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Pilots of VIP charters can now refuse to fly in unsafe conditions

Noting that VVIPs “use air travel frequently for electioneering and other purposes in (small) aircraft” and choppers, DGCA said, “Analysis of earlier accidents/incidents associated with aircraft operations to/from airstrips/temporary helipads and during election flying has often revealed violation of instructions and safety was jeopardised. It is essential that adequate measures are taken by all concerned

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12L on Bengal’s 2nd supplementary list, but no clarity on who made the cut

As was the case when Election Commission released the first supplementary rolls close to midnight last Monday, there were more questions than CEO Manoj Agarwal had answers for. “About 37 lakh of the 60 lakh pending cases have been disposed of till now. After receiving the list from Calcutta HC, EC will take 4-6 hours

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US, Ukraine citizens who went to Mizoram posed no threat to India: Shah

This is the first time a govt functionary has clarified on record that the group’s interest lay in Myanmar and India was merely a transit point. “No threat was posed to India’s security. It is our policy that any foreigner who visits India for any wrong act will not be spared,” he said.

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Defence ministry inks Rs 445cr deal for Tunguska missile systems with Russia, signs Rs 413cr P8I jet maintenance contract with Boeing

The contract for the procurement of Tunguska systems, valued at Rs 445 crore, for the Indian Army, was signed with JSC Rosoboronexport of Russia in the presence of defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi. These cutting-edge missiles will enhance India’s multi-layered air defence capabilities against aerial threats. Tunguska is designed to provide day-and-

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Def council clears Rs 2.4L cr proposals for procurement of more S-400 units, transport aircraft, desi Bofors

The approval for additional S-400 ‘Sudarshan’ systems, which had helped neutralise Pakistani missiles during last year’s conflict in May and had also to its credit the world’s longest-range kill of an enemy aircraft, has come at a time when IAF teams are in Russia to receive the fourth squadron under the earlier contract for five

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‘Alive & protesting’: MP in Janata regime turns 100

Sitting in his Bharatpur home, the veteran, “Lohia’s oldest disciple” as he likes to call himself, speaks with the authority of one who has not just witnessed history, but shaped it. Until a recent fall briefly hospitalised him, he was holding three meetings a week. What keeps him going is unfinished work.

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‘Evidence insufficient’: Spl Delhi court clears ex-MP Darda, son & others in coal ‘scam’ case

The case stemmed from the allocation in Maharashtra’s Bandar and led to the first CBI chargesheet in the larger coal block controversy dating back to the time Congress-led UPA was in office. The FIR was filed in 2012 and the chargesheet in 2014. Judge Sunena Sharma held that there was no proof of criminal conspiracy,

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Supreme Court rebukes courts for naming rape survivors

A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and N K Singh expressed concern that despite statutory safeguards and repeated directions from SC, such lapses persist. The court made the observation while convicting a rape accused, noting that the name of the minor survivor was mentioned in lower court orders. ​The court rejected the argument of the

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Jewar in the crown: PM to open NCR’s 2nd international airport today

The PM is scheduled to arrive at the airport at 11.30am on Saturday, go on a walkthrough of the terminal building, and formally inaugurate the airport around noon before addressing a public gathering. The event is expected to draw large crowds from Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr and other parts of western UP. Three pandals

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Indian seafarers face GPS jams, mine alerts in Hormuz

Ships in the region are reporting repeated radio broadcasts over maritime channels warning vessels against transit. “Attention all ships… This is the Sepah Navy… navigation through Strait of Hormuz is forbidden… no ship is allowed to pass until further notice,” the radio messages repeatedly blare. Crews attributed these announcements to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

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