US News

The testing of the UAV prototype from a C-130J aircraft will occur over a range in northern India as well as in the United States. Vipin Vijayan, who is covering the Aero India 2023 being held in Bengaluru, reports

"It will be an honour to lead the largest-ever US delegation to Aero India to showcase the world-class equipment, training, capability and interoperability the US industry and military offer. As India modernizes its defence capabilities, we want to be the partner of choice," US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Elizabeth Jones said.

According to White House officials, the surveillance balloon violated international law and its sovereignty. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said there is no intention or plan to return it. 

After the US downed a China-made balloon off the Carolina coast, China said Washington was clearly overreacting and violating international practice. It was shot down with a missile from an F-22 plane and fell into relatively shallow water just 47 feet (14 meters) deep.

Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder confirmed that a second Chinese surveillance balloon has been "assessed" as transiting Latin America.

Seen as a crucial element of India's national security and defence needs, ten MQ-9B Predator armed drones were being sought for each of the three services. Officials, who know of the discussions, ruled out any bureaucratic hurdle or regulatory issues involved. The negotiations have lingered on for unknown reasons.

US-India ties: During the meeting, the two sides also reviewed ongoing bilateral initiatives, the upcoming launch of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), and shared assessments of major global and regional developments.

Republican Kevin McCarthy was on Saturday elected speaker of the US House of Representatives on a historic post-midnight 15th ballot. McCarthy won on a margin of 216-212.

US President Joe Biden renominated Eric Garcetti, the former Mayor of Los Angeles, as his envoy to India, with the White House exuding confidence that he would be confirmed by the United States Senate this time.

Mikey Hothi has been unanimously elected as the mayor of Lodi city in northern California. He is the first Sikh to hold the top position in the city's history. Hothi was nominated by newly-elected councilwoman Lisa Craig, who won election to mayor Mark Chandler’s seat in November.