UN chief appoints Indian-origin satellite expert as Director of UNOOSA
United Nations (PTI): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Indian-origin satellite industry expert Aarti Holla-Maini as Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in Vienna.
Holla-Maini of the United Kingdom will succeed Simonetta Di Pippo of Italy.
UNOOSA works to promote international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space and in the utilisation of space science and technology for sustainable economic and social development.
Holla-Maini brings to this position over 25 years of professional experience in the space sector including in managerial and advocacy functions.
Most recently, she has held the role of Executive Vice-President Sustainability, Policy & Impact at NorthStar Earth & Space. Prior to that, she spent over 18 years as the Secretary-General of the Global Satellite Operators Association, a statement issued here said on Monday.
Holla-Maini's experience includes service as a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Space; member of the Advisory Group of the Space Sustainability Rating managed by eSpace at the cole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) Space Center; member of the Advisory Board of the Satellite Industry Association of India; Senior Space Policy Advisor to Forum Europe and as Expert Advisor on Space Traffic Management for European Union studies 2021-2023.
She was also one of the chief architects of the Crisis Connectivity Charter established in 2015 for emergency telecommunications via satellite with the UN World Food Program's Emergency Telecommunications Cluster.
Holla-Maini holds a bachelor's degree in law with German law from Kings College London, UK, and a master's degree in business administration from HEC Paris, France.
She is also an alumna of the International Space University and speaks English, French, German and Punjabi and has moderate knowledge of Dutch.
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Seasoned politician who discharged responsibilities with sincerity: Cong condoles Ajit Pawar's death
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Wednesday condoled the death of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge saying he shall be remembered as a seasoned politician who discharged his responsibilities towards his people with sincerity and astuteness.
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi also condoled Pawar's demise.
"The news of the demise of Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar Ji and his fellow travellers in an airplane accident today is extremely heartbreaking. In this moment of grief, I stand with the people of Maharashtra. I extend my condolences to the entire Pawar family and their loved ones during this hour of sorrow," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.
Pawar and four other persons were killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Pune district on Wednesday morning, officials said.
The incident occurred when the plane carrying Pawar (66) and others landed near Baramati, they said.
In a post on X, Kharge said the news of the tragic demise of Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash, is deeply shocking and profoundly distressing.
"It is an untimely loss of a leader who had a long and promising political career ahead. No words can adequately express the immense grief that the bereaved family must be enduring during this difficult hour. I extend my deepest condolences to the entire Pawar family, his supporters and well-wishers," he said on X.
"Having served the people of Maharashtra in various constitutional capacities, Shri Ajit Pawar shall be remembered as a seasoned politician who discharged his responsibilities towards his people with sincerity and astuteness. May his soul rest in peace," Kharge said.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the news of the demise of Ajit Pawar and others in the horrific plane crash in Maharashtra is extremely heartbreaking.
"May God grant peace to the departed souls. Deepest condolences to revered Sharad Pawar Ji, Supriya Sule Ji and their entire family, and to the supporters of revered Ajit Pawar Ji," she said in a post in Hindi on X.
According to Flight Radar, the flight took off from Mumbai at 8.10 am and it disappeared from radar around 8.45 am.
Pawar was travelling to Baramati from Mumbai to address public meetings as part of the campaign for the February 5 zilla parishad elections in the state. There were five people on board when the aircraft crashed at 8.50 am, a police official said.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) posts, "The news of the tragic demise of Shri Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash, is deeply shocking and profoundly distressing. It is an untimely loss of a leader who had a long and promising political career ahead. No words can adequately… pic.twitter.com/XDbfbCihtG
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 28, 2026
LoP and Congress MP, Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) posts, "महाराष्ट्र के उप मुख्यमंत्री श्री अजित पवार जी और उनके सहयात्रियों की आज हवाई जहाज दुर्घटना में निधन का समाचार अत्यंत पीड़ादायक है। इस शोक के पल में महाराष्ट्र की जनता के साथ हूं। समस्त पवार परिवार और प्रियजनों को इस दुख… pic.twitter.com/wp80n1RYHp
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 28, 2026
VIDEO | On the demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in an aircraft crash, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, "This is very sad news. From our side, we extend our condolences and sympathies to the entire Pawar family and all their supporters. I have also… pic.twitter.com/A0OElhcGS9
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 28, 2026
