Tag: India

  • ‘Happy that a Pakistani won’: Saroj Devi, Neeraj Chopra’s mother

    ‘Happy that a Pakistani won’: Saroj Devi, Neeraj Chopra’s mother

    Neeraj Chopra’s historic gold and Arshad Nadeem’s record achievement as the first Pakistani to secure a medal in the World Athletics Championship are milestones in their respective careers.

    When a journalist asked Chopra’s mother about his win over Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, trying to give an India vs Pakistan narrative to the historic moment, her answer was all love and has gone viral on social media.

    “Look, all have come to play in the field. One or the other will definitely win. So there is no question of being from Pakistan or Haryana,” she said.

    “It is a matter of happiness. Even if that Pakistani had won, there would’ve been great happiness,” she added.

    While Neeraj and Nadeem engage in fierce competition on the field, both young athletes share a profound camaraderie beyond the arena. Beyond the thrill of rivalry, their off-field friendship has been evident through mutual appreciation and support on various occasions. The heartwarming connection serves as a poignant reminder of how the spirit of sportsmanship can not only bridge the gap between nations but also serve as a potent tool in minimizing conflicts.

    In February 2016, the two competed against each other for the first time in the South Asian Games at Guwahati. While Chopra won the gold with a throw of 82.23, Nadeem took the bronze with 78.33 m. The second time the duo faced each other was at the Asian Junior Championships in Vietnam, where Chopra won the silver with a throw of 77.60 m and Nadeem claimed the bronze with 73.40. The India-Pakistan rivalry was seen at the World U-20 Championship in Poland, where Nadeem missed out on qualifying for the final with a throw of 67.17 to finish at the 15th spot. Chopra won that U-20 world title with 86.48, setting a new world U-20 record.

  • India’s next space mission: Sun

    After becoming the first country to land a craft on the moon’s south pole, India will be soon launching its first space-based observatory to study the sun.

    According to Al-jazeera, India’s space agency, in an announcement on Monday, said the Aditya-L1 probe, to be launched on September 2, will study solar winds, which can cause disturbances on Earth and are commonly seen as auroras.

    Aditya-L1 is named after the Hindi word for the sun. It will travel about 1.5 million km (932,000 miles) and will take about four months to travel to its observation point, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

    The spacecraft will be fired into a halo orbit in a region of space that will give the craft a continuous clear view of the sun.

    “This will provide a greater advantage of observing the solar activities and its effect on space weather in real time,” ISRO said.

    As reported by Al-Jazeera, the spacecraft will be carrying seven payloads to observe the sun’s outermost layers – known as the photosphere and chromosphere – including electromagnetic and particle field detectors.

    Previously, NASA and the European Space Agency placed probes into orbit to study the sun.

  • Air pollution in South Asia can cut life expectancy by more than five years per person

    Air pollution in South Asia can cut life expectancy by more than five years per person

    University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) has published its latest report about Air Quality Life Index on Tuesday. The report deduced that rising air pollution can cut life expectancy by more than five years per person in South Asia which is currently one of the most polluted places in the world.

    Primary contributors in the region’s declining air quality are increasing industrialisation and population growth. The particulate pollution levels are resultantly more than 50 percent higher in comparison to the century’s start, posing a much greater health threat.

    What does the report say about Pakistan?
    According to the report, 98.3% of Pakistan’s population lives in areas exceeding the national air quality standard of 15 micrograms per cubic meter.

    From 1998 to 2021, average annual particulate pollution increased by 49.9% in Pakistan and reduced life expectancy by 1.5 years.

    In Punjab, Islamabad, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 65.5 million citizens reside (69.5% of Pakistan’s population), with the country’s people potent set to lose between 3.7 to 4.6 years of life expectancy on average relative to the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline and between 2.7 to 3.6 years relative to the national standard if the current pollution levels persist.

    Moreover, if Pakistan is able to meet WHO’s guideline, Karachi residents would gain 2.7 years of life expectancy whereas residents of Lahore would gain 7.5 years and people in Islamabad would gain about 4.5 years of life expectancy.
    Pakistanis would gain 3.9 years by meeting the WHO guidelines of limiting average annual PM 2.5 concentration to 5 micrograms per cubic meter.

    Others in South Asia

    The study further expounds upon other countries in the region.

    In light of the current pollution levels, Bangladeshis can lose 6.8 years of life on average per person compared to 3.6 months in the United States.

    A Nepali would live 4.6 years longer by meeting the WHO guidelines of limiting average annual PM 2.5 concentration to 5 micrograms per cubic meter.

    It is also highlighted that India is responsible for about 59 percent of the world’s increase in pollution since 2013, threatening to reduce lifespan in some of the country’s polluted regions.

    The average lifespan in New Delhi, a heavily populated and the world’s most polluted megacity, is down by more than 10 years.

    The report added that by reducing global levels of lung-damaging airborne particles, known as PM 2.5, to levels recommended by WHO could raise average life expectancy by 2.3 years.

    China has put in work to reduce pollution by 42.3 percent between 2013 and 2021. The report suggested the governments generate accessible air quality data in order to help bridge global inequalities in accessing tools to combat pollution.

  • India appoints first-ever female chargé d’affaires in Pakistan

    India appoints first-ever female chargé d’affaires in Pakistan

    Geetika Srivastava will be the first-ever female chargé d’affaires (an ambassador’s deputy) appointed by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, reports The News.

    She was appointed soon after the designation of the United Kingdom’s first female high commissioner to Pakistan.

    Following the friction in the bilateral relations between Pakistan and India in 2019, no full-time high commissioner has been posted in Islamabad or New Delhi, and instead, junior diplomats are posted as chargé d’affaires.

    The last Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad, Ajay Bisaria, was removed in 2019 after Pakistan decided to downgrade diplomatic ties over India’s revocation of the special status of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

    Some of the qualified Indian high commissioners serving in Islamabad departed and were promoted as foreign secretaries in India.

    Who is Geetika Srivastava?

    Geetika Srivastava is from the 2005 batch of the Indian Foreign Service (IFS).

    She speaks Chinese (Mandarin) fluently and has previously been appointed in China for an assignment. Originally from Uttar Pradesh, she has also served as Regional Passport Officer in Kolkata and Director in the IOR Division of the Ministry of External Affairs.

    She is currently a Joint Secretary in charge of the Indo-Pacific Division in the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi. The Indo-Pacific Division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) looks after India’s multilateral diplomacy with ASEAN, IORA, FIPIC, and other entities in the Indo-Pacific region.

  • Woman in India dies as husband attempts delivery at home

    Woman in India dies as husband attempts delivery at home

    A 27-year-old woman in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri died while giving birth at home after her husband attempted to carry out the delivery himself using a technique he saw on YouTube.

    Nadu lost an excessive amount of blood as the husband failed to cut the umbilical cord properly, fainting from blood loss.

    Her husband took her to the Primary Health Center (PHC), however, she was declared dead. According to India Today, a medical officer at the hospital, Rathika, filed a complaint with the police. The police filed a case under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

  • Kalpana K — the woman behind Chandrayaan-3

    Kalpana K — the woman behind Chandrayaan-3

    On Wednesday, August 23, India’s third lunar mission Chandrayaan-3, successfully landed on the south pole of the moon, the first landing of its kind.

    Behind this feat is a team of five individuals who steered the mission towards success, among whom is Kalpana Kalahasti, the deputy project director, whose contribution is noteworthy.

    According to Gulte, Kalpana’s roots trace back to Thaduku in Puttur Mandal of Chittoor district. Her father, Muniratnam, worked as an officer in the High Court, and her mother, Indira, was also educated. Kalpana pursued her education in Chennai, studying B.Tech in Electronics and Communication at Madras University.

    She aspired to work at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) since she was a child. After she completed her B.Tech in ECE, she was able to pursue her dream. She passed the intricate selection process and joined ISRO in 2000. She began her career as a radar engineer at the Space Center (SHAR).

    Five years later, she got transferred to the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bangalore in 2005. The focus of her work then shifted towards satellite systems, and worked as an engineer in satellite building.

    She took up a major role as the deputy project director for the Chandrayaan 3 mission and she supervised the project through its minute details. She remained dedicated and ensured that the mission was not hindered despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

    After the successful landing Chandrayaan-3, Kalpana K addressed the Indian nation at the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network, expressing, “…this will remain the most memorable moment for all of us…from the day we started rebuilding our spacecraft after the Chandrayaan 2 experience, it has been breathe in-breathe out Chandrayaan 3 for the team.”

    She was also previously involved in the second lunar mission and the Mangalyaan mission.

    Other member of the team were ISRO chairman S Somanath, project director Veeramuthuvel, M Sankaran, director of U R Rao Satellite Centre where the satellite was constructed, and M Srikanth, the mission director.

  • India lands on moon; Pakistanis celebrate neighbour’s success

    India lands on moon; Pakistanis celebrate neighbour’s success

    As India became the fourth country to land on the moon and the first to land on its south pole, Pakistanis took to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate their neighbor’s success.

    Fawad Hussain, former federal minister of science and technology, celebrated by saying, “What a great moment for #ISRO as #Chandrayaan3 lands on the Moon.”

    Pakistani actress and model Mara Hocane was fascinated by watching fiction turning into reality.

    Former Pakistan cricket team captain, Muhammad Hafeez, also known as “professor”, posted a congratulatory message.

    Shahmir Iqbal remarked how ‘Congratulations Neighbors’ is trending on X in Pakistan.

    Adnan Javed reminded the world of the importance of educating women for success.

    Ali Rajput congratulated India while mentioning that Pakistan was among the first countries to send a mission to space but chose a different path after 60s.

    Sara Taseer celebrated India’s success with a little fun.

    Anas Tipu also had a funny take on India’s success as he posted a meme stating, “Chand pe hai apun.”

  • Farhan Saeed compares India and Pakistan as Chandrayaan lands on moon

    Farhan Saeed compares India and Pakistan as Chandrayaan lands on moon

    India marked its footprint on history yesterday when their third attempt at landing on the moon turned successful. The space shuttle Chadrayaan-3 landed on the south pole of the moon, making India the first country to do so, and the fourth country after China, USA and Russia to make it to the moon.

    Pakistanis celebrated their arch-rivals achievement too, congratulating India for the fearless achievement.

    Farhan Saeed took to X (formerly Twitter) to compare the two countries, observing that while India was progressing, Pakistan keeps deteriorating because of its refusal to talk about the issues that plague it.

    “On #76thIndependance #India lands on Moon and most of us are worried about where #Pakistan stands & it’s future. The basic reason is we are not even allowed to talk about our shortcomings as a nation. That film/drama is banned that shows the true picture of our society…

    labelling it as some kind of propaganda against our country. There is hardly , in fact no prime time programs that talks about or identifies the ‘real’ issues of Pakistan like education, feudalism and the list goes on.”

    The former leader of the band Jal went on to slam politicians who continue to divert attention from important issues, and media anchorpersons who play along. “The priority/will/direction/strength of any Nation to achieve greater things is only dependent on the hunger of how they want to be seen/addressed in the world as a country,” he wrote.

    The ‘Suno Chanda’ stated that instead of working together as a team, Pakistanis are more obsessed with wars or conspiracies, and how our existence as a country is threatened, which he believed proves that we’re not doing anything right.

    Several other Pakistani celebrities had come forward yesterday to congratulate India for the moon landing, like Mawra Hussain who had tweeted:

    “I’ve been watching a space show these days.. it’s so so fascinating to watch fiction and then to know it’s now a reality for our neighbours is just incredible #Chandrayaan3 Congratulations India & lots of love to all of my Indian fans on this outstanding achievement.”

  • ‘You made us proud’: SRK, Indian celebrities celebrate as Chandrayaan-3 lands on moon

    ‘You made us proud’: SRK, Indian celebrities celebrate as Chandrayaan-3 lands on moon

    Indians all over the world are rejoicing as space shuttle Chandrayaan-3 lands on the south pole of the moon on Wednesday evening, becoming the first country to do so and the fourth country to fly to the moon. This was India’s third lunar exploration mission, launched on July 14 amidst much fanfare.

    Bollywood celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan took to social media to celebrate the historical achievement, lauding the scientists who helped put India on the moon.

    Bollywood Badshah SRK shared a picture of the Indian flag on the moon on his Instagram account, congratulating the team behind the mission.

    Hrithik Roshan tweeted that he was proud to witness his people making strides and accomplishing history.

    Kareena Kapoor posted her congratulations with a picture of the space shuttle and the moon.

    Siddharth Malhotra shared a post on his Instagram stories and in the caption he wrote how proud he was of being a witness to history being made.

  • India makes history as Chandrayaan-3 successfully lands on moon

    India makes history as Chandrayaan-3 successfully lands on moon

    India makes history by being the first country to ever land on the moon’s south-pole.

    Earlier today, former Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry, congratulated India on X (formerly Twitter) as the country awaits the Chandrayaan-3 moon landing:
    “All eyes on #Chandryaan3 Moon landing 5:40 PM, great day for Indian Science Community and Space scientists, Congratulations to people of India on this great achievement”

    Chandrayaan-3 (means “mooncraft” in Sanskrit) is the third Indian lunar exploration mission. It was launched on 14 July 2023 and was expected to land near the lunar south pole region on 23 August around 05:45 pm IST and the touchdown was expected around 06:04 pm IST.

    So far, only three countries, the United States, Russia, and China, have been able to achieve a controlled landing on the lunar surface. But now India has become the first country to land on the moon’s south pole.

    Earlier in the week, Russia’s Luna-25 spacecraft was to land in the same area, however, it crashed on August 19 after spinning out of control.