Neeraj Murmu Wins ‘Diana Award 2020’ : June 2020

Neeraj Murmu, child welfare activist – a tribal dalit from Giridh village (Jharkhand) was conferred the International ‘ Diana Award 2020 ‘ .

The award was given to Murmu in recognition of his efforts to bring positive and sustainable changes in his village by educating children and by spreading awareness about child labour. He has also set up a school in his village.

Neeraj was rescued by the Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi’s ‘Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) from a mica mine in 2010.

The ‘Diana Award’ is instituted in the memory of the Princess of Wales – Princess Diana. It is conferred by a charity and has the support of the late princess’ two sons, the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex.

Indian-American Jayanth Challa Appointed to ‘Small Business Commission’ ,Virginia, USA : June 2020

American Jayanth Challa has been appointed by the Governor of Virginia to the ‘Small Business Council’ of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jayanth Challa:

  • President – Ace Info Solutions Company (AceInfo), a Dovel Technologies Company, Reston, Virgina

India – 2nd Largest Cement Producer in the World : 2020

Highlights:

  • India is the SECOND Largest Cement Producer in the World
  • India accounts for over 8% (percent) of the global installed capacity( 2019)
  • Per capita cement consumption stood at 235 Kg (2019)
  • Cement industry de-regulated in 1982
  • Market size : Cement production : 337.32 million tonnes (2018-2019)

source:

IBEF, India Brand Equity Foundation / www.ibef.org

Navjeet Dhillon – Winner Commonwealth Medal – ‘Discuss Throw’ : 2018

Navjeet Kaur Dhillon – India’s track and field athlete.

Records:

  • Bronze medal – Discuss. Commonwealth Games 2018. / First Senior International medal – 2018 (International)
  • National Topper – Discuss – 2014, 2015
  • Bronze medal – Discuss. Junior Championships, Athletics – 2014
  • 3rd in Shortput / 2nd in Discuss – Asian Athletics Championship – 2013
  • Silver medal – Asian Junior Athletics Championships, / Subenrat Inshenj – 2012 (International)
  • Winner – Shortput – Discuss Double. Indian Junior Championship – 2012
  • Bronze medal – Winner – First International medal – Commonwealth Youth Championship – 2011 (International)
  • National Discuss Title – 2011
  • Winner – Indian Junior Title – Discuss – 2010

Rahul Krishnan – World Record for ‘Fastest-100 Digits Substraction’ : June 2020

Rahul Murali Krishnan holds the record for ‘Fastest 100 Digits Substraction Ever’.

Rahul Krishnan can substract 100-digit numbers in 54.89 seconds (less than 1 minutes).

His certificate was awarded by ‘Official World Record Organisation’, Spain.

India’s Chitharesh Natesan, Crowned ‘ Mr.Universe 2019’, South Korea : November 2019. First time for an Indian to be Crowned.

Chitharesh Natesan, known as the ‘Indian Monster’ was crowned as ‘Mr.Universe ‘ at the ’11th World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship (WBPS) 2019’ event in South Korea, held during 05-11th, November 2019.

First time an Indian to be crowned Mr. Universe 2019

Awards :

  • Mr. World 2019 – 90 Kg Category
  • Mr. India
  • Mr. Delhi – 4 times (2015- 2018)

Aashi Hanspal to represent India at ‘ FIA Girls on Track ‘ : June 2020

Aashi Hanspal, teen Karting Star Racer is shortlisted for ‘ FIA Girls on Track Rising Stars Project’.

The 13-year Aashi has been selected to compete in the Age group 12 -16, out of 70 entries from 5 continents. The final shoot out of the ‘Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Girls on Track , is at Paul Richard circuit in France.

The competition is for the opportunity to become first-ever female driver to be a part of the Ferrari’s 2021 Formula 4 season.

Leo Vardarkar – Ireland’s Youngest Prime Minister : 2017

Leo Eric Varadkar (aka) Leo de Varad, Irish Politician and Physician became head of the Irish Government and at 38 years of age, youngest Prime Minister to hold office.

  • Served as Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister)
  • Leader of the political party ‘Fine Gael’
  • Minister of Defence (2017-2020)
  • Minister of Transport, Tourism & Sport (2011-2014)
  • Minister for Health (2014-2016)
  • Minister for Social Protection (2016-2017)
  • Teachta Dala, Dublin West (2000)
  • Deputy Mayor – Fingal County Council
  • Member – Fingal County Council
  • First Taoiseach of Indian Heritage.
  • First Irish government leader of Indian origin

Education:

  • Graduate – Medicine : School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin

____________________

Irish / Indian-Irish

Reetinder Sodhi – 1st Indian to score Century in U19 World Cup Cricket : 1998

Reetinder Singh Sodhi scored 126 runs against Kenya in the U19 World Cup 1998 and became the first Indian cricketer to score a century in U19 World Cup Cricket.

Right hand batsman and all-rounder.

Highlights:

  • Captain – India’s U-15 World Cup team
  • Vice-Captain – India’s U-19 World Cup team
  • Played for India – One Day International Squad
  • India’s Youngest Match Referee

Indian-American Sethuraman Panchanathan Appointed to Head America’s top Science Funding Body : June 2020

American Scientist – Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan has been appointed by U.S President Donald J Trump as the 15th Director , of the National Science Foundation (NSF). The term is for 6 years.

The NSF is the top American body supporting fundamental research on non-medical fields of science. It has a budget of USD 7.4 billion .

Earlier Assignments:

  • Executive Vice President – ASU Knowledge Enterprise Development , Arizona State University
  • Chief Research Officer – Arizona State University
  • Director – Center for Cognitive Ubiqiutous Computing (CUbiC), Arizona State University
  • Foundation Chair – Computing and Informatics, Arizona State University
  • Member – National Science Foundation . Appointed by US President Barack Obama ( June 2014 )

Other/s:

  • Fellow – National Academy of Inventors, USA
  • Fellow – Canadian Academy of Engineering
  • Fellow – Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, USA
  • Fellow – Institute of Optical Engineers, USA

Education:

  • Ph.D – Electrical and Computers Engineering, University of Ottowa (1989)
  • M.E – Masters in Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, IIT (1988)
  • B.E. – Bachelors in Electronics & Communications Engineering, Indian Institute of Science , IISc (1984)
  • B.Sc – Bachelors in Physics, University of Madras

Notes:

Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan is the second Indian-American to be nominated to this prestigious science position. His predecessor was Dr. Subra Suresh who served during October 2010 and March 2013.