Latest news with #TheNewIndianExpress
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Remaining S-400 defence system coming on time, says Russian envoy as he cites India-Pakistan conflict
Russian deputy ambassador Roman Babushkin to New India on Monday said India will receive the remaining regiments of the S-400 strategic air defence missile system by 2026, as scheduled. The S-400 missile system performed well in India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, intercepting Pakistani drones and missiles. There have been talks of an additional batch of the missile system. 'We heard that S-400 performed very efficiently during the situation between India and Pakistan,' Roman Babushkin told news agency PTI. Acknowledging that India and Russia have a long history of collaboration, Roman Babushkin said the air defence systems, 'according to what we are experiencing, the situation in Europe, here, this is one of the promising topics of our partnership in defence preparation in general'. "As far as my knowledge goes, the contract for the remaining S-400 units will be according to the schedule. We are open for a promotion of this partnership for the discussion of the expansion of dialogue on air defence system... I think it will be done in 2025, 2026," he added. India inked a $5.43 billion contract with Russia in 2018 for five regiments. Of the five, three have been deployed along the western and northern fronts, bordering Pakistan and China, respectively. India had received the first regiment in December 2021, while the second and third were delivered in April 2022 and October 2023, respectively. Re-christened as 'Sudarshan Chakra', the S-400 can detect, destroy hostile strategic bombers, jets, spy planes, missiles and drones at a range of 380 kilometres. Going by information shared by the Indian government, the acquisition was to be completed by 2023, The New Indian Express reported, citing unnamed sources. The S-400 system's delivery schedule got delayed due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict which affected supply chains and production, the report added. 'The S-400 Missile is a potent system in terms of its operational capability to provide a continuous and effective air defence system to a very large area. With the induction of this system, air defence capability of the nation will be significantly enhanced,' the ministry of defence had said in a statement in 2021. The S-400 system is capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously, including aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, at varying ranges and altitudes. It consists of three main components: missile launchers, a powerful radar, and a command centre. It is capable of targeting aircraft, cruise missiles, and even high-speed intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The S-400 is seen as a major threat by NATO members due to its impressive long-range capabilities. It can engage almost all types of modern combat aircraft.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Stopped enjoying chess & took a break: Tari, Norway's one-time next Carlsen
STAVANGER: Elite sports across all disciplines have two things in common. The world champion and the urge to appoint a young prodigy as the 'next ' as soon as possible. Sport is filled with examples. Sachin Tendulkar, Zinedine Zidane, Roger Federer... they have all seen their fair share of replacements fall by the wayside for no fault of theirs. But it does offer a cautionary tale or two about the dangers of calling somebody the 'next Messi'. Aryan Tari has felt it too. As soon as he won an age-group World Championship in chess, he became the next Magnus Carlsen. Immediately after Tari's triumph in 2017, the newly-minted GM was expected to walk the same path as Carlsen. For some time, Tari did. He eventually became Norway's No 2 and needed fewer than 30 rating points to become a Super GM (2700 and above). Then, a fall. Not just in terms of rating points but the Norwegian felt 'burnt out'. "It's been strange, honestly," he tells this The New Indian Express on the sidelines of Norway Chess. One would normally expect Tari to be playing in the event but he isn't. In Stavanger, he's helping out Fabiano Caruana. "The last two-three years, I felt I had some tough moments and wasn't enjoying (chess) as much. I took a break and I'm now having a bit more of a balance between chess and other things as well." After enjoying a peak Classical rating of 2672 in July 2022, he's now at 2636. Elite chess is brutal as it involves a lot of travel, long hours of prep and can get lonely, especially without a team. The 25-year-old admits that he has felt lonely. "Chess can be very lonely as it's an individual sport. It's not always going to go like this (points his arm upwards), there will be ups and downs. You are travelling from tournament to tournament, hotel room to hotel room, very often alone. It can make you question 'what you are doing?' It can definitely be a tough sport. I was just thinking if there's more to life than just chess." Part of wanting to cultivate other things has sent Tari, who has featured in multiple Olympiads for Norway, back to university. "I'm now doing business at the University of Missouri," he says. But he will keep playing the game at the elite level. "I wouldn't say chess is now in the background, I love chess and will keep playing but when you are doing just one thing... it's always nice to get some new impulses. I recently qualified for the World Cup but I think I have more of a balance." When the conversation shifts to Carlsen, he readily accepts that 'there was a bit of pressure when I was 13-14'. "I don't think the chess world is really going to see another Magnus, maybe in the next 100 years, he's really unique. Okay, maybe there may be another Magnus just because of how popular chess is in India. But speaking of Magnus, he's sometimes not human to be honest. It can be hard to understand how he does what he does." Even as the watching world was keen to put a label, Tari wasn't one to compare. "I was just taking inspiration." He's now charting his own path.
News18
5 days ago
- Climate
- News18
Diamond Hunters Descend On Kurnool: Here's Why Locals 'Treasure' First Monsoon Rainfall
Last Updated: Experts say the rainfall helps expose the stones by washing away the topsoil. Locals estimate that diamonds worth Rs 4 to Rs 5 crore are found annually in these parts Monsoon rainfall is precious for rural India. More so in Kurnool district, as with the season's first showers, diamond seekers from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka have begun arriving in Maddikera and Tuggali mandals in search of precious stones, according to a report by The New Indian Express. Villagers and fortune-seekers, driven by age-old legends of buried treasures from the Vijayanagara era, have descended on areas such as Jonnagiri, Peravali, Pagidirayi, and Madanantapuram. Recent reports of valuable stone discoveries have intensified the rush. 'A rumour is spreading that a man from Tuggali found stones worth Rs 10 lakh," Jonnagiri resident G Rama Krishna told TNIE. 'We haven't seen proof, but it's enough to get people moving." Currently, only local villagers are involved, but hundreds more from Kurnool, Anantapur, Kadapa, Prakasam, and Karnataka's Bellary district are expected to arrive in the coming weeks. Many will set up makeshift tents and camp in nearby areas. Experts say the rainfall helps expose stones by washing away the topsoil. Locals estimate that diamonds worth Rs 4 to Rs 5 crore are found annually in these mandals. The diamond hunt extends beyond the Kurnool district. In neighbouring Anantapur district, as soon as the first rains fall, villagers in areas such as Jonnagiri, Tuggali, Maddikera, Pagidirayi, and Peravali mandals begin their search for diamonds. This tradition involves villagers meticulously scratching the wet ground, hoping to uncover hidden treasures. According to reports, a farmer from Jonnagiri last year experienced a stroke of incredible luck. After a bout of rainfall, this farmer, while engaged in fieldwork, discovered a diamond valued at 1.5 million rupees. The news of this discovery spread quickly, and it was reported that a trader purchased the diamond for a sum of Rs 1,200,000 in cash, along with 5 tolas of gold jewellery. First Published: May 29, 2025, 20:22 IST
Scroll.in
7 days ago
- Climate
- Scroll.in
Bengaluru records highest-ever rainfall for May
Bengaluru has recorded its highest-ever rainfall for the month of May, the Deccan Herald reported on Monday. As of 6 am on May 26, the city received 307.9 mm rainfall, the India Meteorological Department said. The previous record for May was set in 2023, when Bengaluru received 305.4 mm of rain, The New Indian Express reported. In May 2024, the city received 181.5 mm of rainfall and 270.2 mm in May 2022. During this year's pre-monsoon season, which began on March 1, Bengaluru Urban recorded 340.6 mm of rainfall, which was 155 mm above normal, the Deccan Herald reported. The southwest monsoon arrived in Karnataka on May 24, nearly 10 days ahead of schedule. It reached Kerala on the same day. Bengaluru city will experience more rain in the coming days, N Puviarasan, the director-in-charge of the India Meteorological Department in Bengaluru, told The New Indian Express. The weather agency has issued a five-day red alert for southern interior areas of Karnataka, including Bengaluru, till Tuesday. An orange alert will remain in effect until the end of the month. A red alert requires authorities to 'take action', while an orange alert requires them to 'be prepared' for extreme weather events. On Monday, Bengaluru recorded a maximum temperature of 26.7 degrees Celsius, which was 5.3 degrees below the normal of 32 degrees Celsius. Heavy rainfall and lower-than-normal temperatures have led to a spike in viral infections, especially respiratory illnesses, The Times of India reported. 'We're seeing an increase in upper respiratory tract infections, especially the common cold, cough and flu-like illnesses,' the newspaper quoted Darshana Reddy, senior consultant in internal medicine at the city's Altius Hospital as saying. 'The sudden weather shift and rise in humidity are creating the perfect recipe for viruses to thrive and spread.' Meanwhile, Mumbai has also recorded its highest rainfall for May in 107 years. The India Meteorological Department's Colaba observatory in South Mumbai has logged 295 mm of rainfall so far this month, surpassing the previous high of 279.4 mm recorded in May 1918.
Scroll.in
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Pakistan was informed of Operation Sindoor 30 minutes after strikes, says S Jaishankar
Pakistan was informed about Operation Sindoor 30 minutes after India struck terrorist camps, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told a parliamentary panel on Monday, reported The New Indian Express. The statement came days after the Congress claimed that the minister had confessed to the Indian government informing Pakistan at the beginning of the military operation that came against the backdrop of the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Party leader Rahul Gandhi had said it was a crime to inform Pakistan at the start of India's attack, and asked whether the Indian Air Force lost any aircraft as a result. On May 15, Jaishankar told reporters that India had sent a message to Pakistan that it was targeting terrorist infrastructure, and not the Pakistani military, at the state of Operation Sindoor. Speaking before the parliamentary panel on Monday, the minister reportedly said that the foreign secretary was informed of the operation, which was followed by a statement from the Press Information Bureau. Subsequently, India's director general of military operations notified his Pakistani counterpart about the strikes, The New Indian Express quoted Jaishankar as saying. He also said that the decision to stop cross-border firings between India and Pakistan was taken bilaterally after a request from Islamabad. He underlined that only the directors general of military operations of the countries spoke to each other, and no other Indian official spoke with the Pakistani side. This came after Opposition leaders reportedly raised concerns about United States President Donald Trump repeatedly claiming that Washington had mediated peace between India and Pakistan, The Hindu reported. Jaishankar said that although the US urged India to engage in talks with Pakistan, New Delhi made it clear that dialogue and terrorism cannot go hand in hand. The minister also told the committee that any ceasefire violation or terrorist activity by Pakistan would prompt India to resume military action, The Indian Express reported. Opposition leaders also questioned why India was unable to block the approval of a $1 billion loan to Pakistan by the International Monetary Fund on May 9, as part of its bailout programme. Jaishankar replied that India's objections had prompted the IMF to impose 11 new conditions on Pakistan for the release of the next tranche of the bailout, The Hindu reported. On May 10, India and Pakistan reached an 'understanding' to halt firing following a four-day conflict. Tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad had escalated on May 7 when the Indian military carried out strikes – codenamed Operation Sindoor – on what it claimed were terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strikes were in response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, which killed 26 persons on April 22. The Pakistan Army retaliated to Indian strikes by repeatedly shelling Indian villages along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. At least 22 Indian civilians and eight defence personnel were killed.
