Indian pilot and fellow crew members receive the First Class Order of Zayed II after they helped overpower a co-pilot who attacked the captain aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has conferred the First Class Order of Zayed II on Indian Captain Smit Machchhar and fellow flydubai crew members for their courage in protecting passengers during an attempted mid-air attack aboard a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.

The medals were presented by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, who commended the crew’s actions and sense of responsibility, Dubai Media Office said in a statement on Tuesday.

Machchhar and the other crew members received the honour at a presidential reception.

The incident occurred on September 30 aboard flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with more than 170 people on board. Machchhar was attacked by his co-pilot with a crash axe, typically kept in the cockpit for use in emergencies, and suffered serious injuries. The motive for the attack remains unclear.

The co-pilot, identified by Israeli officials as an Omani national, stabbed Machchhar and sent the aircraft plunging nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.

Despite his injuries, Machchhar, who was covered in blood and lying on the floor, managed to draw on “the last moments of his energy” to click open the release on the cockpit door.

This allowed passengers and crew members to overpower the co-pilot. A second pair of flydubai pilots who were on board then took control and landed the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

The Omani co-pilot was taken into custody. Machchhar was initially treated at a hospital in Tabuk before being transferred to Abu Dhabi for further treatment.

The crew successfully neutralised the cockpit attack, safeguarding passengers and ensuring the aircraft’s safe landing in Saudi Arabia.

The crew members thanked the UAE President and expressed pride in receiving the honour, which reflects his recognition of the values of service, dedication and commitment, the statement said.

The ceremony was attended by Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs; Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group; and several other officials.

The First Class Order of Zayed II is a high-level civil decoration of the United Arab Emirates conferred by the President to honour individuals, diplomats, officials and crew members for distinguished service, courage or contributions to strengthening bilateral and international relations.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

BRICS Parliamentary Forum ends in Delhi with a declaration backing UNSC reform and zero tolerance for terror; Birla hands the chair to China for 2027.

The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum concluded in Delhi on Tuesday with the adoption of a joint declaration backing reform of the United Nations Security Council, calling for zero tolerance for terrorism and greater representation of the Global South in global decision-making. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also handed over the forum’s chairship to China for the next BRICS summit in 2027.

“Permanent solutions to global challenges can only be forged through dialogue, not war; in peace, not conflict; and in collaboration, rather than competition,” Birla said in his address. He further called for a global framework based on respect for national sovereignty, peaceful resolution of disputes and equitable development opportunities.

The forum— held on October 26 and 27 under the theme “Fostering Parliaments for People-Centric Development”— brought together presiding officers and parliamentary representatives from BRICS member countries and partner nations. It focused on strengthening parliamentary institutions, the use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies and sustainability. The forum was held during India’s 2026 BRICS chairship, which had the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.

The joint declaration reaffirmed the principles of the United Nations Charter and called for comprehensive UN reform, including the Security Council, to make the international system “more just, equitable, democratic, representative, effective, and efficient”.

“We look forward to strengthening BRICS interaction within international parliamentary fora, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), to amplify the voice of the Global South,” the declaration said.

On counter-terrorism, the declaration strongly condemned the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 people were killed and called for action against cross-border movement of terrorists, terror financing and safe havens. It urged “zero tolerance for terrorism” and called for an end to double standards in counter-terrorism efforts.

The declaration also highlighted cooperation on emerging technologies including artificial intelligence and proposed a digital public infrastructure repository for BRICS countries. “We emphasise the need to strengthen the digital sovereignty of BRICS member countries by protecting data privacy and security of personal information as well as by building resilient national technological ecosystems,” it added.

On climate change, member countries called for stronger mitigation and adaptation efforts. It called for stronger efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals, while emphasising the “principle of common but differentiated responsibilities” in addressing climate change.

Member nations also expressed concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East and West Asia, urging restraint, protection of civilians and dialogue towards lasting peace. “We reaffirm our unwavering support for the peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on the two-state solution, with the two States living side by side, in peace and security…” the declaration further said.

Emphasising the role of legislatures, Birla said parliaments must evolve beyond law-making to become more transparent, effective and citizen-centric institutions. He also highlighted the potential of AI and digital tools to improve parliamentary research, analysis and public engagement.

“Global peace truly means security, respect, justice, and the assurance of a better future for everyone—especially the younger generation,” Birla said, adding that future generations would judge current leaders by the safety and prosperity of the world they leave behind.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

Farmer IDs are expected to enable ‘transparent, efficient and timely’ access for farmers to government schemes, bank credit, crop insurance, and disaster relief.

The Union Agriculture Ministry had created 11 crore unique digital identity cards for farmers as of Friday (October 23, 2026), five months ahead of a deadline set for March 31, 2027. The IDs are expected to enable “transparent, efficient and timely” access for farmers to government schemes, bank credit, crop insurance and disaster relief. It will also reduce paperwork and repeated verification, according to the government.

The milestone has been achieved under the Digital Agriculture Mission implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Saturday (October 24, 2026). The creation of 11 crore Farmer IDs was successfully completed by the night of October 23, he said.

“The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, State governments, and field-level officials worked in coordination to achieve it five months ahead of schedule,” Mr. Chouhan said, congratulating farmers across the country on the achievement. The Minister described the Farmer ID as their own digital identity, and an important step towards making agriculture more efficient, transparent and prosperous through modern technology.

“Earlier, farmers often had to provide documents repeatedly to access various benefits, resulting in a loss of both time and money. With Farmer IDs, access to several key services is expected to become simpler and more transparent,” the Minister said in a statement, adding that the initiative intends to improve transparency and accountability in agricultural service delivery, and ensure eligible farmers could access government support with fewer procedural hurdles.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

India’s UN mission hosted the 9th India-UN Development Partnership Fund annual event at UN headquarters on Thursday, with visiting MPs in attendance.

Representatives of several countries have hailed the impact of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, as New Delhi reaffirmed its commitment to sharing development experiences and supporting countries in the Global South.

The Permanent Mission of India to the UN hosted the 9th edition of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund Annual Event Thursday at the UN headquarters in the presence of the visiting delegation of Members of Parliament.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, expressed gratitude to the United Nations Development Programme and United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation for their constant support.

“Heard moving accounts from the ground level of the impact of the projects. India remains committed to share its development experiences and extend a hand of friendship and support to friends and partners in the Global South,” Harish said.

He noted that in 2017, the Government of India had pledged a sum of 150 million dollars to assist the Global South to attain their development goals.

“The essence of this programme is to ensure national ownership, that the projects are nationally-driven and tailor-made as per the host countries’ requirements,” he said.

He said India’s approach to development cooperation is rooted in the civilizational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam— that the world is one family.

“The India-UN Fund gives practical expression to this conviction by bringing together the priorities of developing countries, India’s commitment to South-South cooperation and the United Nations’ expertise and presence on the ground. At its heart is a simple principle that our partner countries determine their own development priorities,” he said

The Fund is designed to particularly assist the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, which reflects India’s determination to reach those facing acute development challenges.

As of now, India is halfway through with the allocation of about 82 million dollars that has assisted 94 projects in 64 member states.

At the event, several UN Ambassadors, including from the Global South, highlighted the impact of the fund and projects that have benefited from India’s support through the initiative.

Ambassador Jayantha Jayasuriya, the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN, said the “India-UN Fund caters to diversified thematic structures and these projects respond to needs identified by the countries themselves… its underlying philosophy is that respect for national priorities matters.”

Permanent Representative of Dominica Ambassador Philbert Aaron conveyed his country’s gratitude for the generous resources granted to the project in the Commonwealth of Dominica.

“The identity of the Kalinago-based indigenous people who benefit from this project is important. Our President, who is the first female and a person of indigenous community, has attested to the value and importance of this generous grant from India to strengthen the livelihood of our community,”

Permanent Representative of Cuba Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán said that in an increasingly unjust international order, “the India-UN Fund form of cooperation is more necessary than ever to overcome structural inequalities, and expand opportunities to strengthen the collective voice of the Global South.”

He said that India’s leadership in the Global South “demonstrates the power of partnerships built on equality, mutual respect and shared aspirations for sustainable development.”

Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste Ambassador Dionisio Da Costa Babo Soares said the India-UN Fund has become an important expression of solidarity among developing countries.

“For us, this approach is particularly meaningful as we benefited directly from this cooperation. Our experience with the Fund demonstrates how South-South Cooperation can translate shared commitments into meaningful opportunities for our people, particularly the younger generations,” Soares said.

Permanent Representative of Mozambique Ambassador Domingos Estêvão Fernandes said the Fund offers a concrete example of South-South cooperation grounded in national priorities, equality and non-interference. It also complements North-South cooperation.

“Mozambique commends India’s leadership in advancing South-South cooperation and partnership,” Fernandes said.

Permanent Representative of Tanzania Ambassador Togolani Edriss Mavura said his country expresses its sincere appreciation to India and the India-UN Fund for their continued support for sustainable development in Tanzania.

Tuvalu Permanent Representative Ambassador Tapugao Falefou said the Indian investment will certainly benefit hundreds of schools and institutions.

The project demonstrates the value of development that is responsive to national priorities and local needs

“Tuvalu remains deeply grateful to the Govt of India’s development assistance,” Falefou said.

Saint Lucia’s UN envoy Ambassador Menissa Rambally said the purpose of the Fund is multifaceted. It facilitates economic and social development across countries of the Global majority. The critical importance of the Fund is a beacon of distinction in capacity building in the Global majority.

“The support provided by the India-UN Fund is instrumental as countries seek to meet the challenges in myriad areas of economic and social development,” Rambally said.

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Mr. Sen is internationally recognised for his pioneering work on S-duality, the precise counting of black hole entropy and string field theory, which have helped shape modern string theory.

Professor Ashoke Sen has been awarded the Oskar Klein Medal for 2026, becoming the first Indian physicist to receive the honour, the Bengaluru-based ICTS said on Saturday (October 24, 2026).

Mr. Sen, an ICTS-Infosys Madhava Chair Professor, is internationally recognised for his pioneering work on S-duality, the precise counting of black hole entropy and string field theory, which have helped shape modern string theory, the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences said in a post on its website.

Mr. Sen delivered the 2026 Oskar Klein Memorial Lecture, titled ‘Gravity from Strings and Strings from Gravity’, at Stockholm University’s AlbaNova Centre on October 22, the institute said.

He received the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics in 2012 for his contributions to establishing the unifying structure of string theory and the Dirac Medal in 2014, the ICTS said.

His other honours include the Infosys Prize in Mathematical Sciences in 2009, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in 1994, the ICTP Prize in 1989, the Padma Shri in 2001 and the Padma Bhushan in 2013.

Mr. Sen was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1998, it added.

ICTS Director Rajesh Gopakumar congratulated Mr. Sen, saying, “On behalf of all of us, very warm congratulations to Ashoke. It has been no less than wonderful having Ashoke with us and setting the tone for excellence here at ICTS.”

Named after Swedish theoretical physicist Oskar Klein, the medal recognises distinguished contributions to physics. It was established in 1988, and previous recipients include Nobel laureates Chen-Ning Yang, Steven Weinberg and Hans Bethe, who received the medal in its first three years, respectively, the ICTS said.

The medal is awarded annually by Stockholm University and the Nobel Committee for Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, according to the ICTS.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Tested in diabetic mice at ETH Zurich, the wireless device lowers blood glucose within 90 minutes, with researchers planning further miniaturisation before human trials.

An Indian scientist in Switzerland has helped design a tiny wirelessly powered implantable device that removes excess glucose from the bloodstream without external insulin or medication, promising a novel bioengineering route to diabetes control.

In diabetic mice, the device improved blood sugar levels within 90 minutes and reduced body weight and triglyceride levels without any detectable adverse effects during six weeks of treatment, Debasis Maity and his colleagues at ETH Zurich said on Thursday.

The device, implanted under the skin and connected to a continuous glucose monitor via a smartphone, automatically activates when blood sugar levels exceed a pre-set threshold, enabling targeted removal of glucose, the researchers said.

“These are proof-of-concept experiments in lab mice,” Maity, a postdoctoral researcher at ETH, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, told The Telegraph in a telephone interview. “We would need to refine the technology and make the device even smaller before human trials.”

The International Diabetes Federation’s 2025 Atlas had estimated nearly 590 million adults worldwide, including over 90 million in India, living with diabetes, often coexisting with obesity. Current treatment relies largely on medications that lower glucose or body weight, but these therapies may produce side effects and typically involve lifelong treatment.

While some studies have suggested that diabetes and the dependence on medications could be potentially reversed through rigorous diet and lifestyle, poor adherence to the required regimens remains a major challenge in diabetes control.

The ETH team, supervised by Martin Fussenegger, professor of biotechnology and bioengineering, has developed an implant — housed in a 26mm by 14mm by 5mm casing — containing an electrocatalyst that removes excess glucose from the bloodstream at an adjustable rate.

The device could provide “a dose-controllable drug-free therapeutic alternative” for diabetes control, the scientists said in a paper set for publication in the US journal Science on Friday.

“The drug-free mode of action is relevant because current pharmacological therapies can be limited by adverse effects, tolerability, adherence, cost, and unresolved long-term safety questions,” they wrote.

An Indian scientist in Switzerland has helped design a tiny wirelessly powered implantable device that removes excess glucose from the bloodstream without external insulin or medication, promising a novel bioengineering route to diabetes control.

In diabetic mice, the device improved blood sugar levels within 90 minutes and reduced body weight and triglyceride levels without any detectable adverse effects during six weeks of treatment, Debasis Maity and his colleagues at ETH Zurich said on Thursday.

The device, implanted under the skin and connected to a continuous glucose monitor via a smartphone, automatically activates when blood sugar levels exceed a pre-set threshold, enabling targeted removal of glucose, the researchers said.

“These are proof-of-concept experiments in lab mice,” Maity, a postdoctoral researcher at ETH, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, told The Telegraph in a telephone interview. “We would need to refine the technology and make the device even smaller before human trials.”

The International Diabetes Federation’s 2025 Atlas had estimated nearly 590 million adults worldwide, including over 90 million in India, living with diabetes, often coexisting with obesity. Current treatment relies largely on medications that lower glucose or body weight, but these therapies may produce side effects and typically involve lifelong treatment.

While some studies have suggested that diabetes and the dependence on medications could be potentially reversed through rigorous diet and lifestyle, poor adherence to the required regimens remains a major challenge in diabetes control.

The ETH team, supervised by Martin Fussenegger, professor of biotechnology and bioengineering, has developed an implant — housed in a 26mm by 14mm by 5mm casing — containing an electrocatalyst that removes excess glucose from the bloodstream at an adjustable rate.

The device could provide “a dose-controllable drug-free therapeutic alternative” for diabetes control, the scientists said in a paper set for publication in the US journal Science on Friday.

“The drug-free mode of action is relevant because current pharmacological therapies can be limited by adverse effects, tolerability, adherence, cost, and unresolved long-term safety questions,” they wrote.

Maity graduated from the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College in Calcutta and earned a PhD from Bharathiar University, Coimbatore. He joined ETH six years ago and worked with Fussenegger on the development of implants to control metabolic disorders.

Their wirelessly powered implantable device contains tiny platinum-decorated gold particles embedded in a graphite base. The cluster of particles serves as an electrocatalyst that selectively converts glucose into gluconate, a compound rapidly excreted through the kidneys.

Since the device is electrically activated, the rate of glucose removal can be finely controlled. The implant, connected to a continuous glucose monitoring system, seeks to restore glucose balance by increasing removal when glucose levels exceed threshold levels but stopping as they reach target levels.

“At the current stage of the technology, we’ve demonstrated through lab experiments glucose clearance in approximately five litres of liquid, comparable to the typical blood volume in an adult human,” Maity said. The catalyst for those experiments measures 5cm by 5cm by 0.5cm.

He said future research will focus on efforts to miniaturise the implant and integrate it with an electrical power source such as a wireless charging system and a continuous glucose monitoring device.

“I think this is conceptually a fascinating idea — controlling glucose without drugs, without insulin, without lifestyle changes,” Ambrish Mithal, chair of endocrinology and diabetology at the Max Healthcare group in New Delhi who was not connected with the Swiss study, told this newspaper.

Mithal cautioned that something that works in lab mice need not always work in people, but he added: “this is the most novel thing I’ve seen this year on diabetes treatment strategies”.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

The story dates back to 1942, when a ruler from Gujarat opened his doors to Polish children displaced by war.

An Indian king, 650 Polish children fleeing the horrors of World War II, and an act of kindness that has endured for nearly eight decades. The story of the “Good Maharaja” continues to hold a special place in Poland’s national memory, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk recalling the Indian ruler’s legacy on Thursday.

The story dates back to 1942, when a ruler from Gujarat opened his doors to Polish children displaced by the war. At a time when the conflict had torn families apart and left thousands of children without a safe place to go, he offered them shelter far from their homeland.

The man remembered as the “Good Maharaja” was Shri Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar, a princely state in present-day Gujarat, commonly known as Jamnagar.

During World War II, thousands of Poles were sent to the Caucasus as refugees after being released from Soviet gulags. They travelled overland to Iran’s Tehran, but conditions there proved inadequate. India was among the few countries that responded to an appeal for assistance from the Polish government-in-exile.

The Jam Saheb, who was then chairman of the Chamber of Princes, agreed to provide refuge to Polish children.

In April 1942, 650 children were transported overland to Balachadi, on the outskirts of Jamnagar. The ruler hosted them at a special camp near his Summer Palace, now part of the Sainik School, and provided shelter until 1946.

The Maharaja’s promise

The Jam Saheb’s welcome to the children became one of the most enduring parts of the story.

“I am your bapu (father), just like I am father to all Nawanagaris. Therefore, you are no longer orphans today,” he told them. The words are now famously inscribed at his memorial in Poland.

Over the next four years, the Balachadi camp became home to around 1,000 Polish children. They received care, education and the opportunity to practise their Catholic faith.

Several people helped run the camp. Father Pluta provided spiritual guidance, while Colonel Jeffrey Clark managed its administration. Dr Amrutlal Ashani, pharmacist Anant Joshi and chief nurse Cathy helped look after the children’s health. Seven Goan cooks prepared their meals, with expenses covered from the Jam Saheb’s personal funds.

His generosity earned him the Polish title Dobry Maharaja, meaning the Good Maharaja.

Balachadi camp diaries

For the children who lived at Balachadi, the camp became much more than a place of refuge. Many retained fond memories of their time in India, with some describing it as their “best childhood memories”.

The children played sports with local youngsters. While the locals proved better at hockey, the Polish children excelled at volleyball and were evenly matched in football. Some locals even called the camp Roopnagari, referring to its cherubic inhabitants.

The story also inspired Polish filmmaker Tomasz Stankiewicz, who spent two years at Balachadi and later produced the acclaimed documentary The Brave Bunch in India.

Warsaw’s tribute to Jam Saheb

Poland’s gratitude to the Jam Saheb has endured long after the children returned home or settled elsewhere around the world.

In 2011, he was posthumously awarded the Commanders’ Cross of the Order of Merit of Poland. A commemorative monument was erected in 2014 at Good Maharaja Square in Warsaw’s Ochota district.

In 2016, Poland’s lower house of parliament unanimously passed a resolution honouring him on the 50th anniversary of his death. Eight prestigious schools in Poland were also named after him following a popular vote among students, parents and faculty members.

The children who survived the war and found refuge in India are represented by The Association of Poles in India: 1942-1948.

How the ‘Good Maharaja’ connects India and Poland today

The story received renewed attention during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Poland in 2024, the first by an Indian prime minister since 1979. Modi paid homage at the memorial to the Good Maharaja.

The connection also continues through educational exchanges. The Rajkumar College in Rajkot, the Jam Saheb’s alma mater, has an active exchange programme with the Maharaja Independent High School, Bednarska, in Warsaw.

In 2024, 12 students and a teacher from Rajkumar College spent two weeks in Warsaw as part of a family homestay programme. Polish students are expected to make a return visit in November and travel to the historic Balachadi campsite for a wreath-laying ceremony.

Nearly eight decades after the Polish children found refuge in Gujarat, the Jam Saheb’s legacy continues to connect the two countries.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headlines edited)

HAL has handed over the first three indigenous HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the IAF, but full-fledged rookie pilot training may take up to two years.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has handed over the first three HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF), but full-fledged training operations may take up to two years to begin as the service builds up its pool of trained instructors and receives more aircraft, officials aware of the matter said on Wednesday.

The delivery of the first HTT-40 basic trainer in Bengaluru on September 18 marked a milestone in the indigenous programme, but the IAF will deploy them for training rookie pilots at the Air Force Academy near Hyderabad only after building a fleet of 25-30 aircraft and training enough flying instructors for the role, the officials said, requesting anonymity.

“The HTT-40 trainers will initially be stationed at the Flying Instructors’ School in Tambaram near Chennai to train instructors who will eventually teach rookie pilots how to fly the aircraft,” said one of the officials cited above. The basic trainer will serve as a stepping stone for pilots to develop critical flying skills.

The flying instructors will frame the HTT-40’s standard operating procedures, prepare the training syllabus and set proficiency standards for the trainee pilots, said a second official.

The air force ordered 70 basic trainer aircraft for ₹6,838 crore three years ago to train pilots and meet its growing training requirements. The HTT-40s are powered by US firm Honeywell’s TPE331-12B turboprop engines whose deliveries were delayed because of supply chain bottlenecks, which are now expected to ease. Under a $100-million contract signed four years ago for 88 TPE331-12B engines and kits, Honeywell will supply 16 engines directly and HAL will manufacture the remaining units under a technology transfer agreement.

If engine supplies stabilise fully, HAL can produce a total of 20 HTT-40s a year at its factories in Bengaluru and Nashik. The tandem-seat HTT-40 has an air-conditioned cockpit, modern avionics, hot refuelling capability (refuelling with the engine running on the ground), and zero-zero ejection seats (for safe ejection at low speeds and low heights). It currently has 56% local content, which will progressively increase to over 60% through further indigenisation of major components and sub-systems.

Ab initio (Stage-I) flying training for all rookie pilots is currently carried out on Swiss-origin Pilatus PC-7 MkII basic trainers. Stage-I training is common for all pilots after which trifurcation into fighter, transport and helicopter streams takes place. Those selected for the fighter stream proceed to Stage-II training on PC-7 MkII and Kiran Mk-1A jet trainers and then Stage-III on the British-origin Hawk advanced jet trainers before they can fly supersonic fighter planes including Rafales, Sukhoi-30s and Mirage 2000s. Pilots from the other two streams carry out their Stage II and III training on different types of transport aircraft and helicopters.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

Bharti Enterprises founder Sunil Bharti Mittal receives the Légion d’Honneur from French President Emmanuel Macron, in recognition of his role in deepening India-France economic ties.

Bharti Enterprises founder and chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal has been conferred the highest civilian award in France, Chevalier de l’Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour), by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Légion d’Honneur is the highest civilian award bestowed by the French Republic.

Mr. Mittal has been conferred the distinction in recognition of his longstanding commitment to deepening economic ties between India and France and his outstanding achievements in telecommunications and digital infrastructure, a company statement said.

Ambassador of France to India Thierry Mathou said Sunil Bharti Mittal has been a friend of France for more than thirty years, since the early days of Airtel in 1992.

“He has unflaggingly nurtured these ties over the decades and shown what French and Indian business endeavours can achieve together. Today he advances these relations as Vice-Chairman of Eutelsat, at a time when our two countries are moving forward jointly in space and digital technology.

“In awarding him the Légion d’Honneur, the President of the Republic recognises an outstanding business leader who has contributed to making France a lasting partner in India,” he said.

The insignia will be conferred at a ceremony to be held on October 28, 2026, at the Ambassade de France (Embassy of France in India), New Delhi.

On the recognition, Mr. Mittal expressed gratitude towards the Republic of France.

“My association with France began at Airtel’s inception in 1992, when Compagnie Générale des Eaux joined hands with Bharti to introduce mobile telephony in India.

“It continues today through my role as Co-Chairman of Eutelsat, the European satellite champion. I accept this honour with gratitude to the President of the French Republic, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Macron, and with a renewed commitment to further deepen the economic ties between India and France,” Mr. Mittal said.

In 2007, Mr. Mittal was conferred the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honours.

In 2024, he became the first Indian citizen to be honoured as a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by King Charles III.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Incumbent mayors were defeated as the polls were held for 161 municipalities and 27 regional districts on Saturday.

An Indo-Canadian was elected mayor of Fernie while another person of Indian origin was re-elected as Williams Lake’s top city official as municipal election results were declared in Canada’s westernmost province of British Columbia. A third Indo-Canadian was elected the Mission city’s youngest mayor without a contest a month earlier.

Incumbent mayors were defeated as the elections were held for 161 municipalities and 27 regional districts on Saturday across British Columbia, where South Asians account for 9.6% of the population, according to the 2021 census.

Harshan Ramadass, better known as Harsh, the Fernie mayor-elect, has an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering from Bangalore University’s Visvesvaraya College of Engineering and an MBA from the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business. He arrived in Fernie in 2011 to work with a resource company, and his daughter was born there.

“I am deeply honoured to be your next mayor, and I look forward to working with our new council and the entire community to turn that vision into action,” MyEastKootenayNow quoted Ramadass as saying.

Ramadass, who served on the city council for four years before entering the mayoral fray, said that, having grown up with limited means in India, he knows what it means to stretch every dollar and plan for the long term. “That mindset never leaves you — and it’s exactly the discipline I bring to how I think about public money,” Ramadass, who has worked in mining, automotive, and manufacturing sectors in the US, India, and Canada since 2003, said on his campaign website.

Surinderpal Rathor, re-elected as the Williams Lake mayor, was first elected to the city council in 1993. He served seven consecutive terms totalling 21 years, before becoming the mayor in 2022. Rathor arrived in Williams Lake in 1974 after immigrating from India at the age of 21.

Jag Gill, another Indo-Canadian, became the youngest Mission mayor a month earlier by acclamation and without a contest on September 18. He was first elected to the city council in 2018, the youngest to do so. After two terms on the council, he sought the mayor’s office.

Gill did not expect to win the election without a contest. “I wanted an election. I wanted to keep knocking on doors, put my eight-year record and my vision in front of this community, answer the hard questions, and ask people for their vote,” he said in a letter to the community.

source/content: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)