Category: All Current Affairs

Renowned Caricaturist Thomas Antony passes away

Noted caricaturist Thomas Antony (62), passed away early morning due to a massive heart attack on Sunday at Kottackal in Malappuram district. He was the Executive Artist of Metro Vaartha and Secretary, Kerala Cartoon Academy.

Thomas Antony is the recipient of many prominent national and international awards like the United Nations Political Cartoon Award (2007), World Press Cartoon (2018), the Hart Animation Art Award Hyderabad (1998), Hindustan Times Cartoon Award ( 2000), National Film Acadamy Award in (2001), Free Cartoon Award China (2002), and India International Cartoon Award Hyderabad in (2002). 

Albert Roca appointed as the new head coach of Hyderabad FC

Indian Super League side Hyderabad FC is delighted to announce Albert Roca as the club’s new head coach, starting from the 2020-21 season. Albert Roca has signed a two-year deal that will see him at the helm till the end of the 2021-22 season. Albert Roca will advise the new coaching staff for the remainder of the season and will take full charge from the beginning of next season.

The former FC Barcelona assistant coach led Bengaluru FC to the AFC Cup Finals making them the first Indian club to reach the final of a continental competition. In his tenure at BFC, apart from leading the club to an ISL final, the club also won Federation Cup and the Super Cup titles.

India aces 2019 as no.1 shooting nation in the world

India finished the year 2019 as the top shooting nation in the world, leaving behind Olympic heavyweights China and the USA. India topped all the Rifle-Pistol World Cups and Finals in an unforgettable year by winning 21 gold, 6 silver and 3 bronze.

While India leads with 30 medals overall, China holds the second position with 11 gold, 15 silver and 18 bronze for a total of 44 podium finishes. The USA is placed third with 15 medals including six gold six silver and three bronze.

‘Echigo’ Japan Coast Guard Ship arrives in Chennai

The Japan Coast Guard Ship ‘Echigo’ has arrived Chennai on a five-day goodwill visit to participate in the Annual Joint Exercise ‘Sahyog-Kaijin’. Four Indian Coast Guard ships, their aircraft and a vessel from the Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology – NIOT are participating in the exercise along with the Japanese vessel.

The 19th such exercise being conducted between the two Coast Guards since 2000. The exercise is being witnessed by Admiral Takahiro Okushima, Commandant, Japan Coast Guard and the Director-General of Indian Coast Guard Krishnaswamy Natarajan.

It aims at further strengthening bilateral ties and mutual understanding between the two Coast Guards. It is set to enhance interoperability in communication and Search and Rescue procedures and sharing of best practices.

Indian Navy and IOCL launch special fuel with reduced carbon footprints

Indian Navy along with the Indian Oil Corporation has succeeded in bringing down its carbon footprint by revising the fuel quality standards. The standards achieved are better than those under the international regulations thus helping in supporting country’s international logistics agreements as well.

A revised technical specification was arrived at consisting of 22 test parameters including critical parameters cetane number, flash point, sulphur content, sediment content, oxidation stability and Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP).

The Indian Navy’s present force level comprises about 140 ships and submarines and more than 200 aircraft safeguarding a large coastline of 7516 Kms with 1197 offshore islands and 2.01 million sq kms of Exclusive Economic Zone.

Capt. Tania Shergill, first woman parade adjutant for Republic Day parade

Captain Tania Shergill, an officer with Army’s Corps of Signals, will be the first woman parade adjutant for the Republic Day parade. Captain Shergill is an electronics and communications graduate,
Commissioned in March 2017 from the Officer Training Academy, Chennai.

The Republic Day parade will witness Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP-2K of the 18 Mechanised Infantry, Dhanush Gun System and the Army Air Defence on the Rajpath. Contingents of the Corps of Signals, Sikh Light Infantry, Kumaon Regiment, the Grenadiers, the Parachute Regiment will also take part in the parade.

Kolkata: Two ICGS commissioned by Defence Secretary

Defence Secretary, Ajay Kumar commissioned Two Indian Coast Guard Ships (ICGS) Annie Besant and Amrit Kaur at Kolkata. ICGS Annie Besant was named in honour of Annie Besant, philanthropist, theosophist, prolific author and supporter of the Indian freedom struggle. It will be based at Chennai under the operational and administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (East). ICGS Amrit Kaur ship will be based at Haldia under the operational and administrative control of the Commander, Coast Guard Region (North East).

ICGS Annie Besant and ICGS Amrit Kaur are fitted with state-of-the-art technology, navigation and communication equipment, sensors and machinery. The ships are equipped with Bofors 40/60 guns and 12.7 mm SRCGs (Stabilised Remote Controlled Gun) for enhancing the fighting efficiency of the ship. The ships are also capable of undertaking multi-faceted tasks such as surveillance, interdiction, search and rescue, and medical evacuation.

Swami Vivekananda’s ‘Karma Yoga’ released in Nepal on Vishwa Hindi Diwas

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu released four books, including the Nepali translation of Swami Vivekananda’s ‘Karma Yoga’, at an event marking the Vishwa Hindi Diwas.

The other three books includes – the Nepali translation of a book compiling five famous stories by Indian writer Premchand; the Hindi translations of ‘Ashwathama’ written by Nepalese poet Madhav Prasad Ghimire and; ‘Utkrishta Kahaniyan’ a collection of 25 modern Nepali stories written by young and upcoming Nepali story writers.

A special issue of ‘Sahityalok’, the research journal of Central Hindi Department of Tribhuvan University was also released during an event at the embassy to mark the occasion.

‘PAX SINICA: Implications for the Indian Dawn’ launched by S Jaishankar

A book on China titled ‘PAX SINICA: Implications for the Indian Dawn’ authored by Dr. Samir Saran and Akhil Deo was recently launched by Union External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The book is published by Rupa Publications India.

Dr Samir Saran, the President of Observer Research Foundation (ORF), one of Asia’s most influential think tanks is a Commissioner of The Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace, member of the World Economic Forum’s South Asia advisory board and Global Future Council on Geopolitics. Akhil Deo is a Junior Fellow at the ORF. His research interests include India’s foreign policy and the impact of emerging technologies on society.

Book compilation of Arun Jaitley’s writings to hit stands in February

A book, compilation of selected writings by former finance minister Arun Jaitley, offers readers with the late politician’s sharp insight on topics including GST, demonetisation and Kashmir, publishing house Juggernaut Books announced.

The book, “A New India: Selected Writings 2014-19”, is an authoritative account of the policies and decisions made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government during its first stint. It will hit the stands in February.

Jaitley, who passed away at the age of 66 in August last year, as a finance minister rolled out the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017, the biggest tax reforms after Independence. BJP’s and PM Modi’s chief trouble-shooter, he helmed the finance, defence, corporate affairs and information and broadcasting ministries.