LEEVENSPARK

Strange Airport: Gibraltar, World’s Only Airport Runway Intersecting a Road Gibraltar Airport or North Front Airport is a civilian airport that serves the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, a tiny peninsula with an area of only 6.8 square kilometers. The lack of flat space on Gibraltar means the peninsula's only runway is bisected by its busiest road, the Winston Churchill Avenue that heads towards the land border with Spain.

The Pakistani doctor, Shakil Afridi, who was arrested a year ago for allegedly trying to help America find Osama bin Laden, then tortured by the Pakistani intelligence service, has told reporters that the ISI believes America is Pakistan's enemy No. 1. Unfortunately, most Pakistanis probably agree with the ISI ------ Afridi says he argued with his ISI interrogators that America is actually Pakist an’s friend, since it provides the country with more aid than anyone else. He’s right. Since 9/11, the United States has provided Pakistan with over $25 billion in military and economic assistance. The majority has gone to the Pakistani army. According to the Congressional Research Service, the aid disbursed since 9/11 totals $25,379,000. American weapons systems provided to the army include 18 F16s, eight P3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, 6,000 TOW anti-tank missiles, 500 AMRAM air to air missiles, six C130 transport aircraft, 20 Cobra attack helicopters, and a Perry-class missil

Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon,was born on 17 July 1943, in Ludhiana, Punjab. During the 1971 Indo-Pak War, Fg. Off. Sekhon was with No.18 Flying Bullets Squadron flying the Gnat fighter based at Srinagar. Early morning on 14 December 1971, Srinagar airfield was attacked by a wave of six enemy F-86 Sabre aircraft.Nevertheless, in-spite of the mortal danger of attempting to take off during  an attack, and in-spite of the odds against him, he took off and immediately engaged a pair of the attacking Sabres. He succeeded in damaging two of the enemy aircraft.In the fight that followed, at tree top height, he all but held his own, but was eventually overcome by sheer weight of numbers. His aircraft crashed and he was killed. For bravery, flying skill and determination displayed by Flying Officer Sekhon he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra(P).

Netaji’s bodyguard in Burma jungles passes away:- Darjeeling lost one of her her bravest son on Tuesday. The ‘Dilli Chalo’ war cry that had struck fear in the hearts of the British fell silent with the death of Krishna Bahdur Mukhia. He was the personal bodyguard and driver of Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, during his warring days  Born in Banneckborne Tea Estate on May 12, 1921, Mukhia was recruited to the Gurkha Regiment in 1941 from the Army Depot in Ghoom, the British awestruck by his boxing skills. After fighting in many fronts for the British, he was among the troops that surrendered to the Japanese on February 15, 1942 in Malaya. As a Prisoner of War he joined Netaji’s INA in 1943.

India to spend Rs 2 lakh crore over 10 years to boost airpower India will spend over Rs 2 lakh crore (upwards of $35 billion) over the next 10 years to boost its air combat power to counter any threats to its territorial integrity as well as protect its expanding geopolitical interests. While IAF's acquisition programmes have been well-documented — ranging from 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) to over 200 futuristic 5th generation stealth fighters — the deputy chief of air staff Air Marshal R K Sharma.

On 01 June 1999, his unit proceeded to the Kargil Sector on the eruption of a war-like situation in Kargil, Drass and Batalik sub-sectors from where he was sent along with his company on the first strategic and daring operation to recapture the first peak of utmost importance - Point 5140, which was at an altitu de of 17,000 feet. Upon reaching Point 5140, leading a company of troops, he encountered the commander of the Pakistani-backed terrorists on radio. The enemy commander challenged him by saying, "Why have you come Shershah (Vikram's nick name given by his commanding officer), you will not go back." Captain Batra, being the last person to back away from a fight, replied, "We shall see within one hour, who remains on the top." In a short while Captain Batra and his company of troops killed eight enemy soldiers and more importantly captured a heavy anti-aircraft machine gun, neutralising the advantageous peak. Mission Point 5140 was a success! Re-captu

Nearly 120 of the Indian Air Force jets are being modernized The Indian Air Force (IAF) has lit the afterburners to make its Jaguars fighting fit for modern warfare and increase their service life. The Jaguars, the only aircraft with the IAF capable of carrying nuclear weapons other than the Mirage-2000s, are being fitted with autopilots, next generation avionics and lethal armaments under an ambitious modernisation programme that will see the fighters flying well after 2030. Nearly 120 Jaguars are being modernised. So far, the IAF has procured autopilots for 55 Jaguars and talks for 95 more, which includes spare autopilots, are underway, according to information shared by the government in Parliament. The upgradation of the Ambala-based fighter jets, in service for more than four decades, is being carried out by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at a cost of more than Rs 3,000 crore. Autopilots would lessen pilot workload, freeing them from physically flying the jet

Ornate exterior of the Kailasha Temple, Ellora  It is a megalith carved out of one single rock. It is estimated that about 400,000 tons of rocks was scooped out over years to construct this monolithic structure. It was built in the 8th century by the Rashtrakuta king Krishna I. The Kailash Temple is notable for its vertical excavation— carvers started at the top of the original rock, and excavate d downward, exhuming the temple out of the existing rock. All the carvings are done in more than one level.  The Kailasa is a remarkable example of Bharatiya architecture on account of its striking proportion; elaborate workmanship architectural content and sculptural ornamentation of rock-cut architecture. It is designed to recall Mount Kailash, the abode of Mahadev Shiva. The courtyard is edged by a columned arcade three stories high. The arcades are punctuated by huge sculpted panels, and alcoves containing enormous sculptures of a variety of deities.  Originally flying bridges

 Bristol as a motto since a wooden sign greeted the Marquis de Lafayette on his “Farewell Tour of America” in 1824. The original sign still hangs within the Borough Hall, where it continues to greet newcomers as well as locals. More than three centuries have passed since the town’s first European settlers occupied the 262 acres along the Delaware River now known as Bristol Borough. A major land route linking Philadelphia and New York City passed through Bristol and hotels along this road hosted a bevy of travelers when the United States capitol was located in Philadelphia just after the American Revolution. Several of the first foreign ambassadors to America selected Bristol for their homes. These homes are still standing and are part of three centuries of architecture reflected in the residences and public building of the town. The oldest known building is the Friends’ (Quaker) Meeting House, built circa 1711. The transportation route used by those traveling between New York City and

Some amazing facts about  Vizag : 1) India's first Naval Base. 2) The only natural harbour on the east coast. 3) The only city with two major ports in the world. 4) The city has a submarine museum, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, at Rama Krishna Beach. 5) India's oldest Shipyard. 6) Headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy. 7) India's first nuclear submarine INS Arihant (Destroyer of Enemies) was built in Vizag. 8) 260 BCE: Ashoka conquered the Kalinga empire (of which Vizag was a part of). 9) 11th century: Simhachalam Temple built by Kulottunga I. 10) 13th century: Simhachalam Temple renovated and made southern imperial centre by the Ganga king Narasimha I of Orissa. 11) Mid-17th century: A factory was founded in "Vizagapatam" by the British East India Company. 12) 1735: Dutch Colony was established. 13) 1904: Railway from Madras to Calcutta, passing through Vizagapatam, was opened. 14) It was the biggest

Tabari 9:69 - "Killing Unbelievers is a small matter to us" The words of Muhammad, prophet of Islam. Ibn Ishaq/Hisham 992: - "Fight everyone in the way of Allah and kill those who disbelieve in Allah." Muhammad's instructions to his men prior to a military raid. Tabari 7:97 The morning after the murder of Ashraf, the Prophet declared, "Kill any Jew who falls under your power." //Ashraf was a poe t, killed by Muhammad's men because he insulted Islam. Here, Muhammad widens the scope of his orders to kill. An innocent Jewish businessman was then slain by his Muslim partner, merely for being non-Muslim.// Quran (9:123) - "O you who believe! fight those of the unbelievers who are near to you and let them find in you hardness." Quran (25:52) - "Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the utmost strenuousness..." Quran (47:3-4) - "Those who reject Allah follow vanities, while those who believ