India successfully launches high power communication satellite GSAT-30
India's high power communication satellite GSAT-30 was successfully launched onboard Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana early today morning. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said the GSAT-30 is aimed at providing high-quality television, telecommunications and broadcasting services. The 3,357-kg GSAT-30 derives its heritage from ISRO's earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series, and is equipped with 12 C and 12 Ku band transponders. GSAT-30 will serve as replacement to the aging INSAT-4A spacecraft services with enhanced coverage.
ISRO said, the satellite will provide Indian mainland and islands coverage in Ku-band and extended coverage in C-band covering Gulf countries, a large number of Asian countries and Australia. With a mission life of 15 years, GSAT-30 is an operational communication satellite for DTH, television uplink and VSAT services. ISRO said the communication payload of GSAT-30 is specifically designed and optimized to maximize the number of transponders on the spacecraft bus. According to the space agency, the spacecraft will be extensively used for supporting VSAT network, television uplinking and teleport services, digital satellite news gathering (DSNG), DTH television services, cellular backhaul connectivity and many such applications.
ICC awards 2019 winners’ list: Full list of all award winners announced by cricket’s parent body
ICC Awards 2019: England all-rounder Ben Stokes won the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Player of the Year after a stunning 2019. Indian opener Rohit Sharma was awarded the ODI player of the year. Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins has been named the Test Player of the Year.
Here is the full list of ICC Award winners:
Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Best Cricketer of the Year – Ben Stokes (England)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Pat Cummins (Australia)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Rohit Sharma (India)
T20I Performance of the Year – Deepak Chahar (India, 6-7 v Bangladesh)
Emerging Cricketer of the Year – Marnus Labuschagne (Australia)
Associate Cricketer of the Year – Kyle Coetzer (Scotland)
Spirit of Cricket Award – Virat Kohli stopping the fans booing Steve Smith at the Oval
David Shepherd Trophy for Umpire of the Year – Richard Illingworth
ICC awards 2019 winners’ list: Full list of all award winners announced by cricket’s parent body
ICC Awards 2019: England all-rounder Ben Stokes won the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Player of the Year after a stunning 2019. Indian opener Rohit Sharma was awarded the ODI player of the year. Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins has been named the Test Player of the Year.
Here is the full list of ICC Award winners:
Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Best Cricketer of the Year – Ben Stokes (England)
Test Cricketer of the Year – Pat Cummins (Australia)
ODI Cricketer of the Year – Rohit Sharma (India)
T20I Performance of the Year – Deepak Chahar (India, 6-7 v Bangladesh)
Emerging Cricketer of the Year – Marnus Labuschagne (Australia)
Associate Cricketer of the Year – Kyle Coetzer (Scotland)
Spirit of Cricket Award – Virat Kohli stopping the fans booing Steve Smith at the Oval
David Shepherd Trophy for Umpire of the Year – Richard Illingworth
Russian government resigns after Vladimir Putin sets out constitutional shake-up
Russia's government unexpectedly resigned on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin proposed sweeping constitutional changes that could allow him to extend his rule.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said he was stepping down to give Putin room to carry out the changes, which, if implemented, would shift power to parliament and the prime minister - and might thus allow Putin, 67, to rule on in another capacity after his current term ends in 2024.
Medvedev, a long-time Putin ally and former president, announced his resignation on state TV sitting next to Putin, who thanked him for his work.
Putin said Medvedev would take on a new job as deputy head of Russia's Security Council, which Putin chairs.
Attention now turns to who becomes the next prime minister. The array of possible candidates includes Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, who is credited with breathing new life into the capital.
Mega campaign on fuel conservation 'Saksham' inaugurated in New Delhi
Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas MM Kutty has called for putting earnest efforts for petroleum conservation to bring down the huge import burden for energy requirements. Mr Kutty inaugurated fuel conservation mega campaign - Saksham of Petroleum Conservation Research Association, PCRA in New Delhi today.
Speaking on the occasion, the Petroleum Secretary said, India's share of primary energy demand is set to double to 11 per cent by 2040 and to address this huge demand, not only petroleum conservation but creation of sustainable development model will be a pivotal step.
Highlighting the major advantages of fuel conservation, Mr Kutty said, it will help in progressively reduction of carbon footprint and lead to fulfilling government's commitment for greener environment. He said, foreign exchange can also be saved with this move.
7th Conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, India Region to start today
The 7th Conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region will start today at the legislative assembly building in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will inaugurate the Conference in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Governor Anandiben Patel will address the Valedictory Session tomorrow.
AIR correspondent reports, around 100 Delegates of 15 state assemblies and representatives of some foreign countries have reached Lucknow to take part in the 7th Conference of CPA India Region.
On the eve of the Conference, the Meeting of the Executive Committee of CPA India Region was chaired by the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Wednesday evening.
PM’s ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha-2020’ programme to be held on Jan 20
Students, teachers and parents across India are eagerly awaiting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction programme Pariksha Pe Charcha-2020. The event will be held at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on the 20th of this month. Over two thousand students, parents and teachers will be participating from all over the country.
Mr. Modi will answer the questions and interact with selected students about how they can beat examination stress.
Last year, in the second edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha programme, Prime Minister had urged students not to succumb to pressure as exam-related stress makes matters worse. He had said that students should focus on acquiring knowledge to enrich their lives, without worrying about examination results.
Indian wrestler Sunil Kumar reaches gold medal bout of Rome ranking series
In Wrestling, twenty-year-old Greco-Roman grappler Sunil Kumar sprung a huge surprise by reaching the gold medal round on his maiden senior level appearance at the first ranking series event of the season in Rome.
In the 87-kg category, Sunil began with a 2-1 win over American Patrick Anthony Martinez and followed it up with a commanding victory by fall over Venezuala's Luis Eduardo Avendano Rojas in the semifinals.
He will now fight it out with Hungary's Viktor Lorincz for the top prize. Two more Indians are in medal contention with Ashu (67kg) and Sachin Rana (60kg) reaching the bronze play-offs.
Rohit Sharma named ICC's '2019 ODI Cricketer of the Year'; Virat Kohli bags 'Spirit of Cricket' award
India's swashbuckling opener Rohit Sharma has been named the ICC's '2019 ODI Cricketer of the Year' for his incredible run of form through the year. Indian captain Virat Kohli won the 'Spirit of Cricket' award for stopping fans from booing Australia's Steve Smith during their World Cup match at the Oval.
In a statement, ICC said, England's World Cup-winning all-rounder Ben Stokes got the 'Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy' for Player of the Year. The 32-year-old Rohit had a memorable 2019 when he scored 10 hundreds across formats, including five in the World Cup.
72nd Army Day being celebrated across the country today
The 72nd Army Day is being celebrated across the country today. It is celebrated every year to commemorate the day when General KM Carriappa took over the command of Army from General Sir FRR Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief in 1949 and became the first Commander-in-Chief of Indian Army after Independence.
Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane has congratulated all ranks, families, veterans and Veer Naris and Armed Forces fraternity on 72nd Army Day. In his message, General Naravane said, the Indian Army has responded to a wide array of national security challenges that are becoming more complex and multi-dimensional and demand utmost dedication, highest level of proficiency and resilience in dealing with them.
He said, whenever confronted, Officers and Soldiers of Indian Army have given befitting response to the adversaries whether in safeguarding the frontiers or in conduct of intense counter terror operations in a highly professional manner. The Chief of the Army Staff said, Indian Army in taking rapid steps with regard to technological embrace and indigenization. He said, Army is developing cogent strategies, acquiring modern capabilities and undergoing structural optimization to enable to fight and win wars of the future. General Naravane said, Indian Army has reaffirmed its dedication to the motherland by being effective responders during calamities and through the contributions to wider nation building. He said, Indian Army enjoys a distinctive pride of place in the national mind space.