Robin K Dhowan is the New Navi Chief

Robin K Dhowan on 17-April-2014 took over as chief of the Indian Navy nearly two months after D K Joshi quit the post in the wake of a series of mishaps.

 

Admiral Dhowan, 59, who has been the acting Navy chief since Joshi's exit, has been appointed the Chief of Navy Staff superseding Western Naval Commander Shekhar Sinha

Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System(IRNSS-1B) launched

The  scientists of Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro)  successfully launched its second Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System(IRNSS-1B) from Sriharikota  in Andhra Pradesh on 04-April-2014.

With this successful launch, the second of the seven satellite system, India inches closer to a select group of countries that have such a navigation system.

The 1,432 kg satellite was blasted off by the  rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV C24)  at 5.14 pm from  the launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Center. IRNSS-1B is the second navigation satellite of the seven satellites constituting the IRNSS space segment.

Its predecessor IRNSS-1A was launched in July 2013

Soon after the ejection into the orbit the satellite’s solar panels were deployed.

The satellite control was taken over by the Mission Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan in Karnataka.
IRNSS-1B carries two  types of payloads — navigation payload and ranging payload. The IRNSS  system will provide two types of services — Standard Positioning System provided to all the users and the Restricted Service provided only to authorised users.

Besides applications in surveying,  mapping, archaeology, satellite navigation has also proved useful in the fields of maritime, aviation, automobiles, disaster management operations and tracking services. In June Isro is expected  to launch the country’s heavier rocket Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle – Mark III (GSLV-Mk III).

J & K first to declare all Election booths as 'No smoking Zones'

Jammu and Kashmir  became the first state in the country to declare all election booths in the coming Lok Sabha polls as no smoking zones.

It will now be mandatory for all election booths to display the 'No Smoking Area' warning. Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir Umang Narula issued a circular, directing that all election booths in the state shall be 'No Smoking Zones'.

Sunil Gavaskar to head BCCI during IPL 7 season

The Supreme Court appointed Sunil Gavaskar as an Interim President during IPL 7 and allowed

Vice President of the Board, Shivlal Yadav, will discharge the functions of BCCI president

with regard to all other matters.

Thai government lifts emergency

On 22nd January, the Shinawatra-led caretaker government imposed a state of emergency for 60 days to quell protests. The emergency was due to expire on 22nd March.

The emergency had expanded the power of security forces to issue orders and search, arrest and detain people.

Violence had erupted in Bangkok and other parts of the country ahead and during the 2nd February snap polls, boycotted by main opposition Democrat Party demanding the ouster of Prime Minister Yingluck.

Twenty-three people have been killed and over 700 injured in the political conflict since November.

Surapong Tovichakchaikul, chief advisor to the government's Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) which has been set up to handle anti-government protests, had yesterday said the body will ask for the state of emergency to be lifted.

Japan to impose sanctions against Russia over Crimea

President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a decree recognising Crimea as an independent state following a weekend referendum to secede from Ukraine and join Russia in a move that has fanned the worst East-West crisis since the Cold War.

"It's deplorable that Russia recognised the independence of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, a move that violates Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Japanese foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Japan will suspend negotiations on easing visa requirements, and will not begin talks on a new investment accord, an outer space accord and an accord aimed at preventing risky military activities," it added, without elaborating.

The United States and Europe announced sanctions on Monday, with the White House saying the measures, the toughest against Russia since the Cold War, would target economic power brokers in Moscow if the Kremlin does not change course.

There was no sign of Putin backing down, however, and Crimea's pro-Moscow authorities made plans to swiftly honour Sunday's 96 percent referendum vote to return to the Russian fold.

"Japan urges Russia to understand the position held by the G7 (Group of Seven)" world powers, including Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.

Suga, the top government spokesman, added that Japan "is, of course, thinking" about further action against Russia.

He did not supply details. However, Suga disputed suggestions that Tokyo's apparent lukewarm sanctions, compared with its western partners' travel bans and asset freezes against Russian and Ukraine officials, are linked to efforts aimed at solving a decades-old territorial disputes with Moscow.

"That's not the case," he said. "Japan never overlooks an attempt to change the status quo through force."

Information Courtesy : www.ddnews.gov.in
 

President Vladimir Putin added Crimea to the map of Russia

President Vladimir Putin added Crimea to the map of Russia on 18-Mar-2014, describing the move as correcting past injustice and responding to what he called Western encroachment upon Russia's vital interests.


In a  40-minute speech televised live from the Kremlin, Putin said "in people's hearts and minds, Crimea has always been an integral part of Russia."

He referred to Ukraine as a state born out of an illegal secession from the Soviet Union.