Day: June 17, 2024

India’s Diplomatic Stand at Swiss Summit on Ukraine Peace

Manish Kumar

India abstained from signing Ukraine peace communique 83 states signed the joint communique Russia did not attend the Swiss summit India asserted its diplomatic position at the ‘High-Level Conference on Peace in Ukraine’ held in Switzerland, abstaining from signing the joint communique alongside other nations. This move underscored India’s emphasis on sincere and practical engagement between Russia and Ukraine as crucial for achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Here’s an expanded overview of India’s stance and the outcomes of the summit: Pavan Kapoor, Secretary in the Ministry of External…

Evaluating American Stryker Tanks: A Potential Game-Changer for India’s Army

Manish Kumar

India and the United States are currently engaged in advanced discussions aimed at jointly manufacturing the latest generation of Stryker Armoured Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs). This initiative forms a crucial part of a broader defence-industrial cooperation roadmap between the two nations, signaling a significant step towards enhancing India’s defence capabilities. Project Overview: The proposed project involves a phased implementation such as Initial procurement of Strykers through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program and Transition to joint production in India. Co-development of advanced variants tailored to Indian Army specifications. Operational…

EVM Controversy Continues Post-2024 Elections: Political Uproar and Elon Musk’s Intervention

Manish Kumar

Controversies over the 2024 Lok Sabha results persist, fueled by EVM tampering allegations and Elon Musk’s remarks. The Mumbai North West returning officer denied EVM manipulation claims, stating EVMs are self-contained and non-programmable, requiring no mobile OTP for unlocking. Rahul Gandhi criticized EVMs as “black boxes,” highlighting concerns about India’s electoral transparency and accountability. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, added to the discourse by advocating for the elimination of electronic voting machines, citing potential vulnerabilities to hacking by humans or AI. Former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar defended the…

Expansion Milestone: Adani Ports Receives Green Light for ₹45,000 Crore Mundra Project

Manish Kumar

Adani Ports & SEZ Set to Redefine India’s Maritime Landscape with ₹45,000 Crore Mundra Port Expansion. With this expansion, APSEZ aims to significantly enhance its operational capabilities, projecting to surpass 200 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo throughput at Mundra alone by FY25. Beyond maritime operations, Mundra is poised to become a hub for renewable energy manufacturing, with plans underway for the world’s largest facility of its kind. As APSEZ prepares to embark on this ambitious expansion journey, stakeholders anticipate substantial economic benefits, job creation, and heightened logistical efficiency. This…

18th Mumbai International Film Festival Showcases Global Diversity and Social Impact

Manish Kumar

Mumbai is currently abuzz with the 18th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF), a vibrant celebration of documentary, short fiction, and animation films from around the world. The festival, which commenced recently, is set to run for six days until June 21, featuring a rich tapestry of cinematic creations that span 61 languages. Today’s lineup at MIFF includes a diverse array of films such as “From The Shadows,” “Dipped In Black,” “Sunday Morning,” “House Of Existence,” “Ours,” “Sibuk,” “Flowering Man,” “Letter To A Pig,” and “the Box.” These films promise to…

Online Booking for Amarnath Yatra Helicopter Service Begins

Manish Kumar

The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has opened online bookings for helicopter services for this year’s 52-day-long Shri Amarnath Yatra. Pilgrims can now book their helicopter rides for both the Baltal and Pahalgam yatra routes through the official SASB website, JKSASB.nic.in. According to an SASB statement, the annual Amarnath pilgrimage will commence on June 29 and conclude on August 19, coinciding with the Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima festival. For the north Kashmir Baltal route, helicopter services will be available on the Neelgrath-Panjtarni-Neelgrath route. Similarly, for the Pahalgam route, the…

Assam CM Inaugurates Janata Bhawan Solar Project, Marking a Milestone in Green Energy

Manish Kumar

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the Janata Bhawan Solar Project, a 2.5-MW grid-connected rooftop and ground-mounted solar PV system, in a ceremony held in Guwahati on Sunday. This innovative project is set to generate an average of 300,000 units of electricity monthly, with an investment of 12.56 crore rupees expected to be recovered within four years. The monthly savings from the project are estimated to be approximately 30 lakh rupees. The successful launch of the Janata Bhawan Solar Project has positioned the Assam Secretariat Complex as the first-ever…

PM Modi’s Diplomatic Outreach and the Evolving India-Maldives Relations

Manish Kumar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended warm greetings to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on the occasion of Eid-Al-Adha. The relationship between India and the Maldives has seen fluctuations in recent years, influenced by geopolitical shifts and strategic alignments. President Muizzu’s attendance at PM Modi’s swearing-in ceremony was a  symbolic gesture reflecting a mutual desire to renew and deepen diplomatic engagements. The strategic significance of these interactions is heightened against the backdrop of increased Chinese engagement in the Maldives. On the military front, recent transitions of Indian military personnel in the Maldives…

Global Airlines Eye Expanding Opportunities in India’s Booming Travel Market

Manish Kumar

Turkish turns to partner airlines to boost India flights. Wizz Air aims to launch its first India flight in 2025. International passengers to grow to 160 million by 2030. Local carriers IndiGo, Air India expand with new planes. Aircraft lessor DAE says India demands “unlike” elsewhere. Global airlines are actively expanding their operations in India, betting on the country to emerge as one of the most vibrant travel markets in the coming decade. At the recent International Air Transport Association (IATA) summit in Dubai, India stood out as a focal…

Risk of EVM getting hacked is too high: Elon Musk

Manish Kumar

The CEO of Tesla and X, Elon Musk, has echoed the stance of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent candidate in the US presidential race, who has called for a return to paper ballots. Both Musk and Kennedy advocate for this change as a means to ensure the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. The push for paper ballots comes amid ongoing debates about the security and reliability of electronic voting systems. Elon Musk expressed support for eliminating electronic voting machines due to the risk of being hacked by…