Latest news with #Astra
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Acquisition of another 97 Tejas, 6 AEW&C aircraft gets CCS nod
New DELHI: India on Tuesday gave the final nod for acquisition of another 97 indigenous Tejas fighter jets and six advanced airborne early-warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft or "eyes in the sky", collectively worth around Rs 85,500 crore, which will be crucial to tackle the collusive and 'fused' challenge from China-Pakistan in the years ahead. The PM-led cabinet committee on security (CCS) approved the Rs 66,500 crore deal for 97 "improved" Tejas Mark-1A fighters to be produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which will add to the 83 such single-engine light combat aircraft already ordered from defence PSU under a Rs 46,898 crore deal inked in Feb 2021, top sources told TOI. "The first two jets of the 83 ordered earlier are fully ready. The final weapons firing trials (including Astra air-to-air missiles) are slated for Sept. With the order for another 97 jets, HAL will be able to expand and stabilise its supply chains," a source said. Faced with flak from IAF chief Air Chief Marshal A P Singh for huge delays in deliveries, HAL has promised to progressively scale up production to 20 Tejas per year, and then to 24-30 per year, with the third production line now fully functional in Nashik to add to the two existing ones at Bengaluru, apart from private sector supply chains. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Compliance Easy With These Identity Governance Tools AskLayers Learn More Undo The project for six AEW&C aircraft, which will entail mounting active electronically scanned array antenna-based radars, electronic and signal intelligence systems on second-hand Airbus-321 planes bought earlier from Air India, in turn, will cost Rs 19,000 crore. "All six AEW&C aircraft will be delivered by 2033-34," the source said. Timely induction of the 180 Tejas Mark-1A fighters is needed to stem rapid depletion in the number of IAF fighter squadrons (each has 16-18 jets), which will go down to its lowest-ever figure of 29 squadrons next month after retirement of the 36 old MiG-21s still in service. IAF, incidentally, is authorised 42.5 combat squadrons. Pakistan now has 25 fighter squadrons, and is slated to get at least 40 J-35A fifth-generation stealth jets from China in the near future. China, of course, has more than four times the number of fighters, bombers and force-multipliers as compared to India. In the AEW&C arena, which are required to boost surveillance capabilities along the borders as well as help direct friendly fighters during air combat with enemy jets, India lags far behind even Pakistan. IAF currently has just three Netra AEW&C Mark-1 planes, with indigenous sensors mounted on Brazilian Embraer-145 jets for 240-degree radar coverage, and three Israeli 'Phalcon' radars mounted on Russian IL-76 aircraft. The new AEW&C project will involve the A-321 narrow-body aircraft first being "hardened and modified" in Spain and then being equipped with an antenna in the nose in addition to the main dorsal antenna to give 300-degree radar coverage. To make up numbers, defence ministry in March also accorded the initial "acceptance of necessity" to a separate project for six Netra Mark-1A on Embraer-145 jets, with more advanced technologies than the first three Mark-1 aircraft. On the Tejas front, IAF till now has got 38 of the first 40 Tejas Mark-1 fighters ordered for Rs 8,802 crore under two contracts inked in 2006 and 2010.
Broadcast Pro
19 hours ago
- Broadcast Pro
Shedding light on the new Astra IP
Lighting camera operator Ed Lister puts the latest Astra IP through its paces in the desert, the rain and everything in between. With a new design, weather sealing and a slew of upgrades, is it still the Swiss Army knife of lighting, or something else entirely? Throughout the years I've tried and tested all the various models of the Astra in some of the most challenging conditions going. News reporting in flash floods, wildfires, torrential storms, you name it. They've always taken a real beating as I travelled around the world throwing them into all kinds of scenarios. But the new release from Litepanels, the Astra IP, feels like a completely different animal. In my line of work, I travel frequently. Lighting gear gets packed into bags and inevitably takes a few knocks along the way. Previous models such as the 6X have always been incredible workhorses for me, but I've still had to repair them a few times over the years. The new IP models, however, feel so much more robust that I honestly don't expect that to be an issue anymore. First impressions Straight out of the box, the Astra IP instantly feels rock solid – harder, more rugged, heavier and with less plastic than ever before. Nothing seems flimsy or to have any weak points. The new model is also a completely different design and shape, which was really surprising. Looks-wise, it is now like something out of a sci-fi movie, super-cool with angles everywhere. On the back, there is now an LED screen. We can properly monitor numerical readouts of light levels and Kelvin. This is a game changer! The dials are larger and slightly recessed into the body, a great improvement for both storage and durability. They're far less likely to be damaged in transit than before. Another change I am absolutely thrilled about and relieved to see is that the battery plate is now integrated directly onto the unit, rather than hooked onto thin plastic brackets mounted underneath as previously. The mount itself has been converted to metal too. Litepanels has clearly been listening to end-user feedback! I was pleased to see that the mains power port has also been moved and is now in a far less awkward position. It used to be in the middle of the bracket, making it fiddly to get the cable in and out. It is now simply positioned on the side of the unit. Everything just feels like it has been designed with the end user in mind, which is extremely refreshing. One of the first things I heard about before the release was that the Astra IP range is now weather-sealed, with a significantly improved IP rating of 65, up from the previous 20. To be honest, I have always been amazed at how well they perform and hold up. They have been out on location in the heavy rain, snow and intense Dubai summers many times and have never struggled. This upgrade only adds to their durability, making them even more reliable in tough conditions. Powered up The backlit screen is such a lovely addition for those late night or early starts, eliminating the need to shine a torch on the dials. It immediately gives the light a more premium feel, especially with the Litepanels logo nicely greeting you when powering on. The dials work as expected when turned quickly, adjusting either power or CCT in the usual way. But when turned slowly they now also provide tactile, single-stop increments that allow precise micro-adjustments. The power dial enables fine-tuned changes in 0.1% increments, while the CCT dial adjusts in steps of 10 Kelvin. Pressing the dial offers a quick jump, either a 10% increase in power or a 200 Kelvin change, which is a thoughtful and convenient feature. The centre dial also includes white balance presets (2700K, 3200K, 5600K, etc) that can be accessed quickly. Having all this information clearly visible on the display is a significant upgrade. It adds precision and ease of use that simply wasn't possible with the two basic knobs of the previous version. You can rotate the display if you're mounting your fixture differently, dim the backlight, turn the fan off, use Bluetooth and much more. Things are really aimed at helping you out on the shoot. The menu itself has many features to explore: my favourite is the system monitor, which is brilliant. It shows you exactly what is going on in real time in the engine room in terms of input/power out, daylight temp/ tungsten temp, and LED temp. Output The previous Astra 6x had a beam angle of 45 degrees with an output of 1500 lux @ 3m/10ft, with an IP rating of 20. For the IP range, Litepanels has created a narrower beam angle of 30 degrees, increasing the output but in a smaller circle. The 1×1 IP offers an output of 3000 lux @ 3m/10ft, which is seriously impressive; the IP 1/2 offers 1500 lux @ 3m/10ft (the same as the 6x, but in a light half the size). Having a lamp so strong yet so portable really gives you creative freedom, making this extremely versatile and a great bit of kit for travel. Having this extra output power in both lights is a welcome bonus, especially in the Middle East. It's incredibly useful in situations when we need to compete with the sun. To complement this, underneath the lamp it states 'suitable for operation not exceeding 45°C'. This is ideal for summer shoots here, where you're lit and set up on location for long periods of time and concerns about gear overheating in the sun start to creep in. Last month, I took the 1×1 way out into the desert in Dubai for a heat test to see how it got on. I had it powered up outside on top of a tall dune for well over an hour, and temperatures reached above 53°C. There were no issues with any electronics at all; it passed the test with flying colours, though I couldn't touch the metal parts of the fixture as they had become so hot. Not having to worry about this being an issue really offers peace of mind! Another feature that makes these lights particularly well-suited for this region is their weather-sealing, which offers much better resistance to the sand and dust we battle with daily. I can't see any visible openings on the surface of the light, nor can I even spot the fan unit. This is excellent for keeping all the destructive things out, especially during desert shoots, filming in environments with high humidity levels or when those sudden unpredictable sandstorms roll in. Many other lights from competing manufacturers allow dust and grit to get inside far too easily, which becomes a real hassle to clean or repair. That's what makes these fixtures feel truly suited for any environment, something I genuinely appreciate. Astra has been a staple in the broadcast world in the US and Europe for many years now. I've always loved how it has been my complete Swiss Army knife of portable lighting. It can be thrown up quickly just as a panel light for ENG work, but add the DOP choice snap bag soft boxes onto the front and it instantly transforms into a serious beauty light perfect for commercial and high-end shoots, offering beautiful and flattering skin tones with one of the best CRI values out there. It never ceases to amaze me. People very often ask me for lighting recommendations, and my answer is always a set of Astras for this exact reason! All these new features and improvements are extremely impressive, but what's the catch? The only thing I can really say is that one of the first things I noticed was a jump in the weight. It is noticeably heavier than the previous models. The IP 1×1 comes in at 4.4kg and the IP 1/2 at 3.1kg. Not a deal breaker by any means, but something to think about. That said, the light's durability now feels significantly improved, built for a longer life out in the field ready to withstand every single knock that comes its way. I'm genuinely excited about this new release and the next chapter with the Astra IP range, and I'm curious and optimistic to see where it will take me. Here's to the future of portable location lighting. Ed Lister is an award-winning lighting camera operator from the UK based in Dubai.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Premier Explosives shares soar 16% as Q1 profit doubles; key numbers here
Shares of Premier Explosives surged over 16 per cent on Wednesday after the company's net profit doubled in the June quarter of the current financial year (Q1FY26). The explosives company's stock rose as much as 16.6 per cent during the day to ₹498 per share, the steepest intraday fall since May 19 this year. The stock pared gains to trade 14.2 per cent lower at ₹487.7 apiece, compared to a 0.48 per cent advance in Nifty 50 as of 12:35 PM. Shares of the firm have fallen over 30 per cent from their June peak to Tuesday's close and currently trade at 18 times the average 30-day trading volume, according to Bloomberg. The counter has fallen 5.6 per cent this year, compared to a 4 per cent advance in the benchmark Nifty 50. Premier Explosives has a total market capitalisation of ₹2,651.23 crore. Premier Explosives Q1 results The company reported a 109.7 per cent jump in net profit to ₹15.35 crore for the quarter ended June 2025, compared with ₹7.32 crore in the same period last year. Revenue rose 71.6 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to ₹142.15 crore. Ebitda grew 35 per cent to ₹20.9 crore from ₹15 crore a year earlier, while Ebitda margins narrowed by 400 basis points to 14.68 per cent from 18.48 per cent. The company's order book stood at ₹988.5 crore at the end of June, up from ₹750 crore at the close of the financial year 2025. Premier Explosives ₹300 crore fundraise The board has approved raising up to ₹300 crore through the issue of equity shares or other eligible securities via one or more public or private offerings. The fundraise may be carried out through preferential allotment, qualified institutional placement, rights issue, further public offering, or other permissible modes, subject to shareholder and other statutory approvals. About Premier Explosives Premier Explosives is engaged in the manufacturing of industrial explosives and detonators for mining, infrastructure, industries, defence and space. It also undertakes operation and maintenance (O&M) services of solid propellant plants at the Sriharikota Centre of ISRO and the Solid Fuel Complex at Jagdalpur under the umbrella of DRDO. The company is a supplier to major missile programs such as Akash, Astra, LRSAM, and others. It produces critical defence components like pyrogen igniters, explosive bolts, and other ammunition products. The company also manufactures bulk and packaged explosives, detonators, and accessories for mining and infrastructure projects.
Time Business News
11-08-2025
- Time Business News
The Ultimate Guide to Travel Blog Websites in 2025
Introduction Travel blogging has become one of the most exciting and profitable ways to share adventures, tips, and experiences with a global audience. Whether you're a passionate traveller or looking to monetise your journeys, starting a travel blog website can open doors to incredible opportunities. If you're searching for the best travel blog websites to inspire you or contribute as a guest writer, platforms like NexBlogs offer a great space to publish your content. NexBlogs is a blogging website that accepts articles on business, travel, technology, health, food, and fashion, making it a valuable platform for both writers and readers. In this guide, we'll explore: Why travel blogging is a great online business How to start a successful travel blog The best platforms for travel bloggers How contributing to NexBlogs can boost your online presence Why Start a Travel Blog Website? Travel blogging is more than just sharing vacation photos—it's a way to build a brand, earn money, and connect with like-minded travellers. Here's why you should consider it: 1. Share Your Passion If you love travelling, a blog lets you document your trips, share your tips, and reveal your hidden gems for others to discover. 2. Monetisation Opportunities Successful travel blogs earn through: Affiliate marketing (Amazon, Sponsored posts from tourism boards Ad revenue (Google AdSense, Mediavine) Selling digital products (travel guides, e-books) 3. Build a Personal Brand A well-maintained travel blog establishes you as an expert, leading to collaborations and media features. 4. Work from Anywhere Unlike traditional jobs, travel blogging allows you to work remotely while exploring new destinations. How to Start a Travel Blog Website in 2024 Starting a travel blog is easier than ever. Follow these steps: 1. Choose a Niche Instead of a general travel blog, focus on a specific angle like: Budget travel Luxury vacations Solo female travel Adventure tourism 2. Pick a Domain Name & Hosting Use a short, memorable name (e.g., ' Reliable hosting providers include Bluehost and SiteGround. 3. Set Up Your Blog Use WordPress (most flexible for blogging). Install a travel-friendly theme (e.g., Astra, Divi). 4. Create High-Quality Content Write detailed travel guides. Share personal stories and tips. Use high-resolution images. 5. Promote Your Blog , Instagram, and Facebook. Optimise for SEO (use keywords like 'travel blog websites' ). ). Guest post on sites like NexBlogs for backlinks. Best Travel Blog Websites for Inspiration If you need ideas, check out these successful travel blogs: 1. Nomadic Matt Focus: Budget travel tips Why It's Great: Offers free guides and money-saving hacks. 2. The Blonde Abroad Focus: Solo female travel Why It's Great: Stunning photography and detailed itineraries. 3. Expert Vagabond Focus: Adventure travel Why It's Great: Thrilling storytelling and outdoor guides. 4. Migrationology (Mark Wiens) Focus: Food travel Why It's Great: Combines travel with local cuisine experiences. Studying these blogs can help you refine your style and develop a more effective strategy. How NexBlogs Can Help Travel Bloggers NexBlogs is a growing platform that welcomes guest posts on travel, business, technology, health, food, and fashion. Here's how contributing to NexBlogs benefits travel bloggers: 1. Free Backlinks for SEO Google ranks websites higher based on the quality of their backlinks. Publishing on NexBlogs helps your own blog's SEO. 2. Increased Visibility Your articles reach a new audience. Readers may visit your blog. 3. Networking Opportunities Connect with other travel bloggers. Potential collaborations with brands. 4. Builds Authority Guest posting establishes credibility. Helps you become a recognised voice in travel blogging. If you're looking for travel blog websites to contribute to, NexBlogs is an excellent choice. Monetising Your Travel Blog Once your blog gains traction, you can earn money through: 1. Affiliate Marketing Promote travel gear (Amazon Associates). Recommend hotels ( affiliate program). 2. Sponsored Posts Tourism boards and brands pay for featured content. 3. Ad Revenue Google AdSense (beginner-friendly). Mediavine (for high-traffic blogs). 4. Selling Digital Products Create and sell travel itineraries or photography presets. Final Thoughts Starting a travel blog website is a rewarding way to turn your passion into a business. By selecting a niche, producing valuable content, and effectively promoting your blog, you can establish a successful online presence. Platforms like NexBlogs provide an excellent opportunity to expand your reach through guest posting. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced blogger, the key to success is consistency and authenticity. Ready to start your travel blogging journey? Pick a niche, set up your site, and begin sharing your adventures with the world! TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Economic Times
07-08-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
On eve of US tariffs, Brazilian beef exports hit record high in July
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Exports of fresh beef from Brazil reached a record 276,900 metric tons in July, according to trade data on Wednesday, showing a steep rise before a hefty U.S. tariff applied on sales from the world's biggest shipments exceeded those of the same month last year by nearly 17%, surpassing the previous monthly record from October 2024, when 270,300 tons of beef were shipped, the data 12% of Brazil's beef shipments go the United States, its second most important importer after China. Other key markets for Brazil include Mexico and the Middle exporter Astra, which sells 5% of its production to the U.S. from Parana state, said the company sent cargo this week to avoid the new duty, which is valid from ships beef to practically every port in the United States."We don't know what will happen," Diogo Oliveira, Astra's export coordinator, said in an interview. "My U.S. volume, although small, was consistent. And from September onward, I don't know if we'll have more business."Brazil's beef sales have steadily grown this year, with strong demand from major the first half, Brazil sent 181,400 tons of beef to the U.S. alone, which faces a persistent cattle shortage, and another 631,800 tons to the Chinese market.
