Covid testing woes at Kolkata airport addressed to slash waiting time

Bringing down the rate of the rapid PCR test, collecting samples before immigration clearance and ensuring passengers pre-book their tests: the city airport has taken several measures to reduce the waiting time for Covid screening for international passengers. Since December 1, all passengers from countries enlisted as ‘at risk’ for prevalence of the Omicron variant […]

Chinese army builds highways and roads in eastern Ladakh

The Chinese army is building highways and roads along with additional settlements for its troops inside India-claimed lines in eastern Ladakh, sources in the security establishment said on Monday. The development has deepened apprehensions among military veterans and security experts that China may be planning to hold on to the territory it has occupied and […]

Jio, Mahindra group ink pact to explore EV, low carbon solutions

A joint venture of Reliance Industries and BP of the UK on Wednesday said it has signed an agreement with the Mahindra group to explore EV and low-carbon solutions, including battery swapping technology options, for electric three-wheelers. Besides exploring creation of EV products and services, the non-binding MoU signed by Reliance BP Mobility Limited (RBML) […]

Mizoram issues strict regulations to control Omicron spike, issues special guidelines for International travellers

International travellers entering Mizoram will have to undergo mandatory Rapid Antigen Test as per the new guidelines issued by the state government, in the wake of detection of Omicron variant of COVID-19 in some states, an official said. Following the recommendations of a State Level Expert Team on COVID-19 management, the Mizoram government has issued […]

Fog at Kolkata airport leads to delays in 40 flights in first winter disruption

Kolkata airport suffered its first fog disruption of this winter on Wednesday. Airport officials said the departure of around 40 flights was delayed as operations were stalled between 5.37am and 7.54am. Three flights headed for the city had to be diverted, officials said. Visibility had gone down to zero as thick fog covered the runways. […]

Sulur Air Force: Grand in size but in news for wrong reasons

Sulur Air Force station near Coimbatore from where the MI-17 V5 helicopter carrying chief of defence staff General Bipin Rawat and others took off is one of the largest airbases in the country. The airbase is home to 109 Helicopter Unit nicknamed “Knights” that operates the Russia-made chopper, 33 squadron “Himalayan Geese” that flies Antonov-32 […]

Bolt from the blue: The dead and the lucky

Lieutenant Generals Daulat Singh and Bikram Singh, and Air Vice-Marshal Erlic Pinto Nov. 22, 1963, in Poonch district Totally six personnel were killed when an IAF Aérospatiale Alouette III chopper crashed after colliding with telegraph cables. Balwantrai Mehta, Gujarat chief minister Sept. 19, 1965, south of Bhuj Mehta’s Beechcraft Model 18, a civilian aircraft flying […]

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh briefs PM after chopper ferrying Rawat crashes

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is monitoring the situation after an Indian Air Force helicopter with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and several other offficers on board met with an accident on Wednesday near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu. Sources said Singh has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the crash and the […]