@Noon: ⚓ Indian Navy To Be Completely 'Aatmanirbhar' By 2047

1. ⚓ "We will be completely 'aatmanirbhar' Navy"

India will have a completely indigenous Navy by 2047, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar has said.

Speaking at the India Defence Conclave, he underscored the need for 'aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in the light of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Quotes. "By 2047, we will have a complete indigenous Navy, whether it be ships, or submarines, aircraft, unmanned systems, weapons, the entire complex."

"We will be completely 'aatmanirbhar' Navy. That is what we are targeting."

Years in the building: It's been over sixty years of indigenisation efforts by the Indian Navy.

• The "Indianisation drive" began in 1961 when INS Ajay, the first small patrol boat, was indigenously made in India.

• "Since then, we have progressed a lot," Admiral Kumar said.

2. 🪖Army chief's lessons from Ladakh standoff

Army chief General Manoj Pande has shared his takeaways from the eastern Ladakh border standoff.

Context: The standoff erupted on 5 May 2020 after a violent clash broke out in the Pangong lake areas.

• Maintaining a "higher level of operational preparedness at all time" is a key lesson, General Pande said.

• Further, "infrastructure development, especially along our northern borders" is important.

• Northern borders includes "areas opposite Arunachal Pradesh or the eastern sector, besides Ladakh."

• There is "adequate scope for infusion of new technology... to enhance our abilities to address challenges in the future," he added.

The Army chief said all this in response to a question at the India Defence Conclave.

Next step after disengagement: Indian and Chinese militaries disengaged from Patrolling Point 15 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area in eastern Ladakh.

• There was "progress in terms of disengagement from friction points," General Pande said.

• But there are still "two friction points where we need to move forward," he added.

• After disengagement will come "perhaps, de-escalation, which will involve pullback of troops."

Disengagement progress: Though Indian and Chinese militaries have disengaged from Patrolling Point 15, there has been no progress yet on resolving the standoff in Demchok and Depsang regions.

3. 🛑 47 arrests after Leicester violence

UK Police say they have made 47 arrests so far in connection to Hindu-Muslim clashes in Leicester.

Context: Violent clashes broke out after the 28 August India-Pakistan Asia Cup T20 cricket match, which India won.

Hindus insulted. A video surfaced this week of a Hindu temple being vandalised in the city.

• The footage shows a saffron flag outside the temple being pulled down by a masked man.

• The police have said they are investigating the matter.

• In another video, a Pakistani man named Mohammed Hijab, described by some as an “activist”, is seen mocking Hindus' religious beliefs.

• “If they (Hindus) believe in reincarnation, what a humiliation of them to be reincarnated into some pathetic, weak, cowardly people like that,” Hijab said.

India, Pak have their say. Both Indian and Pakistani High Commissions in London issued statements on the violent episodes.

• The Indian side said this was “violence perpetrated against the Indian community in Leicester and vandalization of premises and symbols of Hindu religion."

• The Pakistani side called the episodes “systematic campaign of violence and intimidation that has been unleashed against the Muslims of the area."

Leicester, quick facts. The population of Leicester is around 330,000.

• Hindus make up about 15 per cent of the population, while Muslims are at about 18 per cent, as per the 2011 census.

• The Muslim population in Leicester has risen significantly between 2001 and 2011, from 11 per cent to 18 per cent.

Peace, please. A joint statement by Hindu and Muslim community leaders appealing for peace has emerged as well.

4. 🚗 Rear seat belt reminder in cars

Prepare for an audio alert if the safety belt buckle is out even in the rear seat of the car.

Context: After the tragic death of industrialist Cyrus Mistry, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari had announced the plan to introduce seat belt reminders for car passengers seated at the back.

• The Road Transport Ministry has now put up draft standards for the reminders, which will be a mandatory feature soon.

• The audio reminder will alert the driver and others if anyone, including on the rear seat, removes the safety-belt buckle later.

• A notification is expected for the new safety feature to be introduced in all cars. Manufacturers will get adequate time to introduce this feature in the new vehicles.

Proposed change: There will be a three-level warning system if any of the occupants are not wearing the seat belt.

• ‘First level warning’ — a visual alert as soon as the ignition switch is engaged by the driver. (An audible warning can also be added as an option.)

• ‘Second level warning’ — visual and audible alerts as soon as the driver starts the vehicle, in case any of the occupants is not wearing the seat belt.

• 'Third level warning' — will come on as soon as any of the occupants unbuckles the seat belt.

In addition: A notification for the three-point seat belt will also be issued soon, as per sources.

5. 🌌 Jupiter's closest approach to Earth in 59 years!

There's action coming up if you're curious about the skies.

Context: Two events to look forward to on the small matter of the largest planet in our solar system:

• On 26 September, the giant planet reaches "opposition."

• Opposition happens when an astronomical object rises in the east as the Sun sets in the west, placing the object and the Sun on opposite sides of Earth.

• Jupiter’s opposition occurs every 13 months.

• During this time, the largest planet in the solar systems appear larger and brighter than any other time of the year.

That's not all: Jupiter will make its closest approach to Earth in about six decades.

• "This happens because Earth and Jupiter do not orbit the Sun in perfect circles – meaning the planets will pass each other at different distances throughout the year," NASA explains.

• At its closest approach, Jupiter will be approximately 367 million miles in distance from Earth.

• Apparently, Jupiter’s closest approach to Earth rarely coincides with opposition!

Bottom line: Take good advantage of the exceptional sighting.