SOURCE: PIB

The first edition of the Naval Commanders’ Conference of 2024 is scheduled to commence from 05 Mar 24. The Conference, this time around, will be held in a Hybrid format where in the first phase will be held at sea. The inaugural session of the Conference will have the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri embarking at sea to witness both aircraft carriers demonstrating Indian Navy’s ability to conduct ‘twin carrier operations’.

The Conference, an annual event of paramount importance, serves as a platform for Naval Commanders to deliberate on strategic, operational, and administrative matters concerning maritime security. Held against the backdrop of evolving geopolitical dynamics, regional challenges and the current volatile maritime security situation in the region, the conference plays a pivotal role in shaping the future course of the Indian Navy.

SOURCE: PTI

External Affair Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said it was deeply moving that a million Thai devotees have paid their respects to the holy relics of Lord Buddha, currently displayed in Thailand as part of an exposition that began on February 22.

In a post on X, he also shared a few images of the special pavilion in which the relics were displayed in Bangkok, as part of the first leg of the 26-day exposition. Some of the holy relics of Lord Buddha along with those of his disciples Arahata Sariputra and Arahata Maudgalayana, preserved in India, had reached Bangkok on February 22.

SOURCE: PTI

The probe into the blast at a cafe in Bengaluru is likely to be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), sources said on Monday. At least nine people were injured when a blast took place at Rameshwaram Cafe in Brookfield in East Bengaluru on March 1.

According to the sources, the investigation into the explosion is likely to handed over to the NIA. A man wearing a cap, mask and glasses is the prime suspect in the case and is still untraceable, the sources said.

SOURCE: IANS

A 29-year-old Bangladeshi national was arrested from Kolkata for sending a hoax threat email at Delhi Airport regarding explosives in a flight on February 27, police said on Monday.

The accused was identified as Mohd Nazrul Islam, a resident of Bangladesh. According to police, on February 27, a complaint from DIAL Airport Security Officer was received at the IGI Airport police station in which it was said that a threat email was received on Airport Duty Manager’s email ID having information that there were some safety issues in flight from Delhi to Kolkata, as somebody was carrying explosives with him and request was made to check every bag and luggage and to do needful.

SOURCE: AFI

Recent reports circulating in certain media outlets have stirred controversy by asserting that a Chinese fifth-generation J-20 fighter jet achieved a remarkable feat during a simulated combat exercise. According to these reports, the J-20 purportedly brought down 17 Dassault Rafale fighter jets from the Indian Air Force (IAF) without suffering any losses itself. While such claims may grab headlines, they warrant careful scrutiny and consideration.

The initial source of this assertion stems from Chinese state media, particularly the Global Times in Beijing, which touted the purported achievement of the J-20 in a mock combat scenario. According to these reports, the J-20 demonstrated superior combat capabilities by downing a significant number of “enemy” aircraft while evading any return fire.

SOURCE: ANI

Addressing the National Assembly after being unanimously picked as the next prime minister of the ruling coalition of the PML(N), PPP and other small outfits, Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday called out the ‘global silence’ on the prevailing situiation in Gaza while seeking a bipartisan resolution in the House advocating ‘freedom’ for Kashmiris and Palestinians, Dawn reported.

“Let’s all come together…and the National Assembly should pass a resolution for the freedom of Kashmiris and Palestinians,” PM-designate Shehbaz said in a ‘victory speech’ at the Assembly.
The Pakistan National Assembly on Sunday elected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shehbaz Sharif as the 24th elected Prime Minister of the country, during a session that started with Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) members creating a ruckus by shouting slogans.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Navy base on Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep, soon to be christened INS Jatayu, has unveiled its official insignia. The emblem, to be formally inaugurated next week by Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, features a powerful image – Jatayu, the courageous vulture from the Ramayana, alongside a lighthouse.

Jatayu, revered for his loyalty and valiant sacrifice, attempted to rescue Mata Sita from the clutches of the demon king Ravana. The insignia draws a symbolic connection between Jatayu’s unwavering defense and the role INS Jatayu will play in safeguarding India’s maritime interests.

SOURCE: ANI

In the ongoing series of protests in the region of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), the most latest edition of Safar-e-Azadi protests aimed to raise awareness about the challenges faced by the people in PoK. While participating in the protest, Toqueer Gilani, PoK leader, voiced concerns during the protest, shedding light on various issues faced by the region’s residents. He underscored a systematic pattern of suppression by the Pakistani administration, attempting to oppress the people of PoK.

While addressing the protestors, Gilani said, “The suppressors always have tried to erase our identity, so that we lose our uniqueness and they paint us in their image. Previously the local people used to rule these lands, now you will observe that all the ruling people belong to those oppressors.

SOURCE: ANI

Responding sharply to a question whether “India was being a bully in the region” (sub-continent and the Indian Ocean region), at a book launch event in the national capital, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said ‘big bullies’ don’t provide USD 4.5 billion in aid when neighbours are in distress.

“The big change today in this part of the world is what has happened between India and its neighbours. When you say India is perceived as a big bully, you know, big bullies don’t provide four and a half billion dollars when the neighbours are in trouble. Big bullies don’t supply vaccines to other countries when COVID is on or make exceptions to their own rules to respond to food demands or fuel demands or fertilizer demands because some war in some other part of the world has complicated their lives,” said Mr Jaishankar at the event on Sunday.

SOURCE: ANI

Exiled rights activist from PoK, Amjad Ayub Mirza, on Sunday called out Pakistan’s PM-elect Shehbaz Sharif over raking up (India-administered) Kashmir in his victory speech in the National Assembly, saying he spouted ‘lies’ about the region. Coming down heavily on the PM-designate over what he said were factually incorrect claims about Kashmir, the activist said the former doesn’t have the ‘guts’ to acknowledge and own up to the ‘humanitarian crisis’ in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

“In Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, people en masse are starving. The government servants have not been paid wages for months. The pensioners are waiting for their pensions for nearly a year now. Several departments and several sectors of economy, people working in them, have not been paid their wages.

SOURCE: PIB

The Indian Navy will commission the newly inducted MH 60R Seahawk (a maritime variant of the Blackhawk helicopter) multi-role helicopter on 06 Mar 2024 at INS Garuda, Kochi marking a pivotal moment in India’s Defence modernisation journey. The Seahawks squadron will be commissioned in the Indian Navy as INAS 334. The helicopters are a part of the 24-aircraft FMS contract signed with the US government in Feb 2020.

The Indian Navy is set to witness a significant surge in its maritime prowess with the induction of the Seahawks. The helicopter is designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and vertical replenishment (VERTREP). The helicopter has been rigorously tested in Indian Reference Atmosphere (IRA) conditions and is fully integrated into the Fleet. The advanced weapons, sensors and avionics suite make the Seahawks ideal for the Indian Navy’s maritime security needs, offering enhanced capabilities for both conventional as well as asymmetric threats.