The Indian Air Force will get armed with the BrahMos NG (next generation) versatile supersonic cruise missile system by 2025. The missile is under design and development stage with the infrastructure being created at Lucknow node of Uttar Pradesh Defence Corridor for setting up of missile making units.

After completing the land-based targets, the sea target would only take 10-12 months.

The NG will be lighter in weight and smaller in size thus allowing the aerial platforms to carry more numbers of them. The NG will be weighing around 1330 kgs and around six metres long. The old current version of BrahMos is 2650 kg of weight with a length of around 9 metres.

Since it is lighter, smaller and compact, the next generation missile systems can be fitted on several platforms. Right now the plan is to fit it in Sukhoi-30MKI and LCA.

The range of the missile was 290 km, with a speed of 2.8 mach, till the time India was not part of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). India became a MTCR member in 2016 and extended its range to 450 km.

The extended range capability of the missile coupled with the high performance of the Su-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF strategic reach. The missile system was successfully married with the Su-30 MKI in May this year.

The NG is expected to gain a lot of export enquiries.

Several African countries and West Asian countries have evinced interest in the NG version of BrahMos missile system. Philippines has already approved a $374.96 million (Rs 2700 cr) contract for the purchase of a shore-based anti-ship missile system from India.

The BrahMos missile can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land and has been inducted into all three services -- Army, Navy and Air Force.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on  Oct 20 launched Mission LiFE, a global plan of action aimed at saving the planet from the disastrous consequences of climate change, at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat.

PM Modi said that whenever India and the United Nations have worked together, new ways of making the world a better place have been discovered. Elaborating on India and UN tie-ups, Modi said, “India had proposed the International Day of Yoga, which was supported by the United Nations. Today it is inspiring millions of people around the world to lead a healthy life.”

Giving the example of the International Year of Millets, which found profound support for the United Nations, the PM said that India wanted to connect the world with its traditional, eco-friendly and coarse cereals. He said that the International Year of Millets next year will be discussed worldwide.

Highlighting the importance of unity in the fight against climate change, PM Modi said that the launch of Mission LiFE is taking place before the Statue of Unity, a colossal statue of the pride of India, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. Leaders from across the world, including President Macron of France, the president of Maldives and the UK’s outgoing prime minister Liz Truss, congratulated PM Modi for launching Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for the Environment).

Two dead bodies have been recovered from the site where the Army's Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) crashed in the mountainous Arunachal Pradesh on  Oct 21 morning. It was carrying five persons.

Far-right leader Giorgia Meloni was set to be named Italian prime minister on Oct 21 after her party's historic election win, becoming the first woman to head a government in Italy.

Her post-fascist Brothers of Italy party -- Eurosceptic and anti-immigration -- won September 25 legislative polls but needs outside support to form a government.

Following two days of cross-party talks the 45-year-old from Rome is now all but certain to be asked to form a government and become the country's first woman prime minister.

British Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned  on Oct 20 — bowing to the inevitable after a tumultuous six-week term in which her policies triggered turmoil in financial markets and a rebellion in her party obliterated her authority.

She said “I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected.”

Just a day earlier Truss had vowed to stay in power, saying she was “a fighter and not a quitter.” But Truss couldn't hold on any longer after a senior minister quit her government with a barrage of criticism and a vote in the House of Commons descended into chaos and acrimony just days after she was forced to abandon many of her economic policies.

Her departure leaves a divided Conservative Party seeking a leader who can unify its warring factions.

India is likely to stop coal imports by 2024, Coal minister Pralhad Joshi on  Oct 20 said. The country’s total coal output will touch 900 million tonne (MT) this fiscal, the minister added.

While speaking at an event at the office of the Comptroller & Auditor General of India, he said efforts are being made by Coal India and its subsidiaries to attain this goal.

He added mineral exploration norms have been relaxed recently and 9 private exploration agencies got accredited so far.

This comes after India faced a major coal crisis, which led to power outages in many states in past 2 years. In 2021, stocks at power plants touched lowest to 7.23 MT. In May 2022, at the peak of summer, several states complained their thermal power plants were running out of coal. Subsequently, the government had to issue two 6 MT tenders for importing coal. 

This time, the government claims to have sufficient coal. As per Central Electricity Authority (CEA), nearly 77 power plants have critical stock till October 20.  Meanwhile, Joshi has complemented CAG’s office for bringing out the first-ever compendium of asset accounts on mineral assets. He said the report presents a picture of the mineral resources spread across different states.

Air India has appointed Henry Donohoe as the Head of Safety, Security and Quality from November 7.

An Irish national, Donohoe started his career at Aer Lingus in 1978 and became its Chief Pilot before going on to head key departments including Safety, Quality, Flight Operations and Engineering.

Donohoe then spent seven years with Emirates in various safety roles and ultimately as Divisional Senior Vice President of Flight Operations and Primary Crisis Director.

Most recently, Donohoe served as Senior Vice President of Safety, Security, Compliance & Emergency Response at Norwegian Air.

Kusal Mendis stood tall with a gritty 79 as Asian champions Sri Lanka bounced back from their early debacle to seal their Super 12 berth with a 16-run win over the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup on Oct 20.

Despite the loss, the Dutch joined the Lankans in the Super 12 with UAE handing them a huge favour by winning against Namibia in the group A finale later in the day.

This was UAE's first-ever victory in the T20 World Cup.

Sri Lanka join England, Australia, New Zealand and Afghanistan in Group 1 while the Netherlands move to Group 2 comprising India, Pakistan, South Africa and Bangladesh.