Category: News

German journalists ‘threatened’ by Israeli troops in West Bank

The logo of the German broadcasting television network ARD is pictured on the facade of the ARD capital city studio in Berlin's government district. Israeli soldiers in the West Bank threatened and detained a team of journalists from the German public broadcaster ARD, the network reported on Sunday evening | File Photo: Fabian Sommer/dpa

Israeli soldiers in the West Bank threatened and detained a team of journalists from the German public broadcaster ARD, the network reported on Sunday evening. The soldiers behaved extremely aggressively towards the journalists and weapons were aimed into the team’s vehicle on several occasions, ARD said. Bavarian Rundfunk, the ARD member station that operates the network’s Tel Aviv studio, described the incident as an attack on press freedom.

Updated: Man arrested, flights resume after Hamburg Airport drama

After many hours, the police were able to end the hostage situation at Hamburg Airport | Photo: Jonas Walzberg/dpa

Flights at Hamburg’s airport returned to normal schedule on Monday morning, hours after police managed to end a lengthy hostage stand-off with an armed man without bloodshed. The airport said security measures will be overhauled and physical barriers strengthened after the armed man managed to drive his car onto the runway apron on Sunday, forcing a halt to air traffic.

Israel’s dilemma: Regime change or release of hostages
| Is it possible for Israel to do both -- dismantle Hamas and at the same time, recover its hostages? Or will it need to prioritise one over the other?

Israel has two objectives: dismantling of the Hamas regime in Gaza and safe recovery of the hostages abducted on Saturday. Israel will have to prioritise between the two because it is doubtful if both objectives can be pursued and achieved at the same time.

Russia unveils new Argus underwater drone
| The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle concept can operate in swarms to map the seabed and monitor undersea infrastructure like oil and gas pipelines

Depiction of the Argus Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) concept | Source: Rubin Design Bureau

Russia’s Rubin Design Bureau has developed the multi-mission, unmanned submersible for surveys, mapping, search and salvage operations, monitoring and sentry duties, with potentially indefinite endurance capabilities and expandable or customisable payloads depending on mission requirements.

Airbus delivers first C-295 to India
| The aircraft is the first in an order for 56 C-295 transport aircraft to replace the Avro 748 aircraft of the Indian Air Force with final delivery by August 2031

The first Indian Air Force C-295 | Source: Airbus Defence and Space

According to Airbus, ‘The first 16 C295s of the 56 aircraft on order will be assembled at the San Pablo Sur site in Seville, Spain, with the second aircraft due to be delivered in May 2024 and the next 14 rolled out at a rate of one per month until August 2025.’

26 by ’26: India has a chance to get new naval fighters quickly, with Boeing’s Super Hornet production ending
Boeing has announced it will complete F/A-18 production by the end of 2025

Boeing has announced the end of production for the U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters in 2025. With no scope for early Rafale M deliveries, here’s how this could become an opportunity for the Indian Navy to get all 26 of its new Multi-Role Carrier-Borne Fighters by the end of 2026.

F-35 for India?
The F-35 Lightning II offered a thrilling display of aerobatics at Aero India 2023, but here's why the fifth generation stealth fighter doesn't make sense for India

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II displays at Aero India 2023 | Photo: Ministry of Defence

The acquisition of the S-400, differing points of view on the war in Ukraine, eye-watering costs, a domestic 5th gen fighter program and never having operated any U.S. fighter aircraft are some of the reasons why India can’t and shouldn’t consider the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.