US and allies to send armoured vehicles to Ukraine for its war against Russia

News Network

January 6, 2023

The United States its allies - Germany and France – have decided to supply armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine for its war with Russia.

In a joint statement, following a call between US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the United States said it would provide Ukraine with 50 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, a tracked armored combat vehicle that carries a powerful turret-mounted machine gun, while Germany would provide Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles.

The statement added that both countries agreed to run training courses for the Ukrainian forces on how to use the military vehicles.

Germany also said it would provide Ukraine with a Patriot air defense battery, bringing Kiev’s number of Patriots to two after the White House announced the move last month, according to the Thursday statement.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Paris would send Ukraine French-made light AMX-10 RC armored combat vehicles, a highly mobile wheeled armored combat vehicle that carries a turret-mounted GIAT 105mm gun.

So far, Ukraine's demand for western main combat tanks, including US-made Abrams tanks and German Leopard tanks, has been rejected by western leaders despite Kiev’s protests.

“There is no rational reason why Ukraine has not yet been supplied with Western tanks,” Zelensky complained on Wednesday.

"We must put an end to the Russian aggression this year," he said, adding "modern Western armored vehicles and Western-type tanks" are what Ukraine needs.

In a statement posted on Telegram, Zelensky said he and Macron had "agreed on further cooperation to significantly strengthen our air defense and other defense capabilities."

Macron, last year, provided Ukraine with Caesar howitzers.

The US has already provided Ukraine with more than 2,000 combat vehicles, including 477 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles and more than 1,200 Humvees.

The Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles are part of an overall military package to be announced by the Pentagon or US State Dept. on Friday worth $3.8 billion, according to a person familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity to speak ahead of the official announcement.

The package sets aside $2.25 billion for Ukraine, which will also include 155mm artillery shells. Another $682 million in military financing will go to Eastern European countries as a loan to buy weapons and ammunition made in America by giant arms manufacturers that make up the US military-industrial complex.

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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