Isro set to launch first privately built satellite tomorrow
India could see its first privately built satellite in space this week as Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) gears up for a launch to boost its Navic fleet.
A consortium of mid- and smallsized firms led by Bengaluru-based aerospace firm Alpha Design Technologies has built IRNSS-1L, the backup navigation satellite with a new atomic clock, under the watchful eyes of Isro. It is also the first satellite to be built at a special Isro facility for private firms.
Allocation of cases is CJI’s prerogative: Supreme Court
A Bench, comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud, dismissed a PIL plea seeking the framing of guidelines for allocation of cases.
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) is a high constitutional office entrusted with the duty to constitute Benches and allocate cases for the smooth dispensation of justice by the Supreme Court, the court held in a judgment on Wednesday while dismissing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by Asok Pande for a transparent and codified procedure for constitution of Benches and allocation of cases in the court.
2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Coast, Highlights: India at 3rd spot with 11 golds
Heena Sidhu won India’s 11th gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast on Tuesday when she went on to win the women’s 25m pistol final at the Belmont Shooting Centre. On the other hand, Sachin Chaudhary clinched bronze medal in men’s heavyweight event of Para Powerlifting with 181 points.
India have so far won 21 medals, including 11 gold, four silver and six bronze Down Under. In hockey, the Indian men’s team progressed to the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Malaysia while boxers Manoj Kumar, Mohammed Hussanmuddin, Amit Phangal and Naman Tanwar also assured themselves of a bronze at least by entering the last four stage.
PM Modi launches Indian Railways first 12,000 HP ‘Make in India’ electric locomotive; it’s a game-changer
Indian Railways takes big step towards environment-friendly transformation: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off Indian Railways’ first ‘Make in India’ 12,000 HP electric locomotive today. The locomotive rolled out of the factory in Bihar’s Madhepura and will now go to Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh for extensive testing before it is inducted into the Indian Railways. The electric locomotive manufacturing facility has been set up asjoint venture between French major Alstom (76%) and Indian Railways (24%).
The 3.5 billion euros project is said to be the biggest FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) project in Indian Railways. The new high-powered electric locomotives will run on dedicated freight corridors, pulling freight at much better speeds and doing so in a more ‘green’ way than the diesel locomotives. The electric locomotives will be gamechangers for Indian Railways as the national transporter looks to commission dedicated freight corridors for faster movement of goods at a time when roadways is giving stiff competition.
China Successfully Launches Remote Sensing Satellites
BEIJING: China today successfully launched remote sensing satellites to conduct electromagnetic environmental probes.
It was the 260th mission of the Long March rocket family, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
The satellites were launched on a Long March-2C carrier rocket from Xichang Satellite launch center in the southwest Sichuan province, it said.
They have entered its preset orbit and the launch was proclaimed a success, the report said, without disclosing the number of satellites launched.
1,200-year-old Buddha cliff carvings found in Tibet
LHASA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Newly discovered cliff carvings in eastern Tibet may offer a glimpse into Buddhist art and local history from 1,200 years ago.
According to the regional cultural relics protection research institute, the discoveries dating back to the Tibetan Tubo Kingdom were found in Acur township in Chagyab County of Qamdo City.
The relics of the Buddha figure carvings were first found by construction workers who were mining for stones in a valley. The carvings are inscribed on cliffs that stretch some 10 meters in total.
IAF to conduct biggest combat exercise along Pakistan, China borders
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is going to conduct its biggest ever combat exercise along Pakistan and China borders.
The exercise- Gagan Shakti, 2018- will be taking place between April 10 to 23. Depending upon the order of the Air Force Chief, the Air Force will mobilise its assets in the war scenario within 48 hours of the orders.
Meanwhile, the IAF is readying to mobilize its entire asset and equipment inventory to conduct its biggest exercise ever.
India, Nepal seek new direction to bilateral ties as Modi, Oli meet
India and Nepal on Saturday sought to turn the page on an acrimonious phase in bilateral ties over the Himalayan nation’s 2015 constitution with new “game-changing” initiatives in connectivity, trade and agriculture between the two neighbours.
But evidence of past irritants casting a shadow on ties was clear with the Nepalese Prime Minister K.P Sharma Oli stressing on the need for building mutual trust and seeking a relationship based on friendship, in a speech he gave on Saturday, hours after talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
China bans exports to North Korea with potential dual use in weapons of mass destruction
China's Ministry of Commerce gave details of 32 materials, technologies and forms of equipment with potential use related to weapons of mass destruction, and outlined bans on items with potentialdual usein conventional weapons.
The announcement of the export bans comes amid a tightening of exports from China to North Korea. China's exports of fuel to North Korea slowed to a trickle in February.
Commonwealth Games 2018: India Beat Nigeria, Claim Table Tennis Men's Team Gold After 12 Years
India defeated Nigeria 3-0 to claim the men's table tennis team gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast on Monday, to add to the women's gold that the country had snared on Sunday.
India's campaign was led by the veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal, who had to fight hard to overcome Bode Abiodun 4-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 to give India a 1-0 lead.
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran had an equally challenging contest with Segun Toriola, as he had to battle hard for a 10-12, 11-3, 11-3, 11-4 win to give India a 2-0 margin.