India and Oman Bilateral Air Force Exercise Begins in Jodhpur
The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Air Force of Oman began a five-day bilateral exercise at the Jodhpur air force station. The exercise named Eastern Bridge-VI is in its sixth edition.
The participation by both the air forces in the exercise will promote professional interaction, exchange of experiences and enhancement of operational knowledge, besides strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
The bilateral exercise came a couple of weeks after Oman's top defence official Mohammed Nasser Al Zaabi visited India in January as part of an official visit. Zaabi had co-chaired a meeting of the Joint Military Cooperation Committee, which supposedly initiated a series of high-level defence engagements between the two countries.
Exercise Eastern Bridge V was held in October 2019 at the Air Force Base Masirah, Oman.
Feb 21, 2022
PM Modi Flags off 100 Kisan Drones
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that use of drones will prove to be a game changer in many sectors, and termed Kisan drone a new age revolution. The Prime Minister flagged off 100 kisan drones in different cities and towns.
Addressing the farmers virtually at Manesar, Mr. Modi said, this special drive is aimed at helping farmers by giving their produce easy access to the markets.
He said, this will also increase the income of farmers. He said, this is a new chapter in the direction of modern agricultural facilities of the 21st century.
He expressed confidence that this will not only open the sky to unlimited possibilities, but will also prove to be a milestone in the development of drone sector.
Ahmedabad 2008 blasts: India court sentences 38 to death
A court in India has sentenced 38 people to death for their role in a series of bomb blasts in 2008 in the western state of Gujarat.
Fifty-seven people were killed and hundreds injured in the bombings, which took place in Ahmedabad, the commercial capital of Gujarat.
The court in Ahmedabad also sentenced 11 other convicts to life in prison until death.
The accused can challenge their sentences in a higher court.
On 26 July 2008, around 20 bombs exploded in the space of an hour across residential areas, market places, public transport and hospitals in Ahmedabad. Several unexploded bombs were also found.
The Indian Mujahideen - then an unknown Islamic militant group - had claimed responsibility for the attacks in an email sent to some media outlets.
The Indian government declared the group a terrorist organisation and banned it in 2010 after it was accused of an attack on a German bakery in Pune in which 17 people were killed and scores injured.
Feb 20, 2022
Indian Navy Test Fires BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile
Indian Navy's warship INS Visakhapatnam carried out the test-firing of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile off the western seaboard.
The warship reached Visakhapatnam to take part in President's Fleet Review on February 21, informed Defence sources.
INS Visakhapatnam is the latest warship of the Indian Navy inducted recently.
BrahMos is the main weapon system of the Indian Navy warships and has been deployed on almost all of its surface platforms.
Feb 19, 2022
Oman Navy Delegation Visits Mumbai; Discusses Defence Cooperation
A four-member delegation headed by Rear Admiral Saif bin Nasser bin Mohsin Al Rahbi, Commander, Royal Navy of Oman (CRNO), visited the Western Naval Command and interacted with senior officials.
During the visit, Rear Admiral Al Rahbi called on Vice Admiral Ajendra Bahadur Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command and discussed matters of mutual interest.
The two sides also examined ways of enhancing cooperation in the maritime domain between the two navies.
Feb 18, 2022
Kuwait Army Allows Women in Combat Roles, But Without Guns
Kuwaiti women were angry after the military, having allowed female soldiers in combat roles, decided they need the permission of a male guardian and banned them from carrying weapons.
Activists have decried the policy as "one step forward, two steps back" after the defence ministry also decided that women in the armed forces, unlike civilians, must wear head coverings.
The moves have sparked an online backlash in Kuwait, usually regarded as one of the most open societies in the Gulf.