SOURCE: AFI

In a move likely to inflame tensions, China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs announced the renaming of 30 locations along the disputed border with India, according to the South China Morning Post.

These “standardized” names apply to areas within Arunachal Pradesh, a state which China refers to as “Zangnan” and claims as part of its Tibetan autonomous region. India has consistently rejected China’s claims over Arunachal Pradesh, considering it an integral part of its territory. This latest move by China is seen as an attempt to bolster its territorial claims through name standardization.

SOURCE: AFI

In a recent statement, US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, underscored the imperative of maintaining a collaborative stance between the United States and India in the investigation of the thwarted assassination attempt against India-designated terrorist, Pannun.

Central to Ambassador Garcetti’s discourse was the notion of avoiding the establishment of a ‘red line’ in the joint investigation process. By steering clear of arbitrary boundaries, both nations aim to facilitate an exhaustive inquiry that upholds the principles of justice and accountability.

SOURCE: PTI

The recent introduction of Apache helicopters, heralded for their ability to conduct missions in diverse weather and terrain conditions, is set to bolster the Indian Army’s operational reach and aerial strike capabilities in the western sector, according to a high-ranking Army official. During an exclusive interview with PTI, Lt Gen A K Singh, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Command, emphasised the significant impact of this move on the army’s transformation and operational effectiveness.

Marking a pivotal moment, the first medium lift attack helicopter squadron within the Southern Command region was established on March 15 this year. This squadron will be outfitted with cutting-edge Apache AH-64E helicopters manufactured by Boeing. A total of six contracted helicopters are scheduled for delivery to the country in two phases over the upcoming months.

SOURCE: ANI

Emphasising US President Joe Biden’s assertion regarding the significance of India-US partnership, US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti said that the relationship between the two countries is consequential not only for New Delhi and Washington but for the whole world.

The US envoy said that both India and the US are defending democracies domestically and internationally. On being asked about Biden’s statement that the India-US partnership is most consequential in the world, in an interview with ANI, Garcetti said, “He has said that privately. He told that to me. He said, Eric, you know, this is the most important country in the world to me when he was asking me to become ambassador. Now, I love Joe Biden. We’re dear, deep friends for many, many years. I figured, oh, it’s just Joe Biden. He says this to every ambassador. France is the most important country. Mexico is the most important country. But he wasn’t lying. He meant it because I heard him say it directly in the Oval Office to the Prime Minister, this is the most consequential relationship.”

SOURCE: PTI

Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his charge that Indira Gandhi gave away Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday asked why he did not take steps to get it back during his 10-year rule and alleged that raising the “sensitive” issue ahead of elections shows his “desperation”.

The opposition leader also questioned why the prime minister gave a “clean chit” to China after 20 bravehearts made supreme sacrifice in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh. Kharge said that Katchatheevu island was given to Sri Lanka as part of a friendly agreement in 1974 and reminded the Modi government that it too had undertaken a similar “friendly gesture” towards Bangladesh in exchange for border enclaves.

SOURCE: ANI

Stating that religious freedom is an important part of any democracy, the US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, said that sometimes New Delhi and Washington can “agree to disagree” on certain things and it should not be read negatively.

The US State Department had earlier said that it is “concerned” over the notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in India, adding that it is “closely monitoring” the implementation of the act. Speaking to ANI, Mr Garcetti said, “It’s something that we monitor, and I said that. And I said in broad strokes that religious freedom is an important part of any democracy. Protecting minorities is very important. That doesn’t have to be read negatively.”

SOURCE: AFI

Following allegations of India’s interference in the internal politics of Bangladesh, opposition party BNP has started ‘Boycott India’ campaign on social media at the beginning of the year. In response, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that if BNP leaders really boycotted Indian products, they would burn the Indian sarees of their wives.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently criticized the country’s opposition party – BNP – for running a campaign against Indian products. During a speech on Wednesday, Hasina said, “BNP leaders are advocating boycott of Indian products. My question is – how many Indian sarees do the wives of the boycott campaigners have? Why don’t they take sarees from their wives and burn them?”

SOURCE: PTI

Underscoring the importance of “cultural re-balancing” in today’s world, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday that projecting one’s own heritage, culture and faith is as crucial in international relations as in traditional politics.

He was speaking at the Purana Qila here to announce NGO Sabhyata Foundation as the ‘Smaarak Saarthi’ for four historic monuments — Purana Qila, Humayun’s Tomb, Safdarjung Tomb and Mehrauli Archaeological Park — for five years under the government’s ‘Adopt a Heritage 2.0’ project.

SOURCE: ANI

Praising the defence partnership between the two nations, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has said that both the US and India are looking for solutions together amid the ongoing shift in nature of warfare.

He also affirmed that both the deals between India and the US regarding jet engine and predator drones are very much on track. While speaking to ANI, Garcetti said, “You actually prefer a defence partner, which is very high-level, very unique, and something that happened a couple years ago between the US and India. And I hope it’s the beginning of many things.”

SOURCE: ANI

Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) chief Sadanand Vasant Date took over as the new Director General of India’s elite terror probe unit, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), on Sunday. A 1990-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Maharashtra cadre, Date assumed leadership of the NIA from incumbent Dinkar Gupta, who superannuated from service on Sunday.

Prior to joining the NIA, Date served as the chief of the ATS in Maharashtra and held several important positions in the state, including Police Commissioner of Mira Bhayandar Vasai Virar, Joint Commissioner of Law and Order, and Joint Commissioner of the Crime Branch in Mumbai.

SOURCE: PTI

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recorded the statements of the family members of Azad Yousuf Kumar, a Kashmiri man who was allegedly unwittingly thrust into the Russia-Ukraine conflict after being deceived.

The agency recorded their statements recently after filing an FIR against 19 people and visa consultancy firms linked to the exploitation of Indian youth. Azad’s elder brother Sajad Ahmed Kumar told PTI that the CBI questioned him about his brother’s situation and wanted his presence at their New Delhi office. However, he was unable to comply due to current financial circumstances.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG

The Indian drone industry is witnessing a growing focus on counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) solutions, particularly those utilizing directed energy weapons (DEWs). This shift comes as traditional C-UAS methods, often relying on kinetic means like jamming or physical destruction, raise safety concerns in populated areas.

While kinetic methods have been the mainstay of C-UAS defense, they come with limitations. Shooting down drones can pose risks of falling debris in urban environments, while jamming can disrupt legitimate radio frequencies.

SOURCE: AFI

India’s military is setting its sights on Mumbai as the potential location for the country’s first-ever “tri-service common defense station,” according to reports by The Indian Express. This groundbreaking initiative aims to bolster unity and collaboration among the Army, Navy, and Indian Air Force (IAF) in preparation for the establishment of integrated theater commands.

The creation of a tri-service station in Mumbai signifies a significant step towards enhanced interoperability between the three branches of the Indian Armed Forces. This unified station would house facilities for all three services, including logistics, infrastructure, repair and maintenance units, and supply depots. By co-locating resources and personnel, the station would foster closer collaboration and streamline operations.