Current Affairs - Persons

Vyacheslav Volodin, the Chairman of Russia's State Duma, arrived in India on February 3, 2025, for an official visit aimed at strengthening the bilateral ties between Russia and India. His visit focuses on enhancing cooperation in key areas such as trade, education, technology, and cultural exchanges. Volodin’s meetings with Indian leaders will also emphasize deepening inter-parliamentary cooperation, a critical aspect of fostering long-term diplomatic relations between the two nations. This visit serves as a significant step in the continued evolution of the Russia-India strategic relationship in the global context.

Chandrika Krishnamoorthy Tandon, an Indian-American musician and business leader, won the Grammy Award for Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album for her project ‘Triveni’ at the 67th Grammy Awards on February 2, 2025. The album, created in collaboration with Wouter Kellerman and Eru Matsumoto, blends South Asian vocal traditions, South African flute melodies, and Japanese-American cello harmonies to create a unique meditative experience. Tandon, known for her philanthropic efforts and contributions to education, expressed gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing the album’s focus on peace and healing through music.

Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams has set a new record for the longest spacewalking time by a woman, surpassing the previous record held by Peggy Whitson. Williams has accumulated a total of 62 hours and 6 minutes of spacewalking time across nine extravehicular activities (EVAs). She achieved this milestone during a spacewalk with fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore on the International Space Station (ISS). The record-breaking spacewalk lasted 5 hours and 26 minutes, contributing to her ranking as the fourth-highest spacewalker in NASA’s history.

Shubhanshu Shukla has been selected as the pilot for the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station, scheduled for spring 2025. This makes him the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. His participation aligns with India's Gaganyaan mission objectives and represents a significant step in India's human spaceflight program. The mission is commanded by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson and includes astronauts from ESA and Hungary, contributing to the expansion of private astronaut missions to the ISS.

Jyothi Yarraji secured gold in the women’s 60m indoor hurdles at the Meeting de Nantes Métropole 2025, achieving a remarkable time of 8.04 seconds and breaking her own national record of 8.12 seconds set at the 2024 Asian Indoor Championships. This achievement highlights her consistent performance and exceptional talent in athletics. Meanwhile, Tejas Shirse also made headlines by setting a new national record in the men's 60m hurdles in Luxembourg, clocking 7.65 seconds.