Iran President & Foreign Minister Die In Helicopter Crash
May 20, 2024 / By Zunair Tahir / World News
About thirty minutes into the journey, the chopper carrying President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other officials lost communication.
According to Iranian media, Iran President Ebrahim Raisi died on Sunday in a helicopter crash in the region of East Azerbaijan.
Over a hilly area, the helicopter carrying Iran’s President Raisi and his Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian vanished. Iran’s national media said that there was “no sign” of life among the occupants of the chopper.
Helicopter Carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi
“Upon finding the helicopter, there was no sign of the helicopter passengers being alive as of yet,” according to state television.
After a period of increased tensions in the area, especially because of the Gaza conflict and Iran’s recent escalation with Israel, this incident occurred.
Having taken office in 2021, President Raisi has repeatedly reaffirmed Iran’s unwavering support for Palestine in his recent address to inaugurate a dam.
Videos of the leader inside the helicopter were released on Sunday by Iran’s official media.
The footage shows the Iranian president staring out of an airplane window while other high-ranking officials, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, are seated across from him.
A formidable new strategic strike drone that Ukraine is testing could prove to be a formidable opponent for anybody who stands in its way on the battlefield. This is what we now know about the drone’s impact on the front lines.
Mykhailo Federov, the Ukrainian Minister of Digital Transformation, announced on his official Telegram channel on February 5th that Ukraine has begun testing the new Shoolika mk6 drone manufactured by Skylabs US as a component of the Brave1 initiative.
Drone Shoolika mk6
According to a translation by Militaryni, Federov told his followers, “The Defense Forces have already tested the Shoolika mk6 and offered their feedback: the drone is important for tactical operations, especially at night.”
Brave1 is a government platform that combines forward-thinking businesses with Ukrainian defense concepts to develop the new weaponry required to counter Russia and strengthen Ukraine’s military might.
The program has shown to be quite effective, and Ukriane’s Brave1 project is developing new technologies, one example of which is the Shoolika mk6. What are the capabilities of this new drone then?
Drone Shoolika mk6 Weapons
Federov said that the drone featured an advanced night vision system and that the Shoolika mk6 can deliver precise hits. He also noted that the drone has shown to be very beneficial in night assaults. However, the drone has other innovative features as well.
The Shoolika mk6 can transport a 6-kilogram or 13.2-pound payload to its target and has a range of up to 10 kilometers, or 6.21 miles. Although it might not seem like much, that is more than enough to do significant harm.
According to Militaryni, the Shoolika mk6 drone is equipped with an anti-tank bomb known as a “four-section hardpoint section for shaped PTAB-type ammunition,” which is intended to defeat tanks and other armored vehicles and equipment.
Shoolika mk6
The Shoolika mk6’s high-precision control system and resilience to electronic warfare are what actually make it dangerous. Federov did not provide any further information regarding these issues in his Telegram post, though.
NATO is now codifying the Shoolika mk6, a formidable drone that will soon be enhanced with artificial intelligence for use in autonomous missions and improved cameras to help it find targets more effectively.
The Shoolika mk6 is “a multifunctional combat asset poised to turn every military operation into a success with minimal human risk,” according to its developer Skylab UA, who also described the drone as “the future of aerial support.”
According to Militaryni, it takes Skylab UA around three weeks to assemble ten Shoolika mk6 drones, not counting the time needed for software updates, calibration, testing, and packing.
Ukraine Drone Shoolika mk6
The typical Shoolika mk6 costs between $25,000 and $30,000. However, in January 2024, Skylab UA announced a price drop for the Shoolika mk6, albeit the firm did not name a pricing.
The Brave1 program, which was started in April 2023 by six Ukrainian government ministries to promote collaboration between digital firms and the defense sector, is what led to the development of the Shoolika mk6.
“Ukraine ought to grow into a nation that embraces technology, learns quickly, and uses it effectively. Federov stated during the program’s debut that “the creation of BRAVE1 is one of the important steps in this direction,” according to a news release.
Our objective is to create a framework for the quick initiation of defense technology initiatives. must make audacious choices and provide the ideal environment for the growth of businesses producing military technologies,” Federov continued. “Courage and technology can go a long way toward our victory.”
French Billionaire Takes The Top Spot In The World’s Richest Person List View His Net Worth
February 2, 2024 / By Zunair Tahir / World News
The CEO of Tesla, Elon Musk, has been surpassed in wealth by French billionaire Bernard Arnault, who also serves as chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton.
The French billionaire Bernard Arnault has surpassed Elon Musk to become the richest person in the world.
On Friday, January 20,24, Arnault made over $20 billion (KSh 3.2 trillion) and defeated Musk, who according to Forbes is currently valued at $204 billion (KSh 32.7 trillion).
Aliko Dangote, a Nigerian, increased his net worth to $22 billion (KSh 3.5 trillion) in January by earning over $6 billion (KSh 963 billion).
Arnault and his family’s net wealth increased by $23.6 billion on Friday, January 26, 2023, to $207 billion (KSh 33.2 trillion), according to data from Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires list. Elon Musk’s net worth was $204 billion (Ksh 32.7 trillion) at the time this article was published.
The event comes after LVMH’s shares rose by more than 12% at the end of trading on Friday, January 26, 2024, as a result of the company’s robust sales.
Louis Vuitton and Sephora are just two of the 75 fashion and cosmetics businesses under the control of 74-year-old Anault’s LVMH empire.
In 2021, the French billionaire paid $16 billion (KSh 2.6 trillion) for the luxury brand, which at the time was thought to be the largest acquisition in history.
Elon Musk, however, continues to lead the Bloomberg Billionaire Index in terms of wealth, followed by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.
Based on the available statistics, the CEO of Tesla has lost more than $30 billion since 2024, which has helped to close the gap with Bezos.
Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa and Nigeria, on the other hand, has increased his net worth to $22 billion by earning over $6 billion.
Since June of last year, when Nigeria started its Forex reforms, Dangote has recovered the majority of his losses.
Dangote’s estimated net worth at the start of January 2024 was $15 billion.
For a short while, Johann Rupert of South Africa overtook him as the richest man in Africa. The richest man in Africa, Aliko Dangote, has witnessed the fastest gain in net worth in years, reaching $22 billion.
Dangote made nearly $1 billion (KSh 160 billion) on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, and $282 million on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, according to data from the Bloomberg Billionaire Index.
At the Nigeria Exchange Limited, Dangote Cement’s share price kept up its upward trend.
US Delivers Ukraine Its Final Round Of Military Assistance
December 28, 2023 / By Zunair Tahir / World News
On Wednesday, the US said that the final installment of military assistance to Ukraine had been disbursed.
$250 million (€225 million) in support was agreed by the White House, but any funding will require new congressional approval.
Republican and Democratic negotiations have come to a standstill.
For its part, the Kremlin has bet that dwindling Western assistance will be essential to its ultimate success in Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in a statement on Wednesday, “It is imperative that Congress act as soon as possible to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself.”
Ammo for anti-tank weaponry and air defense systems is included in the most recent aid package. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine is further disappointed by Congress’s refusal to authorize further cash, which comes after Kyiv’s summer counteroffensive failed and Russian forces continued to press their cause.
Prior to this, the White House threatened to “run out of resources” for Ukraine “by the end of the year.”
Zelenskyy attempted to exert further pressure when he visited Washington in December, his third visit to the US capital in as many months. However, concerns about Moscow’s “as long as it takes” support of Ukraine are becoming more prevalent nearly two years after the country began its brutal invasion.
Republicans on the right have made it clear that they will only approve further US aid to Ukraine if immigration laws are tightened here.
This contentious topic was not resolved in a timely manner.
On January 8, US legislators will take up the assistance question once more.
Senate leaders, both Republican and Democratic, have stated that they plan to approve a fresh round of aid that will include economic, humanitarian, and military support.
The complexity lies with the House of Representatives, which must also approve these money.
Mike Johnson, the country’s new Republican president, says there is insufficient regulation on US aid, but he is not against it being extended.
Japan Allow The World’s Largest Nuclear Facility To Reopen
December 28, 2023 / By Zunair Tahir / World News
TEPCO’s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility is now able to resume operations following the lifting of the safety prohibition. The facility still need authorization from regional administrations, though.
The biggest nuclear power plant in the world, Tokyo Electric Power’s (TEPCO) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa reactor, was freed from a safety prohibition, the Japanese nuclear authority said on Wednesday.
Because of the plant’s high running costs, TEPCO has been considering restarting it. It is currently required to obtain authorization from local authorities in Kariwa village, Kashiwazaki city, and Niigata prefecture.
TEPCO’s sole operational atomic power plant was the 8,212 megawatt (MW) Kashiwazaki-Kariwa facility. Since all of Japan’s nuclear power reactors were shut down in the wake of the Fukushima accident in March 2011, the site has been unavailable since 2012. The de facto restriction was lifted by the Japanese Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) when it was determined that TEPCO was now better equipped. The body has carried out more than 4,000 hours of inspection of its facilities.
The facility was previously prohibited from functioning by the NRA in 2021 as a result of safety violations and inadequate counterterrorism measures. This includes an event when an unapproved employee gained access to key plant sections and a failure to safeguard nuclear items.
Subsequently, it issued an injunction prohibiting TEPCO from putting fuel rods into its reactors or bringing in fresh uranium fuel for the facility.
The government’s principal spokesperson, Yoshimasa Hayashi, stated, “The government will seek the understanding and cooperation of Niigata prefecture and local communities, emphasizing’safety-first’.”
Following the ruling, TEPCO declared that it will keep trying to win over the local populace and society at large to its cause. A Tokyo court decided on Tuesday that TEPCO, the only operator of the nuclear power plant Fukushima that was destroyed by the tsunami, was required to compensate the evacuees, numbering in the hundreds.
Japan has been working to lessen its dependency on imported fossil fuels by reactivating all of its domestic nuclear power facilities that adhere to the safety network. However, there are instances where residents or other regulatory agencies object.
China’s First Ever Full Scale Test Of Reusable Rockets Boosts iSpace Hyperbola-3’s Objectives
November 3, 2023 / By Zunair Tahir / World News
‘Breakthrough’ for China’s commercial space sector, according to the pioneering business iSpace claims that the successful test of its smaller Hyperbola-2 rocket indicates that it is on schedule to launch its larger rocket in 2025.
With the successful full-scale test of the first stage of its Hyperbola-2 rocket, Beijing-based startup iSpace has taken a significant step toward developing its own reusable launch vehicle. This is a first for the Chinese space industry.
In little under a minute, the “hop test” conducted on Thursday at the Jiuquan satellite launch center in the Gobi Desert in northern China confirmed that the company is on schedule to launch its larger Hyperbola-3 reusable rocket in 2025, according to iSpace.
iSpace claimed that the test “provided strong technical support for the development of the medium/large-scale reusable launch vehicle Hyperbola-3 we are currently working on” in a statement posted on its official WeChat account.
“The achievement was a significant milestone for China’s commercial space industry… It also issued a challenge to China’s space sector to bring its reusable rocket technology to par with the most sophisticated in the world.”
According to the statement, the first stage of the Hyperbola-2 reached 178.4 meters (585 feet) before performing a well-controlled descent and touchdown. The vertical take-off/vertical landing (VTVL) test achieved a landing accuracy of 1.7 meters (5ft 7in).
According to iSpace, the flight validated the company’s overarching plan for creating a first stage that is recoverable as well as associated technologies, such as the propulsion system, landing navigation and guidance, buffering, and supporting infrastructure.
With an eye toward a maiden flight in two years, the firm said earlier this year that it was abandoning its plans for the Hyperbola-2 in favor of the larger and more potent Hyperbola-3, which is 69 meters (226 feet) in length.
The reintroduced Hyperbola-2 is a two-stage, smaller rocket that runs on liquid oxygen and methane. Its overall length is 28 meters (92 feet), and it can carry 1.9 tons of cargo into low Earth orbit.
The design of the most potent Hyperbola-3 model, one of three models in the family, is reminiscent of the Falcon Heavy spacecraft built by US corporation SpaceX.
According to iSpace, the Hyperbola-3B, which consists of a center core and two side boosters, can launch 8.5 tonnes into low Earth orbit while in reusable mode.
Among the many Chinese businesses developing reusable rockets is the company that made history in 2019 with Hyperbola-1, China’s first privately produced rocket to reach space.
Rivals Galactic Energy and CAS Space have validated the technologies and algorithms for guidance, control, and navigation in their rockets’ vertical recovery phase through the use of scaled-down test items.
The only US business to date that has created a rocket that can land softly vertically and be reused several times is SpaceX. Among the missions completed by the Falcon 9 were the orbiting of Starlink satellites and the transportation of supplies and crew to the International Space Station.
The workhorse Long March rockets are still competitive, according to China’s space authorities, but new technologies, such as reusable rockets, are being developed to cut costs in the future.
Complex, intelligent rocket engines created by Chinese scientists have aided in the landing of a rover on Mars and the retrieval of samples from the moon; nevertheless, testing of these technologies on reusable spacecraft has thus far only included smaller prototypes.
Indian Diplomats Refusal To Enter UK Gurdwara Called “Disgraceful”
September 30, 2023 / By Zunair Tahir / World News
According to the Indian High Commission, “extremist elements” allegedly mistreated the organizers, including a Scottish Parliament member.
According to the Indian High Commission, “extremist elements” allegedly mistreated the organizers, including a Scottish Parliament member.
According to a fake video going popular on social media, a guy on Friday prevented Vikram Doraiswami, the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, from entering the gurdwara in Glasgow.
Additionally, two males are observed attempting to open the High Commissioner’s automobile door while it is parked. The automobile is then spotted departing Glasgow Gurudwara Saheb’s grounds.
The event occurs in the midst of an escalated diplomatic dispute between India and Canada that was started after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that “agents of the Indian government” were responsible for the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Indian High Commission in London said that “extremist elements” interfered with an event scheduled by the Gurdwara Committee and that one of them attempted to “violently force open” Mr. Doraiswami’s car door.
“On September 29, 2023, three individuals—all from outside Scotland—willfully interfered with a scheduled gathering that the Gurudwara Committee for the community, the High Commissioner, and the Consul General of India had arranged. In this conversation, community and consular problems were covered, according to the statement.
The High Commission stated that the police should look into the attempt by one of the “non-local extremist elements” to forcibly force open the Commissioner’s car door and noted that only one of the organizers’ quick actions, who physically intervened, prevented what could have been a more serious incident.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Metropolitan Police have both been informed of this scandalous occurrence by the High Commission of India, according to the statement. Similar to the ministry of external affairs is the FCDO.
According to the statement, the event’s organizer and other community organization expressed remorse for the incident and encouraged the authorities to take action against the offenders.
Zimbabwe Gold Mine Disaster Kills 6 Lives And 15 More Trapped Under The Rubble
September 30, 2023 / By Zunair Tahir / World News
According to accounts from Zimbabwean media, a mine shaft collapsed at a gold mine on Friday, killing at least six miners and trapping 15 more.
More than 30 people were trapped after the Bay Horse gold mine collapsed on Friday morning in Zimbabwe’s Chegutu, 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of the capital Harare.
According to Zimbabwean media, 13 miners are now believed to have fled or been saved.
While it is unknown what caused the collapse, efforts to reach people who are still underneath are underway, according to television broadcaster ZBC.
The chairman of the Chegutu Miners Association and the secretary general of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation said they will go to the scene to attempt to find out what transpired.
However, in Zimbabwe, mine collapse-related fatalities have happened before.
Zimbabwe, which has enormous deposits of gold, platinum, and diamonds, frequently has mining accidents. There, mining techniques are frequently crude and safety regulations are largely ignored.
Previously, in 2019, scores of miners perished when the Silver Moon and Cricket mines in the town of Kadoma in the country’s center were flooded by heavy rain.
Dubai’s Ruler Reveals Plans For A Second Island In The Shape Of A Palm
June 1, 2023 / By Zunair Tahir / World News
The Palm Jebel Ali, a man-made palm-shaped island that has been abandoned since 2009 due to a real estate slump and is twice the size of the active Palm Jumeirah, received a fresh development plan on Wednesday from Dubai’s ruler.
The UAE’s vice president and prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, posted on Instagram, “Its visitors and tourists will enjoy more than 80 hotels and resorts that provide beautiful tourist experiences.”
The current Palm Jumeirah is one of Dubai’s most popular neighborhoods and a favorite among Russians who have come to the emirate as a result of the turmoil in Ukraine, which has fueled a burgeoning real estate market.
The islands were developed by state-owned corporation Nakheel, which was taken over by the government in 2011 as part of a $16 billion (10 billion pounds) rescue package following Dubai’s real estate meltdown in 2009-2010.
As it expedites plans for additional waterfront projects, including Dubai Islands, another man-made island project formerly known as Deira Islands, Nakheel in November received 17 billion dirhams ($4.63 billion) in finance.
As the government tried to swiftly reopen the country’s economy and airports, the real estate market in Dubai, the financial and tourism center of the Middle East, started to rebound in early 2021.
Security Has Been Tightened In Srinagar Ahead Of The Historic G20 Meeting
May 22, 2023 / By Zunair Tahir / World News
About 60 representatives from G20 member nations are in attendance for the summit in Srinagar. According to officials, Singapore is sending the most delegates to the event in Srinagar.
The third G20 tourism working group meeting will be held in Jammu and Kashmir’s capital city of Srinagar starting today under heavy security. This is the first major international event to take place in the area since the Centre removed Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and withdrew its special status in August 2019.
Parts of the city of Srinagar and the roads leading to the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre, or SKICC, the location of the G20 conference, have received a sparkling renovation.
At the midway point of its G20 presidency, India has hosted 118 meetings, according to Harshavardhan Shingha, Chief Coordinator G20.
Compared to two prior tourist gatherings, he claimed that the Srinagar gathering had attracted the most attendees.
There are about 60 representatives in attendance from G20 member nations. According to officials, Singapore is sending the most delegates to the event in Srinagar.
The summit also includes representatives from nations who were invited as special guests.
China has voiced opposition to the G20 conference taking place in Kashmir, and Saudi Arabia has not registered for the gathering. Turkey seems to have made the decision not to attend the summit in Srinagar.
Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, stated on Friday that China “firmly opposes holding G20 meetings in any form in disputed areas and will not attend such meetings.”
India responded to the criticism by asserting that it is allowed to conduct gatherings on its own soil. It asserted that regular relations with China depend on there being peace and tranquilly on its border.
This was China’s first comment on the G20 summit in Srinagar to use such severe language.
Srinagar is protected by an unprecedented level of security in advance of the conference. The ground-to-air security cover includes the deployment of marine commandos and national security guards.
At key locations and sites, anti-drone units have been activated, and national security guards have been stationed.
In light of allegations that terrorists may attempt to disrupt the G20 event in Kashmir, thousands of soldiers from the Army, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), and Jammu and Kashmir Police are a part of the security grid.
vehicles advisories have been issued by the police, and the boulevard road in Srinagar will not be open to vehicles. The G20 delegates’ route is subject to traffic restrictions as well.
Shop owners in the Lal Chowk area have been given special credentials so they may maintain their businesses without encountering any issues.
Parts of Srinagar city and the road leading from the airport to the SKICC received a significant renovation before to the gathering.
Footpaths and roadways in Srinagar receive a makeover as part of the smart city initiative. In addition to the installation of concrete pathways along the Jhelum Riverfront, Poloview Market, one of Srinagar’s greatest shopping destinations, received a sparkling makeover. The market’s four-lane road connection has been shut down. The market is now tiled and solely open to pedestrians.
G20 delegates will also likely visit Poloview Market as part of the tourist itinerary, which has evolved into a picture-postcard representation of Srinagar’s smart city initiative.
According to officials, the G20 summit would increase tourism in Kashmir, which already attracts a lot of local and international visitors.
Jammu and Kashmir would see a boost in tourists and investments if the next G-20 tourism working group conference is a success, according to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday.
