
Why use missiles worth Rs 15 lakh each to intercept Pak drones costing much less? Cong leader
Nagpur, May 21 (PTI) Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Wednesday questioned the rationale behind what he called using missiles costing Rs 15 lakh each to intercept Pakistan-fired Chinese drones costing Rs 15,000 a piece during 'Operation Sindoor'.
Talking to reporters in Nagpur, the former state minister sought to know if it was wrong to ask the government about losses suffered in a conflict.

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The Print
25 minutes ago
- The Print
Bangladesh to hold election by April next year: Chief Adviser Yunus
During a televised address to the nation, Yunus said the Election Commission will provide a detailed roadmap in due course, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. The announcement comes amid recent protests by the former premier Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) demanding elections by December this year. Dhaka, Jun 6 (PTI) Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Friday announced that the national election will be held in the first half of April next year, according to a media report. 'There is immense public and political interest regarding the timing of the election. As I've said before, it will be held between December and June. The government is working to ensure an environment conducive to a credible election within this timeframe,' he said. Yunus, who took charge after the toppling of the former premier Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government in August last year, said that the government's key responsibility is to hold a clean, peaceful, festive, and inclusive election. 'Our goal is to prevent future crises. That requires institutional reform. Without ensuring good governance in the institutions directly linked to the electoral process, all the sacrifices made by students and citizens will be in vain,' the 84-year-old Nobel Laureate said. He reiterated that the current administration was formed with three mandates: reform, justice, and election. 'We believe that by the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, we will reach a broadly acceptable position on reforms and justice — particularly in addressing crimes against humanity, as part of our collective duty to the martyrs of the July uprising,' he said. On May 28, former premier Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) intensified pressure on the Yunus-led interim government as tens of thousands of youths staged a massive rally demanding elections by December. 'The national election must be held by December. Preparations must begin immediately,' BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman said as he joined the rally through a virtual platform from London. PTI GSP GSP This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
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First Post
33 minutes ago
- First Post
Op Sindoor: Pakistan's Jacobabad airbase hangar that India hit covered with tarpaulin, show satellite images
'Recent imagery from Jacobabad Airbase, Pakistan indicates that the hangar damaged in the Indian airstrike is now covered with tarpaulin/ some other covering possibly signaling repair activity/restoration is now underway,' wrote Symon on X read more The images, shared by analyst Damien Symon on X, show possible repair or restoration efforts at the site. Recent satellite imagery from Pakistan's Jacobabad Airbase shows that the hangar reportedly damaged in the Indian airstrike is now covered with tarpaulin. The images, shared by analyst Damien Symon on X, show possible repair or restoration efforts at the site, which was among the targets hit during India's cross-border 'Operation Sindoor' last month. 'Recent imagery from Jacobabad Airbase, Pakistan indicates that the hangar damaged in the Indian airstrike is now covered with tarpaulin/ some other covering possibly signaling repair activity/restoration is now underway,' wrote Symon on X along with the satellite image. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Recent imagery from Jacobabad Airbase, Pakistan indicates that the hangar damaged in the Indian airstrike is now covered with tarpaulin/ some other covering possibly signaling repair activity/restoration is now underway — Damien Symon (@detresfa_) June 6, 2025 Earlier, Symon released satellite images of Pakistan's Nur Khan and Murid airbases, showing visible infrastructure damage following Indian strikes. The attacks were reportedly in retaliation for Pakistani attempts to target Indian military installations. Imagery from the Murid Airbase revealed structural damage to a command-and-control facility, including a partially collapsed roof. In contrast, visuals from the Nur Khan Airbase showed a complex that appears to have been completely destroyed. With inputs from agencies


Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Batteries, EVs under threat? India fires on all cylinders for rare earths amid China's tightening grip
As China tightens its stranglehold on the global supply of rare earth elements , India is shifting gears — fast. From forging new partnerships in Central Asia to finalising an ambitious incentive scheme for mineral recycling , India is pushing ahead to secure its place in the global race for critical minerals . At the recently held India-Central Asia Dialogue in New Delhi, India and five Central Asian nations expressed mutual interest in jointly exploring rare earths and other critical minerals. In a joint statement, they called for an early meeting of the India-Central Asia Rare Earth Forum, signalling growing geopolitical urgency to diversify away from China's near-monopoly. China's chokehold spurs urgency The backdrop to these moves is no coincidence. Over the past year, China has weaponised its control over rare earths, placing several critical minerals and magnets under strict export licence regimes. These are the very components vital for electric vehicles , wind turbines, semiconductors, and even military-grade systems. Beijing's message is clear: if the West can play export control hardball, China has its own scalpel and it's now using it with surgical precision. While the US, Europe, and Japan scramble to find alternative supply lines, India sees an opening — and it's moving to capitalise. From mission to momentum Under the Rs 34,300 crore National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM), India aims to become self-reliant in sourcing and processing critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements. Joint Secretary in the Mines Ministry, Dinesh Mahur, announced that an incentive scheme for recycling these minerals is in its final stages. The Union Budget has already earmarked Rs 1,500 crore specifically for this effort. Public Sector Enterprises are expected to contribute Rs 18,000 crore to the mission. With a sharp focus on domestic exploration, overseas block acquisition, and technological R&D, the NCMM is India's boldest bet yet to insulate its industries from global supply shocks. Auto industry feels the heat The urgency is not just strategic — it's also economic. Rare earth shortages are already casting a shadow over India's auto sector, especially electric vehicles (EVs), which depend on permanent magnets for motors. Bajaj Auto has warned that its e-scooter production could be impacted from July if Chinese export delays continue. TVS Motor has echoed similar concerns. According to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), only a third of its members expect sales growth in June. The rare earth crunch, combined with high inventories and tight financing, has pushed automakers to brace for a cautious month — especially as the EV rollout faces headwinds. China's long game, India's fast track What China is doing today has been decades in the making. The world first saw signs of Beijing's ambitions in 2010 when it temporarily banned rare earth exports to Japan over a territorial spat. By 2020, China had passed its own Export Control Law, giving it sweeping powers to curb exports of materials deemed vital to national security. The law was broad enough to include critical minerals, tech, and even data. Now, with the US-China trade war escalating, rare earths have become Beijing's leverage. Export licenses have slowed, production lines in Europe have paused, and Washington is on edge. China's near-monopoly on processing and refining rare earths — not just mining them — means that even if other countries dig up the ores, they'll still need China to process them. Which is why India's current push isn't just policy — it's necessity. The Road Ahead While China refines 90% of the world's rare earths, India is still building capacity. But the groundwork is being laid — with diplomatic ties, budgetary commitments, and strategic focus. The success of the NCMM could determine whether India emerges as a resilient alternative or remains vulnerable to future supply shocks. With global demand for EVs, semiconductors, and green energy tech rising, the stakes couldn't be higher. In this global battle for minerals that power the future, India is no longer on the sidelines. It's suiting up — and firing on all cylinders.