The Koreasat 6A communications satellite was successfully launched yesterday by a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Ordered in 2022 by KT SAT Corporation Ltd. (KT SAT), South Korea’s national satellite communications operator, Koreasat 6A was designed and developed by Thales Alenia Space, the joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%). As prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space was in charge of the design, construction, assembly, integration and testing of the satellite, as well as overseeing launch preparations. The company is also responsible for satellite positioning and in-orbit checkout, and will be providing operational support over its nominal 15-year service life.

Based on Thales Alenia Space’s Spacebus 4000B2 platform, Koreasat 6A will replace the Koreasat 6 satellite currently in orbit, delivering fixed and broadcast satellite services to South Korea from its geostationary orbital slot at 116° East.

Antariksha Abhyas – 2024’, a three day Exercise to war-game the growing threats from and to Space Based Assets and Services, is being conducted by the Defence Space Agency of Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff from 11 - 13 Nov 24. Exercise Antariksha Abhyas is a first of its kind exercise being conducted and is expected to help secure national strategic objectives in space and integrate India’s space capability in military operations.

In his opening address, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said, “Space, once considered the final frontier is now the critical enabler of India’s defence and security apparatus. With its rich legacy of space exploration and growing military capabilities, India is well positioned to navigate the challenges posed to space based capabilities”. Highlighting that space was becoming increasingly congested, contested, competitive and commercial, the CDS impressed upon the military leadership to secure our national interests in space by fostering innovation and developing cutting edge technologies and state of the art systems in collaboration with DRDO, ISRO and Academia.

Indian Oil Corporation announced the appointment of Arvinder Singh Sahney as the Chairman of the company. The appointment came into effect on November 13 as the additional charge of chairman entrusted to V Satish Kumar, came to an end.

Sahney, 54, has over three decades of expertise in the refinery and petrochemical sector. He has worked at five of Indian Oil’s nine refineries.

The Chemical Engineer from HBTI, Kanpur, has been instrumental in commissioning and optimising key refinery units, including the 15 MMTPA Paradip refinery. The Paradip refinery has significantly increased India’s refining capacity and energy security.

Before being appointed Chairman of Indian Oil, Sahney headed the corporation’s petrochemical vertical, where he was instrumental in the conceptualisation of various petrochemical projects, including the upcoming mega petrochemical complex at Paradip. This complex is poised to significantly expand Indian Oil’s footprint in the sector.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (November 13, 2024) underscored that it is unconstitutional to demolish a person’s property without adhering to the due process of law, simply on the grounds of their alleged involvement in a crime. A Bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Viswanathan issued a slew of guidelines to prevent illegal and retributive bulldozing of homes and private properties of accused persons by States. Earlier, the top court had extended its interim order halting demolitions across the country without express permission except for encroachments on public land or unauthorised structures.

Rising punitive demolitions
Over the last few years, there has been an advent of communal and retributive bulldozing of homes and private properties of accused persons by States. In each of these cases, demolitions have been justified on account of action against encroachment or under the pretext of unauthorised construction. Such state-sanctioned acts of punitive violence have also been endorsed by several leaders of the ruling BJP and Hindutva supporters, who have hailed them as a form of “instant justice.”

Amaravati’s long-stalled construction projects are set for a revival with a substantial Rs 15,000 crore loan from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) Commissioner, Katamaneni Bhaskar, announced the finalisation of the tripartite agreements following a meeting at the World Bank office in New Delhi on Monday. Officials from the Union Finance Department, CRDA, and Amaravati Development Corporation (ADC), along with representatives from the World Bank and ADB, completed the loan terms to advance Amaravati’s urban development.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today dedicated 18 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras at various railway stations across the country. Mr. Modi inaugurated these Kendras through video conferencing from Darbhanga in Bihar along with other developmental projects worth over 12 thousand crore rupees. These kendras will ensure availability of affordable medicines at railway stations for the passengers.

Speaking on this occasion, the Prime Minister said, his government has main focus on holistic health services in the country. Addressing a public meeting at Shobhan in Darbhanga, Mr Modi said we have five focus points including prevention from diseases, affordable screening of ailments, use of technology in treatment and providing best health care services for the well being of common people. The Prime Minister said, 75 thousand new medical seats will be added in the next five years.

Mr. Modi also said, over one lakh 50 thousand Ayushman Arogya Mandir have been opened in the country for economically weaker sections.

As Rajasthan looks to expand the defence industrial base in the State, the Army’s Jaipur-based South Western Command has established a think tank Gyan Shakti to provide a platform for debate and interaction between armed forces, industry, State government and the academia on defence and security related matters at regional and national level. The Chief Minister of Rajasthan has enunciated a vision to turn the State into a $350 billion economy by 2029.

“This think tank, will harness the invaluable wisdom, experience and vast domain knowledge of the veteran community, on matters of defence and national security. This will not only give a boost to the transformation initiatives of the Indian Army but also encourage them to participate in ongoing prospects of nation-building, and contribute to the government’s objectives of Rising Rajasthan and Viksit Bharat by 2047, South Western Army Commander Lt. Gen. Manjinder Singh said on Monday. He was speaking at the inaugural seminar on ‘atmanirbharta in defence manufacturing: opportunities in Rajasthan’ in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

The Indian Navy will conduct the 4th edition of the Coastal Defence Exercise ‘Sea-Vigil-24’ from the 21st to the 22nd of this month. The two-day exercise will span both in terms of geographical reach and the magnitude of participation, involving six ministries and 21 organizations and agencies. The exercise will focus on strengthening the security of coastal assets like ports, oil rigs, single-point moorings, cable landing points, and critical coastal infrastructure, including the coastal population. This year, the Indian Army and the Air Force will also participate in the event. Sea Vigil was originally conceptualized in 2018 to validate and enhance measures adopted to bolster coastal defence.

President Draupadi Murmu on Wednesday dedicated Swami Vivekananda Vidya Mandir, Jhanda Chowk in Silvassa and addressed a public function.

Providing quality technical education to students is the need of the hour

On this occasion, the President said that he was extremely happy to inaugurate Swami Vivekananda Vidya Mandir. He said that the UT administration has made many efforts to promote higher education. Government Engineering College was started in 2018 and NIFT was established in 2022 to provide quality technical education to the students. He expressed confidence that these efforts will provide a great opportunity for the youth of the UT.

Expansion of tourism creates immense employment opportunities

The President said that this region is very rich in historical, cultural and natural heritage. This is why this Union Territory is a good tourist destination. He appreciated the steps taken by the government to promote tourism. He said that expansion in tourism creates new employment opportunities. Meeting people from different regions makes us more liberal and sensitive.

The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) on Wednesday announced the appointment of Amandeep Johl as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from January 2025.

A respected name in Indian golf, Johl brings extensive experience to his new role.

The appointment comes alongside another recent significant leadership addition, with the legendary cricketer Kapil Dev assuming the role of PGTI President in June this year. Johl replaces Uttam Singh Mundy, who has essayed a key role in the organisation since its inception.