India
Maradona's stolen watch recovered in India
Believe it or not, Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona's stolen limited edition Hublot wrist watch has been recovered by police in India.
The watch worth around two million Indian rupees that was stolen from Dubai was, in fact, found in the possession of a resident in the northeastern state of Assam this morning. The accused recently returned to India from Dubai, where he worked.
State Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to Twitter to announce the recovery.
Also read: Diego Maradona: A year without the Argentine Legend
"In an act of international cooperation @assampolice has coordinated with @dubaipoliceHQ through Indian federal LEA to recover a heritage @Hublot watch belonging to legendary footballer Late Diego Maradona and arrested one Wazid Hussein. Follow up lawful action is being taken," he tweeted.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of football, Maradona was popular as "The Golden Boy" of the sport. Maradona who played in four FIFA World Cup died in November last year.
Also read: For Napoli fans, the team is a religion and Maradona is god
India bids emotional farewell to military chief
India on Friday bid an emotional farewell to the country's first military chief General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other armed forces personnel who died in a chopper crash in the southern state of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
In Delhi, the 63-year-old Chief of Defence Staff and his wife Madhulika were cremated with full military honours this evening, as political leaders cutting across party lines, senior Indian defence officials as well as top military commanders from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal thronged the Brar Square crematorium to pay silent tribute to the departed souls.
Read: India orders tri-services probe into military chief's chopper crash
The bodies of General Rawat and his wife were laid side by side on the same funeral pyre that was lit by their two daughters, Kritika and Tarin, as per Hindu tradition. Some 800 Indian defence personnel witnessed the funeral, which was telecast live on all Indian channels.
The bodies of the 13 chopper crash victims were brought to the Indian capital on Thursday night on a special Air Force transport aircraft. After the plane landed at Palam airport, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and top military officials paid tributes to the departed souls in a brief ceremony.
General Rawat, a four-star General, was on his way to deliver a lecture at Defence Services Staff College in Wellington when the Mi-17 V5 chopper crashed in the hilly terrain of the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu's Coonoor district and burst into flames around noon on Wednesday. Of a total of 14 people on board the ill-fated chopper, 13 were charred to death.
Read:India's first military chief among 13 dead in chopper crash
The lone survivor of the crash -- senior Air Force officer Group Captain Varun Singh -- was on Thursday evening airlifted to a state-of-the-art military hospital in the neighbouring state of Karnataka's capital Bengaluru from a medical facility in Wellington.
The Indian government on Thursday only ordered a tri-services probe -- an investigation by the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force -- into the chopper crash. "The investigation will be led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh (Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command)," the Defense Minister told the Indian Parliament.
General Rawat has had a chequered career in the armed forces spanning over 40 years, rising from the rank of a junior commissioned officer to the Indian Army chief and eventually the first head of the tri-services. He reported directly to the Indian Prime Minister.
India orders tri-services probe into military chief's chopper crash
India on Thursday ordered a tri-services probe into Wednesday's chopper crash that claimed the lives of the country's first military chief, General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and 11 other armed forces personnel.
Tri-services probe means an investigation by the three branches of the military -- the Indian Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.
“The Indian Air Force has ordered a tri-service inquiry into the military chopper crash. The investigation will be led by Air Marshal Manavendra Singh (Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Training Command)," Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh told the Parliament.
Read: India's first military chief among 13 dead in chopper crash
Meanwhile, the lone survivor of the crash in the southern state of Tamil Nadu -- senior Air Force officer Group Captain Varun Singh -- was airlifted to a state-of-the-art military hospital in the neighbouring state of Karnataka's capital Bengaluru from a medical facility.
"Group Captain Singh is on life support and all efforts are being made to save him," the Defence Minister said.
The 63-year-old Chief of Defence Staff was on his way to deliver a lecture at Defence Services Staff College in Wellington when the Mi-17 V5 chopper crashed in the hilly terrain of the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu's Coonoor district and burst into flames on Wednesday noon.
Read: FM shocked at India's military chief's death in chopper crash
"With deep regret, it has now been ascertained that Gen Bipin Rawat, Mrs Madhulika Rawat (wife) and 11 other persons on board have died in the unfortunate accident," the Air Force tweeted last evening after day-long DNA tests confirmed the identities of the bodies.
Moments later, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, the supreme commander of the armed forces, tweeted to say that "the nation has lost one of its bravest sons". Prime Minister Modi, on his part, described the four-star General as "an outstanding soldier".
General Rawat has had a chequered career in the armed forces spanning over 40 years, rising from the rank of a junior commissioned officer to the Indian Army chief and eventually the first head of the tri-services. He reported directly to the Indian Prime Minister.
India reiterates concern on terrorist entities gaining access to chemical weapons
India on Wednesday reiterated its concern regarding the possibility of terrorist groups and individuals gaining access to chemical weapons at the United Nations Security Council briefing on Syria (Chemical weapons).
The remarks came from Prathik Mathur, Counsellor in India's Permanent Mission to UN, during the UNSC briefing, reports ANI.
"India has been repeatedly cautioning against the possibility of terrorist entities and individuals gaining access to chemical weapons," Mathur said adding that India attaches high importance to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), and stands for its full, effective and non-discriminatory implementation.
Read: India successfully test-fires air-launched version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile
The CWC Convention is aimed to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of chemical weapons by States Parties, an official statement informed.
During his address to the UNSC, Mathur also said that India is against the use of chemical weapons under any circumstances.
"India is against the use of chemical weapons by anybody, anywhere, at any time and under any circumstances," Mathur said.
"We've consistently maintained that any probe into use of chemical weapons must be impartial, credible and objective," he added.
Read: India's first military chief among 13 dead in chopper crash
The Indian Counsellor also urged Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and Syria to work constructively in the matter.
Meanwhile, a Chemical Weapon is a chemical used to cause intentional death or harm through its toxic properties.
Munitions, devices and other equipment specifically designed to weaponize toxic chemicals also fall under the definition of chemical weapons, OPCW informed on its website.
India successfully test-fires air-launched version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile
Air launched version of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired from the supersonic fighter aircraft Sukhoi 30 MK-I from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on Wednesday.
In this copy book flight, the missile launched from the aircraft followed the pre-planned trajectory meeting all mission objectives, read a press statement from the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday, reports ANI.
Read:India's first military chief among 13 dead in chopper crash
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has praised Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), BrahMos, Indian Air Force and the industry on the successful test firing.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the launch is a major milestone in the BrahMos development as it paves the way for the serial production of air-version BrahMos missiles within the country. Major airframe assemblies which form the integral part of the Ramjet Engine are indigenously developed by Indian Industry. These include metallic and non-metallic air frame sections comprising Ramjet fuel tank and pneumatic fuel supply system.
Various laboratories of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), academic institutions, quality assurance & certification agencies, Public Sector undertakings and Indian Air Force participated in the development, testing, production and induction of this complex missile system.
Read: India's military chief feared dead in chopper crash
During the test, the structural integrity and functional performance have been proven. The air version of BrahMos was last flight tested in July 2021.
BrahMos is a Joint Venture between India (DRDO) and Russia (NPOM) for the development, production and marketing of the supersonic cruise missile. BrahMos is the potent offensive missile weapon system already inducted into the Armed Forces.
FM shocked at India's military chief's death in chopper crash
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has expressed deep shock at the death of India's Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, his wife Madhulika Rawat and other co-passengers in a chopper crash in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
India's top military commander, his wife and 11 others died after the Mi-17V5 helicopter came down in the hilly terrain of the Nilgiris in the state's Coonoor district and burst into flames on Wednesday morning.
READ: Border killings remain an irritant, FM Momen tells Shringla
"I'm deeply shocked and saddened," Dr Momen said in a condolence message forwarded to his Indian counterpart Dr S Jaishankar.
On behalf of the government of Bangladesh and on his own behalf, the Foreign Minister conveyed deepest condolences to the bereaved family members of General Rawat and other deceased, and the people of India.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and their near and dear ones. May they have the strength to bear with the irreparable losses," the message reads.
READ: Dhaka, Delhi created model relations, says FM terming Dec 6 a historic day
Bipin Rawat, 63, was appointed as India's first chief of defence staff in January 2019.
General Rawat has had a chequered career in the armed forces spanning over 40 years, rising from the rank of a junior commissioner officer to the Indian Army chief and eventually the first head of the tri-services – the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force.
India's first military chief among 13 dead in chopper crash
India's first military chief General Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 other armed forces personnel were killed in a chopper crash in the southern state of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.
The 63-year-old decorated Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) was on his way to deliver a lecture at the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington when the ill-fated Mi-17 V5 helicopter crashed just before landing around 11.45am in the hilly terrain of the Nilgiris in the state's Coonoor district and burst into flames.
A senior Air Force officer accompanying the four-star General survived the fatal crash but sustained severe burn injuries. He has been identified as Group Capt Varun Singh, who is currently under treatment at the Military Hospital in Wellington.
Read: India's military chief feared dead in chopper crash
Bangladesh-India border: Shringla says small issues can be resolved through BGB-BSF talks
Visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Wednesday said some small issues happening along the Bangladesh-India border can be settled through holding meetings between the border forces of the two countries.
“Bangladesh and India have settled all major issues through discussions; some small incidents happening along the border between the two countries can be solved through holding meetings between BGB and BSF,” Shringla said when he met Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban.
PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
“We want this issue to be resolved,” he quoted the Indian Foreign Secretary as saying.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also agreed with Shringla, said Karim.Covid Issue
The Indian Foreign Secretary said normalcy is coming back in India after the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic setback.
Read: Border killings remain an irritant, FM Momen tells Shringla
Shringla said all are alert and aware about the Omicron variant of Covid-19 as 21 cases have been detected so far in India.
Covid-19 has mutated 15 times before transforming into Omicron variant, said Shringla adding that the variant has been detected in many countries in Europe apart from African countries.
He conveyed the greetings of Indian Prime Minister Modi to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Hasina also greeted her Indian counterpart through the Indian Foreign Secretary.
The Indian Foreign Secretary appreciated the economic progress of Bangladesh despite the Covid-19 pandemic and said there is good growth in India as well.
Hyundai plans ₹4,000 crore EV push for a new age fleet in India
Hyundai Motor India will invest ₹4,000 crore to launch half a dozen electric vehicles (EV) by 2028 in a series of targeted product interventions, underscoring increasing consumer preference in the country for mobility solutions of the future. The first of these products, eventually covering both mass and premium segments, will hit Indian roads as early as next year, reports The Economic Times.
Hyundai Motor India managing director SS Kim told ET that high-speed electrification of the automotive sector has become a reality, with the share of EVs rising to as high as a fifth of the total in several markets.
"I think India might be having the same situation in the near future," said Kim. "Our six battery EVs will cover various segments. Our future electric vehicle business should outperform... existing performance in the general (internal combustion engine) market."
Read: Fair Technology begins journey with Hyundai
Hyundai's decision to invest significantly in the EV space comes at a time when market leader Maruti Suzuki NSE 1.30 % has said it will introduce an electric vehicle in the local market only when there is sufficient customer demand - possibly by 2025. Tata Motors, which currently leads the EV sales tally in India, has outlined plans to introduce 10 new electric vehicles in this period.
Hyundai has a share of 16-17% in the local passenger vehicle market, but scores high on profitability with the midsized Hyundai i20, Venue and Creta.
Kim said EVs are not mass products in mature markets.
Over 129 crore Covid vaccine doses administered in India so far, says government
The cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 129 crore on Tuesday, the Union Health Ministry said.
Over 66 lakh vaccine doses were administered on Tuesday till 7 pm, it said.
According to the ministry, the daily vaccination tally is expected to increase with the compilation of the final reports for the day by late in the night, reports The Economic Times.
The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers getting inoculated in the first phase. The vaccination of frontline workers started from February 2.
Read: Bangladesh, India to largely drive future prosperity of S Asia region: US
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced from March 1 for people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.
India launched vaccination for all people aged more than 45 years from April 1. The government then decided to expand its vaccination drive by allowing everyone above 18 to be vaccinated from May 1.