Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the inauguration of the C-295 aircraft manufacturing complex in Vadodara was a watershed moment in India’s defence and aerospace journey.
In a LinkedIn post, PM Modi said the execution speed is breathtaking — from foundation stone to operational facility in just two years. This is a clear manifestation of a new work culture and the capabilities of the people of India. PM said India’s defence production was Rs 1.27 lakh crore in the financial year (FY) 2023-24. Along with production, India’s defence exports surged to Rs 21,000 crore. It was Rs 1,000 crore in 2014.
“In India, over 12,300 items have been indigenised in just 3 years and more than Rs 7,500 crore invested in domestic vendors by DPSUs (Defence PSUs),” PM Modi added. He said that due to the strengths and skills of our Yuva Shakti and the government’s efforts, our dependency on imports has reduced. “India’s defence sector has ample opportunities for our youth, startups, manufacturers, and innovators. This is your moment to be part of history. India needs your expertise and enthusiasm,” PM Modi further said. “The doors are open for innovation, the policies are supportive, and the opportunity is unprecedented. Together, we will make India not just Aatmanirbhar in defence but a global leader in defence manufacturing,” the PM stated.
Historically, India relied heavily on foreign countries for its defence needs, with about 65-70 per cent of defence equipment being imported. “However, this landscape has dramatically shifted, with around 65 per cent of defence equipment now manufactured within India,” the government added. The TATA-Airbus facility in Vadodara has become India’s first private sector final assembly line (FAL) for military aircraft, underscoring the government’s commitment to enhancing indigenous production capabilities. Under the programme, 56 C-295 aircraft will be delivered, with the initial 16 arriving from Airbus in Spain and the remaining 40 produced domestically.
–IANS
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Kannur District Collector Arun Vijayan has pointed fingers against Additional District Magistrate Naveen Babu in the controversial suicide case involving the CPI-M leader PP Divya.
In his statement to the police, the collector said that Babu confessed to him of having done a ‘wrong’. Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal has slammed the collector, saying that he has no right to continue in his position.
“The collector has been forced to make such a statement and the CPI-M is a master in it. They intervened in the system to ensure that all whom they want to be protected are protected. It’s shameless for the collector to have given such a statement,” said Venugopal.
State BJP president K. Surendran said the Kerala Chief Minister and Divya must also be accused in the case.
Babu was found hanging on October 15 in his home, and a case against Divya for her remarks was registered on October 17. Divya made the speech at Babu’s function in the Kannur collectorate on October 14th, where she barged in to make a speech even though she wasn’t invited.
She had alleged that Babu withheld a sanction for a petrol pump, but just before his transfer orders came, he gave the sanction.
Incidentally, this statement deeply hurt Babu, who committed suicide at his official quarters by hanging. State Revenue Minister K. Rajan was the first person to give Babu a clean chit and termed him one of the cleanest officials in his department.
–IANS
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The Ram Temple in Ayodhya is all decked up for Deepotsav on 30 October 2024. This will be the first such celebration in the city after the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple, held on 22 January. The day began with the Shobha Yatra, a procession of tableaux showcasing the life of Lord Ram and based on the seven chapters of the Ramayana.
The procession started from Saket Mahavidyalaya and around 18 tableaus lined up. These tableaus will tour the Ayodhya city and showcase all the chapters of Ramayana, and will also give the message of women empowerment. Artists from all over the country were presenting different folk dances in the procession.
One of the artists participating in the festival said they were working to promote traditions and cultural heritage. “My aim is to further the celebration of our traditions. There is a portrayal of Lord Ram’s childhood, along with Mata Kaushalya and King Dasharath, depicting the early years of Lord Ram,” said the artist performing at the Shobha Yatra.
The Yogi Adityanath government plans to illuminate the city with 28 lakh ‘diyas (earthen lamps)’ in an attempt to create a new world record. These will be arranged by 30,000 volunteers. In this year’s Deepotsav, another world record will be attempted. It will be of 1,100 people performing the largest ‘aarti’ together on the ghats of Saryu.
The UP CM will also participate in performing the special aarti and lighting the diyas. The event will take place at multiple locations, including New Ghat and Old Ghat. A 30-member Guinness World Records team is present in the city to oversee the preparations. The team is likely to pronounce results after the diyas are lit. The counting of the diyas will utilize specialized software to ensure accuracy, as precise dimensions for each 16 by 16-foot area are critical for maintaining count integrity.
The five-day Diwali festivities began with Dhanteras on 29 October 2024, and will end with Bhai Dooj. Also known as the “festival of lights”, Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day of the Hindu lunar month of Karthik, between mid-October and mid-November. For Deepotsav, there will be performances by artists from six countries – Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Indonesia – along with a Ram Leela presentation from Uttarakhand.
Deepotsav celebrates Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after a 14-year exile, highlighting the city’s cultural and spiritual significance and attracting millions of devotees and tourists. While detailing the plans for the celebrations, Uttar Pradesh Minister Jaiveer Singh said after the establishment of the Ram Temple, this is the first celebration of Deepotsav and to make this occasion memorable, grand and divine, many beautiful decorations have been assembled to enhance the festivities.
Minister Jaiveer Singh said, “Today, I extend my best wishes to every Sanatan follower who believes in traditions and rituals in the country and across the world. Everyone in Ayodhya is overwhelmed and happy today. They are feeling the same enthusiasm and happiness that people must have felt when Lord Ram returned from 14 years of exile. We will also perform Aarti with 1,100 diyas at the Saryu Ghat with 1,100 Vedacharyas.”
-IANS
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Police in Coimbatore and nearby districts stepped up security after intelligence agencies issued an alert. According to Coimbatore police sources, security has been intensified across key locations, including shopping malls, railway stations, airports, schools, colleges, and religious sites. The Central agencies have also issued alerts for neighbouring western districts, such as The Nilgiris, Erode, and Salem.
In 2022, a car bomb blast near the Sangameswarar Temple in Ukkadam claimed the life of a 29-year-old youth. The 2022 incident involved Jamisha Mubeen, who, inspired by IS ideology, attempted a suicide bombing near the Ukkadam market. However, the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) detonated prematurely on 23 October 2022, near the ancient Kottai Sangameswarar Temple on Eswaran Kovil Street, resulting in his death. Following the blast, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested 14 individuals, including Mohammed Talka, the nephew of S. A. Basha, founder of the Al-Umma terror organisation. Al-Umma was responsible for the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blasts that killed 58 people and injured many others, with then Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani as the intended target.
A senior Tamil Nadu police officer confirmed that stringent security measures are in place across strategic areas of the Coimbatore district. Heavy last-minute Diwali shopping is being witnessed across the district. Police were keeping a tab on markets and malls in response to intelligence inputs. He further said that footage from CCTV cameras was being reviewed.
Dhanraj Menon, a trader in Coimbatore, told IANS, “The market was very crowded. Over the past few days, we have seen brisk business, including at firecracker shops.” He added that clothing and diya shops were recording large sales, with jewellery shops also witnessing high business volumes.
-IANS
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Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province, Maryam Nawaz Sharif stated on 30 October 2024, that she plans to write a letter to Bhagwant Mann, the CM of Indian Punjab, seeking cooperation to tackle the issue of smog, which has engulfed the whole region, especially Lahore which has become the most polluted city in the world with AQI even going past 900 earlier this week.
“The air knows no borders. The issue of smog is hurting both sides of Punjab. I intend to write to Indian Punjab’s CM and emphasise that this is not a political matter. Smog is affecting both sides severely and we need to work together to handle this matter,” Maryam Nawaz said during a Diwali celebration ceremony in Lahore.
“We need to work together on humanitarian grounds. Our people are getting affected,” she added.
Lahore continues to remain the world’s most polluted city with the Air Quality Index (AQI) peaking to 708 on 28th October night, prompting medical experts and the provincial government to issue guidelines for the citizens, asking them to stay indoors or not move out without wearing masks.
Local media reported that the AQI touched 708 at 11 pm Monday with PM 2.5 concentration being 431µg/m³, 86.2 times more than the WHO annual air quality guideline value. The provincial government has issued an emergency alert for Lahore citizens, appealing to citizens to wear masks and also keep windows and doors of their homes closed.
The school timings have also been changed with the government requesting parents and management of educational institutions to follow all safety measures for the safety and convenience of children. The authorities have passed an order that any vehicle found to be emitting smoke will be clamped immediately and all brick kilns operating without zigzag technology will be demolished.
The smog has not only affected Lahore but also nearby cities of Kasur, Sheikhupura, Muridke and Gujranwala with the local administration arresting several farmers for burning paddy stubble. However, Marriyum Aurangzeb, a senior provincial minister in the government led by Maryam Nawaz, tried to pin blame on India for the current situation, stating that smog from Delhi, Amritsar and Chandigarh is entering Lahore as a result of strong winds. Meanwhile, the AQI in Amritsar, just a little over 50 kms from Lahore, remains well below the 200-mark this week.
-IANS
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On 25 October 2024, a viral video circulated online, raising the question,“The IMA takes strong action against Hindu Babas, but why are they silent on these superstitions?”The video shows a pastor claiming to heal a person with a physical deformity through the power of “Yeshu.” This clip is one of numerous similar videos from Church-led “Hallelujah” events.
Instance#1
IMA takes strong action against Hindu Babas but they are quiet on this superstitions, why?pic.twitter.com/LTX3UesTKf
These so-called “healing” videos have ignited discussions over the intentions behind Christian missionary activities, with concerns that they may be leveraging deceptive practices to convert Hindus to Christianity. The video brings attention to how some evangelical groups allegedly exploit vulnerable individuals through methods like church planting, mass evangelical gatherings, prayer sessions, and healing events. Let’stake a look at ten similar cases involving alleged fake healing by Christian pastors and missionaries.
Instance#2 – Mera Yeshu Yeshu
A video of Prophet Bajinder Singh with a minor boy at a Christian missionary event recently went viral, sparking controversy and fueling a meme fest online. In the video, the boy is seen weeping profusely as the pastor asks if his sister could speak previously, to which the boy responds negatively. The pastor then asks if she can speak now, and the boy replies affirmatively, as the background song “Mera Yeshu Yeshu” plays.
Late ….But still vibing on "Mera yeshu yeshu …Mera yeshu yeshu "🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣Damn too hilarious 🤣👌 Behan bolne lagi 😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/CECearb9iv
Instance#3 – Pastor Claims To Heal Kidney Failure Through The Power of Jesus
Pushpa Diwadkar, a resident of Santa Cruz, Mumbai, had been suffering from a slipped disc and kidney failure. However, she recently met a pastor who claimed to use the power of Jesus Christ to not only treat her disc issues but also revive her failed kidneys.
Instance#4 – Jesus “Heals” Blind Girl
Prophet Bajinder Singh, previously arrested on charges of rape, demonstrated what he calls his rare gift of “prophetic healing” at an evangelical event, where he prayed over a young girl blind from birth, claiming he could restore her sight through his connection to Jesus. With his prayer, the pastor announced that the Lord had blessed the child, granting her vision, much to the joy and astonishment of the crowd. The girl’s parents, moved by what they saw as miraculous healing, tearfully expressed their gratitude, chanting “Hallelujah” in praise.
Instance#5 – Jesus “Cures” Couple From AIDS
Pastor Bajinder Singh, who claims to be a direct messenger of Jesus, has recently presented what he calls a cure for AIDS at a healing event. Known for his “miraculous” solutions to numerous diseases, Pastor Bajinder this time targeted HIV, aiming to heal a husband-wife duo suffering from the virus. Through a ritual involving tapping their heads, rubbing their cheeks, and chanting “Hallelujah,” he proclaimed the couple cured, celebrating the victory over what he described as the “satan called AIDS.”
Instance#6 – Royal Rumble Of Conversions
In the video of Geoffrey Ministries, women are seen rolling on the floor, seemingly under the influence of the pastor’s “magic touch.” With simple hand movements, he appears to control the attendees, who have come to seek relief from their ailments. The footage also shows individuals with chronic illnesses receiving “treatment” on stage, while some disabled men start dancing and women jump around energetically as the pastor waves his hands over them.
Instance#7 – Young Jesus And His Miracles
Meet Ankit Ram Babu, the son of the notorious evangelist Ram Babu, who has been entrenched in the conversion business for quite some time. A recent snippet highlights Ankit’s effectiveness in luring innocent individuals by convincing them that he can cure diseases with just a snap of his fingers. During a live stage event, he claims to have cured a patient of cancer, praying,“Thank you, Lord, for healing him, and Father, bring the work that has begun to completion,“as he chants, “Amen, Amen.”
Instance#8 – Slow Motion Exorcism
In the video from Kerala, a woman who appears to be ‘possessed‘ is undergoing what seems to be a ‘cure‘ or ‘exorcism‘ in slow motion. She moves her hands around slowly, her face contorted as if she has just stubbed her toe on a stool, all while the chants of ‘Hallelujah‘ fill the air. As she gets up, she sticks out her tongue to the audience for reasons known only to her and makes strange hand gestures, seemingly tying herself in knots. In a series of slow-motion movements, she begins to shake vigorously before collapsing onto the ground and rolling around. The stunned audience watches in awe before suddenly cheering as the woman is proclaimed ‘cured.’
Instance#9 – Punjab’s Christian ‘Prophets‘ And Pastors Claim to Cure Cancer and Reverse Death
“Do you believe you will be healed here? Do you believe?” Bajinder presses, addressing the weeping wife of a wheelchair-bound man.“Yes, I believe,” she sobs in response. Bajinder then turns to the captivated audience gathered at the venue. “Everyone, raise your hands and let the Holy Spirit work,”he urges, and the crowd complies. Focusing back on the man, Bajinder exclaims,“Jesus, touch him!”prompting the man to scream loudly.“Get up!”Bajinder commands. In a dramatic moment, the man rises, and the crowd erupts into rapturous hallelujahs. Right on cue, the band and singers onstage begin an upbeat devotional song, the catchy rhythm proving irresistible. So convincing has the supposed healing been that the “patient” joins the pastor in a few bhangra-style steps to the thumping music and even jogs down the stage.
Instance#10 – 40 Hindu Couples Targeted For Christian Conversion In Meerut
Pastor Biju and his wife, both dressed in white, made enticing promises to the crowd in attendance, urging them to join the church. They offered “miracle water” for treating various illnesses, pledged that the church would cover the financial costs of their children’s weddings, and committed to providing each couple with Rs 2-5 lakh to help them start their livelihoods.
Around 40 Hindu couples were being lured into Christian conversion in a colony in UP’s Meerut on Sunday when a raid took place
Pastor Biju and his wife, dressed in white, was promising these to the crowd if they join a church:
Instance#11 – Fraud Pastor Ankur Narula “Cures” Disabled Man
Ankur Yoseph Narula, the self-styled ‘healing’ pastor, founded the “Church of Sign and Wonders” in Khambra village in 2008 after leaving his family business. He rose to prominence by claiming to exorcise evil spirits and perform miraculous healings through prayer. Starting with just three followers, Narula’s church expanded significantly, boasting over 300,000 followers and spreading across 60 acres by 2018, with 15 branches in India and abroad. However, allegations of fraud surround him, as he operates the fourth-largest church in the world, located in Jalandhar, Punjab, and is accused of profiting from parading sick and disabled individuals, claiming to have healed them. Notably, despite his claims, his own father passed away last year under circumstances that raised questions about Narula’s purported healing abilities. In one video, he is seen “curing” a disabled man who was previously on a stretcher, as the man walks toward him, further fueling skepticism about the authenticity of Narula’s claims.
#AnkurNarula used all sorts of dirty tricks to fool people in the name of curing old diseases, spread rampant dangerous medical remedies without license. ++ pic.twitter.com/kvTbYpzo3R
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) is turning the dream of owning a home into reality for countless low-income families across India. After years of enduring harsh conditions while living in mud houses, beneficiaries of PMAY have voiced their appreciation after getting a house made of brick and mortar.
For families previously trapped in poverty, the transition to a solid roof over their heads signifies not just a structural change, but a profound emotional uplift. Women beneficiaries, visibly moved, have shared their heartfelt gratitude to the Centre. PMAY beneficiaries lauded PM’s efforts for providing homes to marginalised communities Dhanbad.
“Today, our dream of owning a house has come true,” one beneficiary remarked. “This is all thanks to our Prime Minister’s efforts.” With the current era marked by rising inflation, the aspiration for a house often seemed an unattainable dream for the poor. However, the PMAY has changed that reality, instilling hope and excitement in communities that had long felt marginalised. Beneficiaries have voiced their appreciation for this transformative initiative by the Union government.
Mira Devi, who once lived in a mud house, expressed her relief, “The government has given us a home. I want to thank PM Modi for this scheme.”
Another beneficiary echoed this sentiment, stating, “This is a very good initiative by our government. We faced many challenges while living in a mud house, but now our lives have improved significantly.” The positive impact of PMAY is palpable, with families expressing newfound stability and security. “We used to live in inadequate conditions,” another recipient shared. “Thanks to PM Modi, we now have a wonderful home to live in.”
Launched in 25 June 2015 as a pivotal scheme by the Government of India, PMAY aims to provide affordable housing to the economically weaker sections of society. It offers financial assistance to enable the construction or purchase of homes.
The initiative is divided into two distinct segments: PMAY-Urban (PMAY-U) and PMAY-Gramin (PMAY-G), targeting urban and rural populations respectively. In a significant expansion for the fiscal year 2024-25, the government has increased its efforts to ensure that more families can benefit from this crucial scheme. Those wishing to take advantage of PMAY’s benefits are encouraged to submit their applications before the deadline of 31 October.
Applications can be made through ward Councillors, Tehsildars, or corporation offices, allowing families to celebrate Diwali in their new homes by next year potentially. As the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana continues to reshape the landscape of housing for the less fortunate, it stands as a beacon of hope, demonstrating the power of government intervention in improving the lives of its citizens.
-IANS
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As Deepavali approaches on 31 October 2024, many passengers are heading to their hometowns to celebrate the festival with their families, resulting in a significant rush across town. Despite the DMK government’s promise to operate special bus services starting 28 October 2024, passengers at Kilambakkam bus terminus are facing major challenges, including internet outages, heavy traffic, and inflated fares from private buses. Commuters at Koyambedu faced inadequate responses from government bus staff.
On 21 October 2024, Transport Minister SS Sivasankar announced that 14,016 buses, including 11,176 special buses, would be deployed from Chennai to various parts of the state between 28 and 30 October for passengers returning home. He mentioned that a total of 7,740 special buses would be available statewide during this period.
“In addition to the regular daily services of 2,092 buses from the city, we will operate 4,900 special buses from Chennai. From other areas in the state, we will provide 2,910 buses over the three days,” he stated. The special buses will depart from bus terminuses in Chennai, including Koyambedu, Kilambakkam, and Madhavaram.
An elderly commuter shared her frustrations with the media, stating, “I need to go to Pattukottai, since I couldn’t travel that far, I came here. They put up a board saying we could go via Kumbakonam. Outside, they said on platform 2 that Kumbakonam bus is available, but here everyone says they don’t know. What’s all this? They are making people wander around like this. Doesn’t the government have a responsibility to do this properly? Why is there a government here? Is it to make people wander? Will they make us wander like this? Look at how many are standing and wandering around. If we ask him, he says this bus won’t go to Kumbakonam, and there is no bus to Kumbakonam here then why do they issue statements on TV? Did you hear what they said on TV? They said all buses will go from Koyambedu from the 28th to the 31st. I have been struggling here for one hour but no bus. Tell me an answer for this? Why should the government announce things like this?”
The elderly woman expressed her frustration, saying the government only showcases their measures on TV, but in reality, nothing is being done. She also questioned why the staff at the bus terminal respond that they don’t know where the buses are when they should be helping. “The entire administration is failing,” she lamented.
The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) on Wednesday announced that total number of client accounts at the exchange have surpassed 20 crore, from 16.9 crore eight months ago.
Among states, Maharashtra has the highest number of accounts, at 3.6 crore, followed by Uttar Pradesh (2.2 crore), Gujarat (1.8 crore), Rajasthan, and West Bengal, at 1.2 crore each.
Together, these states account for nearly 50 per cent of client accounts, while the top 10 states account for approximately three-fourths.
Additionally, the unique registered investor base now stands at 10.5 crore, having crossed the 10 crore (100 million) mark on August 8, 2024, according to the exchange.
“We have achieved another remarkable milestone in our investor base, with the exchange witnessing an increase of around three crore total accounts in just over eight months following February’s count of almost 17 crore,” said Sriram Krishnan, Chief Business Development Officer, NSE.
This exceptional growth reflects strong investor confidence in India’s growth story, which is driven by digital transformation and technological innovation.
“The widespread adoption of mobile trading applications and increasing investor awareness, supported by the government’s digital initiatives, has effectively democratised market access, particularly benefiting investors from tier 2, 3, and 4 cities,” Krishnan added.
This expansion is supported by streamlined KYC processes, enhanced financial literacy programs, and sustained positive market sentiments, as demonstrated by robust participation across diverse investment instruments, including equities, ETFs, REITs, InvITs, and various bonds.
“This milestone underscores India’s evolving financial landscape and the successful fusion of technology with retail investment accessibility,” he added. Meanwhile, as global investors’ confidence grows in the Indian stock market, GIFT Nifty has set an all-time high open interest of $20.84 billion (on September 24), surpassing its previous record of $18.50 billion.
–IANS
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VnExpress reported on Wednesday, citing the online travel agency Agoda, that global searches for travel to Vietnam saw a big jump from July to September.
Searches for travel to Vietnam rose 4 percent in July year over year, and there was a 31 percent surge in August.
According to Agoda, September saw a dramatic 84 per cent spike as travellers globally began planning for Christmas and New Year holidays.
According to the country’s General Statistics Office, Vietnam recorded over 12.7 million international arrivals in the first nine months of 2024, an increase of 43 per cent year over year.
The Southeast Asian country is determined to attract 17 million to 18 million international visitors this year, as the last three months are the peak season for international arrivals in Vietnam.
–IANS
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