now the first defence minister to fly on board the LCA.

After the 30-minute sortie, Singh said that it was “very smooth and comfortable.”

“I was enjoying. I want to congratulate HAL, DRDO and several concerned agencies. We have reached a level where we can export fighter planes across the world,” he added.


Vinesh Phogat locks Tokyo berth with maiden bronze at World Championships

If there was one bout Vinesh Phogat has yearned for in the last three years, it was this one—her second repechage round at Nur Sultan—win it, and it would take her to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It was as difficult an opportunity as could be; she had to overcome the world No 1 and top seed, USA’s Sarah Ann Hildebrandt. In a match that had no place for half-measures, Vinesh went all out—not only did she make the qualification cut, she also won the next match for her first ever World Championship medal.

The fight against the world No 1 was six minutes of pure thrill. When Vinesh attacked she did it with ferocity and speed. When she defended—which she did for much of the fight—she did it with tenacity and aggression.



Anurag Thakur announces cricket and sports academy for Leh

In a boost to sports training in the region, Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Anurag Thakur, in his first official visit to Union Territory of Ladakh on Tuesday, announced the opening of a Cricket and Sports Academy in Leh.

He interacted with local stakeholders along with members of the 15th Finance Commission to understand the issues and challenges in the region and assured of speedy development.

Thakur also visited the Hall of Fame & Museum in Leh. The Minister spoke to the jawans and was briefed about their most challenging battle situations, military equipment and stories of valour.



Robert O'Brien: Trump names new national security adviser

US President Donald Trump has named a new national security adviser to replace John Bolton.

Robert O'Brien has had a long career in foreign policy working for both main US parties and currently heads hostage negotiations at the State Department.

He is Mr Trump's fourth national security adviser.

As top adviser on national security, Mr O'Brien will be tasked with tackling everything from immigration policy to heightened tensions with Iran.



ISRO, DRDO join hands for Gaganyaan project

The human space mission of ISRO will get a boost with the DRDO joining hands to jointly develop systems that will aid and enhance flight capabilities. ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) is on course to its target of sending Indian astronauts to space by 2022 under the ‘Gaganyaan’ project, which entails an investment of 10,000 crore.

The Space Agency’s Director, Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), S Unnikrishnan led a team that signed a set of MoUs with various DRDO (Defence Research Development Organisation) labs to develop technologies specific to the human space mission, on Tuesday.



Documentary film based on life of Uttarakhand farmer nominated for Oscars

A documentary film based on life of a Uttarakhand farmer has been nominated for Oscars. The documentary film named Moti Bagh is based on the life of Vidyadutt, a farmer living in Pauri Garhwal region of the state.

The state Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat congratulated the director, Nirmal Chander Dandriyal, and said it will inspire youths to stay in their villages and work for their communities.



12 years after last ODI, Dinesh Mongia announces retirement from all forms of cricket at 42

12 years after playing his last ODI, former India cricketer Dinesh Mongia announced his retirement from all forms of cricket at the age of 42 on Tuesday. Mongia last played for India in an ODI in Dhaka in 2007 before joining the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) and getting a ban from BCCI. All the players participating in ICL were later cleared by BCCI but interestingly, Dinesh Mongia was the only one not to get a clearance from the board for his alleged involvement in match-fixing.

Former New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent had named Mongia as well as the Kiwi all-rounder Chris Cairns in the match-fixing case in 2015 during a hearing at Southwark Crown Court in London.



Indian successfully flight-tested indigenous air-to-air missile Astra

Indian Air Force has successfully flight-tested air-to-air missile Astra off the coast of Odisha. The missile was launched from a Sukhoi Su-30 MKI combat aircraft on Monday as a part of User trials.

According to the Defence Ministry, a live aerial target was engaged accurately by the Astra while the mission profile was executed in a text book manner. The missile was tracked using radars, electro-optical tracking sensors and struck its target successfully.

The missile has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the premier research and development organisation of the armed forces.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and Air Force teams for the successful test.



Former A.P. Assembly Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao found dead

Former speaker of Andhra Pradesh Assembly Kodela Siva Prasada Rao was found dead under suspicious circumstances at his residence here on Monday.

Joint Commissioner of Police (West Zone) A.R. Srinivas said the 72-year-old politician was suspected to have committed suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan at his residence in Banjara Hills. He was taken to Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital, where doctored declared him dead.

“After attending on him for more than an hour, doctors pronounced Rao dead,” Mr. Srinivas said, adding that there was a ligature mark around his neck.