Category Archives: Amazing Feats

GLOBAL: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: India is ‘Right Country’ at ‘Right Time’ to hold G20 Presidency, says UK PM Rishi Sunak

“2023 is a huge year for India, from all the different G20 meetings taking place all over the country to the Cricket World Cup next month,” he said.

India’s diversity and its extraordinary successes means it is the “right country” at the “right time” to hold the G20 presidency, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday, as he hailed Narendra Modi’s leadership over the last year, noting that India’s presidency of the bloc came when the world is facing innumerable challenges.

In an exclusive interview to PTI just days ahead of the G20 summit in Delhi on September 9-10, Sunak, the first Indian-origin prime minister of Britain, said the relationship between the UK and India will define the future of the two countries, even more than it is defining the present.

“This country’s scale, diversity and its extraordinary successes means India is the right country at the right time to hold the G20 Presidency. I pay tribute to Prime Minister Modi’s leadership over the last year and it’s wonderful to see India showing such global leadership,” he said.

The prime minister’s responses to PTI’s questions were sent by email.

“We will also work closely with India through their Presidency of the G20 to address the biggest challenges the world is facing, from stabilising the global economy to dealing with climate change,” Sunak said.

The British premier, PM Modi, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and other G20 leaders are set to deliberate extensively on pressing global issues including consequences of the Ukraine war at the G20 summit.

“2023 is a huge year for India, from all the different G20 meetings taking place all over the country to the Cricket World Cup next month — India is definitely home to the biggest global geopolitical events of the year!,” he said.

The 43-year-old leader of the Conservative Party also referred to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and asserted that if Russian President Vladimir Putin is allowed to invade a sovereign neighbour with impunity, then it will have “terrible consequences” for the entire world.

ALSO READ | Will only agree to India trade deal approach that works for UK, says PM Rishi Sunak

“As two major world democracies, our people define and drive us. That is why the UK is focused on supporting Ukraine to defend itself and defeat this illegal and unprovoked Russian invasion,” he said.

“As a free and democratic country, Ukraine has the right to determine its own future. If Putin is allowed to invade a sovereign neighbour with impunity it will have terrible consequences for the entire world.”

The British premier said nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians, but it is Putin who has the power to end the war “tomorrow” by withdrawing his troops.

“Until he does, we will help the vulnerable in Ukraine and around the world deal with the terrible consequences of Putin’s war, including the spike in the global price of food and energy caused by his manipulation of markets and attacks on grain supplies,” he asserted.

Sunak’s comments came as India faces the uphill task of building a consensus on the text to refer to the Ukraine crisis in the G20 leaders’ declaration.

Both Russia and China had agreed to the two paragraphs on the Ukraine conflict in last year’s Bali declaration, but they backtracked from it this year creating difficulties for India.

“India has taken on the Presidency of the G20 at a time when the world is facing multiple challenges,” Sunak said.

“In the last twelve months we’ve seen sharp rise in inflation and economic instability, we’ve witnessed the outbreak of conflict in Sudan, military coups in Niger and Gabon, and the ongoing repression of human rights in Afghanistan and elsewhere,” he added.

Sunak said he is looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Modi and deliberate on how collaboration between India and the UK helps in dealing with various global challenges.

“When I meet Prime Minister Modi again this week it will be an opportunity to speak about some of the global challenges we face, and the huge role that the UK and India have to play in addressing them,” he said.

On the possible outcome of the G20 summit, Sunak said: “We will have to wait and see what the summit outcomes will be. The UK certainly is here to support India’s efforts in achieving a successful summit.”

In the interview, Sunak extensively delved into various aspects of India-UK ties including cultural and people-to-people links.

He said what makes the UK-India relationship “truly unique” is the “Living Bridge” between the countries which includes a 1.6 million-strong Indian diaspora in the UK, and which connects “our people across culture, education, food, sport and more.”

“The relationship between the UK and India will define the future of our two countries, even more than it is defining the present,” he said.

“Recognising the close links and aligned interests of our countries, two years ago we agreed to the ‘2030 Roadmap’ which was an historic commitment to bring our countries, economies and people closer together,” he added.

At the summit between Prime Minister Modi and then British PM Boris Johnson, the two sides had adopted a 10-year roadmap to expand ties in the key areas of trade and economy, defence and security, climate change and people-to-people connections among others.

The India-UK relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the bilateral virtual summit in May 2021.

“We have already achieved so much under this roadmap, including the mutual recognition of higher education qualifications, new visa routes for young professionals, and billions in new investment deals including British firms like Tesco, Deliveroo and Revolut establishing or expanding their presence in India, creating thousands of new jobs,” Sunak said.

On defence and strategic ties, he said the UK Navy, Army and Air Force have all carried out exercises with their Indian counterparts, increasing “our ability to work together to tackle shared threats.”

In the areas of science and technology, Sunak said, both sides are making significant progress.

“As science and technology superpowers, shared UK-India expertise is pushing the boundaries of innovation for global good,” he said.

“Together, we delivered a Covid-19 vaccine; researched at Oxford University with UK Government financial support, developed by AstraZeneca, and manufactured at scale by India’s Serum Institute,” he said.

“From preventing pandemics to unravelling the human genome the UK and India are working together to tackle the challenges of tomorrow, today,” he added.

Sunak also mentioned the India-UK trade engagement and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

“India is already on track to be the third largest economy in the world within ten years. That is why India is such an important partner in this region and more generally,” he said.

“I absolutely see more for the UK and India to do together in the Indo-Pacific, building on the impressive cooperation that has already taken place across trade, defence and security under the 2030 Roadmap,” the British prime minister said.

Sunak also talked about Britain’s 2021 foreign policy strategy, which underlined the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific to the UK and the world.

“That’s something we have confirmed this year when we published a refreshed version of the policy – our commitment to the Indo-Pacific isn’t going anywhere, just as this region isn’t going anywhere,” he said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: 05 September – TEACHERS DAY / Exploring the Pinnacle of Education, the Greatest Teachers of all time.

Top Indian teachers: Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Savitribai Phule, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Chanakya, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Swami Vivekananda.

Teaching is one of the most noble professions. It is a career that not only helps a child gain knowledge about various subjects and domains but also helps a child recognise his strengths and weaknesses, helping him/her to become a better human being.

India has a deep-rooted history as far as the field of education is concerned and the contribution, talent and skills of our very own educationalists, teachers and lecturers have been acknowledged globally. Here are the top teachers of all the time.

Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Each year, on September 5th, India observes Teachers’ Day in honour of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the country’s inaugural Vice-President and its second President. Dr. Radhakrishnan was a renowned scholar and was bestowed with the prestigious Bharat Ratna award. This date holds significance as it commemorates his birthday.

Dr. Radhakrishnan was an ace student and received various scholarships throughout his life. He studied philosophy at the Christian College, Madras.

After Dr. Radhakrishnan completed his degree, he became a Professor of Philosophy at Madras Presidency College and then subsequently a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Mysore.

He served as the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University from 1931 to 1936. In 1936, he was named Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at the University of Oxford and was also elected a Fellow of All Souls College.

Savitribai Phule

The first female teacher at India’s inaugural women’s school, she is also acclaimed as the pioneer of contemporary Marathi poetry. In an era when women’s capabilities were often undervalued, she passionately advocated for the empowerment and education of women throughout the nation. Collaborating with her husband, she established a school specifically for girls belonging to the untouchable caste.

Despite facing ridicule and even physical attacks by orthodox upper-caste individuals who opposed her efforts, she remained steadfast in her commitment to education. Her dedication eventually garnered recognition from the British government, which honoured her for her exceptional contributions to the field of education.

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

A P J Abdul Kalam, the ‘missile man’ who came to be known as ‘People’s President’, a distinguished scientist and the 11th President of India, he fervently championed education as the foremost catalyst for individual development. His conviction lay in the notion that education should not solely revolve around acquiring academic qualifications but should also encompass the enhancement of personal skills and capabilities, which play a pivotal role in shaping one’s career and life.

In addition to his presidential duties, he served as a guest lecturer at esteemed institutions such as IIM Shillong, Ahmedabad, and Indore. He also held the honorary status of a fellow at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore.

 Moreover, he shared his expertise by teaching Information Technology at IIIT Hyderabad and technology at both Banaras Hindu University and Anna University.

Chanakya

Renowned by the alias Kautilya, this distinguished figure stands as India’s earliest celebrated scholar. His academic journey began as a professor of political science and economics at Takshila University, situated in the region that is now part of Pakistan. Subsequently, he continued to impart knowledge as a teacher at the same prestigious institution.

He is best known for his authorship of two influential texts: “Arthashastra” and “Neetishastra.”

Swami Dayanand Saraswati

The founder of the Arya Samaj, a Hindu reform movement rooted in the Vedic tradition, was a renowned scholar deeply versed in the Vedic scriptures and Sanskrit language. His efforts were dedicated to advocating for gender equality, including women’s rights to education and access to Indian scriptures. His commentary on the Vedas, presented in both Vedic Sanskrit and Hindi, remains highly acclaimed.

Swami Vivekananda

The individual responsible for establishing the ‘Ramakrishna Mission,’ an organization that united monks and laypeople in the dissemination of Practical Vedanta and diverse forms of social service, was a visionary leader. His teachings and philosophical outlook applied this reimagined interpretation to numerous facets of education, faith, character development, and pertinent social matters in India.

He was also an advocate for the Gurukula system, which emphasized the integration of educational institutions and the home environment. In this system, teachers and students coexist in close and harmonious relationships, fostering holistic learning and growth.

source/content: hindustantimes.com(headline edited)

NATIONAL: HERITAGE : ‘Indian Heritage’ App with details of 143 Monuments launched by ASI, to be updated in phases

The agency also unveiled a revamped ‘adopt a heritage’ scheme seeking collaboration with corporate houses for sprucing up surroundings of monuments and development of amenities.

Information about scores of notified and unprotected heritage sites including geo-tagged locations, public amenities and images will now be available to mobile phone users as the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) on Monday launched an app called Indian Heritage. On the occasion, the agency also unveiled a revamped ‘adopt a heritage’ scheme seeking collaboration with corporate houses for sprucing up surroundings of monuments and development of amenities.

In the beginning, details of 143 ticketed monuments under the jurisdiction of the Survey are available on the app. According to the ASI official, the app will subsequently be updated in phases with additional inputs pertaining to remaining 3,554 notified historical buildings and over 4,000 monuments which are under the control of state governments and union territory (UT) administration.

“The app will have state-wise details of monuments along with photographs, list of public amenities available, geo-tagged location and feedback mechanism for citizens. The users may also tell us about any lacuna or shortcomings they find at any site through the app. The app will enable common man to send information and images of any monument which is not in the list of protected structures of ASI or state. After proper vetting, the details will be added to the database,” said an official.

The ‘adopt a heritage’ scheme was launched in 2017 by the tourism ministry in 2017. The revised version introduced by the Survey aims for better maintenance of centrally protected heritage properties, creation of basic amenities and world-class additions in a transparent and time-bound manner.

The latest version is equipped with guidelines –dos and don’ts and leaner arrangement for approval of proposals for adoption of protected sites.

Corporate stakeholders can express their interest to take over a site for development of an amenity or amenities including cultural activities like light and sound show and interpretation centre.   

“Heritage is increasingly playing an important role not only in the cultural sphere of this country but also creating an evolved image in the making of a new India. Keeping that in perspective, we believe that heritage can’t be maintained solely by the ASI…hence we launched this scheme for enhancing visitors’ experience at any site,” said KK Basa, director general of the Survey.

An e-permission portal–www.asipermissionportal.gov.in–for obtaining permission for photography, filming and developmental projects on monuments was introduced on the occasion.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: AGRICULTURE: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: Prestigious M.S. Swaminathan Award for Scientist P V Satyanarayana for his Outstanding Contributions to Agriculture in 2021-22

P V Satyanarayana, principal scientist at the Agricultural Research Station, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Ragolu, has been awarded the prestigious M.S Swaminathan Award for his outstanding contributions to the field of agriculture during the period 2021-2022.

Satyanarayana’s pioneering work involves the development of high-yielding rice varieties that exhibit resilience against various pests and environmental challenges, including BPH, BLB, Blast, Submergence, and salinity. Additionally, he has made substantial contributions to fine-grain varieties and hybrid rice that have revolutionised agriculture across India.

P V Satyanarayana, currently serving as the Principal Scientist at the Agricultural Research Station, Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, Ragolu, boasts an impressive list of awards including the National Award as Team Leader for the Best Golden Jubilee AICIP Centre Award in 2015 and the Best Scientist Award by the Seedman Association in 2021.

This award was presented at an event at Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR), Hyderabad on Sunday. This biennial national award, jointly constituted by the Retired ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) Employees Association (RICAREA) and Nuziveedu Seeds Limited (NSL), includes a cash prize of Rs. 2 Lakhs and a gold medal.

Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICAR and Secretary, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) was the chief guest at the event. Dr. R.S. Paroda, former DG, ICAR and others were present.

The award selection committee headed by Dr. A Padma Raju, Vice Chancellor of ANGRAU, recognised Dr. PV Satyanarayana for his invaluable contributions.

  1. Prabhakar Rao, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Nuziveedu Seeds Limited, noted that this prestigious award has been conferred upon eight individuals to date, with four of them hailing from the Telugu-speaking states.

Referring to the ban on rice exports, he stated that if the government maintains sufficient stocks and promotes exports, it could prove advantageous for farmers. Prabhakar Rao said Nuziveedu Seeds are actively engaged in research related to high-density farming in cotton, which promises a 30-40 per cent increase in yield. With appropriate management practices, this could escalate to 50-60 per cent higher yields compared to conventional varieties.

The Retired Indian Council of Agricultural Research Employees’ Association (RICAREA) was established in 1997 with the primary mission to promote the cause of agriculture based on the ideals and objectives of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

Nuziveedu Seeds Limited (NSL), operating for nearly 50 years, stands as one of India’s largest seed companies. NSL is engaged in crop improvement projects spanning over 30 crops, with breeding stations located across the country, covering a wide range of agro-climatic conditions.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL & NATIONAL / RECORDS : INDIA IN SPACE: Moon done for India, over to the Sun as ISRO’s Aditya-L1 lifts off successfully

The first space-based observatory to study the Sun, the spacecraft, after traveling about 1.5 million km from the Earth over 125 days, is expected to be placed in a Halo orbit around the Lagrangian point L1 which is considered closest to the Sun.

ISRO on Saturday launched the country’s ambitious Solar mission, Aditya L1 eyeing history again after its successful lunar expedition, Chandrayan 3 a few days ago.

As the 23.40-hour countdown concluded, the 44.4 meter tall Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) soared majestically at the prefixed time of 11.50 am from this spaceport, located on the Eastern coast about 135 km from Chennai.

It will be PSLV’s “longest flight” for about 63 minutes.

According to ISRO, Aditya-L1 is the first space-based observatory to study the Sun. The spacecraft, after traveling about 1.5 million km from the Earth over 125 days, is expected to be placed in a Halo orbit around the Lagrangian point L1 which is considered closest to the Sun.

Among others, it will send pictures of the sun for scientific experiments.

According to scientists, there are five Lagrangian points (or parking areas) between the Earth and the Sun where a small object tends to stay if put there. The Lagrange Points are named after Italian-French mathematician Joseph-Louis Lagrange for his prize-winning paper — “Essai sur le Probl me des Trois Corps, 1772.”

These points in space can be used by spacecraft to remain there with reduced fuel consumption.

At a Lagrange point, the gravitational pull of the two large bodies (the Sun and the Earth) equals the necessary centripetal force required for a small object to move with them.

After the lift-off at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here, the scientists would be involved in placing the spacecraft at Low Earth Orbit initially, and later it will be more elliptical.

The spacecraft would be launched towards the Lagrange L1 point using on-board propulsion so that it exits the earth’s gravitational Sphere of Influence and cruises towards the L1. Later, it would be injected into a large Halo Orbit around L1 point near the Sun.

The total time from launch to reaching the L1 point would be about four months for the Aditya-L1 Mission, ISRO said.

Explaining the reasons to study the Sun, ISRO said it emits radiation in nearly all wavelengths along with various energetic particles and magnetic fields.

The atmosphere of the Earth as well as its magnetic field acts as a protective shield and blocks harmful wavelength radiations. In order to detect such radiation, solar studies are carried out from space.

The major objectives of the mission include understanding the Coronal Heating and Solar Wind Acceleration, the initiation of Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), near-earth space weather and the solar wind distribution.

The Aditya-L1 mission carries seven scientific payloads to carry out the study.

The Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) will study the solar corona and dynamics of CME.

VELC, the primary payload will be sending 1,440 images per day to the ground station for analysis on reaching the intended orbit.

It is “the largest and technically most challenging” payload on Aditya-L1.

The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope would do imaging of the Solar photosphere and Chromosphere in near Ultraviolet and measure the solar irradiance variations.

The Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) and Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) payloads will study the solar wind and energetic ions as well as the energy distribution.

The Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer and the High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS) will study the X-ray flares from the Sun over a wide X-ray energy range.

The Magnetometer payload is capable of measuring interplanetary magnetic fields at the L1 point.

The payloads of Aditya-L1 are indigenously developed with the close collaboration of various centers of ISRO.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

Indian-American scientist hopes to be first woman to make stratospheric jump in 2025

Swati Varshney and two other finalists will undergo rigorous training for 18 months and only one of them will make the historic jump while the other two explorers will remain on the team for support.

An Indian-American scientist, Swati Varshney, is one of the three skydivers who is set to prepare for the first-ever jump from the stratosphere by a woman hoping to break the world record.

Rising United, a non-profit organisation, that aims to inspire young women’s participation in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) has chosen three young women explorers as part of their “Hera rising initiative” who will embark on the journey to jump from the stratosphere at an altitude of 42.5 km above the Earth.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the organisation said, “We’re thrilled to introduce Hera Rising — a pioneering campaign for Female Equality and STEAM Education, featuring the FIRST EVER stratospheric jump by a woman!”

The other two finalists preparing to achieve this historic feat are Eliana Rodriquez of Columbian origin and Diana Valerín Jiménez of Costa Rican descent.

The three finalists will go under rigorous training for 18 months and only one of them will make the historic jump while the other two explorers will remain on the team for ground support and educational outreach, Space.com reported.

The stratosphere is Earth’s second layer of atmosphere which reaches a height of around 12 to 50 kilometers (7 to 31 miles) above the Earth’s surface.

The temperature in the stratosphere reaches a minimum of roughly -80°C (-112°F) at the stratopause.

Swati, who has done a PhD in materials science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in an interview with Space.com said that her career trajectory has been close to skydiving.

“I just did a tandem skydive as a thing, I had an absolute blast. I felt really comfortable in freefall. It became this never-ending journey of another pursuit of knowledge that went alongside my academic career,” she was quoted as saying.

Swati has made over 1,200 jumps with a speciality in vertical freefall.

When it comes to training, we’ll need to do a series of high-altitude jumps, going higher and higher and higher, she said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: LANGUAGE: 31 August -World Sanskrit Diwas 2023: Know the date, history, significance and more

Sanskrit is thought to be around 3500 years old, making it part of the ancient Indo-Germanic or Indo-Aryan language family.

Sanskrit Diwas, also known as Vishwa Samskrita Dinam, is celebrated annually on the full moon of Shravana. The 31st of August is Sanskrit Diwas this year. This annual event honours Sanskrit, one of the world’s oldest living languages and a cultural treasure in India.

Sanskrit, sometimes called the “Mother of All Languages,” is an important part of human history and culture. The traditional works in several disciplines, including Literature, Philosophy, Mathematics, and Science, were originally written in Sanskrit, giving the language immense importance.

History

The Government of India’s Ministry of Education proclaimed the World Sanskrit Day. In 1969, on the day of Shraavana Poornima, people began commemorating this special day. Sanskrit is thought to be around 3500 years old, making it part of the ancient Indo-Germanic or Indo-Aryan language family. It is the source of the Latin and Greek languages and has the most extensive vocabulary. Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, not only in India, consider it to be their native tongue.

Sanskrit has influenced Europe as much as the Indian subcontinent. Sir William Jones, an English scholar who admired Indic languages, travelled to India in 1783 and started researching the language. This makes Sanskrit one of the oldest languages throughout the globe.

Sanskrit linguist Panini developed the Ashtadhyayi, the eight-chapter grammar manual. He led the world in spoken Sanskrit. India honours Panini on World Sanskrit Day. This day sees several Kavi Sammelan activities for authors and students throughout and beyond.

Significance

The historic event in India honours Sanskrit’s rich cultural history and scientific accomplishments. It tries to expand the language beyond Vedas and other Hindu religious texts. World Sanskrit Day promotes this ancient form of communication. Sanskrit Diwas is celebrated to bring attention to and revitalise the ancient language for the modern world.

The Europeans also gave the day its importance in the language. William Jones established the Asian Society and created the English translation of works including Kalidasa’s Abhijnana Shakuntala, Ritu Samhara, and Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda.

In addition, harmony and acceptance are honoured on this special day. Sanskrit is a powerful tool for unity and connecting individuals across the globe.

Sanskrit is fading in India despite its significance in history. The language existed from 1500 to 500 BCE, although it is now lost. Therefore, Sanskrit Diwas was created to restore the language.

source/content: newsroompost.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL: Prof Pankaj Khanna, Indian Institute of Technology (IITGN) Gandhinagar Joins ‘IODP Expedition 389′ Team as Sedimentologist for Offshore Study of Hawaiian Reefs’ role in Climate Change

Prof Pankaj Khanna, a faculty member in Earth Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN), has been handpicked as the sedimentologist from India to join an offshore research expedition.

This endeavor, titled ‘IODP Expedition 389,” is a part of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) and aims to investigate climate change patterns through the study of drowned reefs off the coast of Hawaii.

Prof Khanna’s role scheduled to unfold from August 29 to November 1, places him amidst a cohort of 31 leading researchers hailing from various parts of the world. Their collaborative mission will centre on the meticulous drilling and analysis of fossilised coral reefs encircling the Hawaiian islands. This undertaking promises to unearth invaluable insights into the intricate interplay between global sea-level variations and the broader spectrum of climate change on a planetary scale.

Prof Pankaj Khanna, said, “The research cruise will provide critical datasets to dive deep into past sea levels and climate for the last five lakh years for which there are very limited records. The rocks collected through scientific drilling will give critical information on mechanisms that control abrupt climate change. I will be analysing the core samples that will be collected on the research expedition. I am looking forward to what the drowned reefs offshore Hawaii holds for us to expand our understanding.”

At the heart of this enterprise lies the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP), a far-reaching collaborative effort encompassing contributions from 21 countries, including India. Its goal is to delve into the annals of Earth’s history, structure, and dynamics through the meticulous collection and examination of seafloor sediments, rocks, and sub-seafloor environments.

Within this framework, the European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD), a key component of IODP, oversees specialised missions such as the ongoing ‘Expedition 389,’ designed to probe submerged reefs off Hawaii’s coastline.

Steered by Co-chief Scientists Prof Jody Webster from the University of Sydney, Australia, and Prof Christina Ravelo from the University of California, Santa Cruz, the expedition will unfold aboard the MMA Valour vessel.

Distinguished by its Benthic Portable Remotely Operated Drill (PROD5) system, the vessel will be home to scientific endeavors that span up to 11 distinct sites. These locales encompass fossil coral reefs encircling Hawaii and hold a treasure trove of climate data spanning significant epochs in Earth’s history.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

WORLD RECORD: SPORTS / JAVELIN: Neeraj Chopra Scripts History yet Again, becomes First Indian to Win Gold in World Athletics Championships

The 25-year-old dominated the competition and achieved his best throw of the day in his second attempt.

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra on Sunday scripted history yet again as he became the first Indian to win a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships with a throw of 88.17m in the men’s javelin final here.

In another first, three Indians finished in the top eight with Kishore Jena (84.77m) and DP Manu (84.14m) taking the fifth and sixth spots, respectively. Never before did three Indians finish in top eight of an event at the World Championships.

The 25-year-old Chopra achieved his best throw of the day in his second attempt. He had a foul to start with, but then got 88.17m, 86.32m, 84.64m, 87.73m and 83.98m.

Pakistan’s reigning Commonwealth Games champion Arshad Nadeem took the silver with his season’s best throw of 87.82m, while Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic got the bronze.

Chopra has now become only the second Indian — after shooter Abhinav Bindra — to simultaneously hold the Olympics and World Championships titles.

Chopra, who had become the first Indian Olympic track and field gold medallist at the Tokyo Games in 2021, had won a silver in the 2022 edition of the World Championships.

Before him, legendary long jumper Anju Bobby George had won a bronze in the 2003 World Championships.

The Indian superstar also became only the third javelin thrower in history to simultaneously hold the Olympics and World Championships titles after the iconic Jan Zelezny of the Czech Republic and Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway.

The Indian men’s 4x400m relay team, however, failed to replicate their show from the heats to finish fifth in the final.

Another title

In men’s pole vault, Sweden’s world record holder Armand Duplantis claimed his second consecutive world title on Saturday, but did not have a seventh world record in him.

The Olympic champion cleared 6.10 metres for gold and then — in what turned into the “Mono show” — missed at three attempts to clear 6.23, which would have been world record number seven for the remarkable 23-year-old.

Uganda’s Victor Kiplangat, the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, won the men’s marathon on Sunday with a time of two hours 8 minutes 53 seconds.

PTI, Reuters

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: Chandrayaan-3 Moon Landing: August 23 to be Celebrated as ‘National Space Day’, says PM Modi

Summary

-Terming the success of Chandrayaan-3 mission as an ‘extraordinary moment’ in the history of India’s space programme, he said the place where the Chandrayaan-2 lander crash-landed on the Moon’s surface in 2019 would be known as

-August 23, the day the Chandrayaan-3 lander touched down on the lunar surface, would be celebrated as

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew down to Bengaluru on Saturday directly from the Greek capital of Athens to interact with ISRO scientists on the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission and announced the decision to name the place where lander ‘Vikram’ touched down on the lunar surface as “Shiva Shakti Point”.

Terming the success of Chandrayaan-3 mission as an ‘extraordinary moment’ in the history of India’s space programme, he said the place where the Chandrayaan-2 lander crash-landed on the Moon’s surface in 2019 would be known as “Tiranga Point”.

23 August, the day the Chandrayaan-3 lander touched down on the lunar surface, would be celebrated as “National Space Day”, said the Prime Minister, who turned emotional while addressing the team ISRO at ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) here, as he lavishly praised them for their dedication and passion.

ISRO Chairman S Somanath briefed him about the Chandrayaan-3 mission. A large number of people, many of them holding aloft national flags, gathered outside the HAL Airport and Jalahalli Cross, which is close to ISTRAC, to greet the Prime Minister.

On Wednesday evening as the Lander Module of Chandrayaan-3 mission successfully touched down on the lunar surface, Modi joined the ISRO team at Mission Operations Complex (MOX) at ISTRAC virtually from Johannesburg, where he was attending the 15th BRICS summit.

Modi had also flown down to Bengaluru on the night of 6 September 2019 to watch the planned touchdown of Chandrayaan-2 mission’s ‘Vikram’ lander. But in the early hours of September seven, barely minutes before it was slated to land, ISRO lost contact with the craft, just 2.1 km above the lunar surface.

source/content: telegraphindia.com/edugraph (headline edited)