Month: July 2025

The repair work of the British Royal Navy’s F-35B fighter jet has started after it was brought into a hangar at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, nearly three weeks after it made an emergency landing due to bad weather during a sortie over the Indian Ocean, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed.

A team of engineers from the United Kingdom, onboard the British Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Airbus A400M Atlas, has arrived in India to carry out the repairs on the jet, which has been grounded at the airport since June 14.

“UPDATE: A team of UK engineers has arrived in India to commence repairs on the UK F-35 B aircraft. Repairs are underway on the aircraft, which has now been moved to the maintenance hangar. We are grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities,” the UK MoD said in its statement.

The fifth-generation jet, operated by the British Navy, had landed in Thiruvananthapuram after being unable to return to the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, which was operating in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The aircraft encountered bad weather while on a routine sortie outside Indian airspace and made an emergency landing.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) later confirmed that Thiruvananthapuram had been designated as the emergency recovery airfield for such situations.

In a post on X, the IAF said, “A Royal Navy F-35B fighter recovered off an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on the night of 14 June 25. Operating from UK Aircraft Carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, it was undertaking routine flying outside Indian ADIZ with Thiruvananthapuram earmarked as the emergency recovery airfield.”

It further added, “On having declared a diversion off an emergency, the F-35 B was detected and identified by the IAF’s IACCS network and cleared for the recovery. IAF is providing all necessary support for the rectification and subsequent return of the aircraft.”

After the emergency landing, engineers from HMS Prince of Wales attempted to repair the aircraft but were unsuccessful. Defence sources later confirmed that the aircraft had developed a hydraulic failure while attempting to leave after refuelling. Following this, a specialised team of 25 technical experts from the British Royal Air Force was dispatched to India to assess and carry out necessary repairs.

The team arrived in Thiruvananthapuram aboard a British RAF Airbus A400M Atlas military aircraft with specialised equipment. The Lightning 2 jet was then moved to the Air India Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hangar on Sunday.

Earlier, the UK government had said, “The UK has accepted the offer of a space in the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, and is in discussions to finalise arrangements with relevant authorities. In line with standard procedure, the aircraft will be moved following the arrival of UK engineers, who are carrying specialist equipment necessary for the movement and repair process.”

The British High Commission also thanked India for its support. “We are working to repair the UK F-35B at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport as quickly as possible. We thank the Indian Authorities for their continued support,” a spokesperson said.

“The UK remains very grateful for the continued support and collaboration of the Indian authorities and airport teams,” the statement added.

The advanced stealth fighter jet produced by American aerospace giant Lockheed Martin has drawn significant public attention and has even inspired quirky local marketing campaigns in the state of Kerala. The aircraft is currently under round-the-clock guard by personnel from India’s Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and British personnel.

If the repairs cannot be completed on-site, the Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL)-capable aircraft may be dismantled and transported back to the UK using a military transport aircraft. (ANI)

US President Donald Trump on Sunday (local time) described the floods in Texas as a “100-year catastrophe” and said he is likely to visit the state on Friday. He said the administration is working in close coordination with local representatives to manage the situation.

“Everybody in Texas, we’ll continue to be there, and we’re working very closely, representing us from Texas,” Trump said during a media interaction at Morristown Municipal Airport. “And it’s a horrible thing at this place, absolutely horrible. So we say, God bless all of the people that have gone through so much, and God bless, God bless the state of Texas.”

On federal relief, Trump said, “FEMA is something we can talk about later, but right now they’re busy working, so we’ll leave it at that.”

The President said letters related to trade deals would begin going out on Monday. “We’re going to be sending letters out on Monday, having to do with the trade deals. It could be 12, maybe 15, you know, Secretary of Commerce right here, I guess Howard I would say it could be maybe as many as could be. And they’ll be going out on Monday, and a couple on Tuesday and Wednesday. And we’ve made deals also so we can have a combination of letters, and some deals have been made.”

On the political front, Trump dismissed reports of Elon Musk launching a third party. “I think it’s ridiculous to start a third party. We have a tremendous success with the Republican Party. The Democrats have lost their way, but it’s only been party system. And I think starting a third party just adds to the confusion. It really seems to have been developed for two parties. Third parties should never work so he can have fun with it, but I think it’s ridiculous.”

Regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit, Trump said, “We’re working on a lot of things with Israel, and one of the things is probably a permanent deal with Iran. They have to give up all of the things that you know so well the attack turned out, according to every single Atomic Energy Commission, that was a complete and total obliteration.”

On developments in Gaza, Trump said a deal involving the remaining hostages held by Hamas could be finalized this week. “I think we’re close to a deal on Gaza. Could have it this week. I think there’s a good chance we have a deal with Hamas during the week pertaining to quite a few of the hostages. You know, we’ve gotten a lot of the hostages out, but pertaining to the remaining hostages, quite a few, we think we’ll have that done this week.”

He said most countries will likely receive trade deal letters or agreements by July 9. “I think we’ll have most countries done by July 9, either a letter or a deal.” Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick added, “Tariffs go into effect August 1, but the President is setting the rates and the deals.”

Addressing concerns over federal agency staffing, Trump said, “You look at that situation that was really a Biden setup. That was not our setup, but I wouldn’t blame Biden for it either. I would just say this is a 100 year catastrophe, and it’s just so horrible for all.”

On the timing of his Texas visit, the President said, “Probably on Friday. We wanted to leave a little time. I would have done it today, but we’d just be in their way, probably Friday.”

Trump also commented on the DC City Council’s decision regarding a new stadium for the Commanders. “We’ll see what happens. I’ve been looking at the deal, and I don’t claim that they have the very important piece of property, is a great piece of property. So we’ll see what if I can help them out. You know, ultimately we control them. The federal government ultimately controls so we’ll see what happens. I saw the plan, I saw the stadium. The owner is very, very successful and a very good man. I know a little bit, and it would be a great place for the NFL to be there, I can tell you that. So if they want to negotiate a little tough, that’s okay.”

He added that he would not have changed the team’s name. “You want me to make a controversial statement? I wouldn’t have changed the name. It doesn’t have the same ring to me. But you know, winning can make everything sound good. So if they win, all of a sudden, the commander sounds good, but I wouldn’t have changed the name.”

On his recent call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump said, “I thought it was a good call. He’s being hit very hard. As I said, he would. He’s being hit very hard.” He added, “I was very disappointed with my call with President Putin. I was very disappointed.” (ANI)

Newspaper vendors in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) are facing an existential crisis, with plummeting sales and a complete absence of institutional support pushing them to the verge of collapse.

According to reports, before the COVID-19 pandemic, newspaper reading was a daily ritual in many households across PoJK.

However, the pandemic brought a sudden halt to this practice. With lockdowns and movement restrictions, newspaper circulation suffered a dramatic decline. Even after restrictions were lifted, the readership never fully recovered, and digital media further eroded the market.

“Before the coronavirus, selling newspapers was a sustainable job. We used to sell around a thousand copies a day. Now, we barely sell a few hundred. Thousands of vendors have left the profession, only a few dozen of us remain,” said Safaid Abbasi, President of the Press Sell Association in PoJK.

Despite their contribution to promoting public awareness and supporting movements, newspaper vendors say they have been sidelined and ignored. Many had played a critical role in distributing material and information during political rallies and protests. Yet, the same system that once relied on their services now turns a blind eye to their plight.

“In my 31 years in this profession, neither the government nor the newspaper publishers have provided a single penny of support. Journalists have made some efforts to raise our issues, but we, the ones called the backbone of rallies and processions, have never been given our due recognition or assistance.” Abbasi lamented.

The decline of newspaper vendors is not just an economic concern; it reflects a deeper erosion of traditional information networks in the region. With no intervention from authorities or media houses, many fear that this vital link between the press and the public may soon vanish altogether. As the digital shift accelerates, the absence of policies to protect traditional media workers leaves hundreds at risk of unemployment, with little hope of recovery. (ANI)

The demands for Indian defence equipment have increased following Operation Sindoor, said Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday, noting that the world military expenditure has increased to over USD 2.7 trillion in 2024, and a big market is awaiting India.

Speaking at the Controllers Conference organised by DRDO, the Union Defence Minister said, “The world is looking towards our Defence sector. The valour that our soldiers have shown during Operation Sindoor, as well as the way we showcased the capabilities of our domestic equipment, has led to an increase in demand for our indigenous defence products. World military expenditure has increased to over $2.7 trillion in 2024 – such a big market is awaiting us.”

Singh further mentioned that India’s Defence budget is bigger than the GDP of various countries in the world, highlighting the need to utilise the resources in the right way.

“…If you look at our Defence budget, it’s bigger than the GDP of some countries in the world. When a significant portion of people’s hard-earned income is allocated to the Defence Ministry, our responsibility increases exponentially–we ned effective growth. Our Defence expenditure should be such that not only does the budget increase, but also we should utilise it in the right way – by proper deployment at the right time for the right objective, ” said Union Minister Singh.

The Union Minister lauded the decision of the Defence Acquisition Council to grant permission for capital procurement from the GeM portal.

He said, “Defence Acquisition Council for the first time has permitted the capital procurement from the GeM portal, it’s a commendable step… I have also been informed that the department is working on the Comprehensive Pay System and centralised database management for defence personnel…”

The Union Minister further said, “…You have organised a controllers conference, but I think your mind should be open and receptive, so that you can discuss and share about the changes occurring in the defence ecosystem with all stakeholders. Such events give us a chance to do introspection and self-analysis. We can think about the reforms that are needed to bring… This department’s responsibility is not just to manage accounts on paper, but also an important part of our security system. When you honestly, its impact even reaches the soldiers guarding our borders. They feel that they have a system behind them that will be with them in all circumstances…”

The Defence Accounts Department (DAD) is hosting the Controllers’ Conference 2025 from July 7-9 at the Dr SK Kothari Auditorium, DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi.

The conference was inaugurated today by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the presence of top military and civilian leadership including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, the three service chiefs, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, Financial Adviser (Defence Services) SG Dastidar, and Controller General of Defence Accounts Mayank Sharma, marking it as a key platform for shaping the future of India’s defence financial architecture.

A flagship forum for policy dialogue, strategic review, and institutional innovation, the Controllers’ Conference brings together top leadership from DAD, civil services, academia, think tanks, and stakeholders across the defence and finance sectors.

It serves as a vital platform for evaluating challenges, initiating reform, and advancing the role of financial governance in defence preparedness.

The theme of this year’s conference, ‘Transforming Financial Advice, Payment, Audit and Accounting through Defence Finance and Economics,’ reflects a paradigm shift within the department, repositioning DAD from a finance & accounts body to a future-ready institution focused on Defence Finance and Economics.

This transformation, guided by the strategic vision articulated by the Defence Minister on October 1, 2024, is internally driven, inclusive, and aligned with emerging national security imperatives. The transition is anchored in DAD’s new Mission Statement and Motto ‘Alert, Agile, Adaptive’ which will be formally released during the event.

The conference features eight high-level business sessions (Manan Satras), covering areas such as budget and accounts reform, internal audit restructuring, collaborative research, pricing innovation, and capacity building.

These sessions will explore the evolving role of Integrated Financial Advisors (IFAs) in balancing fiscal prudence with strategic support for a competitive and self-reliant defence industry.

Managing a defence budget of Rs 6.8 lakh crore, including Rs 1.7 lakh crore dedicated to pensions, DAD plays a pivotal role in payroll, pension disbursement, audit, procurement pricing, and strategic financial advice. Over the past year, the department has made significant strides in digital transformation, with flagship reforms like: –

SAMPURNA: An AI-driven, end-to-end automation system for defence procurement and payments, enhancing transparency and agility

SPARSH: Now serving over 32 lakh pensioners, this digital platform has redefined pension delivery with transparency and accessibility

SPARSH VAN: A mobile outreach innovation launched in Tamil Nadu, delivering pension services directly to veterans’ doorsteps

e-Raksha Awaas: Automated recovery of over Rs 500 crore in rent, generating Rs 2,700+ crore in rent bills

Defence Travel System (DTS) and AI-based procurement tools: Building a smarter, data-centric financial network for defence. (ANI)

US President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to countries supporting what he termed were the anti-American policies of BRICS.

In a social media post, Trump stated that any country aligning itself with the “Anti-American policies of BRICS” will face an additional 10 per cent tariff on goods.

“There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump wrote, adding, “Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Trump’s statement signals a hard stance from the U.S. administration against what it sees as growing opposition from BRICS nations.

The response came after the joint statement of the finance ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) Meeting of BRICS nations voiced against the unilateral imposition of trade and finance-related actions, including the raising of tariffs and non-tariff measures.

The statement stated, “We voiced our serious concerns with the unilateral imposition of trade and finance-related actions, including the raising of tariffs and non-tariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.”

The statement further adds that “In this testing environment, BRICS members have demonstrated resilience and will continue to cooperate among themselves and with other countries to safeguard and strengthen the non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable, transparent, and rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, avoiding trade wars that could plunge the global economy into recession or further prolong subdued growth”.

Altogether BRICS nations – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and many other developing nations who joined BRICS over the last few years, accounts for nearly half of the world’s population and about 40 per cent of the global GDP. The BRICS group now represents about a quarter of the global trade and investment flows.

As the tariff postponement deadline is approaching on July 9th, U.S. President Donald Trump also announced that the United States Tariff Letters and Deals with various countries will be delivered starting 12:00 P.M. (Eastern), Monday, July 7th.

In a separate social media post, Trump said these letters will be sent to different countries around the world.

Earlier, on April 9th, Trump paused the implementation of tariffs for 3 months, which is ending on July 9th. (ANI)

Leaders of the BRICS nations welcomed Indonesia as a member of the group, while 10 nations, including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Malaysia, Thailand, Cuba, Vietnam, Uganda, and Uzbekistan, as partner countries.

The joint declaration of the 17th BRICS Summit in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro on Sunday stated, “We welcome the Republic of Indonesia as a BRICS member, as well as the Republic of Belarus, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Cuba, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Malaysia, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Republic of Uganda, and the Republic of Uzbekistan as BRICS partner countries.”

It underlined the significance of the adoption of the BRICS Leaders’ Framework Declaration on Climate Finance and of the BRICS Leaders’ Statement on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence, as well as endorsed the launch of the BRICS Partnership for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases. These initiatives demonstrate the joint efforts of BRICS to foster inclusive and sustainable solutions to pressing global issues, according to the joint declaration.

During the BRICS session ‘Peace and Security and Reform of Global Governance’ on Sunday, PM Modi stated that the expansion of BRICS and the inclusion of new partners demonstrates its ability to evolve with times and called for reforming institutions like the United Nations Security Council, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Multilateral Developments.

PM Modi stated, “The expansion of BRICS and the inclusion of new partners reflect its ability to evolve with the times. Now, we must demonstrate the same determination to reform institutions like the UN Security Council, the WTO, and Multilateral Development Banks. In the age of AI, where technology evolves every week, it’s unacceptable for global institutions to go eighty years without reform. You can’t run 21st-century software on 20th-century typewriters.”

As a formal grouping, BRIC was established after the meeting of the leaders of Russia, India, and China in St. Petersburg on the margins of the G8 Outreach Summit in 2006. The grouping was formalised during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers on the margins of United Nations General Assembly in New York in 2006.

The first BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009. 4. It was agreed to expand BRIC into BRICS with the inclusion of South Africa at the BRIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New York in 2010, according to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement, South Africa attended the third BRICS Summit in Sanya in 2011.

A further expansion of BRICS took place in 2024 with Egypt; Ethiopia; Iran;and UAE becoming full members of BRICS from January 1, 2024. In January 2025, Indonesia joined the BRICS as a full member, while Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan were inducted as partner countries of the BRICS. (ANI)

Haridwar Police arrested a youth with a large consignment of illegal drugs worth around Rs three crore, days before the Kanwar Yatra begins.

Acting on Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s directive to make Uttarakhand a drug-free state, the police seized 1.042 kg of pure smack and 457 grams of adulterated smack brought in with the intent to profit from the religious gathering, an official statement said.

According to Haridwar SSP Pramendra Singh Dobal, the accused, identified as Mursaleen, was apprehended during a routine inspection at the Pathri Power House within the limits of Bahadrabad police station.

SSP Dobal said that police had been receiving intelligence inputs suggesting that smack was being transported from Rajasthan to Haridwar and other neighbouring states.

The accused allegedly intended to sell the narcotics during the upcoming Kanwar Yatra, capitalising on the large crowds. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and further investigation is underway.

Apart from this, the Health Department has prepared a strict and dedicated action plan to provide pure and safe food to lakhs of devotees during the upcoming Kanwar Yatra, a statement said.

Special teams of food safety officers have been deployed in Haridwar, Dehradun, Tehri, Pauri and Uttarkashi districts. These teams will regularly collect samples of milk, sweets, oil, spices, beverages, and other items from the pandals and send them to laboratories for testing. If any sample does not meet the standards, the concerned place will be closed immediately, the statement said.

Additional Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration, Tajbar Singh Jaggi, stated that the government has made it clear that no leniency will be shown to those conducting food business without a license. Those who adulterate or violate the rules will face both financial penalties and potential criminal action.

This year, the Kanwar Yatra procession will begin on July 12, during which Kanwariyas will collect water from a river and carry it hundreds of kilometres to offer it to the shrines of Lord Shiva.

According to Hindu beliefs, Parshuram, a devotee of Shiva and an avatar of Lord Vishnu, participated in the initial procession. Devotees across the country perform worship, fasting and pilgrimage dedicated to the Lord Shiva. (ANI)

Several parts of Delhi received rainfall on Monday morning, offering much-needed relief from the hot and humid conditions that had prevailed in the city over the past few days.

Rainfall began early in the day, with low-hanging clouds covering the skies across Delhi. The showers helped bring down temperatures and provided relief from the persistent humidity.

Meanwhile, some parts of the national capital also witnessed waterlogging after incessant rain in the city, including the Mehrauli-Badarpur road. The vehicles were seen wading through the waterlogged roads.

A stranded commuter said, “Whenever there is rain, the roads get waterlogged upto 5 kilometres.

Amit, another stranded commuter, said, “It’s very problematic. The roads get waterlogged in just 1 hour of rain. My car also got punctured.”

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert of thunderstorms, lightning and squalls for all districts of Delhi for Monday.

The forecast included all districts of Delhi, including North, North-East, North-West, South, South-West, South-East, and West Delhi, where thunderstorms were expected to occur today.

However, no such alerts have been issued for the upcoming days to date.

According to the IMD, the weather conditions in the national capital will remain normal. The IMD has predicted “generally cloudy sky, very light to light rain accompanied with thunderstorms and lighting” for next two-three days.

Earlier on Sunday morning, parts of Delhi experienced rainfall.

IMD said on Sunday that the monsoon trough at mean sea level now passes through Suratgarh, Sirsa, Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Daltonganj, Bankura, Digha and thence southeastwards to northeast Bay of Bengal and an upper air cyclonic circulation lies over Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Punjab at 1.5 km above mean sea level.

According to the IMD, heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rainfall is likely to occur in Chhattisgarh, Vidarbha, East Madhya Pradesh on July 7.

The IMD has also predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall activity is likely to continue over Northwest, West coast and Northeast India during the next 6-7 days. (ANI)