Tag: Russian

Russian plane carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war crashes, killing all: Moscow

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Indian astronauts may wear Russian spacesuits for ISRO’s Gaganyaan Mission: Report

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Gaganyaan Mission is a historic milestone as India prepares to embark on its first manned spaceflight. Recent reports from the Hindustan Times indicate that the astronauts on this mission are likely to use Russian-made spacesuits, despite the development of indigenous Intra Vehicular Activity (IVA) suits by the Vikram Sarabhai Space.

According to documents reviewed by the English daily, while ISRO has made significant progress in the development of its IVA suits, the space agency has opted for Russian spacesuits for the Gaganyaan mission. The decision, as stated in one of the documents, is driven by programmatic requirements and a commitment to ensure the safety of the crew during the mission.

ISRO scientists have verified that the three designated astronauts have undergone suit trials in Russia. Scientists from ISRO, as communicated to HT, clarified that the indication of using Russian-made suits for the Gaganyaan mission is not a definitive confirmation of the final choice.

Earlier this month, ISRO Chairman S Somanath mentioned that 2024 is designated as the “year for Gaganyaan.” The upcoming months will witness rigorous testing and technology demonstrations to validate ISRO’s human spaceflight capability.

The mission aims to launch a crew of three members into orbit at 400km for a three-day mission, followed by a safe return to Earth.

The Gaganyaan Mission is part of ISRO’s broader human spaceflight programme, designed to showcase India’s ability to undertake crewed space missions. Key objectives of the programme include the development of a human-rated launch vehicle capable of safely transporting the crew into space, a Life Support System to create an Earth-like environment for the astronauts, and comprehensive crew management aspects for training, recovery, and rehabilitation.

To ensure the success of the Gaganyaan mission, ISRO has planned a series of precursor missions and tests. These include the Integrated AirDrop Test (IADT), Pad Abort Test (PAT), and Test Vehicle (TV) flights.

In preparation for the forthcoming manned mission, ISRO will conduct multiple rounds of tests. Following the TV-D1 test flight demonstration conducted in October of the previous year, the space agency plans to execute a test flight involving Vyomitra, a humanoid astronaut robot, and an unmanned flight. Officials from the Department of Space suggest that these tests will precede the scheduled manned mission, potentially set for 2025.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Meet the dog worth more than 10 villas and range rovers in India

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A dog of the rare Caucasian Shepherd breed, one of the rarest breeds in the world, has been living in India, valued at an astonishing ₹20 crore.

This is a price at which one could purchase as many as 10 villas and 10 Range Rover cars.

The dog’s owner, Satish, who is the president of the Indian Dog Breeders Association in Bangalore, recently visited the Viswas Pet Clinic at Madinaguda in Hyderabad with his prized pet.

Locals were eager to take selfies with the rare dog and were shocked to learn of its value.

In general, the average cost of a dog in India ranges from ₹5,000 to ₹10,000, while dogs of foreign origin may cost about ₹1 lakh.

However, this particular dog’s value far exceeds these averages, highlighting its rarity and the high demand for such unique breeds.

Satish revealed that the dog is of Russian origin. He said, “I purchased him for ₹20 crore as he is of one of the rarest breeds on the earth. The three-year-old is fond of non-vegetarian food items and eats as much as three kilograms of chicken daily.”

The dog “has appeared in various shows across the world and acted in some movies also. He is also receiving invitations worldwide to take part in major events. I have been spending ₹3 lakhs monthly towards his maintenance,” added Satish.

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

International Translation Day: Why is it observed and world’s most translated languages

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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International Translation Day is an annual day held on September 30 every year. It is a day dedicated to honouring the work of language experts who help bring countries closer by promoting communication, understanding, and cooperation. Language professionals and translators play a pivotal role globally in promoting peace and harmony.

Here are some of the most translated languages in the world:

1. Mandarin: It’s widely translated due to its large number of internet users and China’s significant economic influence.
2. Spanish: As the second most spoken language globally, translating into Spanish can reach over 500 million people across Europe and Latin America.
3. Arabic: With about 300 million speakers worldwide and its official status in 28 countries, Arabic is one of the most highly translated languages.
4. Russian: Russian is translated because approximately 109 million internet users speak it, and e-commerce is thriving in Russia.
5. French: French is translated widely to target its 36 million internet users in France, especially for e-commerce purposes.

History of International Translation Day

On May 24, 2017, the General Assembly of the United Nations passed a resolution recognising the vital role of language professionals in bringing countries together and promoting peace, understanding, and development. They decided to mark September 30 as International Translation Day. This date was chosen as it coincides with the feast day of St. Jerome, a priest from Italy who lived from 347 to 420 AD. St. Jerome is known for translating a large part of the Bible from its original manuscripts into Latin, and he is considered the patron saint of translators.

Significance

The importance of International Translation Day, according to the goals of the International Federation of Translators (IFT), includes:

1. Connecting and uniting existing associations of translators, interpreters and terminologists.
2. Encouraging and assisting in the establishment of such associations in countries where they don’t yet exist.
3. Providing member associations with valuable information about work conditions, technological tools, training opportunities, and other matters relevant to the profession.
4. Cultivating and maintaining strong relationships among all member associations to further the interests of translators.
5. Advocating for the ethical and practical rights of translators worldwide.
6. Promoting the recognition of the professions of translator, interpreter, and terminologist, elevating the status of translators in society, and highlighting translation as both a science and an art.

The theme of International Translation Day 2023

Every year, the International Federation of Translators chooses a new theme for International Translation Day. The theme for 2023 is ‘Translation unveils the many faces of humanity.’ The theme has been selected to recognise the important role that translation plays in the lives of all individuals and to celebrate shared humanity.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Who was Pavel Antov, the Russian oligarch who died mysteriously in Odisha

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Just days after his friend died in the same hotel, 65-year-old Russian meat magnate Pavel Antov was also found dead in Odisha in unusual circumstances. The founder of the meat packaging company Vladimir Standard and a lawmaker from the city of Vladimir, Antov was one of the richest lawmakers in the country. He was found dead on December 24 surrounded by a pool of blood, believed to have fallen out of a third-floor window of the hotel in Rayagada district, where he was staying with three of his friends. Antov was visiting the state to celebrate his 66th birthday. Just days before, his fellow traveller and close associate, Vladimir Bidenov had also died at the same hotel from an apparent heart stroke. Bidenov was found unconscious in his room.

Pavel was in depression due to the death of his friend, police superintendent Vivekananda Sharma told reporters. Odisha Police stated that they had reviewed CCTV footage and interrogated the hotel staff and found no suspicious activity. However, the director general police on December 27 ordered a CID-Crime Branch investigation into the case.

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Born in 1957, Antov was a graduate from St. Petersburg’s SM Kirov Military Medical Academy. A native of Voskresensk, Antov founded the meat and sausage major Vladimir Standard in the 2000s, which was responsible for most of his wealth. Antov was also an elected deputy in the Legislative Assembly of the Vladimir Oblast and belonged to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party.

“He was valued both for his professionalism and for his personal qualities – a delicate, intelligent, respectful of everyone, a man of broad outlook and erudition, he won everyone over. For the legislative assembly, for the entire Vladimir Region, the death of Pavel Genrikhovich Antov is difficult and an irreparable loss,” the speaker of the Vladimir legislative assembly, Vladimir Kiselyov, news agency TASS reported.

Antov’s death is under the lens as the business magnate had criticised President Putin’s war against Ukraine. Antov had reacted to a missile strike in Kyiv by saying that it was “extremely difficult to call all this anything but terror” in a leaked WhatsApp message. Antov later backtracked and stated on Russian social media that he was a firm supporter of Russia, President Putin and the “special military operation” in Ukraine.

ALSO READ: What we know so far of Vladimir Putin’s critic and another Russian’s death in the same Odisha hotel

Alexei Idamkin, Russian Consul General in Kolkata, told TASS that there was no “criminal element in these tragic events” as per local police.

However, Antov is the latest among the Russian oligarchs who have been found dead in mysterious circumstances. Surprisingly, all of these individuals have either criticised Russia’s war in Ukraine or President Putin himself. Also surprisingly, in many cases, the deaths have been reported under mysterious circumstances. The list is large enough that even a separate page on Wikipedia has been created to track the names of individuals, the known Putin opponents, who have died.

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Russian national arrested by CBI for JEE Main exam hacking in 2021

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Russian national in connection with the hacking of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) – Main conducted in 2021. The examination was conducted online mode last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The entrance exam was conducted by technology major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

The accused Mikhail Shargin was arrested when he arrived in New Delhi from Kazakhstan in the morning on October 4. The CBI had issued a look-out circular against the Russian and he was detained following his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

“He had hacked TCS Software which was the platform for the JEE Mains Exam in order to provide remote connectivity to control computer terminals of candidates appearing for the exam,” sources told NDTV.

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The investigation agency had in September 2021 booked an FIR against Affinity Education Pvt Ltd and its three directors, Siddharth Krishna, Vishwambhar Mani Tripathi and Govind Varshney, their associates and touts for allegedly manipulating the prestigious examination. The accused were helping students in the examinations through remote access in a centre in Sonepat, Haryana.

“It was also alleged that the accused used to obtain class X and XII mark sheets, user IDs, passwords and post-dated cheques of aspiring students in different parts of the country as security. Once admission was done, they used to collect heavy amounts ranging from 12-15 Lakh per candidate,” agency spokesperson RC Joshi added.

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The CBI conducted numerous raids across NCR, Pune, Jamshedpur, Indore and Bangalore and recovered 25 laptops, seven desktops, 30 post-dated cheques, and other incriminating evidence.

Shargin had allegedly hacked into the iLeon software, which was used to conduct the examination in 2021. He also allegedly helped the other accused hack the system again to gain remote access.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Today is International Translation Day — A look at it’s history, significance and theme

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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International Translation Day is marked every year on September 30. The day acknowledges the importance of professionals who translate, transpose and transliterate from one language to another. International Translation Day helps to promote awareness about the importance of multilingualism.

History

The General Assembly of the United Nations had decided to mark September 30 as International Translation Day when the member states passed resolution 71/288 in 2017. Along with establishing International Translation Day, the resolution reaffirmed the importance of language professionals in fostering communication between nations, promoting peace, and building understanding and development.

The date of September 30 was chosen since it is the same date as the feast of St Jerome, the Catholic Saint who translated a portion of the Bible. Before the passing of the resolution, the International Federation of Translators (FIT) had organised events around the day with the first observation of International Translation Day happening in 1991.

Significance

There are over 7,151 languages that exist today, though nearly 40 percent of them have less than 1,000 speakers. With globalisation, there is an increasing need for effective communication across speakers of multiple languages.

The United Nations itself has six official languages – Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish – while closer to home, India has 22 official languages. For effective communications, language professionals like translators, interpreters and terminologists are needed. Not only do these professionals help in effective communication but also help in promoting mutual respect between different languages and cultures.

The day is crucial to promote multilingualism, which can help in fostering cultural diversity.

Theme

The theme for International Translation Day 2022 is ‘A World Without Barriers’. The theme for the previous year was ‘United in translation’

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

International Space Station mishap more serious than stated; flipped 540 degrees: Report

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The International Space Station (ISS) has averted a major tragedy in microgravity. The situation was far more serious than what the space agencies had reported.

The agencies had reported that the ISS had spun by 45 degrees, but a news report has suggested it was way more than that. According to the report, the flying outpost spun one-and-a-half revolutions — about 540 degrees — before coming to a stop upside down, relative to its original position.

The ISS located, some 250 miles above the Earth, was in the process of docking the Russian-made Nauka module to the space station when the jet thrusters fired unexpectedly. The space station spun by a record 540 degrees. However, the seven astronauts in the space station were never in danger despite the flips.

A tweet by NASA on July 29 read, “Following this morning’s docking of the Nauka module to the @Space_Station, the module’s thrusters started firing at 12.45 pm ET inadvertently and unexpectedly, moving the station 45 degrees out of attitude. Recovery operations have regained attitude and the crew is in no danger.”

Following this morning’s docking of the Nauka module to the @Space_Station, the module’s thrusters started firing at 12:45pm ET inadvertently and unexpectedly, moving the station 45 degrees out of attitude. Recovery operations have regained attitude and the crew is in no danger: pic.twitter.com/jFlDZD7ZHp

— NASA (@NASA) July 29, 2021

A report by The New York Times on August 2 said Zebulon Scoville, flight director, in charge of NASA’s mission control centre in Houston, said the space station spun not by 45 degrees but by 540 degrees. The flying outpost space station spun a whole one-and-a-half revolutions before it came to a stop. Unfortunately, it stopped upside down from its original position. This mishap could have led to a major tragedy in microgravity, the report said.

And now NASA has tweeted, “Update: @space_station was 45° out of attitude when Nauka’s thrusters were still firing & loss of control was discussed with the crew. Further analysis showed total attitude change before regaining normal attitude control was ~540°. Station is in good shape & operating normally.”

Update: @space_station was 45° out of attitude when Nauka’s thrusters were still firing & loss of control was discussed with the crew. Further analysis showed total attitude change before regaining normal attitude control was ~540°. Station is in good shape & operating normally.

— NASA (@NASA) August 3, 2021

Interestingly, it was Scoville’s day off, yet he decided to view from the gallery as he was curious. He was asked to take over after the docking was over.

The New York Times reported Scoville as saying that NASA had received just two lines of code saying there was something wrong. The engineers, who had initially considered it to be a false message, swung to action by activating other additional antennas to talk to the station after declaring a spacecraft emergency.

The NASA’s incident report stated that the jet thrusters started firing, resulting in the entire station to pitch out of its normal flight position in orbit. The jet thrusters are from the new Nauka (Rocket in Russian) module that replaced the Pirs module. The Russian-made 23-tonne Nauka module is docked on the underside of the space station and NASA was finally able to restore the orientation by activating thrusters on another module docked on the Station.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Russia accuses Twitter of breaking law by failing to delete content

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Russia’s communications regulator accused Twitter on Monday of violating Russian law, saying the social media platform had not complied with some of its requests to delete banned content.

Roskomnadzor said Twitter had failed to delete 2,862 posts containing material linked to suicide, pornography and drugs since 2017. It could be fined heavily if found guilty of repeatedly failing to delete content deemed illegal under Russian law, it said.

The platform is used extensively by Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and his allies to criticize the authorities and announce new protests.

Twitter has been fined in the past for breaching Russia’s data laws, but the fines have so far been relatively small. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Russia in recent months has taken steps to exert more influence over foreign social media platforms.

Bills passed by the lower house of parliament in December last year allowed Russia to levy large fines on platforms that do not delete banned content and even restrict access to US social media giants if they ”discriminate” against Russian media.

The foreign ministry has also accused Facebook and other U.S. social media platforms of failing to identify fake posts related to unauthorized protests in support of Navalny, where police detained thousands of demonstrators nationwide.

In January, President Vladimir Putin queried what he described as the growing clout of U.S. social media giants and said their influence meant they now competed with governments.

Last month a Moscow court fined Twitter for refusing to store its server holding data about Russian citizens on Russian territory.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow