1️⃣ Brian Lara and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar Honoured with CEAT Cricket Lifetime Achievement Awards 2025
- Event: CEAT Cricket Rating Awards 2025
- Honourees:
- Brian Lara (West Indies): Legendary batsman known for his world record score of 400 not out in Tests and 501 not out in first-class cricket.
- Bhagwat Chandrasekhar (India): Renowned leg-spinner and part of India’s famed spin quartet of the 1970s.
- Significance: The CEAT Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes exceptional contributions to international cricket.
- Background: Previous recipients include Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, and Chris Gayle.
2️⃣ California Declares Diwali as a State Holiday
- Update: California has become the third U.S. state to officially declare Diwali as a state holiday, following Pennsylvania and Connecticut.
- Significance: Reflects growing recognition of the Indian and South Asian diaspora and promotes multicultural inclusivity.
- About Diwali: Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
- Context: The decision highlights the increasing cultural and political influence of the Indian community in the U.S.
3️⃣ IISc Bengaluru Tops Indian Institutions in THE World University Rankings 2026
- Report: Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026
- Highlight: Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru is ranked as the top Indian university.
- Global Context: IISc continues to lead Indian higher education institutions in global rankings for research impact and innovation.
- Other Mentions: IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi also featured among the top-ranked Indian institutions.
- Significance: Reflects India’s growing focus on global academic competitiveness and research excellence.
4️⃣ Taiwan President Lai Announces the ‘T-Dome’ Air Defence System
- Announced by: Taiwan President Lai Ching-te
- System Name: T-Dome (Taiwan Dome) Air Defence System
- Objective: To strengthen Taiwan’s air defence and national security amid growing regional tensions.
- Features: The system integrates advanced radar, missile defence, and AI-based threat detection.
- Significance: Aims to make Taiwan’s defence network more resilient against potential aerial incursions or missile attacks.
5️⃣ Palau Hosts the World’s First Live Underwater Interview to Raise Ocean Awareness
- Event: Conducted off the coast of Palau, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean.
- Purpose: To promote marine conservation and highlight the impacts of climate change on oceans.
- Participants: Environmental activists and journalists conducted the world’s first live underwater broadcast interview.
- Significance: Palau is known for its strong ocean protection policies and leadership in marine sustainability.
- Outcome: The initiative aimed to inspire global action toward ocean preservation and sustainable marine ecosystems.
