Whats Happening
As Russia goes to polls, United Russia set to retain its Duma majority amid war and economic headwinds
Russians began a three-day vote for a new State Duma on September 18, 2026, with United Russia expected to
Tejas, HTT-40 and Dhruv NG showcase India’s aerospace rise, Rajnath Singh calls for self-reliance
HAL’s handover of Tejas twin-seater trainers, HTT-40 basic trainers and Dhruv NG helicopters marks a significant step in India’s
After Red Sea gains, Houthis turn inland putting Yemen’s oil heartland in their sights
Houthi forces are pushing inland after their rapid gains on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, placing Marib’s oil and gas
India, China face tariff threat as Trump signs Russia sanctions law
The United States president, Donald Trump, has signed a new law expanding sanctions on Russia and authorising tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries importing Russian energy, potentially affecting major buyers such as India and China. New Delhi has said it will take necessary measures to protect its energy security and trade interests.
OPINION & COMMENTARY
Army
Major Navya Shekhawat becomes first woman Army officer to serve as president’s ADC
Army Service Corps major is second woman overall in presidential ADC role after Navy’s lieutenant commander Yashasvi Solanki.
Gen Dhiraj Seth holds key defence talks in Moscow, pushes India-Russia military cooperation
General Dhiraj Seth met Russian deputy defence minister, General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, in Moscow to discuss joint capability development, professional
Two Pakistani JeM terrorists killed in Udhampur operation, searches continue
Jammu & Kashmir Police identifies slain terrorists as Saddam and Mustafa; assault rifles, pistol and grenades recovered
India-Russia defence ties strengthen as Gen Dhiraj Seth meets Russian Army General in
General Dhiraj Seth met Russian General Alexander Matovnikov in Moscow as both sides agreed to expand military cooperation.
Gen Dhiraj Seth begins 3-day Russia visit as New Delhi and Moscow expand
General Dhiraj Seth’s Russia visit comes as India and Moscow seek to reshape their longstanding defence relationship around technology transfer,
Western Command keeps operational readiness in focus as it marks 80th raising day
Recent readiness reviews and closer Army-Air Force coordination frame the anniversary at Chandimandir as the command remains focused on the
The Tankman Arrives: Gen Dhiraj Seth ends Armoured Corps’ 30-year wait for Indian Army’s top
General Dhiraj Seth takes charge as India’s 31st Army chief, becoming only the seventh Armoured Corps officer –
Navy
India and Pakistan warships collide in Arabian Sea as Indian destroyer’s restraint averts a bigger
An Indian Navy destroyer and a Pakistani corvette collided in the Arabian Sea, prompting a formal Indian protest
Indian and Pakistani naval vessels collide in Arabian Sea, New Delhi summons Islamabad’s envoy
The MEA, in a statement, said that it lodged a “strong protest” over the “unacceptable and unprofessional conduct
INS Karmuk, LCU 51 call at Yangon as India, Myanmar widen maritime engagement
The Indian Navy port call comes amid regular naval exchanges with Myanmar and alongside the latest bilateral Army exercise in
INS Mysore concludes fourth Samudra Laksamana exercise with Royal Malaysian Navy
Four-day drill at Lumut combined harbour exchanges with a sea phase involving KD Lekir and KD Gagah Samudera, as India
Indian Navy chief gets Maori welcome in New Zealand as maritime ties gain momentum
The chief of the naval staff, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, receives a traditional Māori welcome in New Zealand as India and
India expands maritime footprint in Southeast Asia with INS Kulish’s Cambodia visit
INS Kulish’s arrival at Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base marks another step in India’s expanding maritime engagement with Southeast Asia, strengthening
Airforce
Tejas, HTT-40 and Dhruv NG showcase India’s aerospace rise, Rajnath Singh calls for self-reliance
HAL’s handover of Tejas twin-seater trainers, HTT-40 basic trainers and Dhruv NG helicopters marks a significant step in
IAF Dronathon 2026: Over 20 defence firms test next-gen drones at Pokhran
India’s first-ever IAF Dronathon 2026 enters Day 2 at Pokhran, testing drones, swarm systems, electronic warfare and counter-drone
Indian Air Force instructors join RAF to train British pilots in historic UK deployment
Three Indian Air Force instructors have joined the Royal Air Force in Wales to train British pilots, marking the first
IAF opens pseudo-satellite race for Indian industry to boost surveillance capabilities
The IAF has invited Indian industry to develop high-altitude pseudo-satellites (Haps) designed for persistent surveillance, communications and intelligence operations.
Exercise Veer Guardian: Rajnath Singh hails India-Japan defence milestone as Japanese fighters arrive for air-combat
Rajnath Singh calls Japan’s first fighter deployment to India a defence milestone as Veer Guardian 2026 strengthens bilateral military cooperation.
Su-30MKI set for long-range boost as India eyes Russian RVV-BD missile
India is considering integrating the Russian-origin RVV-BD air-to-air missile with its Su-30MKI fleet, potentially giving the IAF a 300-km-class long-range
Russia Launches Record 479 UAVs On Ukraine, Shows Growing Mettle Of Drone Warfare
Russia launched a record-breaking 479 drones in overnight attacks across multiple regions of Ukraine, including for the first
IAF, USAF Sharpen Joint Special Ops Skills in First-Ever Exercise Tiger Claw
Exercise Tiger Claw 2025 marked the first-ever independent Special Forces exercise conducted jointly by the Indian Air Force
International
Explosions heard in Riyadh as Houthi attacks escalate, Makkah pact in spotlight
Explosions were heard in Riyadh after Saudi Arabia issued fresh alerts in the capital and Al-Kharj amid escalating Houthi
‘Black Hole of Minna’: 37 miners suffocate in packed Nigerian cell as Niger
Thirty-seven suspected illegal gold miners suffocated in an overcrowded Nigerian paramilitary cell in Minna, plunging Niger State into mourning
South Korea rejects Trump’s push for troops in Iran war, but leaves door
South Korea’s president, Lee Jae-myung, has ruled out deploying troops for the US-led war on Iran, while leaving open a
As Russia goes to polls, United Russia set to retain its Duma majority
Russians began a three-day vote for a new State Duma on September 18, 2026, with United Russia expected to retain
After Red Sea gains, Houthis turn inland putting Yemen’s oil heartland in their
Houthi forces are pushing inland after their rapid gains on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, placing Marib’s oil and gas resources
16 killed, over 50 injured in suicide attack at Kohat police lines mosque
Police say explosives laden vehicle struck gate before attackers tried to enter complex; six militants killed during clearance operation
The Tankman Arrives: Gen Dhiraj Seth ends Armoured Corps’ 30-year wait for Indian Army’s top
General Dhiraj Seth takes charge as India’s 31st Army chief, becoming only the seventh Armoured Corps officer –
Coast Guard
Two Chinese survivors reach Paradip after MV Ocean Winner sinking, search continues
Two Chinese survivors of sunken cargo vessel MV Ocean Winner were brought safely to Paradip, while the search
Rajnath Singh announces gender-neutral entry and faster ex gratia rules for Coast Guard
The defence minister, Rajnath Singh, has announced gender-neutral officer induction and faster ex gratia payouts for the Indian
Coast Guard Commissions Indigenous Patrol Vessel ICGS Akshay
The Indian Coast Guard commissioned ICGS Akshay, an indigenous fast patrol vessel built by Goa Shipyard Limited, strengthening India's maritime
Indian Coast Guard inducts first indigenous hovercraft H-561 in major maritime Boost
The Indian Coast Guard has inducted H-561, its first indigenous hovercraft, boosting maritime operations and strengthening India's self-reliance in defence
Despite US Sanctions, India Signs Rs 2,182 Cr Missile Deal With Russia; Rs 2,901 Cr
Worth mentioning here is that the major defence procurement decision comes at a time when the United States is tightening
Kalari Leap In Lakshadweep And Minicoy Archipelago: Army’s Southern Command Flexes Air-Maritime-Special Ops
The drills simulated a spectrum of operational scenarios that India could face in its island territories, from hostile maritime threats
Paramilitary
CISF head constable dies after rifle discharges while cleaning in Dantewada
The service rifle reportedly discharged while the CISF personnel was cleaning it at a camp in Bacheli, police
CRPF set to replace Army at 21 ‘hypersensitive’ posts in Jammu’s Kathua-Udhampur belt, CoBRA units
The CRPF is preparing to take over counterinsurgency duties from the Indian Army at 21 hypersensitive locations in
NSG launches first ‘Mahila Commando’ course for women police, CAPF personnel
Women serving in state police forces and CAPFs will undergo 12 weeks of training at Manesar in weapons, marksmanship, tactical
In Manipur, 46 members of militant group surrender with arms as state intensifies peace push
Forty-six cadres of the KCP Taibanganba faction have laid down arms in Imphal, adding momentum to a surrender and rehabilitation
India deports over 40 undocumented migrants to Bangladesh; BSF-BGB faceoff at border
The BSF’s efforts to send away undocumented migrants to Bangladesh were confronted by the BGB at the border in West
India Begins Fencing Bangladesh Border, To Launch ‘Smart Border’ System By 2027
The smart border would be a strong security grid that drastically reduces blind spots, especially in riverine, hilly, marshy, and
Defence r&d
DRDO showcases Astra MkI, Akash-NG and surveillance systems at AAD 2026 in South Africa
India Pavilion in Tshwane features indigenous technologies across airborne surveillance, air defence, maritime reconnaissance and underwater detection
DRDO to build new missile testing range at Junput in Bengal to ease pressure on
DRDO is set to build a new missile and weapons testing range at Junput in West Bengal’s Purba
DRDO’s GaN breakthrough strengthens India’s push for self-reliant radar and electronic-warfare technology
DRDO’s indigenous gallium nitride semiconductor programme marks an important step towards reducing India’s dependence on foreign suppliers for critical high-frequency
DRDO pre-qualifies private firms for participating in future strategic-weapons projects. Why was it necessary?
DRDO is pre-qualifying private companies for future strategic-weapons projects as India seeks faster development, larger production capacity and resilient missile
Parliamentary panel urges DRDO to set clear targets and boost defence R&D
The committee has urged stronger monitoring of defence projects, greater investment in research and development and measures to reduce India's
India extends Notam range to 3,760km for Odisha coast missile test
The test window remains scheduled for August 6-7
Defence Industry
HAL boss says company working to resolve Tejas-Mk1A issues, begins deliveries to IAF
No firm timeline as software, radar and missile-integration work remains before first handover
Cochin Shipyard lays keel for first of six next-generation missile vessels for Indian Navy
Cochin Shipyard has laid the keel of the first of six next-generation missile vessels for the Indian Navy,
HAL eyes first Tejas-Mk1A deliveries to IAF by year-end as integration work nears completion
Twenty-seven airframes built and 10 GE engines received as HAL works through final radar and weapons integration tests
Lockheed Martin lifts the veil on secretive AIM-260 missile as Pentagon fast-tracks production to counter
Lockheed Martin has revealed details of its secretive AIM-260 missile and struck a new production deal with the Pentagon to
HAL to hand over Tejas trainers, HTT-40s and Dhruv NG helicopters in Bengaluru
Two Tejas trainers set to complete original 40-aircraft Mk1 order; first HTT-40 batch and four civil Dhruv NGs also due
Bharat Forge, Pratt & Whitney Canada join hands to power India’s indigenous HALE drone
Bharat Forge and Pratt & Whitney Canada will jointly evaluate integrating turboprop engines into DRDO’s indigenous HALE drone, a step
Cyber
Anthropic enters biology wet lab as it races to expand into drug discovery, report says
Anthropic has established a physical biology laboratory in the San Francisco Bay Area as it expands Claude’s role
OpenAI, Microsoft knew AI could hurt news publishers in major way, unsealed US court filings
Newly unsealed US court filings reveal internal concerns at Microsoft and OpenAI over the impact of AI training
Chinese security agencies expose OpenAI-linked rogue AI agents turn German website into coordination hub
A German website hijacked by autonomous OpenAI-linked agents has highlighted a growing global challenge, which is keeping increasingly capable AI
OpenAI’s Sam Altman admits AI fears are justified, but wants the world to trust firms
OpenAI’s Sam Altman says the world is right to fear AI’s risks but insists the public should trust developers, not
Microsoft drafts ‘humanist’ rulebook to stop its AI from ever slipping out of human hands
Microsoft has unveiled a draft “Humanist AI” code of conduct designed to keep its future models permanently obedient to human
Trump downplays AI ‘doom’ warnings, puts staying ahead of China in race as priority
The US president has downplayed concerns over AI risk and called the growing alarm over artificial intelligence as the work
Space
China conducts two space launches in four hours, advances internet constellation and radar remote-sensing capabilities
China carried out two space launches within just over two hours on Thursday, deploying another low-orbit internet-satellite group
US confirms on-orbit space weapons as Washington signals new phase in space warfare
The United States has acknowledged that it has deployed weapons in orbit for space-control missions, signalling a new
India-France space ties get major boost as private firms strike new deals on surveillance, launches
India and France have deepened their space partnership with three new private-sector agreements spanning strategic satellite surveillance, launches and microsatellite
Isro tests CE20 engine at 220kN for LVM3-M7. What does it mean for India’s space
Isro’s higher-thrust CE20 test advances LVM3-M7 preparations, with heavier-payload performance still to be demonstrated in flight.
Isro privatization row: Media says employees seek ‘clarification’, agency calls reports ‘baseless’
Nine Isro employee associations have written to chairman V Narayanan seeking clarity on the space agency’s future role as rocket
Isro launches EOS-05 successfully. How GSLV-F17 works and why India’s first geosynchronous imaging satellite matters
Isro’s GSLV-F17 has successfully launched EOS-05, giving India its first dedicated geosynchronous imaging satellite for near-continuous Earth observation and strategic