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News18
an hour ago
- Politics
- News18
Australian Army chief Lt Gen Simon Stuart receives ceremonial guard of honour
New Delhi [India], August 11 (ANI): The Chief of Australian Army, Lt Gen Simon Stuart, who is on a five-day India visit, received a ceremonial guard of honour at the South Block Lawns on Monday. The dignitary's visit is scheduled from August 11 to Gen Stuart has a shared history with Indian Army Chief of Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, having trained together at the United States Army War College in 2015. According to an official statement from the Indian Army, this experience forged a professional bond that has matured alongside their respective careers.'The shared academic background not only provides a strong foundation for mutual trust but also enables a deeper strategic understanding, paving the way for more meaningful cooperation between the two armies," the statement visit marks a significant reunion of two military professionals whose shared past strengthens the foundation of India-Australia defence on defence diplomacy, the statement highlighted that shared training experiences between military leaders often sow the seeds for enduring partnerships that outlast political cycles and strategic shifts. When military commanders train together in their formative or mid-career stages, they develop not only professional competence but also a deep, personal understanding of each other's countries, cultures, and armed forces. This 'Alumni Connect" acts as a unique instrument of strategic soft power, building trust, facilitating candid dialogue, and enabling seamless cooperation in times of both peace and Indian Army's premier military institutions–including the Indian Military Academy (IMA), National Defence College (NDC), Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), and National Defence Academy (NDA)–have for decades welcomed officers from friendly foreign countries (FFCs). Many of these alumni have risen to the highest ranks in their militaries, becoming ambassadors in uniform for India's professional alumni network spans across countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Bhutan, Nigeria, and Australia, including senior officers and chiefs of defence staff. Notable examples include the Sri Lankan Army Chief, an alumnus of IMA and the School of Artillery, and the Sri Lankan Chief of Defence Staff, a graduate of NDC. Chiefs and senior commanders from Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, France, Tanzania, South Korea, New Zealand, Namibia, Kenya, Fiji, Thailand, and others share this common bond with the Indian alumni network operates both ways, as Indian officers have attended prestigious institutions abroad such as the Army War College (USA), Royal College of Defence Studies (UK), and Ecole de Guerre (France), gaining global perspectives while building enduring ties with their peers statement further noted that Indian Army officers themselves have been shaped by professional military education abroad. Field Marshals KM Cariappa and SHFJ Manekshaw were alumni of the Imperial Defence College, UK, while General Upendra Dwivedi attended the Army War College, USA. These exchanges equip officers with broader strategic perspectives, operational best practices, and a shared vocabulary for addressing global security the diplomatic value of these connections, the Indian Army has begun formalising 'Alumni Connect" initiatives by maintaining databases, organising reunions, and encouraging continued professional engagement through think tank collaborations such as the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) and its recently renewed five-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian Army Research Centre (AARC). Digital platforms like the 'Friends for Life" portal are also being explored to sustain these ties long after the course photographs have today's complex security environment, where partnerships must balance strategic competition with cooperation, the statement underlined that 'Alumni Connect is more than nostalgia, it is a strategic enabler." Officers who once shared barracks and classrooms now sit across negotiating tables or lead joint operations, carrying with them the trust and mutual respect forged in their training days.'As India aspires to play a greater role in regional and global security architectures from the Indo-Pacific to UN peacekeeping, the quiet, enduring influence of these personal bonds will remain an indispensable tool of military diplomacy," the Indian Army said.'In the language of soldiers, trust built in fatigues lasts a lifetime and in the language of diplomacy, it often lasts even longer," the statement concluded. (ANI)
Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
International Day of Indigenous Peoples: Welfare measures distributed to tribals in Nilgiris
Tamil Nadu chief whip K Ramachandran distributes welfare measures, including financial assistance, to tribal beneficiaries . UDHAGAMANDALAM: The Nilgiris district administration, in association with the forest department, marked the International Day of Indigenous Peoples at a function held in the RCTC building in Ooty on Saturday. Tamil Nadu chief whip K Ramachandran distributed welfare measures, including financial assistance, to tribal beneficiaries in the presence of district collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru. During the event, Ramachandran stated, 'The Nilgiris is home to six tribal communities, including the todas, kotas, kurumbas, paniyas, irulas and kattunayakans. The govt has established a special ward with 50 beds exclusively for these communities at the Ooty Government Medical College and Hospital.' The collector said, 'The govt offers various programmes and schemes aimed at improving the socio-economic status of the tribal communities in the state. Additionally, it provides essential amenities such as roads leading to their villages, healthcare centres, land titles (pattas) and community halls.' Around 1,002 houses had been constructed for members of the tribal communities at a cost of Rs 57.41 crore in the past one year under various govt housing initiatives, she said. A total of 43km of road connectivity to tribal hamlets is being developed with an investment of Rs.22 crore. Additionally, 1,025 tribal families have received land titles (pattas). "We conducted 32 health awareness programmes for tribal communities in the past one year. Additionally, 1,500 tribal students benefited from the Naan Mudhalvan programme," said Lakshmi. The govt had provided financial assistance totalling Rs 43 lakh, which includes a subsidy of Rs 15 lakh for tribal beneficiaries, she said. To commemorate the occasion, an exhibition showcasing the work of tribal communities was held at the RCTC. Meanwhile, a release from the Nilgiris Documentation Centre (NDC) on Saturday said while international researchers had long established that the indigenous people of the Nilgiris and their languages were originally Dravidians, there was no recognition for them by the Dravidian govts that ruled in Tamil Nadu. There was no govt policy to protect and preserve the rich legacy of the tribal people, it said. 'Economically, the minor tribes of the todas, kotas, irulas and kurumbas remain in a primitive state. The question of granting scheduled tribe status to the badagas, the largest indigenous group in the district, has been pending since 1989. There has been no serious effort by the state govt to pursue the case with the central government,' stated NDC founder Dharmalingam Venugopal in the release. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Argaam
2 days ago
- Business
- Argaam
Riyadh Air signs global distribution agreement with Spain's Amadeus
Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's new national carrier and a Public Investment Fund (PIF) subsidiary, signed a global distribution agreement with Spain's Amadeus. This strategic partnership will enable Riyadh Air to access one of the world's largest networks of travel agents. In a statement, Amadeus said the agreement will allow Riyadh Air to reach travel agencies and agents in more than 190 countries, ensuring its offers reach travelers worldwide. Amadeus will also distribute Riyadh Air's future New Distribution Capability (NDC) content, allowing the airline to provide travelers with more dynamic and personalized offers, while gaining greater control over its indirect sales strategy. Riyadh Air plans to commence operations in 2025, with the goal of serving more than 100 destinations worldwide by 2030, according to Argaam data.
News18
2 days ago
- General
- News18
Cheetahs Breeding Better Than Expected, Says Bhupender Yadav; Lists Climate Change Goals
The Union minister said the Cheetahs seem to have acclimatised in the local climatic conditions, hunting locally available prey & surviving in habitat shared with other carnivores India has demonstrated its commitment at the highest level for decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions, Union minister for environment, forest and climate change, Bhupender Yadav has told CNN-News18. He also said 'Project Cheetah' has been 'very encouraging" so far. India had brought in 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa. 'It is a challenging project, but the indications so far have been very encouraging. We brought in 20 cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa and now after almost three years of the project, we have 28 cheetahs on the Indian soil in Kuno National Park & Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. Some of the cubs born here are about to become adults and doing very well in the wild," Yadav told CNN-News18 in a detailed interview on the project. The minister said that the Cheetahs seem to have acclimatised in the local climatic conditions, hunting locally available prey, surviving in habitat shared with other carnivores like leopards very well. 'I am happy to share that the cheetahs are breeding much better than expected. These developments, that too in such a short period, are unprecedented in other parts of the world. This is quite encouraging and a good indicator of success of the project," Yadav said. He added that over a period of almost three years, out of 20 translocated cheetahs, eight adult cheetahs have died due to various reasons 'which was within the expected limit in such kind of inter-continental, wild to wild translocation". 'Good news is that the birth rate is better than expected, which is highly satisfying," Yadav told CNN-NEWS18. India's Climate Change Goals Yadav said India had updated its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) and termed it a major decision. 'The decision on enhanced NDCs demonstrates India's commitment at the highest level for decoupling of economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions," the minister said. He said that in the larger scheme of things, the road ahead for India is premised on setting and meeting our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 'because they are at the heart of the Paris Agreement". 'India at COP26 held in Glasgow declared it would intensify its climate action," Yadav told CNN-News18. He explained how earlier, India submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to UNFCCC on October 2, 2015. The 2015 NDC comprised eight goals; three of these have quantitative targets up to 2030 namely, cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil sources to reach 40 per cent; reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 33 to 35 per cent compared to 2005 levels and creation of additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover. Yadav said that the updated NDC reads, 'To put forward and further propagate a healthy and sustainable way of living based on traditions and values of conservation and moderation, including through a mass movement for 'LIFE'– 'Lifestyle for Environment' as a key to combating climate change". 'As per the updated NDC, India now stands committed to reduce Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent by 2030, from 2005 level and achieve about 50 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030. India is committed to creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through afforestation and increased forest cover by 2030," the minister told CNN-News18. Yadav said that as a party to UNFCCC, India is one of the few nations which has already submitted its LT-LEDS (Long Term Low Emission Development Strategy) and BUR (Biennial Update Report) 4 elaborating on its GHG inventory. 'Significantly, we are making the necessary preparations to submit our National Adaptation Plan (based on several rounds of consultation with all stakeholders in form of regional workshops) ahead of COP30 which is also seen as Adaptation COP," the Union minister said. Modi's Vision Yadav elaborated on the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047. 'This Viksit Bharat will be an inclusive Bharat and a Green Bharat. Over the last couple of years, the Union Budget has focused on building a Green Economy with programmes like Green Credit and Green Bonds and promoting Renewables. In the Union Budget 2025-26, solar energy got the highest allocation of Rs 26,549 crore, with a clear focus on rooftop solar with the PM Surya Ghar Yojana," the minister said. He added that the announcement for a Nuclear Mission with the aim for 100 GW of non-fossil-based energy by 2047 is a clear push towards harvesting clean energy beyond solar and building a sustainable economy. tags : bhupender yadav Cheetah Kuno National Park news18 specials view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 09, 2025, 09:29 IST News india Cheetahs Breeding Better Than Expected, Says Bhupender Yadav; Lists Climate Change Goals | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. 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Agriland
3 days ago
- Business
- Agriland
Functional protein products 'transforming the dairy industry'
Over 1.6 million tonnes of Irish dairy products are shipped to around 140 markets worldwide, according to Bord Bia. The milk produced by Irish farmers ends up in a wide variety of products on shelves throughout the world. A category with a particularly high pace of growth is sports nutrition. Targeted mainly at athletes, protein supplement products such as whey 'protein powders' have become a staple in the diets of many. Along with the nutritional side, these products are made attractive for consumers with flavours available ranging from vanilla, strawberry and chocolate to peanut butter, cinnamon and 'birthday cake'. Dairy Industry Ireland (DII) told Agriland that functional protein products like life-stage and nutrition from whey and casein are "transforming the dairy industry" both in Ireland and abroad. "They are offering vital health benefits and enhancing performance for a global population which is increasingly looking for clean nutrition from natural dairy products," DII said. "For Irish dairy and specialised nutrition, exploring new markets and shifting from commodity to value-added products is essential for sustainable growth. "Innovation and investment are key to staying competitive and realising the immense potential of functional proteins." To achieve that goal, the industry in Ireland must "stay on top" of what its advantages are - high food safety and grass-fed quality, according to DII. "Irish farmers and the dairy industry must embrace these changes to meet the evolving demands of global consumers," DII said. "The importance of the functional protein category cannot be overstated; it is crucial for the future of Irish dairy and the broader Irish economy." Milk is rich in protein - mainly casein and whey. What primarily differentiates casein and whey is their digestion rate. Casein is a slower release and takes longer to digest while whey is absorbed faster. They both derive from the cheese-making process. The National Dairy Council (NDC) explains that milk contains all of the essential amino acids, which are the "building blocks of protein, that our body needs". Whey proteins are a collection of globular proteins. "Whey is produced when milk is separated into solid curds and liquid whey, like when making cheese," the NDC told Agriland. "Whey proteins account for about 20% of the total protein in cow's milk (about 0.65g/100ml). "Whey is particularly high in the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) leucine, which nutrition research recognises for its role in building muscle. "For these reasons, whey protein has been recognised for its role in performance nutrition and is a valuable ingredient in the sports nutrition industry." Caseins make up approximately 80% of the protein fraction in cow's milk. "They are an important component of cow's milk as they stabilise and transport essential nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus," the NDC said. The NDC told Agriland that generally, "all of the energy and nutrients we need can be provided by a healthy, balanced diet – with no need for supplement use unless a deficiency is identified". "Protein is an important nutrient for sports people as it contributes to muscle growth and maintenance," the NDC said. "Protein is provided in the diet by a number of foods such as meat, fish, milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs, nuts, seeds and pulses. "Athletes may find protein supplements useful and convenient on occasions where food sources are not readily available or if there is little time between sessions, e.g. a tournament. "If training at a competitive or intense level, a sports dietitian can offer advice on supplement use depending on individual needs. "For those under the age of 18 years, supplements are not advised and all nutrient needs should be met from dietary intakes." Bord Bia has confirmed to Agriland that it is currently collaborating with the dairy industry on research aiming to broaden understanding of the specialised nutrition category, in the Japanese market particularly. This is with a "view to ascertaining what potential Irish dairy solutions may be a complementary fit now, and into the future, for our Japanese dairy partners". 'Nutritionally dense and highly functional dairy products and ingredients from Ireland are exported all over the world and incorporated widely in clinical, sports and life-stage nutrition applications as well as within the nutraceutical category," a Bord Bia spokesperson said. "Products including demineralised whey powder, whey protein isolates and hydrolysates and casein powders, offer very specific and functional benefits to applications within these categories and contribute significantly to the value-add portfolio within the Irish dairy sector."
