Category Archives: World Opinion

In Donald Trump’s moment, Indian Americans notch up historic seven seats in US Congress

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Nine desis contested this election and out of them six – all of them Democrats – have won the race to the US House of Representatives, increasing their number from five in the current House.

Donald Trump has already started his victory speech and the Republicans have already won the United States Senate, but Indian Americans too have quite a bit to celebrate in this election season in America.

Nine desis contested this election and out of them seven – all of them Democrats – have won the race to the US House of Representatives, increasing their number from five in the current House. 

This is the most number of US Representatives the community has ever had in the US Congress.

The Telegraph Online looks at these Indian Americans who have made the community proud this year.

  1. Shri Thanedar

Shri Thanedar has won the contest for the thirteenth Congressional District of Michigan with 80,462 votes, defeating his Republican rival Martell Bivings who got 39,385 votes, according to The New York Times.

Thanedar, 69, was born in Karnataka and came to the US to pursue a doctorate in the year 1979. After dabbling with a career in business, he took the plunge in politics in 2018.

According to his website, he got elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in Congress in 2022. And he helped pass the “largest increase in per-pupil funding for Michigan Public Schools in state history”.

2. Ro Khanna

Ro Khanna has won the race from the seventeenth Congressional District of California winning 80, 112 votes as against Republican Anita Chen, who managed 36,837 votes.

Khanna, 48, is a lawyer who was born in the US. In 2016, Khanna is currently serving his third term representing California’s 17th District. This district covers part of the famed Silicon Valley, the home to global tech multinationals.

Khanna’s first brush with politics came when he was a student at the University of Chicago and campaigned for Barack Obama during his initial years. 

Khanna, whose “grandfather participated in Gandhi’s independence movement in India, spending several years in jail for promoting human rights,” says that he is committed to public service because he believes in the American Dream that inspired his family.

3. Suhas Subramanyam

The 38-year-old Suhas Subramanyam has won a close contest from the tenth Congressional District of Virginia winning 207,131 votes as against Republican Mike Clancy, who got 190, 227 votes.

Suhas’s mother relocated from Bengaluru to the US to unite with his father.

Suhas first got involved in public work when he organised volunteers to help people affected by hurricane Katrina.

A lawyer, he had earlier served as a White House technology policy adviser to President Barack Obama.

“I am honoured and humbled that the people of Virginia’s 10th District put their trust in me to take on the toughest fights and deliver results in Congress. This district is my home. I got married here, my wife Miranda and I are raising our daughters here, and the issues our community faces are personal to our family. It is an honour to continue serving this district in Washington,” Subramanyam said.

4. Pramila Jaypal

Another veteran Democrat, Pramila Jaypal, has won the race from the seventh Congressional District of Washington with 244,150 votes as against Dan Alexander, who got 42, 958 votes.

Jayapal, 59, was first elected in 2016.

Jayapal was born in Chennai and grew up in India, Indonesia and Singapore. She came to the US at the age of 16 to attend college at Georgetown University. She came back to India and stayed for two years in the late 1990s and this led her to write a book, ‘Pilgrimage to India: A Woman Revisits Her Homeland’.

She is known for being vocal about immigration rights.

5 . Raja Krishnamoorthi

Raja Krishnamoorthi, 51, has won the race from the eighth Congressional District of Illinois getting 163,721 votes as against Republican Mark Rice, who got 127,136 votes.

Krishanamoorthy is a lawyer who was first elected to the Congress in 2016.

“While the battles for control of the White House and Congress remain close, I am honoured that the people of Illinois’ 8th District have extended my contract to represent them in Congress,” Krishnamoorthi said.

“My parents came to this country with little more than a dream for their family’s future and the faith that they could achieve it here in America,” Krishnamoorthi concluded.

“Despite some hard times, we did.”

6. Dr Ami Bera

A physician by profession, Dr Bera, 59, is a Gujarati and the senior-most Indian-American Congressman representing the sixth Congressional District of California since 2013. He was re-elected for the seventh consecutive term.

He has 132,712 votes as against his rival Christine Bish 128,606 votes when 63 per cent of the votes were counted.

7. Dr Amish Shah

In Arizona, Shah from the Democratic Party was slightly ahead of his Republican Party’s incumbent David Schweikett from the first Congressional District of Arizona.

He has 132,712 votes as against his rival’s 128,606 votes when 63 per cent of the votes were counted.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited) / six to seven edited

India re-elected as President of International Solar Alliance till 2026

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From the Asia and the Pacific Region, Australia and Sri Lanka have been selected as Vice Presidents, with the United Arab Emirates and Papua New Guinea as the Vice-Chairs.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday said India has been re-elected as the President of Indian Solar Alliance (ISA) from 2024 to 2026.

Addressing the press conference at 7th General Assembly of the ISA, Joshi informed that France has been reelected as Vice-President of the ISA.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday said India has been re-elected as the President of Indian Solar Alliance (ISA) from 2024 to 2026.

Addressing the press conference at 7th General Assembly of the ISA, Joshi informed that France has been reelected as Vice-President of the ISA.

India’s election to the President post is a testament to the impactful work the country, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been doing over the years for the global good in advancing solar energy adoption across the globe and boosting investment in essential solar projects, including mini-grids and healthcare solutions, Joshi opined.

Eight Vice Presidents of the Standing Committee, two from each of the four ISA geographical regions, were also selected by the Assembly.

From the Africa Region, Ghana and Seychelles have been selected as the Vice Presidents, while South Sudan and the Comoros will support the Vice Presidents as Vice-Chairs of Africa.

From the Asia and the Pacific Region, Australia and Sri Lanka have been selected as Vice Presidents, with the United Arab Emirates and Papua New Guinea as the Vice-Chairs, he informed.

Germany and Italy have been selected as Vice Presidents from the Europe and the Others Region, along with Greece and Norway as Vice-Chair. Leading the Regional Committee of the Latin America and the Caribbean region will be Grenada and Suriname, Jamaica and Haiti as Vice-Chairs, he said.

ISA Member Countries have also selected the third Director General of the Alliance. Ashish Khanna is the Director General Designate and will assume office in March 2025, when the tenure of the incumbent Director General, Ajay Mathur, comes to a close, he informed.

ISA initiated Demonstration Projects in 2020 to meet the needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Development States (SIDS).

The aim was to exhibit solar technology applications that can be scaled up and build the capacity of member countries to replicate these solar-powered solutions.

Joshi noted that 11 of these projects were dedicated to the people of the respective countries: Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cuba, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Samoa, Senegal, The Gambia, and Tonga.

ISA remains committed to supporting governments in their efforts to scale up solar energy projects and improve the lives of their people, he stated.

An important topic of discussion will be the guidelines for the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme, which provides for 10 per cent to 35 per cent of the total solar project cost to be given as a grant for developing solar projects in LDCs and SIDS identified by the countries themselves, provided 90 per cent of the project cost is locked in, he said.

The ISA Assembly will also consider a proposal for promotion of greater involvement of women in ISA’s initiatives, programs, and support activities, wherever feasible, across member countries, he said.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

HT Archives: 140-year French rule ends, Pondicherry merges with India – November 01st, 1954

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On November 1, 1954, over 300,000 residents of former French enclaves in India were officially integrated into India, ending 140 years of French rule.

Pondicherry 

More than 300,000 people inhabiting “what used to be French enclaves in India” rejoined their mother country, India, at dawn on November 1, 1954, ending 140 years of unbroken French rule over the four settlements — Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yenam.

In a brief but solemn ceremony, at Government House, M Pierre Landy, of the French Foreign Office, handed over the seals of authority to Kewal Singh, Indian Consul-General and Commissioner-designate of the settlements, exactly at 6.54am and the two officials signed on behalf of their respective Governments the Instrument of Transfer negotiated between India and France.

From 7am, French rule over the four settlements ceased although sovereignty over them vests in France legally, till de jure transfer.

“A part of India separated from the Motherland is coming back to us of its own free will,” said Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, in a message welcoming the people of what used to be French enclaves in India “as nationals of the Republic of India”.

“I offer felicitations also to the Government and the people of France on this occasion. I am happy that Pondicherry will be a cultural link between the Republic of India and France,” Nehru added.

President Dr Rajendra Prasad welcoming the people of Pondicherry and other settlements, in his message said: “We shall be equal partners in a common endeavour to work for the progress and prosperity of India.”

The President hoped the spirit in which the friendly negotiations for the transfer were carried on would serve “as a shining example to other nations faced with similar problems of colonialism which is now an anachronism”.

Soon after the ceremony of signing the agreement, which lasted about 10 minutes, the Indian Tricolour was unfurled over Government House to the tumultuous ovation by thousands of people gathered at the Government House lawn.

THE CEREMONY Precisely at 6.45am, Kewal Singh drove from the Consulate to Government House. He was received at the gates by M Pierre Landy. Singh, after inspecting a guard of honour provided by a platoon of French police, was conducted to an anteroom where, to the glare of flashlights, the two officials signed the historic document of Instrument of Transfer to the booming of guns fired by the artillery.

M Landy then warmly shook hands with Singh and introduced French Indian officials to him and other Indian officials.

The Instrument of Transfer, which in French ran into six lines, read:

“In the year 1954 on the first of November at 6-54 a.m. according to the agreement signed on October 21 at Delhi between the Government of France and the Government of India. M. Pierre Landy, diplomatic consular representative of the Government of the French Republic, handed over to Mr Kewal Singh, representing the Government of the Indian Republic, the powers relating to the administration of French establishments in India.

“The handing over of the different services according to regulations contained in letter No. 3 appended to the, above agreement has been noted down for each service in a separate brochure.

“Done at Pondicherry the same day in six copies and signed by the two representatives. P. Landy and Kewal Singh.”

Soon after the transfer of power to India, RK Nehru, India’s foreign secretary, announced at a public meeting general amnesty to political prisoners in the settlements. He also announced the extension of the Five-Year Plan to these areas. The government of India, he said, proposed to extend civil rights guaranteed under the Indian Constitution to the people of these areas.

The foreign secretary, who conducted the two-year-long negotiations with the government of France for the transfer of the settlements, then unfurled the Indian Tricolour at the Customs House.

Thousands of people cheered, and a 21-gun salute was fired as the National Flag went up. Children from Aurobindo Ashram sang Jana Gana Mana.

From early morning people lined along the beach to witness the Indian national flag go up the Metal flag-mast. Leaders, including Messrs EG Pillai, Muthukumarappa Reddiar, Muthu Pillai and Subbiah, on arrival at the meeting ground were cheered by the waiting crowd.

NEHRU’S MESSAGE PM Nehru, in his message to Pondicherry, said: “I am far from India on this day but my thoughts are at Pondicherry where an event of great significance is taking place. A part of India long separated from the Motherland is coming back to us of its own tree will and this change is taking place as a result of friendly agreement with France. The French settlements in India were small in area but they raised difficult problems it is never easy to solve problems which involve the interests and prestige of different countries. It is thus a matter of peculiar satisfaction that both India and France have succeeded in solving this question with grace and goodwill. In doing so they have set an example of tolerance, good sense and wisdom. which if applied to other problems in the world might lead to successful results.

“I congratulate the people of what used to be French enclaves in India and welcome them as nationals of the Republic of India. I offer felicitations also to the Government of France under the wise leadership of its Prime Minister and the people of France on this occasion. I am happy that Pondicherry will continue to be a centre of the French language and culture and will be a cultural link between the Republic of India and the Republic of France. The settlement of this problem is a justification and vindication of the policy we have pursued in such matters. That policy is of peace and patient perseverance. Some people have thought that it was slow in achieving results. But the way of peace though it might appear long is always the shortest and most satisfactory. That way we shall continue to pursue, holding always to what we consider to be right and yet ever ready to be friends with even those who might oppose us. Jai Hind.”

source/contents: hindustantimes.com (headline edited)

Prabhakar Raghavan, IIT-Madras Alumnus Appointed as Google’s Chief Technologist

Prabhakar Raghavan, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-Madras), has been appointed as Google’s Chief Technologist. He was previously the Senior Vice President at Google, responsible for overseeing a broad spectrum of products including Google Search, Assistant, Geo.

Prabhakar Raghavan, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-Madras), has been appointed as Google’s Chief Technologist. He was previously the Senior Vice President at Google, responsible for overseeing a broad spectrum of products including Google Search, Assistant, Geo, Ads, Commerce, and Payments. His new role marks a significant shift in Google’s leadership, especially as the company undergoes core business restructuring.

Early Career and Education

Educational Background:

  • BTech in Electrical Engineering from IIT-Madras (1981): Raghavan’s educational journey began at IIT-Madras, one of India’s most prestigious engineering institutions. He graduated with a degree in electrical engineering, which laid the foundation for his illustrious career in technology.
  • MS and PhD from the University of California: He continued his academic pursuits at the University of California, Berkeley, earning his MS in 1982 and completing his PhD in computer science in 1986. His doctoral work in computer science solidified his expertise in areas such as algorithms, data mining, and machine learning.

Academic and Professional Achievements

Prabhakar Raghavan is a highly respected figure in the global tech community. He has received numerous accolades for his contributions to computer science and technology:

  • Member of the US National Academy of Engineering: This prestigious title is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to engineering research, practice, or education.
  • Honorary Doctorate from the University of Bologna, Italy: In recognition of his achievements in technology and leadership.
  • UC Berkeley Distinguished CS Alumnus Award: Acknowledging his outstanding contributions as an alumnus of the University of California, Berkeley.
  • Fellow of the IEEE and ACM: These fellowships are awarded to individuals with exceptional accomplishments in electrical and computer engineering, as well as computing machinery

Career Before Google

Before joining Google, Prabhakar Raghavan had already established a stellar career, holding leadership roles in some of the world’s top tech companies.

  • Yahoo! Labs: Dr. Raghavan founded and led Yahoo! Labs, where he spearheaded major advancements in search and ad ranking algorithms. He played a pivotal role in ad marketplace design and served as Yahoo’s Chief Strategy Officer.
  • CTO at Verity: Raghavan also served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Verity, a leading company in enterprise search technology.
  • 14 Years at IBM: During his long tenure at IBM, Raghavan worked extensively on algorithms, data mining, and machine learning. His work at IBM solidified his reputation as an expert in developing technologies related to data management.

Career at Google

Raghavan joined Google in 2012 and has since held various key roles within the company. His journey at Google is marked by leading teams that have developed and managed some of the company’s most critical in-house products:

  • Google Cloud and Google Apps: Raghavan initially managed Google Cloud and Google Apps, overseeing vital tools like Gmail and Google Drive. His leadership contributed to the growth and success of these products, making them integral to Google’s broader ecosystem.
  • Google Search and Related Products: As Senior Vice President, Raghavan was responsible for overseeing Google Search, one of the company’s most essential products, along with Google Assistant, Geo, Ads, Commerce, and Payments. His efforts helped improve the functionality and relevance of these products, enhancing Google’s role as a global leader in technology and innovation.

Transition to Chief Technologist

In October 2024, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced in an internal note that Prabhakar Raghavan would take over the position of Chief Technologist. This shift in leadership came at a crucial time for Google, which is currently undergoing significant business restructuring to address increasing competition and changes in user behavior.

Raghavan’s role as Chief Technologist will focus on driving technical innovations, overseeing key strategic initiatives, and guiding the company through the evolving landscape of technology.

  • Nick Fox will take over Raghavan’s previous role, leading Google Search, Assistant, and related products.

Importance of His Appointment

Raghavan’s appointment as Google’s Chief Technologist is a testament to his decades of experience in computer science, leadership, and technical expertise. His deep knowledge in areas like machine learning, data mining, and algorithms is expected to further enhance Google’s technological capabilities and strategic direction.

This leadership transition also highlights Google’s commitment to innovation and technical excellence, ensuring that the company remains at the forefront of global technology advancements.

source/content: currentaffairs.adda247.com / Adda247 (headline edited)

PM Modi, Spanish counterpart to inaugurate Tata aircraft complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft, making it India’s 1st Private Sector final Assemly line for Military Aircraft.

The Prime Minister’s Office, in a statement, said this will be the first private sector final assembly line for military aircraft in India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sanchez, will inaugurate the Tata aircraft complex in Gujarat’s Vadodara on Monday for manufacturing C-295 aircraft by Tata Advanced Systems.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), in a statement on Saturday, said this will be the first private sector final assembly line for military aircraft in India.

During the visit to his home state, Modi will also launch development projects worth more than Rs 4,900 crore in Amreli.

The PMO said 40 aircraft will be built in the Vadodara facility as part of the agreement, while aviation behemoth Airbus will deliver 16 aircraft directly.

Tata Advanced Systems is responsible for making these 40 aircraft in India and this facility will be the first private sector final assembly line (FAL) for military planes in India.

It will involve the full development of a complete ecosystem, from manufacture to assembly, test and qualification, to delivery and maintenance of the complete life cycle of the aircraft, the statement said.

Apart from the Tatas, leading defence public sector units, such as Bharat Electronics and Bharat Dynamics, as well as private micro, small and medium enterprises will contribute to this programme.

Modi had laid the foundation stone for the Vadodara final assembly line in October 2022.

In Amreli, the prime minister will inaugurate the “Bharat Mata” Sarovar in Dudhala. This project was developed through a collaboration between the state government and the Dholakia Foundation under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Various rail, road, water and tourism projects, among others, to be inaugurated by Modi will benefit the citizens of Amreli, Jamnagar, Morbi, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Junagadh, Porbandar, Kachchh and Botad districts of the state, the statement said.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.

source/content: telegraphindia.com (headline edited)

India launches fourth nuclear-missile submarine as a leap in maritime defence, says report

The launch of India’s fourth SSBN, S4*, at Visakhapatnam boosts its nuclear deterrence. 

India launched its fourth nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) this week at the Ship Building Center (SBC) in Visakhapatnam, enhancing its nuclear deterrence capabilities against potential adversaries, Hindustan Times reported.

The country’s second SSBN, INS Arighaat, was commissioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on August 29, 2024, while the third SSBN, INS Aridhaman, is set to be commissioned next year. Additionally, on October 9, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved plans for the Indian Navy to construct two nuclear-powered attack submarines, aimed at bolstering deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a message to the neighbouring countries who share maritime boundaries with India that maritime security is a collective effort and inviting “outside forces” to the doorstep would dent efforts for unity, PTI reported.

“Maintaining peace in the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean Region should be top priority. Cooperation of India’s friendly nations is essential in this effort, as even if one country is left out, the nation’s security wheel breaks,” Singh said.

Hindustan Times reported that the newly launched S4* SSBN features nearly 75% indigenous content and is armed exclusively with K-4 nuclear ballistic missiles, which have a range of 3,500 km and can be launched through vertical systems. In contrast, the first submarine of its class, INS Arihant, carries K-15 nuclear missiles with a range of 750 km.

The report further noted that the newer submarines are upgrades, exclusively equipped with K-4 missiles. These SSBNs have unlimited range and endurance, limited only by food supplies, crew fatigue, and maintenance needs. Both INS Arihant and INS Arighaat are currently on deep-sea patrols, and a Russian Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine is expected to join the fleet on lease in 2028.

India’s first leased nuclear attack submarine, INS Chakra, was designated as S1, leading to the naming of subsequent submarines: INS Arihant as S2, INS Arighaat as S3, and INS Aridhaman as S4. The newly launched submarine is designated S4*, with its formal name yet to be announced. Future classes of Indian SSBNs are expected to have a displacement of 6,000 tons, double that of the Arihant class, and will carry nuclear missiles with ranges exceeding 5,000 kilometers and beyond, reported Hindustan Times.

source/content: livemint.com (headline edited)

India surpasses China to become largest two-wheeler market globally

India has surpassed China to become the largest two-wheeler market in the world, driven by rising demand in rural areas, supported by favourable monsoon conditions and government initiatives for rural development, a report showed on Friday.

Globally, two-wheeler sales grew 4 per cent (year-on-year) in the first half of 2024, according to Counterpoint Research.

Although India, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa saw growth, China and Southeast Asia (SEA) experienced a decline.

Senior analyst Soumen Mandal said that India’s two-wheeler market saw a remarkable 22 per cent YoY growth in the first half this year.

“This strong performance allowed India to surpass China and become the world’s largest two-wheeler market,” he mentioned.

Two-wheelers saw strong double-digit growth (year-on-year) in the second quarter of this fiscal in India.

In China, two-wheelers under 125cc remain popular, but consumers are increasingly opting for e-bicycles over motorcycles and scooters for daily commuting. This shift has led to a temporary slowdown in the Chinese two-wheeler market, particularly in the electric segment.

In South East Asia, major markets such as Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia saw a decline in two-wheeler sales due to geopolitical trade tensions, stricter lending criteria, and cautious consumer spending amid economic uncertainty.

The top-10 global two-wheeler manufacturers captured over 75 per cent of sales during H1 2024.

Honda maintained its leading position in the global two-wheeler market, followed by Hero MotoCorp, Yamaha, TVS Motor and Yadea.

TVS Motor was the fastest-growing brand (up 25 per cent YoY) among the top-10 brands while Yadea declined the most (down 29 per cent YoY), slipping to fifth position.

Neil Shah, Vice President of Research, said that electrification is on the rise, and by 2030, we expect four out of 10 two-wheelers sold to be electric.

“This shift is also accelerating the adoption of embedded cellular connectivity in the two-wheeler segment. As the automotive industry advances toward C-V2X technology, the two-wheeler segment will follow suit,” he noted.

source/content: business.ians.in (headline edited)

GLOBAL: Indian Dr Venkatesh Karthikeyan Elected As Publications Director Of World Medical Association

Dr Venkatesh Karthikeyan, a distinguished figure in the field of medical science has been recognised for his outstanding contributions in health care.

The World Medical Association (WMA) has elected Dr Venkatesh Karthikeyan as the new Publications Director of the WMA Junior Doctors’ Network. The appointment took place during the recent WMA General Assembly in Helsinki, Finland.

Dr Venkatesh Karthikeyan, a distinguished figure in the field of medical science and public health, has been recognised for his outstanding contributions and leadership in health care. With a robust background in Community and Family medicine, Dr. Karthikeyan will oversee the publication activities of JDN aimed at shaping the future of medical science globally.

The World Medical Association, now encompassing 114 member countries, is dedicated to the highest standards of medical education, science, and ethics, ensuring quality health care for all people worldwide. Dr Karthikeyan’s election as Publications Director underscores his formidable reputation as a leader capable of steering the international medical community towards these lofty goals.

In addition to his new role at WMA, Dr Venkatesh Karthikeyan is already serving as the National Convenor for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) at the Indian Medical Association. This election  signifies India’s rising prominence as a global leader in healthcare.

The World Medical Association (WMA) is an international organization representing physicians. It was founded on 17 September 1947, when physicians from 27 different countries met at the First General Assembly of the WMA in Paris. The organization was created to ensure the independence of physicians, and to work for the highest possible standards of ethical behaviour and care by physicians, at all times. This was particularly important to physicians after the Second World War, and therefore the WMA has always been an independent confederation of free professional associations. 

source/content: ndtv.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: SAUDI ARABAI: Over 20 mn Indians contributing to our society: Saudi Arabia minister

Al-Ghamdi’s statement comes after Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Media launched the ‘global harmony’ initiative in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Media Khalid bin Abdulqader Al-Ghamdi has lauded the contribution of Indians residing in the country.


Al-Ghamdi’s statement comes after Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Media launched the ‘global harmony’ initiative in Riyadh as part of the “Quality of Life” Program to attain its Vision 2030 objectives.The Riyadh season started on October 13.

The events and activities in the Riyadh season represent the cultures of 11 countries including – India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, Yemen, Sudan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Bangladesh, and Egypt over 45 days. The activities include concerts, cultural, entertainment and family events, traditional foods, and various handicraft exhibitions.

There are 2.6 million Indians currently living in Saudi Arabia. Highlighting the contribution of Indians in the Saudi Society, the deputy minister said the relationship with India is important.

“The relationship between our countries is witnessing improvement, witnessing so many new arenas of cooperation including economics, cultural or all the aspects and these will be aligned to vision 2030 or its counterpart long-term projects in India. There are 2.6 million Indians in Saudi Arabia which shows how much they are contributing in our society,” he said.

The Saudi deputy minister also highlighted the previous visits made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the year 2016 and 2019 and said, “It is one manifestation of how strong the relationship between both the countries is. It is leadership and political aspects for all the relevance of the relationship between the two countries and are all together moving toward future based on our vision 2030 and long term vision of India relationship.”

The Ministry of Media, in partnership with the General Entertainment Authority, has organised events in the city that feature cultural, artistic, and folkloric activities and shows.

“This is an initiative by Ministry of Media. It is one of the initiative of the Vision 2030 and program on quality of life of Saudi Arabia. It aims to show how residents are living in harmony in the society of Saudi Arabia,” Al-Ghamdi added. 

source/content: business-standard.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL / NATIONAL: DEFENCE: India, US sign Rs 32,000-crore deal for 31 Predator drones

The development comes less than a month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden held talks about the acquisition of the Predator drones on the sidelines of the Quad Leaders’ Summit held in Delaware. 

In Short

  • Total cost of the deal could rise to Rs 34,500 crore
  • Deal includes MRO facility establishment in India
  • 15 drones for Navy, rest for Air Force and Army

India has signed a deal with the US for the procurement of 31 Predator MQ-9B High Altitude Long Endurance UAV manufactured by General Atomics. The development comes less than a month after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden held talks about the acquisition of the drones on the sidelines of the Quad Leaders’ Summit held in Delaware.

The two countries signed a deal worth Rs 32,000 crore for the acquisition of 31 predator drones, along with the establishment of a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in India.

This deal will enhance the surveillance capabilities of the Indian armed forces. According to reports, the total value of the deal could rise to Rs 34,500 crore.

The project was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) last week under which the Indian Navy will receive 15 Sea Guardians, while the Indian Army and Air Force will each acquire eight Sky Guardians.

Along with the UAVs, the deal encompasses advanced weaponry, such as 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, 16 M36E9 Hellfire training missiles, 310 GBU-39B/B laser-guided Small Diameter Bombs (SDB), and eight GBU-39B/B LSDB guided test vehicles with live fuses.

India has been discussing the deal with the US for many years, but the final hurdles were cleared a few weeks ago at the Defence Acquisition Council meeting as it had to be cleared before October 31 as the validity of the American proposal was till that time only.

India would be basing the drones at four possible locations, including INS Rajali near Chennai, Porbandar in Gujarat, Sarsawa and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh.

WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF THE MQ-9B DRONES?

The US had approved the sale of 31 MQ-9B drones to the Indian military at an estimated cost of $3.99 billion in February.

The key characteristic of the MQ-9B Predator is its whisper-quiet operation. The drone stands out from the rest because of its stealth feature. The drone can fly as close to 250 metres from the ground without the target even having an inkling it is there unless spotted.

With a maximum speed of 442 km/h, the drone can soar at an altitude of around 50,000 feet, higher than that of a commercial airplane.

The drone’s capacity to be sent on extended missions in any kind of weather is another noteworthy feature. The drone has the option to be fitted with air-to-ground missiles in addition to air-to-air missiles.

The MQ-9B drone can fly 2,000 miles without refueling and carry up to 1,700 kg of cargo, which includes four missiles and about 450 kg of bombs. The drone’s manufacturer, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, claims that it can fly nonstop or hover over targets for up to 35 hours.

source/content: indiatoday.in (headline edited)