** Jaishankar lauds Indian community’s key role in shaping positive image in Australia

Melbourne has a vibrant Indian community with Indian-born migrants making up 3% of the city’s total population. Since 2001, the number of Indian-born migrants in Melbourne has more than tripled.

** A metamaterial that can make use of origami to reduce shock

To be useful, materials need to maintain a constant Poisson ratio under pressure

A car that dashes against an obstacle suffers damages, first to its fenders. There is a keen interest to develop materials that can be sandwiched in the fender system which will absorb the shock and prevent the interiors from being damaged. Origami metamaterials that crumple rather than tear, and take the impact, can play an important role in such situations. Researchers from Indian Institute of Technology Madras have developed such a material, which could have many such uses.

** QR code to ensure authenticity of famed Kashmiri carpets

The QR-code based label will capture vital parameters of the carpet such as GI user, manufacturer, artisan, knots per square inch, the material used, among others.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha launched the QR-code for handmade Kashmir carpets, claiming to be first-of-its-kind in the country. Customers could now verify the authenticity and other requisite details of carpets produced in Jammu and Kashmir and assure themselves that the product they purchased was not fake.


The QR code-based system can help in checking the cheating and misbranding that has badly dented the carpet Industry in Kashmir. 

** India send medical supplies to island nation of Kiribati amid COVID: External Affairs Ministry

India on Saturday delivered medical supplies to Kiribati after the Pacific island nation appealed for help to deal with the first outbreak of COVID-19. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the consignment comprised pulse oximeters, PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) kits and emergency COVID-19 medication.

** South Eastern Railway becomes fully electrified zone as work on Rupsa-Bangriposi section completed

The Kolkata-headquartered SER is the second railway zone in the country after West Central to fully electrify its route.

** NIT-Meghalaya director receives KIIT’s award for excellence

National Institute of Technology, Meghalaya (NIT-Meghalaya) Director Prof Bibhuti Bhusan Biswal has been conferred with an “Educational Leadership Award” by the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT).

It was given to him in recognition of his experience in the field of teaching and research at various levels, his extensive outreach activities as a leader, and his roles in the field of educational administration and leadership.

** Over 7,900 Indian prisoners languishing in foreign jails, highest in UAE, says Centre

There are 7,925 Indian prisoners languishing in foreign jails, with the highest number in the United Arab Emirates at 1663, followed by Saudi Arabia at 1363 and Nepal at 1039.

This was revealed by Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs V Muraleedharan in Parliament. “This data also includes undertrials,” he said.

** Junior World No 1 Tasnim Mir wins Iran Fajr International Challenge

The 16-year-old from Gujarat, who became the first Indian woman shuttler to claim the world no. 1 status in u-19 singles, beat second seed Susato 21-11, 11-21, 21-7 in 51 minutes.

 Junior World No 1 Indian shuttler Tasnim Mir on Friday notched a three-game win over Yulia Yosephine Susanto of Indonesia in the final to claim the women’s singles title at the Iran Fajr International Challenge here.

** Uganda footballer scores against severe heart disease as Hyderabad city hospital assists 

 A 31-year-old footballer from Uganda, who was suffering a severe heart disease, got a new lease of life at a private hospital in the city where a L-VAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) was successfully implanted in him.Yashoda Hospital in Secunderabad performed a complex procedure, JARVIK 2000, on the patient who was diagnosed with coronary artery disease along with left ventricular dysfunction.