Current Affairs

Kenya's Brigid Kosgei runs fastest-ever women's half-marathon

Her time was 23 seconds quicker than the world record set in 2017 by fellow Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei but the course in the northeast of England is not eligible for records.

Kosgei, who won this year's London Marathon, led a Kenyan sweep of the top four places, with Magdalyne Masai second (1:07.36) and Linet Masai third (1:07:44).

Mo Farah won the men's elite race for a record sixth successive year as he warms up to defend his Chicago Marathon title next month.

Four-time Olympic champion Farah, 36, was pushed hard by Tamirat Tola, but proved too strong in the final mile for the Ethiopian, finishing the 13.1-mile course in 59min 7sec and winning by six seconds. Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands was third (59:55).



Fourth Conclave of NEDA to be held in Guwahati

The Fourth Conclave of the North East Democratic Alliance, NEDA a constituent of the ruling NDA will be held in Guwahati today. BJP President and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will take part in the conclave along with Chief Ministers of North Eastern states. Apart from them, senior leaders of NEDA , Ministers and Chairpersons of various corporations of Assam will also attend the conclave.
 
Party sources said that issues pertaining to strengthening the NEDA will be discussed. Apart from that, several other issues  including the NRC are likely to be discussed in the conclave.



Rafael Nadal clinches fourth US Open Tennis Men's single title

Rafael Nadal has won US Open Men's singles beating Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 this morning. This is his fourth US Open title and 19th Grand Slam trophy. His win did not come easily, even though Nadal took the first two sets and was ahead by a break at 3-2 in the third. Medvedev came back by shifting styles and breaking Nadal in the last game of each of the next two sets to force a fifth.

The 33-year-old Spanish left-hander chased his 19th career Grand Slam singles title, one shy of Roger Federer's all-time men's record, in his 27th Slam final.



Army chief meets family of Param Vir Chakra awardee late Capt GS Salaria

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat interacted with the family members of Param Vir Chakra awardee late Captain G S Salaria yesterday in Pathankot.

The meeting was part of celebrations to mark the Year of The Next of Kin. A defence spokesman said, General Rawat conveyed his gratitude on behalf of the Army and the nation to the close relatives of the war hero.

Salaria was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery in the line of duty during his tenure with his unit, Third Battalion, the First Gorkha Rifles, deployed in Congo as part of UN Peacekeeping Force in 1961.

The entire Indian Army is reaching out and ensuring the well-being and welfare of the family members of deceased soldiers.



PM Narendra Modi addresses nation from ISRO Centre

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said, the communication loss from the Vikram Lander of Chandrayaan 2 with the ground stations has not weakened our spirits but it has become more stronger.

Addressing the nation from ISRO Centre, Bengaluru, Mr Modi said that we have not deviated from our goal due the obstacle that came in the path. He told the scientists that they are the people who live for the nation and dedicate their entire lives to make the country proud. He said, in our glorious history, we have faced moments that may have slowed us but they have never crushed our spirit. The Prime Minister said, we have bounced back again and gone on to do spectacular things. 



Lander Vikram of Chandrayaan-2 loses its communication minutes before soft landing

The lander of the lunar craft Chandrayaan 2 has gone incommunicado just minutes before its planned softlanding near the moon's South Pole early this morning.

A statement from the ISRO Mission Control Centre in Bengaluru says the Vikram Lander descent was initiated as planned and normal performance was observed up to an altitude of 2.1 km. Subsequently, the communication from the Lander to the ground stations was lost. The data is being analyzed.

The statement was also read out by a spokesperson of the ISRO later.

Earlier, the ISRO Chairman Dr K Sivan also confirmed that the lander has lost its touch with humans.



WHO South-East Asia Region plans to banish measles, rubella by 2023

Member-countries of the World Health Organisation (WHO) South-East Asia Region have resolved to eliminate highly infectious childhood killer diseases measles and rubella by 2023.

“The new target to eliminate both the diseases will leverage the existing momentum and a strong political commitment, which is being demonstrated through unprecedented efforts, progress and successes in recent years,” said Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia.



Culture Ministry launches science museum vans for 'aspirational districts'

Aiming to take science education to students in areas without access to such services, the Union Culture Ministry on Thursday rolled out 25 new mobile science museums, including one for Ladakh.

Union Culture and Tourism Minister of State (independent charge) Prahlad Singh Patel flagged off the science museum bus in Leh as a part of the mobile science exhibition programme of the Ministry. These museums-on-wheels will travel to schools in the 115 “aspirational districts”, as named by the Centre Speaking at the launch in Leh, Mr. Patel said the programme has been successful in supplementing formal education and creating scientific awareness since its inception in 1965. Till now, the programme had 23 such buses or vans.



Investigation is Prerogative of Police, Courts Should Not Interfere, Says SC

New Delhi: Investigation into crimes is the "prerogative" of police and courts should not interfere in its each and every stage as this would affect the normal course of probe, the Supreme Court said Thursday.

The apex court, while denying anticipatory bail to senior Congress leader and former union minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case, said it must be left to the discretion of the investigating agency to decide the course of probe and except in rare cases, the judiciary should keep itself out of it.

A bench of Justices R Banumathi and AS Bopanna said it is not the court's function to monitor investigation process as long as it does not violate any provision of law, and it should be left to agencies to proceed in their own manner in interrogation of accused and nature of questions put to him.



Watch ISRO Chandrayaan 2 Landing Live Online Tonight

The Indian Space Research Organisation has just announced that viewers will be able to watch the ISRO Chandrayaan 2 landing live online tonight from their laptops, smartphones and other devices with Internet connectivity. Owing to the enthusiasm amongst people across India and even the world regarding Chandrayaan 2 landing on the moon, adequate measures have been taken to ensure viewers do not miss the live streaming of Chandrayaan 2 landing live online.

While top dignitaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi with be watching Chandrayaan 2 landing live from the ISRO Control Room, ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) facility in Bengaluru, the media has also been invited to watch and relay the same from the facility. 70 school children who performed exceedingly well in the ISRO Space Quiz will also be present at ISTRAC.