Category: Leaders, on the World Stage – All others

** Meet Abheesh P Dominic, ‘original’ Minnal Murali

Even before the ‘Minnal Murali’ team conceived a superhero in Jaison, a Kottayam resident was quietly performing many of the superhuman acts that made Tovino Thomas’ character such a phenomenon. If Jaison acquired those superhuman powers after being hit by a bolt of lightning, in real-life, there was no such shortcut for Abheesh P Dominic. Rather hard work, dedication and perseverance helped him acquire abilities that are beyond the reach of most people.

The 38-year-old has powered his way into many record books — including the Guinness World Records — by performing daredevil acts in public. From smashing 122 coconut shells with bare hands in a minute to stopping the high-speed pedestal fan with his tongue, Abheesh’s acts often stun spectators.

A video collage of Abheesh performing his dangerous stunts juxtaposed with Minnal Murali’s superhuman acts has now gone viral on social media. 

Kerala

** Indian Architect Balkrishna Doshi Wins Royal Gold Medal 2022

Given in recognition of a lifetime’s work, the Royal Gold Medal is approved personally by Queen Elizabeth II and is given to a person or group of people who have had a significant influence on the advancement of architecture.

Buildings he has designed include the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, the Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology in Ahmedabad, a number of cultural spaces in Ahmedabad such as the Tagore Memorial Hall, Institute of Indology and Premabhai Hall, and a private residence, Kamala House, in Ahmedabad. Doshi is also responsible for Ahmedabad’s famous underground art gallery Amdavad Ni Gufa, a cave-like structure which has a roof made of interconnected domes, covered with a mosaic of tiles.

** Former CEC Arora joins board of advisors of International IDEA that supports sustainable democracies

The Election Commission said in a statement on Tuesday that Mr. Arora was invited to join the International IDEA’s board of advisors.

Former Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora has joined the board of advisors of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), an inter-governmental organisation based in Stockholm.

While serving as the chair of the Association of World Election Bodies (AWEB) and Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) under Mr. Arora’s tenure, the EC ensured further enhancement of capacity building.

** India ranked fourth most powerful country in Asia

 India is the fourth most powerful country in Asia, as per the Lowy Institute Asia Power Index 2021.

The annual Asia Power Index — launched by the Lowy Institute in 2018 — measures resources and influence to rank the relative power of states in Asia. The project maps out the existing distribution of power as it stands today, and tracks shifts in the balance of power over time.

India is ranked as a middle power in Asia. As the fourth most powerful country in Asia, India again falls short of the major power threshold in 2021. Its overall score declined by two points compared to 2020. India is one of eighteen countries in the region to trend downward in its overall score in 2021, the report said.

The top 10 countries for overall power in the Asia-Pacific region are the US, China, Japan, India, Russia, Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, Lowy Institute said.

** Isha Ambani appointed on the Board of Trustees of the prestigious Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art

In 2019, Nita Ambani, wife of Reliance Industries’ Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani, was elected to the board of New York’s The Metropolitan Museum of Art

** Koo user base at about 15 million, eyes expansion to new market in Southeast Asia

The Indian microblogging platform, which has enjoyed a meteoric rise in usage, is currently also available in Nigeria, a market that ‘continues to grow’

Homegrown microblogging platform Koo’s user base has touched about 15 million now, with five million users added in the last quarter, its co-founder Aprameya Radhakrishna has said.

India, the world’s second-largest telecom market and the biggest consumer of data, is a key market for Internet companies like Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter given the large population base, burgeoning internet and smartphone adoption, as well as explosive growth.

** IMF Chief Economist Gita Gopinath to leave job and return to Harvard University

She had joined the IMF as the Chief Economist in January 2019

IMF’s Chief Economist Gita Gopinath will leave her job in January next year and return to the prestigious Harvard University, according to the global financial institution.

The 49-year-old prominent Indian-American economist had joined the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the Chief Economist in January 2019.

She was the John Zwaanstra Professor of International Studies and Economics at Harvard University when she joined the Washington-based global lender.

Mysuru-born Gopinath is the first-ever woman Chief Economist of the IMF.

** Total COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India crosses 100-crore milestone

According to official sources, around 75% of India’s all eligible adult population has been administered at least the first dose

The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country surpassed the 100-crore milestone on October 21.

In a tweet, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the country on achieving the feat, and said it was the result of the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.