SOURCE: PTI

Scientists at ISRO on Sunday reaped another success with the LVM3-M3/OneWeb India-2 mission as the rocket used had a configuration similar to the one that would be used for human spaceflight in the ambitious Gaganyaan project.

The LVM3 rocket (formerly the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle Mk III), Indian Space Research Organisation’s heaviest launch vehicle so far, successfully placed 36 satellites of OneWeb into orbit, earlier in the day.

SOURCE: PTI

One person was injured when a Coast Guard helicopter crashed on Sunday just after takeoff from its enclave at the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) here, but the “presence of mind” of the pilot saved the lives of three persons onboard, a release said.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) said the ALH Mk III chopper CG 855, based in Kochi, took off from the enclave located inside CIAL complex at about 12.25 pm for “inflight checks after fitment of control rods” on the aircraft.

SOURCE: ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to spend around six hours with top military brass of the country in Bhopal where he will address and discuss with them the present and future security challenges faced by the country. During the Combined Commanders’ Conference scheduled to be held for three days from March 30 to April 1, the Prime Minister is also scheduled to witness the indigenous innovations in the field of defence during his presence there on the last day (April 1), Defence officials told ANI.

Among the top brass who will be present with the Prime Minister are Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan, Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande, navy chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar and Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari. The innovations to be showcased to the Prime Minister for around an hour will include technologies and products developed by both private sector firms as well as the ones developed by the personnel from the three defence forces, they said.

SOURCE: ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi timely intervention and the Indian government’s support in making available ISRO rockets paved the way for Sunday’s crucial launch of the final set of 36 satellites of OneWeb, the satellite telecom service provider company’s Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said. The Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications firm today launched the satellites on an ISRO LMV3 rocket from the Sriharikota space facility in Andhra Pradesh.

With this the total fleet of in-orbit first generation constellation of the London-based company has gone up to 618. These satellites are crucial for the company to be able to deliver broadband Internet coverage from space to any place on Earth. “We had a big setback with the Russia, Ukraine war as six launches of satellites, which were contracted and fully paid for, were taken out.

SOURCE: IANS

As Khalistani activists in Canada grab the headlines after the Amritpal Singh incident in Punjab, Ujjal Dosanjh, the former Premier of British Columbia, says, “They are playing a mindless game, with no purpose. It is just for gratification.”

Dosanjh, who was brutally attacked by Sikh radicals in Vancouver in 1986 at the height of terrorist violence in Punjab, says the Khalistan movement has no future. “There was a demonstration by 25,000 in Vancouver in June 1984, but now just 100 people show up at Khalistani demonstrations,” says Dosanjh.

SOURCE: UNI

China did not attend the G20 meeting in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, which was held on Sunday. According to official sources, more than 50 delegates, including some from the United States, attended the G20 Research Innovation Initiative Gathering.

It is unknown whether China has officially protested the meeting with India. So far, Beijing has backed India’s G20 presidency, and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang visited India earlier this month for the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting.

SOURCE: IANS

 As the US invests billions in local semiconductor manufacturing to end its dependence on China, the bonhomie between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin can be seen as an effort by Beijing to somehow negotiate on raw materials needed in semiconductor manufacturing.

Russia and Ukraine are major producers of two key materials used in semiconductor manufacturing – neon and palladium.

SOURCE: IANS

The Khalistan movement continues to evoke a level of sympathy from some Sikhs, particularly in Canada, the UK, and Australia. The Khalistan movement is outlawed in India and considered a grave national security threat by the government — a number of groups associated with the movement are listed as “terrorist organisations” under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Indian consulates in the United Kingdom and the United States have been vandalized by Amritpal Singh’s supporters who tore down the Indian flag, replacing it with the Khalistan emblem. Protests also broke out in Canada as the police search for him continues, CNN reported.

SOURCE: ANI

Bangladesh wants March 25 to be recognised as International Genocide Day and thus requests United Nations to take measures, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Saturday, according to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. On Saturday, Bangladesh PM presided over Awami League’s parliamentary board’s meeting at her official Ganabhaban residence and called upon the world community including the UN to recognise March 25 of 1971 as International Genocide Day.

In the meeting, she said, “The Pakistan occupation forces committed killings since this day (March 25, 1971). We want the 25th of March to be recognised as International Genocide Day. So, I urge the world including the United Nations to take measures.” Bangladesh PM further stated that the Pakistani occupation forces had resorted to attacks on unarmed Bangalees on the dreadful night of March 25 in 1971 and continued the killings for nine months.

SOURCE: UNI

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced that the state government has deployed additional security forces along the Indo-Myanmar border in response to recent reports of clashes between the Myanmar Army and the resistance group People’s Defence Force on the Myanmar side near the border.

To avoid untoward incidents, the Manipur Chief Minister informed the media that 24X7 foot patrolling has been increased, along with the deployment of additional forces of IRB, Police, and other security personnel along the border areas.

SOURCE: ANI

Punjab Police on Sunday arrested Balwant Singh, from Khanna city in Ludhiana district of Punjab, the man who had harboured radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh’s close aide Tejinder Singh Gill.

Khanna Police said that they have arrested Balwant Singh, the one who harboured Amritpal Singh’s close aide Tejinder Singh Gill. “His questioning is underway,” police said, adding that no connection between Amritpal Singh and Balwant Singh has been found yet.

SOURCE: IANS

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday conducted the first trial run on a track-mounted vehicle on the rail bridge over the Chenab river in J&K’s Reasi district – the world’s highest railway bridge.

The trial run marks a significant milestone in the completion of the Udhampur-Katra-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link, which will connect the Valley with the rest of the country by train in January 2024. The Chenab Bridge, which is a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project, is being anticipated as one of the most magnificent train journeys in the future. After the successful trial run of the track-mounted vehicle, the bridge will soon be operational.