China sent a new optical remote-sensing satellite for commercial use into planned orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in north China’s Shanxi Province on Wednesday morning. The satellite, belonging to the Jilin-1 satellite family, also named Red Flag-1 H9, was launched by a Long March-2D carrier rocket, reported Xinhua news agency. The new satellite, developed by the Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd., has a super-wide coverage and a resolution at the sub-meter level. It is also capable of high-speed data storage and transmission. It will work with the 15 satellites of the Jilin-1 family already sent into orbit…
Author: Our Correspondent
On the occasion of ‘Makar Sankranti’ on Wednesday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath slipped back into the role of Peethadeeshwar of the Goraksh temple in Gorakhpur and led the celebrations at the temple. Yogi Adityanth held a puja at 4.a.m in the temple and offered “khichdi”. An offering of khichdi from the King of Nepal was also made at the temple as part of the tradition. Lakhs of devotees thronged the Gorakhnath temple on Wednesday and offered khichdi. A big “langar” of making the khichdi was also held on the occasion.
The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday announced that 2G mobile connectivity will be restored in five districts of the Jammu region from Wednesday, whilebroadband facilities will be provided to “all the institutions dealing with essential services” as well as hospitals, banks and hotels among others. However, users will not be be able to access any social media sites and messaging services, said the order issued by Principal Secretary, Home, Shaleen Kabra. On restoring broadband connections in the Kashmir Division, it was directed that “Prior to giving such facility, the ISPs shall install necessary firewalls and carry out ‘white listing’…
Vice President M.Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said called upon the media to seriously introspect and curb any unhealthy trend that impacts its credibility. In his address at the 50th anniversary function of Tamil magazine ‘Thuglaq’, he said he is of the opinion that the media should introspect seriously because initially politics, the medical profession and journalism were treated as missions. He also said the media should curb any unhealthy trend that affects its credibility. According to Naidu, there were many eminent journalists who used to weild their pen without any fear or favour, but what is seen now is a…
The kite flying festival, celebrated on the Makar Sankranti day, was given a political tinge in Jaipur as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders flew kites with pro-CAA messages and the Congress advised them to beware of kite-flying and remain grounded. BJP state chief Satish Poonia and many other leaders flew colourful kites with pro-CAA messages at Jal Mahal. Wherever these kites would go they would share the message that people were with PM Narendra Modi, Poonia said. Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot also participated in the kite flying event at the party office. “The BJP should try to fly kites…
The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the curative petitions filed by two Nirbhaya gang rape and murder convicts – Vinay Kumar and Mukesh – who questioned the death sentence handed down by trial court and upheld by the Delhi High Court and the apex court. A five-judge bench of Justices N.V. Ramana, Arun Mishra, R.F. Nariman, R. Banumathi and Ashok Bhushan unanimously held that there was no merit in the curative petitions of the convicts, who sought reconsideration of death penalty. “In our opinion, no case is made out within the parameters indicated in the decision of this Court in…
Braving winter chill, thousands of devotees across Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday took holy dips in rivers to mark Makar Sankranti, a Hindu festival dedicated to the deity Surya. Since early morning the devotees were seen congregating at Tattapani, 55 km from the state capital, and Manikaran, home to a Sikh shrine in Kullu district, for holy dips in the Satluj and Parvati rivers respectively, officials said. Tattapani and Manikaran are known for hot water springs with high sulphur concentration. The natural and prominent hot springs, which disappeared after the construction of the 800 MW Koldam hydroelectric power project executed by…
India wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant suffered a concussion while batting and could not keep wickets with K.L. Rahul filling in for him in the first ODI against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday. “Rishabh Pant has got a concussion after being hit on his helmet while batting. KL Rahul is keeping wickets in his absence. Pant is under observation at the moment,” BCCI said in a statement. India batted first at the Wankhede and were bowled out for 255 despite Shikhar Dhawan’s 74. Pant scored 28 off 33 balls and hit two fours and a six before getting…
A 1,995-kg ‘khichdi’ dish made from rice and lentils, prepared by the Himachal Pradesh Department of Tourism in association with Shimla-based Durga Devi Behari Lal Charitable Trust, entered the Guinness World Records on Tuesday. It was served to devotees on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, the Hindu festival dedicated to the deity Surya, at Tattapani, 55 km from the state capital. Braving the winter chill, thousands of devotees across Himachal Pradesh took holy dips in the hot water springs of the Satluj river in Tattapani in Mandi district. The earlier record under this category weighed 918.8 kg. Chief Minister Jai…
Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said the discussions regarding the creation of the new post of Chief of Defence Staff were going on for over 20 years, however Prime Minister Narendra Modi “gave his instant approval for the same without wasting any time.” “After becoming Defence Minister, I discussed the proposal with Prime Minister Narendra Modi who gave his instant approval for the same without wasting any time,” Singh said here. Singh was addressing a programme on the occasion of Armed Forces Veterans Day organised in Jaipur. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat was also present on…