Former Indian athlete and Olympian P.T. Usha has been appointed as a member of the Athletes Commission of the Asian Athletics Association (AAA).
P.T. Usha has been associated with Indian athletics since 1979. She is regarded as one of the greatest athletes India has ever produced and is often called the “queen of Indian track and field”. She is nicknamed as the Payyoli Express.
Usha will be one of the six members of the AAA Athletes Commission, which will be headed by 1992 Olympics gold medallist hammer thrower Andrey Abduvaliyev of Uzbekistan.
Usha, 55, was recently nominated for the prestigious International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Veteran Pin Award.
The ‘Payyoli Express’ was awarded with the prestigious Arjuna Award in 1983. Two years later in 1985, she was conferred with the Padma Shri Award.
The state government of Jammu and Kashmir has announced plans to host a three-day global investors summit to be held in Srinagar from October 12. The summit will be hosted in Srinagar for over 2000 attendees. including top industrialists and representatives of business groups. Senior ministers in the union government and bureaucrats are expected to attend the meet.
This is expected to provide Jammu and Kashmir with an opportunity to showcase its strengths, strategies and potential . It will also provide an opportunity to allay fears and apprehensions in the minds of outside trade and the business community.
Notes :
Governor of Jammu & Kashmir: Satya Pal Malik
Priyam Chatterjee became the 1st Indian chef to be awarded the ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricoleto’ by the government of France to recognise his contribution towards reinventing the gastronomic scene in India.
Chatterjee is best known for revisiting the traditional dishes from his native state of West Bengal and giving it a French twist.
‘Ordre du Mérite Agricole’ (Order of Agricultural Merit) is a distinction bestowed by the French Republic for outstanding contributions, to agriculture, agro-food industry and gastronomy.
Notes :
President of France: Emmanuel Macron ;
Capital: Paris;
Currency: Euro, CFP Franc.
Deepak Punia won the gold medal at the Junior World Championships held in Talinn, Estonia. He defeated Russia’s Alik Shebzukov to win the 86 kg junior freestyle title. With the victory, he has become the 1st Indian in 18 years to win a Junior World Championship title.
Another Indian wrestler Vicky Chahar also won the bronze medal in the 92 kg category after beating Mongolia’s Batmagnai Enkhtuvshin.
Liverpool held its nerve to win the European Super Cup after defeating Chelsea on penalties in Istanbul on Wednesday.
After an enthralling contest that finished at 2-2 after extra time, it was Liverpool that prevailed 5-4 on spot kicks, with goalkeeper Adrián stopping a shot from Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham to spark celebrations from those in red.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper, who was released by West Ham at the end of last season, arrived at Anfield only last week after signing on to replace the departing Simon Mignolet.
Few thought he would be called into action during his time at the club, until No. 1 Alisson Becker was injured in the opening day win over Norwich on Friday.
Simone Biles is perfection. The Olympic gymnast has had our hearts for years. She was part of the “final five” gold-medal winning team at the 2016 Olympics. And she hasn’t lost her touch. On Sunday at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships held in Kansas City , Biles, 22, made history as the first woman to land a clean triple-double — which involves two flips and three twists in the air — cleanly in competition in her floor routine (only two men in the world have successfully done the move).
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who downed an enemy jet during an aerial combat with Pakistan in February and was held captive for three days, has been conferred the Vir Chakra, India’s third-highest war time gallantry medal.
Wg Cdr Abhinandan became the face of a tense military confrontation between India and Pakistan when his MiG-21 was shot down during the aerial combat between Indian and Pakistani air forces on February 27 after the February 26 Balakot airstrike. Before his jet was hit, he downed an F-16 fighter of Pakistan.
The defence ministry announced the military awards on the eve of Independence Day celebrations.
From the Army, Sapper Prakash Jadhav of the Rashtriya Rifles will be posthumously awarded Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry award.
Squadron Leader Minty Agarwal, who played a key role as flight controller during the aerial combat between India and Pakistan on February 27, has been awarded Yudh Seva medal.
The IAF received a total of 13 awards including five Yudh Seva Medals and seven Vayu Sena Medal.
At least five Mirage fighter pilots, who were part of the operation to strike a Jaish-e-Mohmamed terrorist training camp deep inside Pakistan’s Balakot on February 27, were among the awardees.
The Army also got eight Shaurya Chakra awards and 98 Sena medals. The Navy got one Shaurya Chakra award.
The Centre on Tuesday launched a mobile application through which people will be able to get their household waste picked up by urban municipal bodies.
People will have to pay to civic bodies to avail the service through Swachh Nagar app.
They can also track the waste-collection vehicle on the app, ensuring accountability of municipal corporations, according to the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry.
Launching Swachh Survekshan 2020, themed Cleanliness is Our Right, the minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the survey’s major focus has always been on citizen engagement, be it through feedback or indicators involving their participation.
He said the citizen-centric focus has been enhanced substantially this year.
The minister said 24 states and more than 3,800 cities have been certified Open Defecation-Free (ODF) by now.
The government has set a target of making the country ODF by October 2 this year.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Indian Railways launched a Special Drive with a Code Name – Operation “Number Plate” to identify and verify all vehicles parked in Railway premises, circulating area, parkings and even in the ‘No Parking’ areas for longer duration. It was launched under the direction of DG/RPF, Sh. Arun Kumar with active cooperation of the Local Police and Commercial Department of Railways.
The unidentified vehicles are considered as a serious threat to security and safety of passengers and other stake holders of railways. It has been conducted specifically in view of forthcoming celebrations of Independence Day on 15th August 2019.
This was conducted as a special drive from 9th August to 11th August at 466 Railway Stations all over Indian Railways
During the drive, 04 vehicles were recovered which were reported to be stolen and cases were registered previously by the Police.
3943 Vehicles were found parked unattended/unclaimed for more than 05 days in the authorized parking lots of Railway stations.
Credential of suspected 894 such vehicles is being verified and suitable action will be taken as per the outcome of enquiry.
Similarly, 2034 vehicles were found parked in ‘No Parking’ zones for more than 01 day. Credential verification of 28 such vehicles, which are suspected, is being inquired into.
During the operation 549 vehicles were towed away and have been deposited with Police for further investigation.
A fine of Rs. 59000/- have been recovered as the charges for unauthorized parking.
On the occasion of the 73rd Independence Day celebration, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman Kailasavadivoo Sivan was honoured with the Dr A P J Abdul Kalam Award for his stellar work in promotion of science and technology. The award carries 8 gm gold medal, Rs 5 lakh in cash and a citation.
However, Sivan could not receive the award personally but is likely to receive it from Tamilnadu chief minister K Palaniswami later.
Following the death of former President A P J Abdul Kalam in 2015, former Chief Minister, late J Jayalalithaa, had then announced an award in his name. It would promote scientific growth, humanities and students’ welfare and the awardees should hail from Tamilnadu. The award is given on Independence Day every year.
NOTES :
Nripendra Misra. (Principal Secretary to PM) Member.
Ajit Doval. (National Security Advisor to PM) Member.
Pradeep Kumar Sinha. (Cabinet Secretary) Member.
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