Indian Army is celebrating the 243th Corps of Engineers Day today. Chief of the Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande has conveyed best wishes to all ranks, veterans and families of the Corps on the occasion.

Speaking exclusively to Akashvani, the Engineer-in-Chief of the Corps Lt Gen Arvind Walia said that the Corps of Engineers provides combat engineering support, develops infrastructure for armed forces and other defence organisations and maintains connectivity along the country’s vast borders besides providing succour to the populace during natural disasters. These tasks are executed through four pillars of the Corps - Combat Engineers, Military Engineer Service, Border Road Organisation and Military Survey.

The Corps of Engineers had three groups, i.e. Madras Sappers, Bengal Sappers and Bombay Sappers which were amalgamated into the Corps on the 18th of November 1932. Since its inception, history is replete with colossal exemplary contributions of the Corps of Engineers both in war and peace.

The ninth edition of the joint military exercise between the armed forces of India and Sri Lanka commenced on Thursday in Aundh, Pune. Taking place from November 16 through 29, the exercise, named "MITRA SHAKTI-2023", involves a contingent of 120 personnel from India, primarily representing the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment.

Representing Sri Lanka, personnel from the 53rd Infantry Division will actively participate in the exercise. Additionally, 15 members from the Indian Air Force and five from the Sri Lankan Air Force are also partaking in this joint endeavor.

The primary objective of the exercise is to collectively practice sub conventional operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, focusing on coordinated responses during counter-terrorist operations. Tactical activities, including raids, search and destroy missions, and heliborne operations, will be rehearsed. The training curriculum also encompasses Army Martial Arts Routine (AMAR), combat reflex shooting, and Yoga sessions.

From a scaffolding of rigorous research, this ingenious literary thriller explores the events and exigencies that led to Kashmir becoming the battleground barely two months after India’s partition in 1947, its common people caught in the violent upheaval of the first Indo-Pak war.

‘In her last book of The Partition Trilogy, Manreet deftly dips in and out of decisions made in palaces, recording, with rich detail, their devastating repercussions on ordinary lives–giving us a gripping and panoramic view of one of the most important periods in the subcontinent’s history.’

In a significant stride towards inclusivity, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) – a GMR Airports Infrastructure Limited-led consortium, today introduced a range of special services aimed at enhancing the travel experience for individuals with hidden disabilities in India’s busiest Delhi Airport.

Aligned with the globally recognized Hidden Disabilities Sunflower initiative, DIAL has transformed Delhi Airport into a Sunflower Airport, and sensitized all passenger facing partners through this program with a globally developed framework.

Under this initiative, DIAL has introduced a variety of merchandise options including Sunflower Lanyards, pin badges, and wristbands. These discreet, yet identifiable items allow passengers to signal their need for assistance from airport staff. The Sunflower merchandise is available for collection at the Helpdesks and Information counters located within the terminals.

India’s Mohammed Shami became the fastest bowler to 50 ODI World Cup wickets, during his side’s semifinal encounter against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday.

Shami removed Kane Williamson in the 33rd over after the New Zealand’s skipper failed to clear the deep square leg fence with a flick.

Shami got to the landmark in his 17th ODI World Cup innings, going two faster than Australia’s Mitchell Starc, who achieved the feat earlier in the tournament.

In a first, controversial and renowned author Salman Rushdie received the ‘Lifetime Disturbing the Peace Award’ by the Vaclav Havel Center on November 14, 2023.

The author was present at the event to receive the award, but his presence was kept a secret till he stood up to receive it. Obviously enough, Rushdie’s presence was kept a secret from the crowd, owing to the attack on him last year in New York which rendered him vision-less in his right eye and problems with a hand.

The danger to Rushdie’s life started majorly after the release of his book ‘Satanic Verses’ which was followed by a fatwa against him, threats and eventually the stabbing in August 2022, following which he was in hiding for major part of the year.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma became the first player in World Cup history to smash 50 sixes. The 36-year-old got to the mark during his innings of 47 runs from 29 balls in the semifinal clash against New Zealand in Mumbai on Wednesday when he pulled fast bowler Trent Boult over backward square leg. He went past Chris Gayle's mark of 49 sixes in World Cups.

Sharma has been in supreme form in this tournament and took the New Zealand bowling on from the start of the innings, hammering them for fours and sixes to get the Men in Blue off to the perfect start in the semifinal.

The batter fell three short of his fifty, caught superbly by Kane Williamson off Tim Southee's bowling.

Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri today launched City Investments to Innovate, Integrate, and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS 2.0) challenge in New Delhi. CITIIS 2.0 aims to advance climate action through the promotion of a circular economy with a focus on integrated waste management.
 
Addressing the event, Mr. Puri said this program has a demonstrative effect which will lay the basis for the commercialization of the technology. He further called on support for innovative, technology-based interventions like CITIIS 2.0.
 
Highlighting the achievements of CITIIS 1.0 program, the Minister said, first phase of the program was able to introduce one thousand new electric vehicles, hundred km of non-motorized transport corridors, seven hundred fifty acres of green open spaces, fourteen hundred affordable housing units and three fifty education facilities.

Thirty Indian companies associated with the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) made its presence at the 'WETEX and Dubai Solar Show' in Dubai from November 15th to 17th, 2023. Engaging in sectors such as power, energy, water, solar, and engineering, these companies explored bilateral trade opportunities with the UAE.

The India Pavilion was inaugurated by Mr. Sunil Kumar, Consul at the Consulate General of India in Dubai. The event is drawing a large number of visitors, indicating interest and potential for future collaborations.

WETEX (Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition) is a leading international exhibition and conference dedicated to water, energy, sustainability, and green technologies. It is held annually in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and is organized by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).

Troops of Trishakti Corps of the Indian Army with assistance from BRO completed the Bailey bridge over the Teesta River at Chungthang in north Sikkim.

This has finally connected the flood-affected areas of North Sikkim with the mainland that was cut off since the night of 03 Oct 23. The bridge will now pave the way for seamless movement of vehicles and provision of relief material to these flood-affected areas.

In a press release, Defance PRO said, the 200 feet Bailey bridge is an engineering marvel in itself as it is the longest and heaviest single span Bailey bridge that can be launched. Working round the clock, the BRO initially constructed the concrete abutments followed by the bridge construction by Trishakti Sappers that took around five days. The bridge was inaugurated by Mr Samdup Lepcha, Honourable Minister of Roads and Bridges, Government of Sikkim in the presence of officials of Indian Army, BRO and Civil Administration.