28 January 2016 – Daily Current Affairs

India successfully test-fires Akash Missile

On 28 ^th January 2016, India successfully test-fired its indigenous built surface-to-air Akash Missile. Part of an on-going user-trial mission, the event occurred at the 3 ^rd Complex of the ITR (Integrated Test Range) at Chandipur city in Odisha. A total of three test rounds took place under the guidance of IAF (Indian Air Force) personnel aimed at the Para-barrel targets.  Akash Missile is an indigenously developed surface-to-air (SAM) missile system of mid-surface range. The DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) is the manufacturer and developer of Akash Missile under the IGMDP (Integrated guided-missile development programme) wing. The IGMDP also developed missiles such as Agni, Nag, Trishul and Prithvi.

Aparna Kumar becomes first-ever civil servant from India to scale Mt. Vinson Massif

Aparna Kumar, an IPS officer from ( UP ) Uttar Pradesh cadre, BECAME on 17 January 2016 became first-ever civil servant from India to scale Mt. Vinson Massif. The event occurred on 17 ^th January 2016 when Aparna conquered Antarctica’s highest peak, Mt. Vinson Massif. After reaching the peak, Aparna hoisted India’s Tricolour as well as UPPS (Uttar Pradesh Police Service) flags on Mt. Vinson Massif. Her expedition for Antarctica started on 5 ^th January 2016 and she was accompanied by 10 other members from various nations. Till Now, Aparna has scaled 5 out of 7 most difficult summits across the globe.

Intelsat 29e, the first of Intelsat EpicNG Satellites, launched into Orbit

On 27 ^th January 2016, Commercial-satellite giant Intelsat announced the successful launch of Inteslat 29e. Inteslat 29e is a high-throughput satellite from the EpicNG range of the satellite giant. The satellite was launched from the French Guiana. This high-throughput platform will help in providing customers with better and superior connections at much lower cost. Intelsat 29e will replace the existing Intelsat 1R and will be servicing at 310°. It will help in bringing high-throughput capacity across both Ku-band and C-band to Latin and North America as well as the North-Atlantic Region

Henry Tiphange, An Indian Activist selected for AIHR (Amnesty International Human Rights) Award 2016

Human rights activist and Indian Lawyer Henri Tiphagne on 26 ^th January 2016 were chosen for the Amnesty International (Germany) Award for Human Rights (8 ^th ). This award will recognise the exceptional commitment of Tiphagne’s towards human rights. Henry will be presented with this award on 25 ^th April 2016 during an official function at the MG (Maxim Gorki) Theatre in the city of Berlin, Germany. Henri is the founding member of People’s Watch, a notable and well-known HR (Human Rights) Organisation in India. People’s watch is famous for researching as well as documenting violations related to human rights.

Arab-India Cooperation Forum’s first Ministerial Meeting took place in Manama

Arab-India Cooperation Forum’s first Ministerial Meeting took place on 24 ^th January 2016 in the capital city of Bahrain. Foreign Minister of Bahrain Khalid Al Khalifa inaugurated the ceremony and was joined by Sushma Swaraj (Minister of External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs), Secretary General- Arab States League Nabil Elaraby and foreign ministers from Arab States. The meeting was held with the objectives of reviewing the Arab-Indian cooperation achievements since its establishment in the year 2008 in New Delhi .