11th November 2025

1. 18th UMI Conference & Exhibition Concludes in Gurugram, Haryana (Nov 7–9, 2025)
2. C-DOT and IIT Gandhinagar Join Hands to Set Up Centre of Excellence in Telecom and Cybersecurity
3. NHAI Partners with Google India to Boost Road Safety and User Experience
4. Tamil Nadu to Roll Out India’s First ‘Women’s Wellness on Wheels’ Initiative
5. Quad Naval Exercise MALABAR 2025 Commences in Guam, Northern Pacific
6. Bangladesh Becomes First South Asian Nation to Join UN Water Convention
7. Kiren Rijiju Signs Haj 2026 Bilateral Agreement with Saudi Arabia
8. AU Small Finance Bank Introduces ‘M Circle’ Platform for Women
9. Salman Rushdie Receives Dayton Peace Prize for Lifetime Achievement 2025
10. Taiwan’s Olympic Star Tai Tzu-ying Announces Retirement from Badminton
11. UAE Selected to Host 2026 Asian Youth Archery Championships
12. Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium to Be Transformed into a Sports City
13. India and Angola Ink MoUs to Deepen Cooperation in Trade and Marine Sectors
14. India and Vietnam Agree on Joint Submarine Rescue Operations
15. India and Sri Lanka Launch Joint Military Exercise ‘Mitra Shakti 2025’
16. India’s Q2 2025 Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.2%
17. Mumbai and Delhi Rank Among World’s Top Billionaire Cities
18. National Education Day is celebrated on November 11
19. India’s Bioeconomy Projected to Reach $300 Billion by 2030
20. INS Sahyadri Joins Quad Naval Drills in Guam
21. The Green Digital Action Hub (GDA Hub) was launched at COP30 in Belém, Brazil
22. The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) will be a key focus at COP30 in Brazil.
23. Adaptation finance has emerged as a key focus at COP30 in Belém, Brazil
24. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Nature Finance Framework
25. Race to Resilience Campaign of UN
26. Belém Declaration on Hunger and Poverty
27. New Natural Gas Discovery Announced in Egypt’s Western Desert
28. DRAP and UiWIN Initiate Mission to Eliminate Dumpsites by 2026
29. Google Unveils New ‘Ironwood’ AI Chip

National News

1. Urban Mobility India Conference 2025 Concludes in Gurugram

• What:
  • The three-day Urban Mobility India (UMI) Conference & Exhibition 2025 concluded in Gurugram, Haryana, marked by the launch of the logo and website of the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme.
• Why:
  • The event aimed to discuss key issues in urban transport, promote sustainable mobility, and highlight future directions for improving urban connectivity in India.
• Tell me more:
  • The conference was attended by Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal, Chief Minister of Haryana Shri Nayab Singh Saini, and other senior officials from the Centre and the State.
  • The event featured one conclave, two plenary sessions including one mayoral session, eight technical sessions, eight roundtables, and eight research symposiums.
  • Shri Manohar Lal emphasized planning urban mobility for Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities and suggested expanding the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) beyond Delhi–NCR.

• In addition, award were also conferred to exhibiters for their quality of exhibition as per details below:
  

Source: PIB

2. C-DOT and IIT Gandhinagar to Set Up Centre of Excellence

• What:
  • The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) and Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IIT-GN) signed an MoU to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for research, innovation, and development in telecom and cybersecurity.
• Why:
  • The collaboration aims to strengthen India’s leadership in telecom and technology through innovation, intellectual property creation, and advancement of next-generation technologies in line with the vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and “Viksit Bharat.”
• Tell me more:
  • The CoE will combine C-DOT’s technical expertise with IIT-GN’s academic excellence to build a collaborative environment for innovation.
  • It will focus on key areas such as Mobile Communications, Cyber Security, Quantum Communication, Advanced AI, and Advanced Telecom Applications.
  • The centre will bring together students, faculty, and researchers from IIT-GN and C-DOT to work jointly in Telecom and ICT domains.

3. India-Saudi Arabia Sign Bilateral Haj Agreement for 2026

• What:
  • India and Saudi Arabia have signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement for 2026, confirming a quota of 1,75,025 Indian pilgrims for the pilgrimage.
• Why:
  • The agreement aims to strengthen coordination between the two countries and ensure a safe, smooth, and comfortable pilgrimage experience for Indian Haj pilgrims.
• Tell me more:
  • The agreement was signed in Jeddah between India’s Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al Rabiah.
  • Both ministers discussed improving facilities related to transportation, accommodation, and health services for pilgrims.
  • During his visit from November 7 to 9, Kiren Rijiju also reviewed preparations with officials from the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate General in Jeddah.
  • The agreement represents a significant step in strengthening India-Saudi Arabia ties and expanding cooperation in cultural and community welfare areas.

Source: ET

4. Government Plans to Redevelop Delhi’s JLN Stadium into Sports City

• What:
  • The government is planning to dismantle Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and redevelop it into a modern Sports City with world-class sports and entertainment facilities.
• Why:
  • The plan aims to utilise the large stadium area more effectively by creating a sports and recreation hub that supports India’s growing sports ecosystem and global hosting ambitions.
• Tell me more:
  • The offices located in the area, such as NADA, NDTL, and the Income Tax Department, will be shifted elsewhere.
  • Built in 1982 for the Asian Games and renovated for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the stadium has recently hosted events like the World Para Athletics Championships.
  • The new Sports City could improve India’s chances of hosting future events such as the 2036 Olympics and the 2030 Commonwealth Games.

Source: BS

5. National Urban Conclave 2025 Inaugurated in New Delhi

• What:
  • Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, inaugurated the National Urban Conclave 2025 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, on the theme “Sustainable Urban Development and Governance.”
• Why:
  • The conclave aims to create a platform for policymakers, experts, and stakeholders to deliberate on India’s urban future and outline actionable plans for achieving the Urban Agenda 2047.
• Tell me more:
  • The two-day conclave brings together over 2,500 participants for discussions across six thematic areas.
  • The Union Minister launched four major initiatives — Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP), Swachh Bharat Mission – Knowledge Management Unit (KMU), Urban Invest Window (UiWIN), and the AMRUT anthem ‘Jal Hi Janani’.
  • The Dumpsite Remediation Accelerator Programme (DRAP) focuses on fast-tracking dumpsite remediation and reclaiming urban land, with a target of achieving “Lakshya Zero Dumpsites” by September 2026.
  • The Urban Invest Window (UiWIN), launched by the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) under the guidance of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, will serve as an investment facilitation platform to attract private and multilateral financing for sustainable urban projects.
  • The conclave also hosted breakout sessions on regional planning, transit-oriented development, livelihoods, and waste management.

Source: PIB

State News

1. Tamil Nadu to Launch India’s First ‘Women’s Wellness on Wheels’

• What:
  • Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will inaugurate India’s first ‘Women’s Wellness on Wheels’ vehicle, aimed at providing cancer screening services for women across the state.
• Why:
  • The initiative seeks to protect women from cancer through early detection and improve access to healthcare facilities across all districts.
• Tell me more:
  • The state plans to launch 38 such vehicles, one in each district, fully equipped to screen for cervical and breast cancer.
  • The scheme aims to prevent female infanticide, stop child marriages, and promote education for the girl child.
  • Tamil Nadu will also offer free HPV vaccination to girls aged 14 and below at a cost of ₹36 crore to prevent cervical cancer.

Source: CNBC

International News

1. Bangladesh Joins UN Water Convention to Strengthen Water Security

• What:
  • Bangladesh has become the first South Asian country to join the UN Water Convention to enhance water security and promote cross-border cooperation.
• Why:
  • The move aims to safeguard Bangladesh’s transboundary rivers, improve water management, and address challenges caused by climate change and upstream interventions by neighbouring countries.
• Tell me more:
  • The Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes was created in 1996 and opened to all UN member states in 2016.
  • Bangladesh faces severe water stress — half of its population lives in drought-prone areas, and 60% is vulnerable to floods.
  • Around 81 of the 1,415 rivers flowing through the country are either extinct or nearing extinction, while 65 million people lack access to safe sanitation.
  • The country shares major transboundary rivers such as the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna with India and China, making cooperation crucial.
  • Bangladesh decided to join the Convention after concerns over projects like China’s Motuo Hydropower Station and India’s dams, which reduce water flow downstream.

Source: DTE

2. COP 30 of UN Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil

• What:
  • The Green Digital Action Hub (GDA Hub) was launched at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, as a global platform to use technology and digital innovation to fight climate change.
• Why:
  • The hub aims to integrate digital technologies with sustainable development, helping countries adopt green technologies and reduce the environmental footprint of the tech sector.
• Tell me more:
  • The GDA Hub is a continuation of the Green Digital Action initiative started by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) at COP28 in 2023.
  • It builds on the COP29 Declaration on Green Digital Action, endorsed by 82 countries and nearly 1,800 organizations.
  • The hub’s main goals include tracking emissions and e-waste, mapping green digital targets, scaling up innovations, and accelerating decarbonization plans.
  • An AI Climate Institute will be established under the hub to offer free AI-based climate training, supported by Anatel and UNESCO.
  • The International Advisory Board led by Brazil and Saudi Arabia will oversee the hub’s progress and ensure inclusive outcomes.

Source: GGGI

3. COP 30 of UN Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil

• What:
  • The Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), created to support countries facing climate impacts beyond adaptation, will be a key focus at COP30 in Brazil.
• Why:
  • The fund aims to provide financial assistance to vulnerable countries affected by irreversible climate losses such as submerged coastal lands or destroyed livelihoods.
• Tell me more:
  • The fund was first agreed upon at COP27 in 2022 and operationalised at COP28 in 2023, with the World Bank chosen as its interim trustee for four years.
  • COP29 announced the fund’s full operationalisation, though issues like governance, eligibility, and funding scale remain unresolved.
  • COP30 discussions will centre on finalising fund disbursement rules, eligibility criteria, and accessibility mechanisms.
  • A proposal to include a sub-goal for loss and damage in the new collective quantified goal (NCQG) for climate finance will also be discussed.
  • For India, the fund is crucial to address climate-induced losses as the country continues to balance development with rising climate vulnerabilities.

Source: IT

4. COP 30 of UN Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil

• What:
  • Adaptation finance has emerged as a key focus at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, with global discussions centred on mobilising funds to build resilience against climate change impacts.
• Why:
  • The goal is to support countries and institutions in adapting to irreversible climate impacts through investments in resilient infrastructure, agriculture, early warning systems, and risk-transfer mechanisms.
• Tell me more:
  • UNEP’s Adaptation Gap Report 2025 highlighted that the private sector could contribute up to USD 50 billion annually in adaptation finance with appropriate policy and blended finance support.
  • COP30 aims to finalise the global goal on adaptation by launching the first global adaptation scorecard with 11 indicators focused on tracking finance flows.
  • The Baku to Belém Roadmap seeks to mobilise USD 1.3 trillion annually in climate finance, including a plan to triple adaptation funding by 2030.
  • COP30’s thematic days on November 10 and 11 are dedicated to adaptation and resilience, featuring sessions led by financial institutions and global agencies.
  • The UNEP FI-led “Investors Resilience Challenge” was launched to bring private investors and development finance institutions together for adaptation projects.

Source: UNEP

5. COP 30 of UN Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil

• What:
  • The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is working with governments and financial institutions to align financial systems and capital flows with nature-positive, inclusive, and resilient economic outcomes.
• Why:
  • The initiative aims to counter global nature loss, which is worsening the climate crisis and threatening food security, water resources, and human well-being.
• Tell me more:
  • UNEP supports countries in aligning policies, regulations, and investments with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
  • Its approach covers three key areas: financing nature-based solutions, biodiversity protection, and sustainable value chains.
  • UNEP helps banks, insurers, and investors integrate biodiversity risk and ecosystem value into their financial strategies.
  • The UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) develops tools and frameworks to help financial institutions align portfolios with global nature goals.
  • Through partnerships, UNEP ensures nature finance supports sustainable development and benefits vulnerable groups such as Indigenous Peoples, women, and rural communities.

Source: UNEP UNFCCC

6. COP 30 of UN Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil

• What:
  • The COP30 Leaders’ Summit in Belém concluded with new pledges on forest protection, Indigenous community rights, sustainable fuels, wildfire resilience, and poverty reduction.
• Why:
  • The initiatives aim to promote cleaner, resilient economies by uniting climate, nature, and people agendas while supporting green growth and long-term global sustainability.
• Tell me more:
  • Major announcements included the Tropical Forest Forever Facility to finance forest protection and the Belém Declaration on Hunger, Poverty, and Human-Centered Climate Action.
  • Leaders pledged to quadruple the use of sustainable fuels and called for stronger wildfire resilience measures.
  • Over 14,000 cities and regions joined the Local Leaders Forum in Rio to advance local-level climate solutions.
  • Brazil and other emerging economies led initiatives linking development with decarbonization, emphasizing that both can progress together.
  • Countries discussed strengthening adaptation finance, with developing nations calling for tripling such funding by 2030.

Source: WRI

6. Egypt Discovers New Natural Gas Field in Western Desert

• What:
  • Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources announced a new natural gas discovery in the Badr-15 area of the Western Desert.
• Tell me more:
  • The gas comes from the Lower Bahariya reservoir in the Western Desert.
  • The immediate inclusion of the field in production highlights the country’s focus on maximizing resource utilization.
  • The Western Desert is one of Egypt’s key regions for oil and gas exploration.
  • The Badr-15 area has shown potential for hydrocarbon discoveries in previous explorations.
  • The Lower Bahariya reservoir is known for its rich natural gas deposits.

Source: NOA

Banking and Economy

1. Google Maps Launches 10 AI-Powered Updates for India

• What:
  • Google Maps has introduced 10 new updates for India, integrating Gemini AI and India-first features to enhance navigation, safety, and travel convenience.
• Why:
  • The updates aim to make commuting in India safer, more intuitive, and more efficient through advanced AI assistance and localised travel utilities.
• Tell me more:
  • Gemini AI now powers conversational, hands-free navigation, allowing users to ask for petrol pumps, parking, or restaurants while driving.
  • Gemini can analyse reviews and web content to provide local tips, like bargaining advice or recommended stalls at places such as Dilli Haat.
  • Safety updates include accident-prone area alerts in Gurugram, Cyberabad, Chandigarh, and Faridabad, and official speed limit displays in nine Indian cities.
  • Google has partnered with NHAI to provide real-time highway data on closures, repairs, and amenities like restrooms and petrol stations.
  • Two-wheeler users can now personalise their navigation icon, and metro tickets can be saved to Google Wallet in cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Kochi, and Chennai.

Source: TOI

2. AU Small Finance Bank Launches ‘M Circle’ for Women Customers

• What:
  • AU Small Finance Bank has launched ‘M Circle’, a special banking program designed exclusively for women to meet their financial and lifestyle needs.
• Why:
  • The initiative aims to support Indian women who are increasingly focused on wealth creation, financial security, and legacy preservation, by offering services beyond traditional banking.
• Tell me more:
  • ‘M Circle’ provides benefits that go beyond AU SFB’s premium offerings, unlike conventional women-centric banking programs.
  • Customers will get 25% additional discount on locker rentals and 0.2% lower interest rates on loans.
  • The program includes exclusive offers from brands such as Nykaa, Ajio Luxe, Kalyan Jewellers, BookMyShow, Zepto, and Swiggy.

Source: ET

3. India’s Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.2% in Q2 2025

• What:
  • India’s unemployment rate declined to 5.2% in the second quarter (July–September) of 2025 from 5.4% in the first quarter for individuals aged 15 years and above.
• Why:
  • The decline indicates improved employment conditions and higher participation in economic activities across both rural and urban areas.
• Tell me more:
  • The data was released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
  • The rural unemployment rate stood at 4.4%, while the urban rate was higher at 6.9% during the July–September quarter.
  • Female labour force participation increased to 33.7% in the second quarter, compared to 33.4% in the first quarter.
  • The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) under Current Weekly Status (CWS) for people aged 15 years and above rose marginally to 55.1% from 55% in the previous quarter.

Source: NOA

4. Google Launches Seventh-Generation TPU ‘Ironwood’ for AI Developers

• What:
  • Google announced the wide rollout of its seventh-generation Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), called Ironwood, to attract artificial intelligence developers to its cloud platform.
• Why:
  • The launch aims to strengthen Google’s position in the competitive AI infrastructure market by offering faster, custom-built chips for large-scale machine learning models.
• Tell me more:
  • Ironwood is designed for both training large AI models and powering real-time applications such as chatbots and digital agents.
  • The chip connects up to 9,216 TPUs in a single pod to remove data bottlenecks and support massive data-intensive models.
  • Ironwood offers over four times the performance of Google’s previous TPU generation.
  • AI startup Anthropic plans to use up to 1 million Ironwood chips to power its Claude language model.
  • Google’s 2025 capital expenditure forecast was raised to $93 billion to meet the growing demand for AI infrastructure.

Source: TOI

Reports and Indices

1. Hurun Research Institute Report 2025

• What:
  • According to the Hurun Research Institute report, Mumbai and New Delhi have been ranked among the world’s top ten billionaire cities, with Mumbai securing the third position globally.
• Why:
  • The rankings highlight India’s growing economic strength and wealth concentration in its major cities, reflecting the rise of business magnates and entrepreneurs.
• Tell me more:
  • Mumbai ranks third in the global list with 92 billionaires, surpassing Beijing and Shanghai.
  • New York tops the list with 119 billionaires, followed by London with 97.
  • New Delhi holds the ninth position globally, with 57 billionaires.
  • The report was shared by the Hurun Research Institute through the World of Statistics on platform X.
  • The list includes other major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Moscow, and San Francisco.

Source: N18

2. NITI Aayog Report: India’s Bioeconomy to Reach $300 Billion by 2030

• What:
  • NITI Aayog released a report titled “Reimagining Agriculture: A Roadmap for Frontier Technology Led Transformation”, projecting India’s bioeconomy sector to reach $300 billion by 2030.
• Why:
  • The report aims to promote technology-driven agricultural transformation to ensure food security, enhance productivity, and make India a developed nation by 2047.
• Tell me more:
  • The bioeconomy includes agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and aquaculture sectors.
  • The report highlights the use of frontier technologies like climate-resilient seeds, precision agriculture, agentic AI, digital twins, and advanced mechanisation.
  • It categorises farmers into three types—aspiring (70–80%), transitioning (15–20%), and advanced (1–2%)—to provide customised technological solutions.
  • Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel said technology integration in farming is helping reduce costs, improve productivity, and empower farmers.
  • NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam stressed the need for technology to reflect the diversity of Indian farmers and local conditions.

Source: TH

Defence News

1. Malabar Naval Exercise 2025 Begins in Northern Pacific

• What:
  • The navies of India, the US, Australia, and Japan have begun the annual Malabar naval exercise in the Northern Pacific to strengthen their defence cooperation and interoperability.
• Why:
  • The exercise aims to enhance coordination among Quad countries and improve their collective maritime security capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Tell me more:
  • Malabar began in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between India and the US and has been held annually since 2002.
  • Japan became a permanent member in 2015, making it a trilateral exercise, and Australia rejoined in 2020, completing the Quad grouping.
  • The 2025 edition is being hosted by the US in Guam, with India deploying its guided missile frigate INS Sahyadri.
  • The exercise comes amid trade and tariff tensions between India and the US.

Source: IE

2. India and Sri Lanka Begin Joint Military Exercise ‘Mitra Shakti-2025’

• What:
  • The 11th edition of the joint military exercise ‘Mitra Shakti-2025’ between India and Sri Lanka began at the Foreign Training Node, Belagavi, Karnataka.
• Why:
  • The exercise aims to enhance interoperability and jointly rehearse sub-conventional operations under the United Nations Chapter VII mandate for peacekeeping.
• Tell me more:
  • The exercise is being conducted from 10 to 23 November 2025.
  • The Indian contingent includes 170 personnel, mainly from the Rajput Regiment, along with 20 members of the Indian Air Force.
  • The Sri Lankan contingent consists of 135 personnel from the Gajaba Regiment and 10 members of the Sri Lankan Air Force.
  • Both sides will practice counter-terrorist operations, including raids, search and destroy missions, and heliborne operations.
  • The training will also cover drone use, counter-UAS systems, combat reflex shooting, AMAR, Yoga, and casualty evacuation drills.

Source: PIB

Awards

1. Salman Rushdie Receives Lifetime Achievement at Dayton Literary Peace Prize

• What:
  • Author Salman Rushdie received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Dayton Literary Peace Prize ceremony in Ohio for his contribution to literature and promotion of peace.
• Why:
  • The award recognises writers who promote peace and understanding through their literary works and contributions to humanity.
• Tell me more:
  • The Dayton Literary Peace Prize was established to honour literary merit and peace-building efforts through fiction and nonfiction writing.
  • Rushdie’s award comes after he published his first fiction work since surviving a stabbing attack in 2022 that left him blind in one eye.
  • His recent works include Knife, a memoir about the attack published in 2024, and The Eleventh Hour, his 23rd book featuring novellas and short stories.
  • This year’s other winners include Kaveh Akbar for his novel Martyr! and Sunil Amrith for The Burning Earth.

Source: IE

Important Days

1. National Education Day – November 11

• What:
  • India observed National Education Day 2025 on November 11 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the country’s first Education Minister.
• Tell me more:
  • National Education Day was first announced in September 2008 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (now Ministry of Education).
  • Maulana Azad, born on November 11, 1888, in Mecca, was a scholar, freedom fighter, and visionary leader who shaped India’s post-independence education policy.
  • He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1992 for his contributions to national development.
  • Maulana Azad was instrumental in establishing the University Grants Commission (UGC), IITs, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.
  • He also helped set up the Sahitya Akademi, Lalit Kala Akademi, and Sangeet Natak Akademi to promote India’s cultural and literary growth.

Source: IE

Sports

1. Olympic Silver Medallist Tai Tzu-ying Announces Retirement

• What:
  • Olympic silver medallist Tai Tzu-ying from Chinese Taipei has announced her retirement from badminton at the age of 31 after a 16-year-long career.
• Tell me more:
  • Tai spent a total of 214 weeks as world No. 1, the second-longest in BWF women’s singles history.
  • She made her international debut at age 15 and went on to win several major titles, including the 2018 Asian Games gold and three All England Open championships.
  • She earned silver at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first woman from her country to win an Olympic badminton medal.
  • Tai also secured medals at the World Championships — silver in 2021 and bronze in 2022.
  • Tai’s 2024 memoir Knife was a finalist for the National Book Award for Nonfiction.

Source: OC

2. UAE to Host 2026 Asian Youth Archery Championship in Khorfakkan

• What:
  • The United Arab Emirates, represented by the UAE Archery Federation, has won the bid to host the 2026 Asian Youth Archery Championship in Khorfakkan.
• Why:
  • The hosting aims to strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading destination for international sports events and to promote youth participation in archery.
• Tell me more:
  • The announcement was made during the Asian Archery Federation Congress held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on the sidelines of the ongoing continental championship.

Source: TI

Memorandum of Understanding

1. AXISCADES and Cilas Sign MoU to Develop Laser C-UAS System

• What:
  • AXISCADES Technologies and French company Cilas S.A. have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly promote advanced Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) technologies for Indian Forces.
• Why:
  • The partnership aims to strengthen India’s defense capabilities and support the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative through co-development and local integration of advanced C-UAS systems.
• Tell me more:
  • The collaboration will introduce Cilas’ high-energy laser weapon system, Helma-P, in India through close cooperation between both partners.
  • AXISCADES will design the overall system architecture suited to Indian Army requirements.
  • Both firms will co-develop and integrate a vehicle-mounted C-UAS solution combining Helma-P’s laser with AXISCADES’ command and control system.
  • AXISCADES will localize maintenance tools and participate in Helma-P’s manufacturing to ensure its sustainability within India.

Source: ET

2. India and Vietnam Sign MoU on Submarine Search and Rescue

• What:
  • India and Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Mutual Submarine Search, Rescue Support, and Cooperation during the 15th India–Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue (DPD) held in Hanoi.
• Why:
  • The agreement aims to strengthen bilateral defence ties and establish a framework for collaboration in submarine search and rescue operations between the two countries.
• Tell me more:
  • The DPD was co-chaired by India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien.
  • A Letter of Intent was also signed to enhance defence industry cooperation through technology transfer, joint research, and expert exchanges.
  • Both countries agreed to expand cooperation in emerging domains like cyber security, military medicine, and real-time information exchange.
  • The next meeting under the ongoing defence industry cooperation arrangement will be held in December 2025, and the 16th DPD will take place in India in 2026.

Source: IE

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