
Andhra Pradesh minister Lokesh unveils bold reforms in education, aims to surpass private institutions in 4 years
Parvathipuram: Education minister Nara
on Monday announced comprehensive reforms to elevate govt education standards beyond private institutions. He expressed optimism about achieving significant progress within four years.
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At the 'Shining Stars Awards 2025' on Monday, Lokesh honoured 95 10th-grade and 26 intermediate high achievers. He outlined a 100-day action strategy for improved outcomes, highlighting initiatives such as providing books and midday meals in govt junior colleges. He stressed his commitment to nurturing AP's young talents, encouraging future govt school graduates to return and inspire younger students.
Addressing the 10th-grade students, he emphasised that life presents the real challenge ahead.
He cited chief minister Chandrababu Naidu's exemplary discipline at 75 years, maintaining remarkable energy through extensive programmes like the three-day Mahanadu.
"For college-bound students, life takes a new turn. One wrong choice can be detrimental. Your conduct should honour your parents. The 'No to Drugs, Bro' campaign, initiated after witnessing a mother's distress in Chandragiri constituency during Yuvagalam Padayatra, demonstrates our govt's anti-drug stance.
Poor decisions affect both you and your family," Lokesh advised.
He encouraged students to maintain humility whilst achieving success. Sharing his personal experience, he said, "I chose Mangalagiri, where TDP never succeeded, for elections. Despite losing in 2019, I persevered for five years, achieving the third-highest majority statewide. I accepted the challenging education portfolio despite contrary advice."
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AP aims to achieve complete literacy within four years through 'Mission Akshara Andhra', addressing its current low literacy ranking. The minister acknowledged India's strong response to terrorism under Modi's leadership, referencing AP's loss of Army jawan Murali Nayak in Operation Sindoor.
Students ahare aspirations on dream wall
Students documented their ambitions on dedicated walls. G. Jithu aspires to become a software engineer, G.
Jagadish aims for IAS, and C.H. Priyanka wants to teach. Bodela Jyotsna plans to contribute to infrastructure development as an engineer, R. Prajna aims to serve as a doctor, Vavilapalli Gayatri targets AI engineering, and Komarapu Gunashree wishes to innovate in software engineering.
Gratitude & promises
Students expressed appreciation on the Gratitude Wall. K. Lokesh pledged to pursue doctorate studies and support his parents.
Praharshini thanked Minister Lokesh and the college staff. Komarapu Gunashree acknowledged Chandrababu and Lokesh's encouragement. The minister assured continued support for students' aspirations. Senior officials and dignitaries attended the event.
The event was attended by state ministers Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, Gummadi Sandhya Rani, whip Toyaka Jagadeeshwari, MLAs Bonela Vijayachandra and Nimmaka Jayakrishna, Education Secretary Kona Shashidhar, Intermediate Education Director Krithika Shukla, College Education Director Narayana Bharat Gupta, MLC Vepada Chiranjeevi, Collector Shyam Prasad, ITDA PO Ashutosh Srivastava, and others.
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Hindustan Times
32 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Jagan slams CM Naidu over 'restrictions' during Rentapalla visit
Amaravati, YSRCP supremo YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday questioned Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on why the TDP-led NDA government allegedly imposed restrictions on his recent visit to Rentapalla to ensure that "people would not turn up." Jagan slams CM Naidu over 'restrictions' during Rentapalla visit On June 18, Reddy visited Rentapalla village in Palnadu district to call on the family members of a party leader who had died by suicide a year ago due to alleged "harassment by TDP leaders and police." Though police gave permission for a limited number of vehicles and only about 100 people for this visit, many vehicles joined Reddy's convoy, and thousands of people swarmed all along the way from Tadepalli to Rentapalla. Further, a YSRCP supporter, C Singayya, allegedly fell under a vehicle and died in that melee at Etuku Cross. Guntur district superintendent of police S Satish initially said that Singayya fell under a private vehicle, but not under Reddy's convoy. However, on Sunday night, he said that Singayya was actually "run over" by the vehicle being used by Reddy, leading to the registration of a police case against Reddy and others. Amidst this backdrop, the former CM questioned if the erstwhile YSRCP government had imposed such restrictions during the visits of Naidu and Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan between 2019 and 2024. 'Chandrababu, why did you impose restrictions on my tour to ensure that nobody would turn up? Did we impose these kinds of restrictions when you and Pawan Kalyan were touring?' Reddy asked in a post on 'X'. Reddy questioned why opposition leaders like him are allegedly being stopped from visiting their party workers and expressing solidarity with farmers and citizens. Though he "followed all the rules" and gave prior information about his visit to the authorities, Reddy alleged that the state failed to provide the necessary security arrangements. Reddy emphasised that Z security for a former chief minister is not a favour but a protocol-based right, adding that just as it applied to Naidu in the past, it should apply to anyone in the future. "Why were there no pilot vehicles or rope parties deployed during my visit, which are part of the standard Z security protocol?" asked the YSRCP chief. If the security arrangements were in place, Reddy questioned, "How could anyone have come under his vehicle," and demanded clarity. "Did the government fail to provide security, or is the claim that someone was run over false?" he asked. Alleging that the government did not provide a bulletproof vehicle, which is mandatory under protocol, Reddy said he arranged one for himself at his own expense. Further, the opposition leader referred to Guntur SP's initial statement on Singayya's incident and demanded to know "why the narrative was later changed and politicised." He accused the ruling coalition of using this tragic incident as a distraction from their governance failures. Observing that he had only held a press conference to expose the alleged "unfulfilled promises, corruption, and financial damage done by the current regime," Reddy alleged that the NDA alliance government has launched diversionary tactics instead of responding with accountability. On learning about Singayya's death, Reddy said he immediately instructed his party leaders to provide help, along with ₹ 10 lakh compensation to the victim's family. He reminded that another supporter had also died due to a heart attack during the same tour, and similar support was extended to that family as well. Reddy asserted that these actions show the value he places on his supporters and questioned Naidu's response in similar situations. He criticised the TDP for allegedly spreading lies and questioned their moral authority to speak about humanity and ethics. Moreover, Reddy called on Naidu to mend his ways, act with responsibility, and "stop using political power to suppress the opposition." Meanwhile, Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha accused Reddy of continuing his tour even after two people had lost their lives. The police had informed YSRCP leaders that the road was only 10 feet wide and that security could be provided for only 100 people, including his convoy and three vehicles, she said. Despite intelligence reports suggesting that the YSRCP was mobilising cadres, police extended maximum security, keeping in mind Reddy's Z status, said the Home Minister. "No one who commits a crime in the state will escape the law under any circumstances," she added. She further alleged that Reddy's supporter in Rentapalla village had died a year ago due to gambling, questioning the need for his visit. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.


NDTV
35 minutes ago
- NDTV
Ghost Of GBU-28: When US Bunker-Buster Bomb Shattered Saddam's Last Hope
The American B-2 bombers flew for 13,000 km, carrying the GBU-57, a bunker-buster capable of striking underground facilities, and struck Iran's nuclear facilities to "obliterate" the country's atomic weapons programme. Now, US President Donald Trump says a regime change in Tehran will "Make Iran Great Again"; however, his ministers have said 'Operation Midnight Hammer' was not aimed at a regime change. American air power has been deployed several times to "establish democracy" and fight terrorism in the Middle East. In 1990, when Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, the US launched Operation Desert Storm to fight the Iraqi forces. The air-land operation ended on February 28, 1991, but a day before the ceasefire, a bunker-buster bomb of the same class as GBU-57 was dropped from the air and is often credited with ending the first Gulf War. GBU-28 - The Earth Penetrator The 42-day aerial campaign launched by the US and the coalition forces obliterated Iraqi defences on the ground. Hell rained from the sky on Saddam's troops, forcing the dictator and his men to hide in concrete underground bunkers located several metres deep that could not be penetrated even by the BLU-109, a hardened bunker-buster used by the US since these bombs could not penetrate reinforced concrete beyond four to six feet. The Iraqi commanders continued to direct the troops from these 40 concrete bunkers, often located at least 50 feet underground in Baghdad alone. The ground troops did not have much success in targeting them, and the US Air Force called for a magic bomb to be made to strike deep. And within four weeks, the innovative American engineers developed GBU-28. From Concept to Combat The engineers at Lockheed Martin, the US Air Force, and the Eglin Air Force base in Florida proposed a solid casing for the bomb to ensure it would not be crushed on impact with the bunker's thick concrete slabs. A dense penetrator version of BLU-109 - when dropped from a very high altitude from the B-52 Stratofortress, could penetrate the bunker - was proposed along with a hypersonic vehicle that could use its kinetic energy to pierce the slabs. Time was running against the engineers, and it could have taken several months to develop. The Air Force proposed that the 8-inch barrels of the Army's M117 Howitzer could be the solution to the solid casing of the bomb because of weight and strength. The Watervalide Arsenal of the Army in New York was tasked to turn the howitzer barrels into bombs. The work on the bomb started on February 1, and an official go-ahead was given on February 14. It was decided by the Eglin base and Lockheed Martin engineers that the F-111 Aardvark would deliver the bomb, and its weight was reduced to approximately 4,000 kg to ensure it was ideal for the deep-strike fighter jet. Engineers at the air base worked a seven-day shift to deliver on time. The pellets of the bomb were being developed simultaneously, and the Lockheed engineers were working on the avionics suite of the F-111, and the nose of the BLU-109 had arrived to be used for the bomb. A report said at least 15 design changes were made to the bomb's specifications. The nose cone for GBU-28 was secured and carefully welded, with wing attachments being made to the body of the bomb. Within three days, from the go-no-go decision on February 13, 1991, to February 16, the engineers worked day and night to deliver, and the first bombs were ready for assembly and loaded onto the C-130 cargo planes of the US Air Force. The bomb casing arrived in Florida at the air base, and the process to fill the explosives began. Since the 13-foot casing of a bomb never came to the base, a hole was dug in the ground, and manually, engineers filled the casing with molten explosive in one bomb and concrete for a sled test in the other in a 37-hour-long process. The "dumb bombs" were fitted with a laser-guidance kit, and fins were attached to GBU-28's rear for aerodynamic stability. The bomb was ready for testing. On February 24, 1991, a GBU-28 was dropped from an F-111 in Nevada, and it penetrated the target at supersonic speed, burying itself at least 100 feet deep. Later, the second bomb was used for the sled test and fired against a 22-foot thick steel reinforced concrete slab. The two tests were successful, and GBU-28 was ready for combat. This was the first time a bomb moved from concept to combat in a short period, and with just two demonstrative tests before being used in action. It had a warhead weighing 4,400 pounds and an FMU-143 fuse - A type of high-velocity fuse mounted on bunker busters like the BLU-109 that can penetrate deep. It has a delayed-action tail-fuse which remains intact upon impact and gets activated after piercing the solid structure, causing delayed detonation and massive damage. February 27, 1991 The two GBU-28 bombs were airlifted and taken to Taif in Saudi Arabia onboard the C-141 Starlifter of the US Air Force. They were fitted on the Aardvark, and the mission was to hit the Al Taji airbase, which survived the GBU-27 strikes so far from F-117 Nighthawks. Though Saddam was not present in the bunkers at Al Taji, its location just southwest of Baghdad made it significant. Two F-111s with callsigns - 'Cardinal 7-1' and 'Cardinal 7-2', piloted by Lt Col Ken Combs and Maj Jerry Hust and Col David White and Capt Tommy Himes respectively, took off. 'Cardinal 7-1' and 'Cardinal 7-2' laser marked their targets. The first F-111 narrowly missed the target, directed the second aircraft, piloted by Col White, was directed to redirect and strike the primary target. They did not miss. The GBU-28 penetrated the bunker, and later, smoke from the vents of the structure confirmed an explosion deep within the ground. Only two GBU-28s were used throughout the war, and one successfully struck its target. A day later, Saddam's troops surrendered to the coalition forces, and the war was over. The bomb is often credited with instilling that fear among the Iraqi troops that their last haven is not safe anymore, though Iraqi troops had suffered extensive damage in the 40 days of the battle until GBU-28 was used. The bombs were later deployed in Yugoslavia, the Second Gulf War in 2003, and Afghanistan. Israel was the first country to purchase these bombs from the US in 2005 after it intended it strike Iranian nuclear facilities with these munitions. Trump And GBU-57 After yesterday's bombing, Trump claimed the GBU-57, a bomb of the same class as GBU-28, managed to inflict "monumental damage" to the Iranian nuclear facilities. "Obliteration is an accurate term!" he said, referring to the satellite images showing damaged sites in Iran. Satellite images of Fordow, taken and distributed by Maxar Technologies, raise questions. The experts, news agency Reuters spoke to, looked at satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies and noted "unusual activity" at Fordow on Thursday and Friday, before the US attack. A long line of vehicles, waiting outside the facility entrance, is seen, indicating movement of the stockpile of near weapons-grade highly enriched uranium out of Fordow before the strike. A senior Iranian source told Reuters that most of the near weapons-grade 60% highly enriched uranium had been moved to an undisclosed location before the US strike. The "regime change" demand followed soon after the US declared Operation Midnight Hammer a success. In 1991, a bunker-buster bomb shattered Saddam's last hope. Thirty-four years later, the US hopes to do the same in Iran, but taking one step at a time - It starts with the destruction of underground nuclear facilities. Iran has not responded to US strikes, but its missile attacks on Israel continued.


India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Pakistan army chief Asim Munir leaked location of Iran's top commander to..., claim reports, gave smartwatch..., secretly met...
(Image: @NUQTA31) New Delhi: In the war between Israel and Iran, Pakistan is trying to show support to Iran by repeatedly making statements against Israel, but according to Iranian sources, Pakistan has stabbed Iran in the back. The name of Pakistani Army Chief and Field Marshal Asim Munir has surfaced in the murder of Iran's top commander Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, who was killed on June 13. He is accused of sharing the commander's location with America and Israel. Asim Munir's 'double game' Iranian sources claim that Pakistan is playing a double game in the war between Iran and Israel, it wants to maintain relations with both Iran and the West. Sources claim that before the murder of Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, Asim Munir met him at the end of May and also gifted him a smartwatch. Iranian media says that this smartwatch had a GPS tracker, which gave the Israeli army the location of Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, due to which it was able to attack him accurately. Two deputies of Mohammad Hussain Bakri were also killed in the attack on June 13. Asim Munir secretly met Donald Trump Sources also say that after meeting Mohammad Hussain Bakri, Asim Munir also secretly met US President Donald Trump. The conflict between Iran and Israel has been going on for about 10 days. According to the Iranian Health Ministry, more than 400 Iranian citizens have lost their lives in Israeli attacks so far, while 3,500 people have been injured. The dead also include top commanders of the Iranian army and nuclear scientists. On June 13, the Israeli army attacked Iran. It says that this step was taken to stop Iran from making nuclear weapons. After the attack, Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu had said that Iran is rapidly working on the nuclear programme and will make 10,000 ballistic missiles in three years. Expressing concern, he said what would happen if Iran fired these missiles on small Israel.