SOURCE: IANS

Lok Sabha member and president of Awami Itihad Party (AIP) Engineer Rashid on Monday appealed to all regional mainstream political parties of Jammu and Kashmir not to stake claim to government formation unless statehood is restored.

Addressing a media conference in Srinagar, Engineer Rashid said, “Irrespective of which political party or a group of political parties get a majority after tomorrow’s counting of votes, I would appeal to all mainstream political parties including the National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Conference (PC) and J&K Apni Party to rise above party politics and unite in the larger interest of the people who voted for them.”

SOURCE: ANI

The Indian Air Force proved its capability to strike down Chinese spy balloon type targets at a very high altitude of 55,000 plus feet along the eastern front recently. In early 2023, the US government had used a fifth generation F-22 Raptor fighter jet to shoot down a Chinese spy balloon over the sea. The IAF had been holding discussions on the issue of tackling the challenge posed by such balloons which fly at very altitude and also held discussions with the American Air Force last year Defence sources told ANI that the Indian Air Force used a Rafale fighter jet to shoot down a Chinese spy balloon type target over the area of responsibility of the Eastern Air Command a few months ago.

The force used a relatively smaller balloon in size than the Chinese spy balloon which was shot down by the US Air Force. The balloon was released in air with some payload tied to it and it was then shot down using an inventory missile at an altitude of over 55,000 feet, they said.

SOURCE: PTI

India will be among the leading exporters of defence equipment in ten years, and the imports will come down to five to ten per cent, DRDO chairman Samir V Kamat said here on Saturday. Kamat said the country’s defence imports have been decreasing, and out of the capital acquisition budget last year, nearly 90 per cent was used on indigenous systems.

Kamat was speaking at Chhatrapati Shahu College of Engineering, where he inaugurated the Defence Innovation Challenge for Excellence (DICE) organised by the Marathwada Accelerator for Growth and Incubation Council (MAGIC).

SOURCE: PTI

After powering ISRO’s space missions for more than five decades, India’s largest engineering firm Larsen and Toubro has now set its eyes on the international market, particularly the next International Space Station.

L&T was earlier in talks with Jeff Bezo’s Blue Origin for supplying orbital launch capabilities and space habitat solutions but the negotiations ran into some difficulties. “Some remnants of that discussion continue till today but now with NASA. So, we are also hopeful that when the US requires its next space station, Indian firms will have a role to play in the supply chain,” Vikas Khita, Vice President, L&T Precision Engineering and Systems, told PTI.

SOURCE: PTI

In a first, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCIL) will operate 220 MW capacity small nuclear plants for private players who will provide both funding and land for the project, a senior government official has said.

A development on this front is likely by this year-end or early 2025, the official told PTI. “The funding and land for the nuclear plant will be made available by the private player but the plant will be managed by NPCIL,” the official said.

SOURCE: PTI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday took a critical view of the United Nations, saying it was “like an old company”, not entirely keeping up with the market but occupying the space. During an interaction at the Kautilya Economic Conclave here, he also said that two very serious conflicts are going on in the world. “And where is the UN on them, essentially a bystander,” the minister said.

In response to a query on the possible outcome of the US elections, he said the US actually has “made a shift”, geopolitically and in its economic outlook, and irrespective of the outcomes in November, many of these trends will “intensify” in the days to come.

SOURCE: IANS

External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar on Sunday said that artificial intelligence (AI) will be a profound factor for the world, after nuclear weapons.

Participating in the third edition of the Kautilya Economic Conclave, organised by the Institute of Economic Growth and the Finance Ministry, on its third and final day, S Jaishankar said that AI is going to be the next big thing and countries should be prepared to deal with its after-effects.

SOURCE: ANI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday greeted Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, who arrived in New Delhi for his first bilateral visit to India. S Jaishankar expressed appreciation for Mr Muizzu’s commitment to strengthening the India-Maldives relationship. He also expressed confidence that Mr Muizzu’s talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi will bring a new boost to their friendly ties.

Sharing pictures with Mr Muizzu, S Jaishankar on X wrote, “Pleased to call on President Mohamed Muizzu today at the start of his State Visit to India.”

SOURCE: PTI

Five spectators died, and 230 others were hospitalised due to dehydration at an air show in Chennai, held to celebrate the 92nd anniversary of the Indian Air Force, authorities stated. The air show, intended to be a thrilling display of the Indian Air Force’s aerial prowess, turned tragic as the combination of high temperatures and overcrowding overwhelmed attendees.

Lakhs of people were left stranded in Chennai after the grand air show came to standstill due to poor coordination by traffic authorities. Several parts of the city witnessed similar occurrences as the massive crowd, gathered at Marina Beach, struggled to disperse after the event.

SOURCE: PTI

A leader of jailed former premier Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has said that the party plans to “invite” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to join its protests here, triggering a sharp response from the ruling coalition on Saturday. Mr Jaishankar will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Council of Heads of Government (SCO-CHG) meeting in Pakistan on October 15 and 16.

Muhammad Ali Saif, an advisor on information to the chief minister of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province ruled by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, invited Mr Jaishankar to participate in the ongoing protests while speaking on a Geo News programme late on Friday night.

SOURCE: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meetings with the top leaders of Russia and Ukraine were “the beginnings of a communication process” between two countries engaged in a serious conflict that has had enormous consequences, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday.

In an interactive session at The Conclave 2024 organised by news channel Pratidin Time, Jaishankar said Prime Minister Modi was one of the very few world leaders who has the “ability” to speak to both the leaders, who “trust” him.

SOURCE: ISRO

In a historic move, on September 18, 2024, the Union Cabinet of the Government of India has accorded approval for two significant space science missions, viz. the Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM) to study different facets of Venus including its surface and atmosphere.

The importance of the recently-approved Venus Orbiter Mission lies in the fact that globally it is going to impact the Venusian science. Despite sending several space missions globally, Venus retains its enigma. Early missions in the 1960s and 1970s by NASA and the Soviet Union revealed Venus’s scorching surface temperature and dense atmosphere. These missions provided initial insights into the planet’s atmospheric composition, surface features, and magnetic environment. Later missions in the 1970s and 1980s, such as Pioneer Venus and Vega, expanded our understanding of Venus’s atmosphere, including its composition, circulation, and interaction with the Sun.

SOURCE: ANI

Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman assured the Hindu community on Saturday to provide security ahead of Durga Puja. The assurance came while he was visiting Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka to review the security measures taken for Durga Puja celebrations. During the visit, the army chief extended greetings to all Hindus on the occasion of Durga Puja, the biggest religious festival of Bangladeshi Hindus.

He engaged in discussions with key stakeholders, including the Metropolitan Puja Committee and the President of Bangladesh Puja Celebration Parishad.

SOURCE: IANS

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu arrived in New Delhi late Sunday afternoon on a five-day state visit – his first since assuming office – at the invitation of President Droupadi Murmu. During the visit, he is scheduled to hold high-level meetings with President Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior officials of the Indian government.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar will call on the visiting dignitary later in the evening with a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan scheduled for Monday.

SOURCE: PTI

A spectacular aerial display showcasing the prowess and manoeuvrability of the Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft over the iconic Marina sky captivated the hearts of Chennaiites who turned up in thousands on a sultry Sunday and witnessed the IAF’s range of new aircraft including Rafale, roar in action.

Enthusiastic families gathered on the sands of the Marina beach, many holding umbrellas to shield themselves from the blazing sun, ahead of 11 am when the air show commenced with the Special Garud Force commandos of the IAF displaying their daring skills in a simulated rescue operation and in freeing the hostage.