February 2024 – Page 6 – Safir News Agency

Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Defining urban narratives in boxes

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Rahul Mitra’s striking display greets visitors at State Gallery of Art

Published Date – 29 February 2024, 11:07 PM

Hyderabad: Defining urban narratives in boxes — Rahul Mitra’s ‘Box City’ is a collaborative art project that repurposes discarded boxes collected from the city streets.

Hyderabad: Hyderabad is a city of diverse box-like homes – poor boxes, rich boxes, all kinds — it’s all one big box when viewed from the outside, says artist .

Upon entering the State Gallery of Art in Madhapur, one is greeted by a visually striking display of creatively arranged coloured cardboard boxes. Aptly titled ‘Box City’, this installation serves as a distinct representation of urban life.

Having exhibited Box City installations worldwide for more than 10 years, the current showcase in the city, featuring 300 boxes obtained from Esamiya Bazar in Koti, marks the artist’s largest exhibition to date. The installation was set up at the gallery as a part of The NEWS Art Fest 2024, on view till March 7.

Box City is a collaborative art project that repurposes discarded boxes collected from the city streets. Local people, from different social backgrounds are invited to paint the boxes with hues of blue, yellow, red, grey, white, and black — mirroring the diversity within the society.

“I’m not being a poverty tourist. I come from a background of poverty myself, and I’m not bitter about it either. When people see the beauty of the art but also sense its underlying sadness, it prompts them to ask questions. That’s when meaningful dialogue about poverty and socio-economic disparities begin,” said the Hyderabad-born Huston-based artist.

Rahul also aims to introduce children from slums to the world of art. Reflecting on one of his first ‘Box City’ installations in Delhi’s Khirki village, he recalled initial confusion among the villagers when he introduced the concept. However, as Mitra began gathering and painting the boxes, the children eagerly joined in.

These installations, while not transient, are indeed subject to destruction, much like the force of nature. “Similar to our society, everything eventually meets its end,” he observed. “It’s a creation from trash that ultimately reverts to trash,” he remarked.

Besides his role as an artist, Rahul also has a background as a writer and scientist. He held the position of director at the non-coding RNA Cancer Center at MD Anderson Cancer Center in the USA, where he played a pivotal role in developing therapies for ovarian cancer, now undergoing clinical trials.

Additionally, he recently showcased his solo exhibition titled ‘Elephant in the Room’, where he sold 14 out of 20 paintings.

"Matchbox In Sea": How Navy Pilots Land Fighter Jets On Aircraft Carriers

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'Matchbox In Sea': How Navy Pilots Land Fighter Jets On Aircraft Carriers

Vikant has a “ski-jump” which provides an elevation to jets like MiG-29K and LCA Tejas to takeoff.

New Delhi:

Aircraft carriers are moving runways that bring fighter jets closer to the battlefield and transport forces to any part of the world. These long warships played a significant role in World War II, especially with bombing operations in the Pacific. Fighter jets have undergone massive technological advancement over the years, but the challenge of landing on an aircraft carrier still exists compared to a conventional airstrip.

How Do Pilots Land?

INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya participated in the Milan multination exercise and Vikrant made its grand debut at the nine-day mega exercise. Naval aviators onboard Vikrant explain how they land on a carrier flight deck and the challenges they face.

Watch | #ThrillingThursday | #MILAN2024 | Exclusive

A short runway in the middle of the sea! How does a pilot land his aircraft on a moving ship-pitching, rolling, swaying constantly? Naval pilots onboard #INSVikrant have this to say. pic.twitter.com/duit7iT2tM

— A. Bharat Bhushan Babu (@SpokespersonMoD) February 29, 2024

Vikant has a “ski-jump” which provides an elevation to fighter jets like MiG-29K and LCA Tejas to take off, but when landing, pilots have to calibrate their aircraft speed according to that of the carrier. A conventional runway is 500-600 metres and Vikrant has a 203-metre-long main runway. The landing strip looks like a dot from the fighter jet cruising at high altitudes and the speed and movement of the aircraft carrier on high seas. Naval pilots land on these runways that are moving at a speed of at least 50 km/hr.

‘Extra Precision’

“When we are flying in the sea, there is no reference. We only have a wide ocean, open sky and an aircraft carrier that is always in motion and that one small dot on the deck is our landing spot. The size of the deck is limited and extra precision is required to ensure the fighter jet lands in that limited length,” Lt Commander Ashish, a MiG-29K pilot, said.

The fighter jet descends at a speed of over 200 km/hr, and the tailhook on it has to catch one of the three arresting wires to stop within the limit. For example, LCA Tejas descends at a speed of 240 km/hr and in exactly 90 metres, pilots have to bring the speed down to zero in approximately 2.5 seconds. If the speed is low and the pilot fails to catch the arresting wires and barrier-assisted recovery is not ready, then the aircraft should have enough speed to take off again and turn around for another landing.

Night Landing – Not A No-Brainer

It’s a no-brainer that night landings in pitch darkness are even more challenging and the risk increases manifold. Pilots perform a ‘Night trap’, which means landing on an aircraft carrier during night time.

“Landing on an aircraft carrier is always difficult. From a high altitude, it looks like a matchbox in the sea which is moving, rolling and pitching. At night, the difficulty increases because the indication is from the lights on the carrier deck. These lights indicate the angle of a pilot’s approach, whether it is steep or shallow and they are offered corrections which have to be done in a short period as the aircraft is approaching the deck at very high speeds. A safety officer on the deck constantly monitors the landing and guides the pilot to ensure proper landing,” Lt Commander Parth said.

The pilots also face physical challenges while landing on a flight deck and decelerating from 240 Km/hour to 0 in 2.5 seconds.

Commander Jaideep Maolankar (retd.), an ex-test pilot, said there were instances when the pilots forgot to lock their harnesses, and there was little blood on their feet. The aircraft throws you off, and for 2-3 seconds, you don’t have control over your limbs. Commodore Maolankar was part of the team which tested and engineered the Tejas aircraft when it landed on India’s other aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.

INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya are built on STOBAR (Short takeoff barrier-assisted recovery) platform. STOBAR carriers have a ski jump. The aircraft carrier, which featured in Top Gun: Maverick was built on the CATOBAR (Catapult take-off barrier assisted recovery) platform. CATOBAR carriers have a flat flight deck and jets are catapulted for takeoff.

India

Delhi Kejriwal govt to table Delhi Economic Survey tomorrow

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During the hearing, the High Court had asked the privilege committee to hold its hand from taking action.

Published Date – 29 February 2024, 10:25 PM

Delhi Kejriwal govt to table Delhi Economic Survey tomorrow

New Delhi: Delhi Finance Minister, Atishi, will table Delhi’s Economic Survey (2023-2024) in the Assembly on Friday. According to the List of Business mentioned in the Delhi Legislative Assembly circular, tomorrow, the house will discuss the issue of “Demolition of Houses of the Poor across Delhi by Central Agencies like DDA, ASI, LNDO, and Railways.”

The budget session of the Delhi assembly began on February 15, 2024, with the Lieutenant Governor outlining the policies, programmes and work of the AAP-led Delhi government in the fields of education, health, transport, social welfare, infrastructure, etc.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday reserved its on order on pleas of seven BJP MLAs who challenged their suspension from Delhi legislative Assembly for an indefinite period. During the hearing, the High Court had asked the privilege committee to hold its hand from taking action.

The matter was referred to the committee after the suspension. BJP MLAs Vijender Gupta, Ajay Kumar Mahavar, Abhay Verma, Anil Kumar Vajpayee, OP Sharma, Mohan Singh Bisht and Jitendra Mahajan had challenged their suspension.

These seven MLAs have been suspended for allegedly disturbing the Delhi Assembly on February 15 during an address by the LG. Justice Subramonium Prasad reserved the order on the pleas after hearing the arguements by the counsels for MLAs and Speaker Delhi Legislative Assembly.

The bench has asked the counsels to file written submissions. The High Court reserved its order after hearing the arguements by Senior advocate Jayant Mehta, Kirti Uppal and Pavan Narang for the MLAs. Senior advocate Sudhir Nandrajog and advocate Sameer Vasisht appeared for the respondent.

It is contended that the motion for suspension of MLAs was unconstitutional and violative of their constitutional rights under Article 14, 19 and 22 of Constitution of India.

The senior advocates submitted that they were punished for their alleged misconduct by marshalling out by the Speaker. Then, how can a motion be passed in this regard.

How can they be punished twice for a single act of violation, the counsel argued. It was further argued that in passing the motion the procedures were not followed as it had mentioned of MLAs against whom it is passed. They matter was also referred to privilege committee.

Hyderabad

Telangana: Senior Congress leaders keen to contest Lok Sabha elections

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Senior Congress leaders from Telangana are keen to contest the coming Lok Sabha elections and are demanding an explanation from the State leadership if their candidature was not considered

Published Date – 29 February 2024, 07:48 PM

Telangana: Senior Congress leaders keen to contest Lok Sabha elections

Hyderabad: A few senior leaders from the Telangana Congress are keen to contest the ensuing Lok Sabha elections and are also demanding an explanation from the State leadership if their candidature was not considered.

Former MP V Hanumanth Rao has already filed his application to contest from the Khammam Lok Sabha constituency. Similarly, State Special Representative in New Delhi Mallu Ravi resigned from the post and has made up his mind to contest from Nagarkurnool constituency.

Addressing media persons here on Monday, Hanumanth Rao said he had been serving the Congress party for long and claimed to deserve an opportunity to contest from Khammam.

“I have been working for the party, especially in Khammam, for many years and fought against injustice to different sections of people. Party workers wanted me to contest from Khammam,” Hanumanth Rao said. Expressing dissatisfaction at being sidelined by the State leadership, he also sought an explanation as to what would be the fate of senior leaders in the party, if juniors were considered for issuing tickets.

Echoing similar feelings, Mallu Ravi decided to contest from Nagarkurnool constituency. Congress spokesperson Sampath and a few other leaders have also filed their applications from the same constituency.

“I resigned from the Special Representative post to contest from Nagarkurnool constituency. I do not want to hold two positions,” Ravi said, reminding that there was a policy in the party not to issue tickets to those who lost in the Assembly elections. He also met a few leaders in New Delhi to press for his candidature.

Meanwhile, there is uncertainty over the Khammam constituency candidate. In addition to a few leaders, including Hanumanth Rao, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy’s brother Prasad Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu’s wife Mallu Nandini and others have filed their applications.

Amidst this, both the left parties, CPI and CPM are also exerting pressure on the Congress to consider their party members candidature under the alliance. CPI has demanded the Congress to allot Peddapalli, Warangal, Khammam, Nalgonda and Bhongir seats. CPM is also insisting on allotment of at least one seat in the Lok Sabha elections.

Will the State Congress consider the pleas from the Left remains a big question.

“There’s lot of fantastic AI work going on in India,” says Bill Gates

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Gates feels that India has made rapid strides in Digital Public Infrastucture and there has been a lot of improvement in key areas.

Published Date – 29 February 2024, 10:40 PM

“There’s lot of fantastic AI work going on in India,” says Bill Gates — File Photo

New Delhi: Microsoft Co-founder and phillanthropist Bill Gates on Thursday said that a lot of fantastic work is going on in the field of Artificial Intelligence adding that country is poised to a lot of the leadership work in the sphere of Artificial Intelligence.

In an interview with ANI, Bill Gates said, “Well, there’s a lot of fantastic AI work going on in this country. You have innovators like Nandan Nilekani who’s taking all that digital work and saying, OK, how does AI make that even better? You have groups like Wadhwani. You have the IIT groups that are very state of the art. In India, there will be a lot of fantastic leadership work in AI here in India. And when it’s helping the poorest in areas like health and agriculture, our foundation will be proud to help shape that and support it.”

Gates feels that India has made rapid strides in Digital Public Infrastucture and there has been a lot of improvement in key areas.

“The rate of improvement in a lot of the key areas is very, very strong. You know, everyone knows that in vaccines, India’s the world’s leader, so we’re investing with our partners here to come up with lots of new vaccines. A diagnostics industry has come out of some of the work in the pandemic, so we’re partnering there as well. This idea of digital connections that starts with Aadhaar and the bank accounts that you manage digitally, that’s flourishing. And so we see in agriculture now, they’re registering the farmers and giving them advance notice” the Microsoft Co-founder said.

Gates suggested that several countries across the world can learn from PM Modi “So that Indian leadership is something other countries should benefit from. So going back to the G20, India stated its desire to help others. And we’re a partner with India.

In fact, I spoke with the external affairs minister today about what countries could we accelerate. They are getting some of these benefits that have been so incredible here in India” he said.

Gates said the strength of India today, in terms of economic growth and innovation, is very exciting while emphasising that India’s thrust on education is paying off and lauded political competition in a democracy for providing better amenities to people.

“I think the strength of India today, which in terms of economic growth and innovation, is very exciting. That’s why companies like Microsoft has 25,000 people here that do absolutely amazing work. That developed over 25 years, and so a foundation was laid of educating people and now that’s paying off” the Microsoft co-founder added.

Reflecting on India’s democratic system, Gates described it as magical for not only prioritizing the interests of specific groups but also focusing on overall economic improvement, healthcare, and education.

Gates commended Indian innovation, stating that each visit reinforces the perception that Indian innovation is at an advanced level.

“It’s nice to see you’ve got a government where some of the political competition is, I’ll run the health system better than they do. I’ll make the schools better than they do. Democracy is a magic system when it works well. It’s not just that my group deserves a term but rather that my group will grow the pie for everyone, improve the economy, and improve education,” he said while praising the Indian democracy where the parties strive for the development of the country.

Gates, who during his visit to India, engaged with several diverse groups and feels that Indian innovation is at a higher level.

“I think democracy, it’s a magic system, you know, when it works well, you know, that it’s not just my group deserves a turn, but rather, you know, my group will grow the pie for everyone, improve the economy, improve health and improve education. And so the entire time I’ve been coming here, you know, every time it’s like, wow, Indian innovation is at a much higher level. And the health statistics, you know, they’re being honest about, okay, this is where we are. This is what’s improved” Gates said.

Gates also visited IIT Delhi recently and also the state of Odisha, where he met with chief minister Naveen Patnaik. In recognition of his contributions to global health, education and efforts to combat climate change through innovative technological solutions aimed at reducing inequality, Bill Gates was honored with the KISS Humanitarian Award 2023.

Hyderabad

Watchman at Osmania University bags 3 govt jobs sans coaching!

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Golle Praveen Kumar has been selected for Junior Lecturer in Commerce, PG Teacher and Trained Graduate Teacher (Social Studies) posts

Published Date – 29 February 2024, 10:50 PM

Watchman at Osmania University bags 3 govt jobs sans coaching!

Hyderabad: From night vigilance to a bright success, this 31-year-old has scripted an extraordinary tale of determination and perseverance.

Meet Golle Praveen Kumar, a night watchman at the Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMRC), Osmania University, who landed not just one or two, but three government jobs in just a span of 10 days!

Praveen Kumar has been selected for the posts of Junior Lecturer (JL) in Commerce, Post-Graduate Teacher and Trained Graduate Teacher (Social Studies) in BC Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society.

Interestingly, Praveen achieved this remarkable feat all by himself without coaching. “For last five years, I have been working as a night watchman in the EMRC. During my work hours, I studied under the street lights and prepared for the competitive exams,” he says with a tinge of pride.

He prepared on his own relying on YouTube content. “I missed selection for DSC 2018 notification just by half-mark,” Praveen Kumar told Telangana Today.

Despite his parents’ occupations—father being a mason and mother being a beedi worker — Praveen from Mancherial district was determined to pursue higher education and set a goal of securing a better job.

He pursued MCom, B.Ed and MEd degrees at the OU campus and to cover his expenses, he worked as a watchman for five years. “Since my parents are daily wage labourers, I did not want to be a burden on them. I got into a job as a night watchman and did preparation for government jobs including Group-II, which I did not clear last time,” said Praveen, who is set to take up the JL job.

EMRC Director P Raghupathi, along with other staff members, congratulated and honoured Praveen on his remarkable achievement.

New Zealand vs Australia 1st Test Day 2 Live Score Updates

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New Zealand vs Australia 1st Test Day 2 Live Score Updates

New Zealand vs Australia 1st Test Day 2 Live Updates: Cameron Green will aim to continue scoring from one end while Josh Hazlewood will eye to play a perfect deputy as Australia resume their innings on Day 2 against New Zealand. On the opening day, Cameron Green slammed only his second Test century to steer Australia to 279 for 9 at Stumps in Wellington. The visitors were tottering on 89 for 4 after being put into bat at the Basin Reserve before Green dug in for a rescue mission with the help of Mitchell Marsh, who made 40. The 24-year-old brought up three figures with his 16th four in the final over to end day one on 103 with Hazlewood yet to score. (Live Scorecard)

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