Air Chief Marshal AP Singh has raised serious concerns about the ongoing delays in the delivery of the Tejas fighter aircraft, calling for an urgent boost in private sector partnerships for defence product development. Speaking at the 21st Subroto Mukherjee Seminar, Singh emphasized that R&D in defence becomes irrelevant if it doesn't meet its timelines, pointing out how the Tejas project, conceived in 1984, still faces delays. Despite its induction into the Indian Air Force in 2016,

India strongly condemned the Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan civilians, which resulted in at least 51 deaths, including women and children, in Afghanistan’s Paktika province on December 24. In a statement on Monday, Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned the attack, describing it as part of Pakistan's longstanding practice of blaming its neighbors for its internal problems. The airstrikes targeted areas in Paktika, particularly affecting the village of Laman,

The polar vortex, a powerful atmospheric phenomenon, is expected to cause a dramatic shift in weather patterns across the eastern United States. As the vortex weakens and shifts southward, frigid Arctic air will move down into the country, bringing temperatures that could plunge as much as 30 degrees below normal. This extreme cold event will be one of the harshest in recent years, especially compared to the record warmth seen during last year's winter. The cold air will first a

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has launched its recruitment drive for 89 Junior Assistant (Fire Services) positions across India. Candidates interested in applying for these positions must meet the educational qualifications, which include being a 10th pass with a three-year approved diploma in Mechanical, Automobile, or Fire disciplines, or having completed their 12th standard (regular study). The online registration for the recruitment will close on January 28, 2025, and applicants ca

As the US tourism industry struggles to return to pre-pandemic levels, the hospitality sector has found hope in the rising number of Indian visitors. In 2024, nearly 1.9 million Indians traveled to the US, marking a 48% increase from 2019, driven by a rise in business and leisure visas. This influx is supporting the recovery of US tourism, with hotels and travel companies adjusting their offerings to cater to Indian tastes, such as providing chai and samosas in hotel lobbies and airing popula

In South Korea's deadliest air disaster, a Jeju Air passenger jet, Flight 7C2216, crashed during its landing attempt at Muan International Airport on Sunday, resulting in 179 fatalities. The crash occurred after a series of events, starting with a bird strike reported by the pilot as the flight was approaching the airport. According to the final timeline of the flight, the aircraft was cleared by air traffic control at 8:54 am to land on runway 01. However, just minutes later, a

On Christmas, an Embraer 190 aircraft operated by Azerbaijan Airlines crashed near Aktau city in Kazakhstan, leading to the deaths of 38 people out of the 67 on board. The flight had originally departed from Baku, Azerbaijan, headed for Grozny, Russia, but was diverted when it was unable to land in Grozny due to dense fog. The aircraft, rerouted over the Caspian Sea, crashed in an open field near Aktau after encountering difficulties. 29 passengers survived the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines, in

Nepal's tourism industry, which saw a post-pandemic resurgence with over a million foreign visitors this year, continues to grow, attracting tourists with unique experiences like the recently held hot-air balloon festival. The event, organized by Sabin Maharjan and his team, featured more than 10 countries participating in the thrilling balloon flights. The stunning views of the snow-capped Annapurna range, mountains, lakes, and rolling hills provided an unforgettable experience for the p

In response to Russia's Christmas Day attack on Ukrainian cities and its energy infrastructure, President Joe Biden has instructed the U.S. Defense Department to maintain its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine. Biden condemned Russia’s actions, which were aimed at disrupting Ukraine’s power supply and endangering the country’s energy grid during the harsh winter. The attack, which involved cruise and ballistic missiles as well as drones, is part of Russia’s ong

The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in 2014, with 239 people on board, remains one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history. The Boeing 777, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, vanished after its last transmission at 40 minutes into the flight. Military radar showed it veering off course and flying back over Malaysia before heading south into the Indian Ocean. Despite extensive searches, no wreckage was found, and the mystery of its final location persists. A

At Chennai Airport, an Air India cabin crew member was arrested for helping a passenger smuggle 1.7 kg of gold. The incident occurred when the flight from Dubai landed on Sunday. Customs officials intercepted the passenger and the crew member after the passenger admitted to handing over the gold during the flight. Upon searching the crew member, officials found the gold concealed in the undergarments, l

Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes on military targets in Syria after Israeli troops seized a buffer zone, previously established after the 1973 Middle East war. The military said it would deploy forces in additional locations essential for Israel’s defense, though it denied advancing toward Damascus. On the same day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testified in his long-running corruption trial, denying charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust. Netanyahu called the charge

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has criticized the Union Government for delaying financial assistance to Wayanad, which was severely affected by landslides in July. Nearly 400 people were killed in the disaster, and despite 100 days passing since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the affected villages, the state has not received any financial aid for rehabilitation. The Centre has been swift in helping other disaster-hit states, but Kerala’s requests for aid have been

In recent developments, Israeli airstrikes have killed at least six people in the Gaza Strip, further intensifying the ongoing conflict. Simultaneously, Russia has granted asylum to Syrian President Bashar Assad as his regime faces an uncertain future following a series of upheavals. The U.N. Security Council has scheduled emergency consultations to address the Syrian crisis, with calls for war crimes accountability and a smooth political transition. The U.N. human rights chief, Volker Tü

In response to improved air quality in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has eased pollution curbs. The CAQM announced the revocation of Stage-4 and Stage-3 measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the entire NCR, effective immediately. This decision comes after the Supreme Court allowed the relaxation, following consistent improvement in the air quality index (AQI) since November 29, with AQI levels falling below 300. Howev

Bharti Airtel Ltd. has emerged as the leader in India’s telecom sector, gaining market share over the past 12 months following tariff hikes implemented earlier. According to the latest data from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the country’s mobile sector saw a 14% year-on-year revenue growth, totaling Rs 2.69 lakh crore. During this period, Bharti Airtel reported the highest revenue growth of 19%, while Vodafone Idea Ltd. and Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd.

The Supreme Court of India has reprimanded the National Capital Region (NCR) states, including Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, for failing to pay compensation to construction workers after air pollution led to a halt in construction activities. The court emphasized that action only begins when it summons top officers and demanded proof of payments made to the workers. Despite its orders, none of the states had shown evidence of compensation. The court has now asked the

On Sunday, fierce fighting continued between Israel and Hezbollah, with Israel striking Hezbollah’s stronghold in southern Beirut. In retaliation, Hezbollah launched one of its largest attacks in months, firing around 250 rockets into Israel, wounding at least seven people. Israeli air defenses intercepted some of the rockets, but others caused damage to houses, including in the Tel Aviv area. Hezbollah also claimed responsibility for launching a swarm of attack drones targeti

At the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, China presented a range of cutting-edge military technology, reaffirming its growing strength in defense and its ambition to be a global leader in military innovation. The biennial event, which attracts industry leaders and military experts from around the world, was a key platform for China to display new advancements in weapons, aircraft, and naval systems. Among the highlights was the J35-A Stealth Fighter, China's second stealth fighter after the

More than 100 passengers of an Air India flight, scheduled to fly from Phuket to New Delhi on November 16, have been stranded for over 80 hours due to ongoing technical issues. According to multiple social media posts from passengers, the flight was initially delayed by six hours due to a technical fault. After waiting for hours, passengers were told to board the plane, only to be deboarded an hour later when the flight was canceled. The airline allegedly prepped the same plane for