Tejas Fighter Jet Deliveries Stalled Due To Delay In Engine Supplies From US

Inside the high-tech Tejas fighter jet assembly hangar of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), rows of India's indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) stand ready - airframes complete, avionics tested, and missiles primed. Yet, despite HAL's readiness, the jets remain grounded. The culprit? A delay in engine supplies from the United States.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Dr DK Sunil, Chairman and Managing Director of HAL, offered a candid explanation. "What you see behind you is the third engine that has arrived just a couple of days ago from General Electric," he said, gesturing to the freshly delivered GE 404 engine. "We will be fitting it onto the aircraft, and we are ready to deliver. Today, I think all the aircraft are built. The shortfall is on the engine, as you know, and General Electric has told us that they will speed up the process".

HAL has committed to delivering 12 Tejas jets to the Indian Air Force this fiscal year. But with engine shipments trickling in, the target may be revised. "At worst, I say that we will be able to deliver 10 based on the kind of engine supply that is there," Dr Sunil added. "We also had some issues with the software and missile firing, but that will be completed shortly this month".

The Tejas program, a symbol of India's aerospace ambition, has faced turbulence. A recent crash during field exercises at Pokhran in Rajasthan raised concerns. Dr Sunil clarified, "It was a maintenance issue, not a design flaw. General Electric has given us special checks to be done because that is a difficult area to access. Otherwise, the safety record has been excellent".

The delay has reignited calls for an indigenous jet engine. What one needs is an 'atmanirbhar' jet engine; HAL has done its part. The bottleneck lies across the ocean.

This isn't the first time HAL has faced scrutiny. Earlier this year, the Indian Air Force chief Amar Preet Singh publicly criticised HAL's delivery timelines, urging faster execution and better coordination. While HAL has made strides in production efficiency, the reliance on foreign suppliers continues to be a strategic vulnerability.

With the Tejas jets lined up and HAL's engineers standing by, the message is clear: India's fighter jets are ready to soar - if only their engines arrive on time.

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Amid Trade Tensions, Negotiations And A Thaw, Trump Wishes PM Modi On Birthday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked US President Donald Trump for his wishes ahead of the former's 75th birthday, stressing his commitment to bettering India-US ties and support for Washington's initiatives towards resolving the Ukraine conflict peacefully.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights. We support your initiatives towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict."

The India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership comprises key initiatives in defence, trade, energy, and technology. In a meeting between the leaders in February in Washington, a target of more than doubling bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 was set.

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After 'Pig' Jibe At SKY, Yousuf's Fresh Dig: 'When Irfan Pathan Said...'

Mohammad Yousuf, former Pakistan batter with over 17,000 international runs, did the unthinkable during a recent discussion on a Pakistani TV channel when he derogatorily referred to India captain Suryakumar Yadav as a "pig." Yousuf's comment came after Yadav did not shake hands with Pakistan players following India's victory in an Asia Cup Group A match. Later, Yadav dedicated India's win to the Armed Forces and also expressed solidarity with the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Yousuf repeatedly called Suryakumar Yadav a "pig" during the discussion about the handshake controversy on the channel. Even the anchor was shocked and attempted to correct him, but Yousuf continued to verbally abuse Yadav.

"India are unable to get out of their filmy world. India should be ashamed of the way they are trying to win-using umpires, torturing [Pakistan] through the match referee. It is a high note," said Yousuf on Samaa TV. He then began referring to Suryakumar as a "pig." Social media users were outraged over the comment from Yousuf, who played 288 ODIs, 90 Tests, and 3 T20Is for Pakistan between 1998 and 2010.

A low level rhetoric from Yousuf Yohana (converted) on a national TV program.

He called India captain Suryakumar Yadav as "Suar" (pig).

Shameless behaviour. And they demand respect, preach morality. pic.twitter.com/yhWhnwaYYq

— Slogger (@kirikraja) September 16, 2025

Now, in a post on X, Yousuf has offered an explanation:

"I didn't mean any disrespect to any sportsman who plays for his country with passion and grace. But why were the Indian media and people praising Irfan Pathan when he said that Shahid Khan Afridi was barking like a dog? Shouldn't that have been rejected by everyone who talks about dignity and respect?" he wrote.

I didn't mean any disrespect to any sportsman who plays for his country with passion and grace, but why were the Indian media and people praising Irfan Pathan when he said that Shahid Khan Afridi was barking like a dog? Shouldn't that have been rejected by everyone who talks…

— Mohammad Yousaf (@yousaf1788) September 16, 2025

The incident Yousuf referred to came to light during a recent interview with Irfan Pathan, where he spoke about his off-field encounters with Shahid Afridi. Although Pathan dismissed Afridi 11 times in international cricket, it was Afridi's behavior outside the field that seemed to bother him more.

"During the 2006 tour, we were flying from Karachi to Lahore. Both teams were travelling together. Afridi came and put his hand on my head and messed up my hair. He asked me, 'How are you, kid?'" Pathan said on Lallantop.

"I thought - since when did you become my father? He behaved like a child. I was neither talking to him nor saying anything. After this, Afridi said some bad things to me. His seat was near mine."

Pathan then made a pointed remark that completely shut Afridi down.

"Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq was sitting with me then. I asked him what kind of meat is available here. He told me meat from different animals was available. After this, I asked whether dog meat is available. Razzaq was surprised and said, 'Hey Irfan, why are you saying this?'" Pathan recalled.

"I said, 'He (Afridi) must have eaten dog meat - he's been barking for so long.' After that, Afridi couldn't say anything. If he had, I would've said, 'Look, he's barking again.' He remained quiet for the entire flight. He understood from this incident that he wouldn't be able to take me on verbally. That's why he never said anything to me again."

Following the handshake controversy, Pakistan even threatened to pull out of the Asia Cup 2025.

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Pak Dealt Another Blow In 'Handshake' Row After Skipping Asia Cup Presser

Pakistan were dealt a major blow in the ongoing 'handshake' row as Andy Pycroft will remain the match referee for their Asia Cup 2025 clash against UAE on Wednesday. Pycroft found himself in the middle of the controversy when Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accused him of playing a major part in the row. PCB were left fuming when India captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with his Pakistan counterpart Salman Ali Agha during their Group A match. The Pakistan cricket governing body went on to ask for Pycroft's removal from the panel of match referees for Asia Cup 2025 and even reportedly threatened to boycott the UAE game if their request was not granted. However, the ICC rejected their request and Pycroft is all set to remain as the match referee for the said game.

Earlier, Pakistan decided to skip the pre-match press conference on Tuesday. Sources have confirmed, the decision was taken because Pycroft was not removed by the ICC on their request.

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Carter's Kiss To Trump's Step Ahead: Presidential Gaffes Toward UK Royals

Maybe it was nerves from being in the presence of royalty or perhaps it was a simple mistake, but there have been quite a few gaffes by US presidents and first ladies toward members of the British royal family over the years.

As President Donald Trump prepares to embark on a state visit with King Charles III in England this week, here's a look back at some of the better-known faux pas, including one of Trump's own:

President Jimmy Carter attended a summit dinner at Buckingham Palace in 1977.

The newly elected president hailed from Georgia and had strong Southern roots. He entered the event with members of the royal family, and together they posed for photographs.

It was rumored that Carter kissed the Queen Mother on the lips during a greeting.

Carter later said that he kissed her on the cheek, but British tabloids ran with the story for years.

President George W. Bush hosted Queen Elizabeth II at the White House in 2007.

Upon her arrival, Bush gave a welcoming speech in which he flubbed a line portraying the queen as much older than she was.

“You helped our nation celebrate its bicentennial in 17 ... in 1976,” Bush said, causing the crowd to erupt into laughter.

He then turned to the queen, and together they shared a humored look.

“She gave me a look that only a mother could give a child,” he said.

When the Obamas visited the royal family in 2009, first lady Michelle Obama placed her hand on the back of Queen Elizabeth II, breaking protocol that the queen is not to be touched unless she makes the first move.

Despite Mrs. Obama making the first contact, the queen reciprocated the gesture by placing her hand on the first lady's back as well.

President Barack Obama was in the middle of proposing a toast during a dinner at Buckingham Palace in 2011 when the orchestra unexpectedly started to play “God Save the Queen.”

Rather than stopping his toast to let the music finish out, the president forged on with his speech.

As the president ended his toast, the queen waited for the anthem to end before raising her glass.

As Trump and Queen Elizabeth II inspected the Guard of Honor at Windsor Castle during a 2018 visit, he stepped ahead of the queen and directly into her walking path.

In British hierarchy, the monarch is meant to always lead the way.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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All About Gemini's 'Hug My Younger Self' Trend As It Takes Over Social Media

A new "Hug My Younger Self" trend has become popular on social media platforms, thanks to Google Gemini's Nano Banana feature. Users are using this artificial intelligence (AI) model to create adorable, polaroid-style images of the present self hugging the younger self. The trend is a mix of nostalgia and creativity, which has allowed the users to reimagine themselves in a heartwarming moment.

Nano Banana is Gemini's image editing tool from Google DeepMind. If the result is not what the user had expected, they can try adding more details to the prompt.

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A post shared by Shreya Dev Nath | Bangalore Blogger (@shreyya_official)

Also Read | What Is The 'Nano Banana' Trend? The AI Craze Turning Photos Into 3D Figurines

Easy Steps To Join The Trend

Download Gemini: Get the Google Gemini app from the Play Store or App Store.

Upload Photos: After signing in, select two pictures - one of your current self and another from childhood.

Enter Prompt: Type "click a cute polaroid picture of my older self hugging my younger self". Gemini will create the image in a few moments. And use the 'Redo' option if the result is not satisfactory.

Also Read | How To Transform Your Selfie Into A Bollywood-Style Red Saree Poster

Vintage saree trend

Another trend, the vintage saree trend, has gained massive traction on social media. The users are transforming everyday photos into stunning, vintage Bollywood-style portraits using Gemini's Nano Banana tool. The trend blends nostalgia, fashion and cinematic drama, allowing users to reimagine themselves as 90s Bollywood stars.

How It Works

Open Gemini: Download the Google Gemini app and log in with your Google account.

Upload Photo: Choose a clear solo portrait where your face is visible.

Add Prompt: Use or create prompts describing the saree style, lighting, and background you envision. The image will be generated in a few seconds.

Some of the popular prompts are dramatic retro look with warm golden light and moody shadows in a black saree, classic portrait with a vintage diva vibe in white polka dot saree, elegant red saree with cinematic lighting, flowing yellow saree with golden-hour sunlight.

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"India Is Going To Hammer You": Shoaib Akhtar's Blunt Reminder To Pakistan

Legendary fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has backed India to annihilate Pakistan in their much-talked-about Asia Cup 2025 clash in Dubai on Sunday. In a recent discussion on a Pakistani show, Akhtar reserved high praise for the Suryakumar Yadav-led side, claiming that the current lot is one of the most dominating T20I sides ever. "It is pretty obvious they are going to dominate you. They are gonna make sure that they hammer you. That's very simple. If I stretch it far, when it comes to making a statement, they would like to play against Afghanistan in the final, not Pakistan," said Akhtar, during a discussion on 'Game On Hai'. (Asia Cup 2025 LIVE Score: India vs Pakistan Live Updates | Follow here)

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq was quick to point out that this Indian team doesn't have the experience of Virat Kohli, who would bat through the innings even if they lost a few early wickets.

"Pakistan does have an opportunity in case they don't get a good start and lose two wickets. They don't have Virat Kohli, as the batting is different. The new guys haven't played these bowlers. If the Pakistan bowlers can create a hole at the top, they surely have a chance," Misbah intervened.

However, Akhtar silenced him with an epic response. He also praised the depth in India's middle middle-order.

"Not to counter your argument, but please forgive me. They have Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, as well as Jitesh Sharma," Akhtar pointed out.

"Even Axar Patel can bat. This is not the same team which would crack after losing a couple of wickets. This is not the team from Virat's time, it won't be easy to run through them. They also have Abhishek Sharma," said Akhtar.

"This is a very strong middle-order batting lineup India has ever produced."

Notably, India have defeated Pakistan in each of the last five meetings across competitions. Pakistan's last victory over India came during the Super 4s stage of the Asia Cup in 2022.

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