SOURCE: PTI

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla and his Axiom-4 crew have witnessed 230 sunrises onboard the International Space Station (ISS) and travelled nearly 100 lakh kms in space at the end of two weeks on the orbital laboratory.

The Axiom-4 crew, comprising Shukla, Peggy Whitson, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski and Tibor Kapu, also took their final off-duty day on the ISS, waiting for NASA to announce the date of return to Earth. The Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew has completed close to 230 orbits around Earth and travelled more than six million miles (96.5 lakh kms), an Axiom Space statement said.

SOURCE: UNI

The government today slammed the comments by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Ghana, terming them as “irresponsible and regrettable” and disassociated itself from the comments which it said “undermine India’s ties with friendly countries”.

The MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a statement tonight, said: “We have seen some comments made by a high state authority about India’s relations with friendly countries from the Global South. “These remarks are irresponsible and regrettable and do not behove the state authority.

SOURCE: IANS

A large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered on Thursday by the security forces during a CASO (Cordon & Search Operation) in J&K’s Poonch district. Officials said that based on specific intelligence inputs, a CASO was started by the security forces in the Khanetar Top area of Poonch district.

An official said that intelligence input had indicated a possible presence of a terror consignment in the area. “During the search, the joint team recovered two pistols along with two magazines, 24 rounds of 9mm ammunition, one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), six hand grenades, two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and an electronic set,” he said.

SOURCE: PTI

The DRDO has significantly advanced India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing, signing over 2,000 licensing agreements for technology transfer and issuing more than 200 production licenses in 2024, an official said on Wednesday.

The official also highlighted that over 130 industries have been identified as development partners or production agencies in the last five years, bolstering indigenous defence capabilities.

SOURCE: IANS

Indian Navy is all set to commission the first of the class Diving Support Vessel (DSV) Nistar at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam on 18 Jul 2025 in the presence of the Hon’ble Raksha Manti Shri Rajnath Singh. The event marks the formal induction of the ship which has been indigenously designed and constructed by M/s Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam. On commissioning, the ship will join the Eastern Naval Command to support deep sea diving and submarine rescue operations.

?The ship is a testament to the GoI’s resolute focus on nation building through self-reliance in defence production and unwavering focus on Aatmanirbharta. A total of 120 MSMEs have participated in the construction of this ambitious, unique and state-of-the-art vessel, achieving more than 80% indigenous content. The project is a step towards realising the Indian Navy’s vision of designing and constructing complex indigenous platforms.

SOURCE: UNI

After about two weeks aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew has completed close to 230 orbits around Earth and travelled more than 6 million miles. Commander Peggy Whitson, Indian Pilot Shubhanshu “Shux” Shukla, and Mission Specialists S?awosz “Suave” Uzna?ski-Wi?niewski and Tibor Kapu have concluded their final off-duty day today, Axiom Space said in its Flight Day #15 update.

From about 250 miles above Earth, the crew spent their downtime capturing images and video, taking in the view of our home planet below, and reconnecting with loved ones. These moments offer a rare pause in an otherwise rigorous daily schedule.

SOURCE: PTI

India on Wednesday highlighted recent maritime incidents involving foreign-flagged container vessels operating in Indian waters and urged the International Maritime Organization to review all such incidents, according to an official statement.

Shipping secretary TK Ramachandran, while participating in the 134th session of the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), said recent maritime incidents caused by undeclared hazardous cargoes have raised serious safety concerns.

SOURCE: UNI

After evading the police dragnet for 29 years, a key accused in the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts and communal murder cases arrested by the Tamil Nadu police in Karnataka today. The Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Tamil Nadu Police have arrested Sadiq @ Raja @ Tailor Raja @ Valarntha Raja @ Shahjahan Abdul Majid Makandar @ Shahjahan Shaik, who was a key accused in Coimbatore bomb blast case and communal murder cases across the State.

Official sources said, acting on specific and credible intelligence, a special team of ATS and Coimbatore City Police arrested the accused at Vijayapura district, Karnataka. The said accused is a native of Coimbatore, he has been absconding for the past 29 years and never been arrested since 1996.

SOURCE: PTI

Consultations are underway to draft guidelines for incentivising production of rare earth minerals and magnets to help India reduce dependence on China for these critical inputs used is sectors including telecom and EV, according to sources. Ministries of heavy industries and mines are working on a scheme to boost domestic production of rare earth magnets and minerals, they added. The scheme will be for both private sector as well as public sector undertakings.

In April this year, China, the world’s dominant exporter of rare earth magnets, imposed restriction on shipments of seven rare earth elements and finished magnets, mandating export licences. The revised framework demands detailed end-use disclosures and client declarations, including confirmation that the products will not be used in defence or re-exported to the US. India, which sourced over 80% of its 540 tonne of magnet imports from China last fiscal, has started to feel the impact.

SOURCE: PTI

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has said the next Dalai Lama will be from a free and democratic country and definitely not from China. He, however, said the process of selecting the next Dalai Lama starts only after an incumbent passes away and hoped and prayed the 14th Dalai Lama will live for another 40 years.

“In fact, as I said, His Holiness’ health is very good. And this time too — on the occasion of his 90th birthday celebration — His Holiness said that he will live to be around 130 years old. So we all pray and I am very hopeful that he will live to be 130,” Khandu said in an interview with PTI Videos on Tuesday.

SOURCE: PTI

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that there is an air of optimism about the revival of tourism in the Union Territory after the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people, mostly visitors, dead.

Speaking at a travel and tourism event here, Abdullah said there is hope for a new beginning in J&K with tourism “bouncing back” after the terror attack. “2025 is not an easy year for us. The year can be divided into two parts – before and after the Pahalgam attack. We all see that tourism is bouncing back in J&K. There is a message of hope,” Mr Abdullah said. People of West Bengal are with J&K, he said, adding that the relationship between the two regions transcends over time in the context of “trust and affection”. “West Bengal stood with J&K both politically and economically. We offer adventure and destination tourism. On the ground, there is an air of hope of a new beginning,” the chief minister said.

SOURCE: PTI

In line with the steps to modernise the Army’s artillery regiments and enhance operational readiness, indigenously-made Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) will replace the vintage and smaller calibre guns, with the Defence Ministry on Wednesday calling the project an ‘exemplary mission mode success’. ATAGS is designed by Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune, a laboratory of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). The ministry shared a post on X along with a video showcasing ATAGS, whose maximum range is 48 km.

‘We started this project in the year 2012. And, within a span of 12 years, we could complete the total process of design to manufacturing, testing and induction,’ said ARDE Director A Raju in the recorded video. The key features are its quite advance system, he said, adding, ARDE is playing a crucial rule in ‘Atmanirbharta of our nation’. Earlier on March 26, the Defence Ministry had signed contracts with Bharat Forge Limited and Tata Advanced System Limited for the procurement of 155mm/52 Calibre Advanced Towed Artillery Gun Systems (ATAGS) and High Mobility Vehicle 6×6 Gun Towing Vehicles respectively at a total cost of about Rs 6,900 crore. The 155 mm/52 calibre ATAGS will replace the vintage and smaller calibre guns and enhance the artillery capabilities of the Indian Army.

SOURCE: IANS

In a tragic incident, a Jaguar fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Bhanuda village in Rajasthan’s Churu district on Wednesday, resulting in the demise of two pilots.

Confirming this tragic incident, the Indian Air Force on X said, “An IAF Jaguar Trainer aircraft met with an accident during a routine training mission and crashed near Churu in Rajasthan.” Minutes after the incident, social media was flooded with footage claiming that the pilots had died. “Both pilots sustained fatal injuries in the accident,” said the IAF and clarified that “No damage to any civil property has been reported.”

SOURCE: PTI

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will make public this week its preliminary report on the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad in which at least 260 people were killed on June 12, top Bureau officials told a Parliamentary panel on Wednesday.

Sources also said that no report has been finalised so far and investigations are under way in one of the worst air disasters in India. The AAIB officials told the panel that the black box and voice recorder of the aircraft were intact and data was being investigated, the sources said.

SOURCE: Australian Air Force

Flying from the city of Goa on India’s west coast, Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon crews have stretched their wings alongside their Indian Navy counterparts.

In June, a RAAF P-8A Poseidon and contingent deployed to Indian Naval Station (INS) Hansa, located near the city of Goa. The deployment follows previous deployments by RAAF P-8As to airfields in India, including to Goa in 2022, and deployments by Indian P-8Is to Australia.