Expensive fighter jets or mass-produced drones and missiles? Panel debates

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cited a World Bank report to praise the Modi government's efforts in combating poverty while launching a sharp attack on the previous United Progressive Alliance administration. Adityanath questioned the state of India prior to 2014, alleging that the country was plagued by filth, poverty, chaos, corruption, insecurity, and disorder. He claimed that the youth were absent from the governance agenda during the UPA era and accused the Congress of treating poor citizens merely as a vote bank. Referencing World Bank data indicating that 49.6 crore individuals have been lifted out of poverty, he asserted that India has shifted from witnessing rapid poverty increases to becoming one of the fastest poverty-reducing nations globally.

At the opening plenary meeting of the G20 foreign ministers' gathering in Atlanta, discussions focused on countering China's dominance in rare earths and critical minerals through the Pax Silica Initiative. The host, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, highlighted interconnected economic and geopolitical crises threatening energy, food markets, global supply chains, and freedom of navigation, urging member states to strengthen economic resilience. The gathering also sets the stage for an upcoming meeting of Quad foreign ministers.

At the first plenary session of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta, key concerns regarding global conflicts were highlighted, stressing that military solutions will not work and diplomacy must be given a chance. Attention was drawn to the disproportionate impact of civilian shipping attacks on the Global South, which jeopardise the availability and cost of fuel, food, and fertilisers amid the West Asian crisis. The address emphasised preserving freedom of navigation under international law, halting the weaponisation of supply chains, and building resilient connectivity. It was further asserted that tactical calculations must not lead to overlooking the dangers of terrorism.

A helicopter carrying six people, including a pilot and five passengers from Karnataka, crashed in Joshimath Valley in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, killing everyone on board. The chopper departed from Badrinath around 1:14 PM before crashing in the valley. The victims' mortal remains have been recovered and are being transported back to Karnataka. Moments before the fatal tragedy, passengers recorded videos from inside the chopper, capturing the journey and the cloudy conditions prior to takeoff. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has sent a team to conduct a preliminary assessment and investigate whether inclement weather contributed to the disaster. Serious concerns have emerged over aviation safety regulations and permissions granted to private helicopter operators along pilgrimage routes in the mountainous terrain.