Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Home Blog Page 7

HAL to Hand Over Tejas Twin-Seaters, HTT-40 Trainers to IAF

Bengaluru, Sept 17 (NVI): Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will hand over LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance (FOC) twin-seater trainer aircraft and HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, and Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited on Friday, in a ceremony to be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu.

The handover ceremony will be held in Bengaluru on September 18 and is being projected as a significant milestone in India’s efforts to strengthen indigenous aerospace manufacturing capabilities.

The event will showcase the role of HAL and its industry partners in expanding the domestic aerospace ecosystem and developing and manufacturing advanced platforms for both military and civil applications, according to the company.

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar, Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and HAL Chairman and Managing Director Ravi K, among other senior officials, are expected to attend the event.

Officials from the Defence Ministry, Ministry of Civil Aviation, IAF, Pawan Hans, regulatory agencies and stakeholders from the aerospace and defence sectors will also be present.

The government has been giving priority to indigenous design, development and manufacturing in the aerospace and defence sectors.

The induction and handover of the aircraft and helicopters are part of efforts to strengthen domestic capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign sources.—(NVI)

India reacts to US 100% tariffs move, says it will ‘continue’ to ensure energy security

India Responds to Trump’s ‘Hell-Hole’ Remark: MEA Issues Statement
External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal (file pic)

New Delhi, Sept 17 (NVI) Hours after the US House of Representatives passed a bill that provides for 100% tariffs if India buys Russian oil, the Government here said it will “continue” to ensure energy security of its people “through diversified sourcing and on the basis of evolving market dynamics”.

In a statement, External Affairs Ministry said the issue of India’s oil trade with Russia has been discussed at high levels in recent months with various US interlocutors.

“Its potential implications for not just the bilateral relationship but also the international energy market have been very clearly articulated by the Indian side,” it said.

India is currently Russia’s top buyers of seaborne crude, and the new legislation empowers the US president to impose unprecedented duties as penalties.

However, Indian refiners have already been leaning on the US, Brazil, Canada, Venezuela, and Africa for additional and more varied supplies to diversify their purchases.

The Indian reaction came hours after the US House of Representatives passed the Lindsay O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 Bill with 262-159 vote.

The proposed legislation was passed by the US Senate last month and will now go to President Donald Trump to be signed into law.

The package seeks to reduce the financial resources sustaining Russia’s war against Ukraine.

It targets Russian officials, banks, energy interests, and foreign entities supporting Moscow’s military operations.

It authorises Trump to impose tariffs up to 100 per cent, on China, India, and other countries to cut their dependence on Russian oil and gas. (NVI)

8 Labourers Injured as Tata Mobile Hits Electric Pole in Srinagar

Jalgaon

Srinagar, Sep 17 (NVI) Eight labourers were injured after the Tata Mobile vehicle they were travelling in collided with an electric pole in the Pirbagh area of Srinagar on Thursday, officials said.

The injured were brought to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar for treatment. Three of them were stated to be in critical condition, while the others were reported to be stable, officials said.

The injured have been identified as Zahoor Ahmad, 27, Nair Ahmad Kumar, 19, Ajaz Ahmad Sheikh, 26, Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat, 16, Tanveer Ahmad Khan, 19, Shahmeem Ahmad Khan, 25, Mohd Qasim Sheikh, 27, and Kaisar Ahmed Teli, 19.

Further details were awaited.—(NVI)

Two terrorists killed in joint operation in J&K’s Udhampur: Army

File Photo

Shivam Bakshi

Jammu, September 17 (NVI): Two terrorists were killed in a joint intelligence-based operation in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army said on Thursday.

The operation was launched by troops of the White Knight Corps along with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF in the general area of Brattal during the intervening night of September 16 and 17 following confirmed inputs about the presence of terrorists, the Army said.

Despite adverse weather conditions, difficult terrain and poor visibility, the security forces carried out the targeted operation and neutralised two terrorists, it said.

Search and surveillance operations are continuing in the area, while security forces remain deployed to track down any remaining threat, the Army said.

Further details are awaited.—(NVI)

Kabul Gali Receives First Snowfall of Season in North Kashmir

Bandipora, Sep 17 (NVI) The higher reaches of Gurez Valley in north Kashmir witnessed the season’s first snowfall, with Kabul Gali in the Tulail Valley receiving a fresh layer of snow amid a sharp drop in temperatures, officials said.

The snowfall covered the mountainous terrain of Kabul Gali in white, giving the high-altitude area a wintry appearance and marking an early transition towards colder weather in the region.

Kabul Gali, located in the upper reaches of Tulail Valley, is among the areas of Gurez that receive snowfall relatively early in the season.

The fresh snowfall also added to the scenic landscape of Tulail, known for its rugged mountains and high-altitude terrain.

Officials advised residents and travellers to remain cautious while moving through mountainous areas as temperatures can fall rapidly following snowfall.

The snowfall has renewed attention on the approaching winter in Gurez, one of the higher and remote regions of north Kashmir.—(NVI)

TTP blows up police station in Khyber, claims killing and injuring 12 personnel

Cadres of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). (File Pic)
Cadres of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). (File Pic)

Peshawar, Sept 17 (NVI) Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) tonight claimed to have killed and injured 12 police personnel by blowing up a police station in Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan.

The Police Station was blown up with explosives, which completely demolished the police station and destroyed the police vehicles in the station, TTP spokesman Muhammad Khorasani said in a statement.

Around 12 police officers were killed and injured in the incident, he added.

He said this action was taken in response to the martyrdom of TTP colleagues in Bara Akka Khel a few days ago.

In other actions, he said, TTP foiled an ambush attempt by the Pakistan army and police in Sagai aea of Lakki Marwat district on Tuesday.

Three Pakistani security personnl were injured in retaliatory action by TTP while the remaining personnel took shelter in the houses of the people and saved their lives, the spokesman said.

A Pakistani soldier was killed and another injured in an ambush in North Waziristan district, he said.

In Bajaur district, a vehicle carrying rations for the army was set on fire in Kaga Pass, while the driver and his companion were taken away by the TTP, he said.

In Dera Ismail Khan district, an attack was carried out on a military camp in which there is a strong possibility of loss of life and property. (NVI)

India may face up to 100% tariffs as US House passes Sanctions Bill against Russia

Four dead in US Capitol violence as pro-Trump protesters clash with police
US Parliament Building

New Delhi, Sept 16 (NVI) The US House of Representatives today approved a Russia Sanctions Bill that could allow America to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on India and four other countries for purchasing Russian energy.

The Lower House of US Parliament, called the Congress, cleared the measure 214-211, with a final vote scheduled for Thursday.

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 would give the US President authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the five largest purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India, China, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan are currently identified as the countries that could face the tariffs over their Russian oil purchases.

The House vote was a procedural step that cleared the way for consideration of the legislation in a final vote. The 214-211 vote reflected opposition from members of both parties, but enough Republicans and Democrats supported the measure for it to advance.

The bill had already passed the Senate in August with strong bipartisan support. The legislation targets Russia’s energy and defence sectors and its sanctions-evasion network, while also containing provisions related to Iran. It would also allow the President to impose tariffs on five countries that do the most to assist Russia in evading existing sanctions.

Under the legislation, the US President would have authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the five largest purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas. The current countries identified for the oil-related tariff provision are China, India, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan.

The legislation does not establish a uniform 100 per cent tariff on all five countries. The exact tariff rate for each country would be determined by the US Trade Representative within the authority provided by the legislation.

The proposed tariff mechanism is aimed at countries that continue to purchase Russian energy. India has remained a major buyer of Russian crude, making its energy trade with Moscow a central factor in the potential application of the legislation.

The House’s Thursday vote is the next legislative step. If the chamber passes the Senate-approved legislation, the bill would move towards the White House for presidential action. The tariff authority would then depend on its implementation by the Trump administration rather than taking effect automatically upon the House vote.

The legislation had been expected to face a longer delay, with a vote previously anticipated only after the US midterm elections. House Republican leadership subsequently shortened the current legislative session, allowing the bill to move ahead this week. The House Rules Committee cleared a procedural hurdle on Monday before Wednesday’s vote.

The bill has faced resistance from lawmakers in both parties. Democratic lawmakers have objected to giving the President broader authority to impose tariffs on US trading partners, while some Republicans have raised concerns over the possible effect of sanctions on domestic energy prices.

The legislation comes as India continues to import substantial volumes of Russian crude. India imported about USD 40.8 billion worth of crude oil from Russia in fiscal 2025-26, representing roughly one-third of its total crude imports, according to data from the Global Trade Research Initiative. (NVI)

Suspicious Pigeon Found In J&K’s Kathua Probe Underway

Shivam Bakshi

Jammu, Sep 16 (NVI) A pigeon carrying a ring bearing a Pakistani mobile phone number was found in a border village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, officials said on Wednesday.

The pigeon was found by a local resident near his house in the Hiranagar sector, they said.

A ring or stamp bearing a Pakistani mobile number was found on the pigeon’s leg during examination, following which the bird was handed over to police for further investigation.

The incident comes two days after two suspicious pigeons wearing rings bearing numbers were found in the Ramgarh sector of neighbouring Samba district on September 14.

Security agencies are investigating both incidents, officials said.—(NVI)

Security Forces Open Fire After Suspicious Movement In J&K’s Udhampur

File Photo

Shivam Bakshi

Udhampur, Sep 16 (NVI): Security forces opened fire after noticing suspicious movement in the Khuban area of Majalta tehsil in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district, officials said on Wednesday.

According to officials, the firing was carried out as a precautionary measure after the suspected movement was noticed in the area.

Further details are awaited as security forces have intensified vigilance in the area, officials said.—(NVI)

PM Package Housing: 5,176 of 6,000 Flats Completed in Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 16 (NVI): The Jammu and Kashmir government has fixed deadlines for completion and handover of the remaining flats under the PM Package for employees in the Kashmir Valley, officials said on Wednesday.

A total of 6,000 flats have been approved at 20 locations across the Valley for PM Package employees, of which 5,176 have been completed, they said.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired jointly by Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department, Anil Kumar Singh and Principal Secretary, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR&R), Chandraker Bharti, to review ongoing and proposed projects.

Officials said allied works, including installation of lifts, construction of internal roads, drainage systems and community halls, are nearing completion at most of the sites.

“Specific deadlines for completion of the balance works and handover/takeover were fixed,” an official statement said, adding that possession of completed flats would be handed over to eligible employees in a phased manner as per allotments made under government norms.

The meeting also reviewed major repair and renovation works at migrant camps in Jammu, for which the government has approved Rs 82.45 crore.

Tender formalities for the works have been completed and construction is expected to commence shortly, officials said.

Directions were also issued for preparing a detailed project for upgrading infrastructure at migrant schools, health dispensaries, internal roads and parks in the camps.

The construction of PoJK Bhawan at Suketar was also reviewed, with emphasis on completing the project in all respects within the current financial year.

The Chief Engineer, PW(R&B) Jammu, informed the meeting that the detailed project report (DPR) for construction of additional flats for Kashmiri migrants at Purkhoo is being finalised.

A Multipurpose Community Hall at Jagti, estimated to cost Rs 6.50 crore, has been completed, the officials said.

Tender formalities are also underway for new projects worth around Rs 20 crore proposed during the current financial year at migrant camps in Purkhoo, Nagrota, Muthi and Jagti.

DPRs are being prepared for projects proposed for the next financial year, including e-learning centres, digital libraries and reading rooms, career counselling and guidance centres, skill development and vocational training centres, entrepreneurship facilitation centres, sports infrastructure, and solar power and water conservation projects in migrant camps.—(NVI)

1...678...1,749Page 7 of 1,749

MUST READ