India
SOURCE: ANI

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday convened an important meeting on the “rising” terror-related incidents in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. As per officials, Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane, National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Director General of Military Operations-Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma and heads of the security-related agencies were present in the meeting.
The meeting is being held at South Block. The development comes a day ahead of Independence Day on August 15. Meanwhile, security forces across Jammu and Kashmir have been placed on high alert ahead of Independence Day to ensure public safety.
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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has scheduled the launch of the 175.5 kg Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-08) and SR-0 DEMOSAT passenger satellite using the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) from the spaceport of Sriharikota on Friday The SSLV-D3, in its third and final developmental flight, carrying the EOS microsatellite and the DEMOSAT will soar into the skies from the First Launch Pad at 0917 hrs from the SHAR Range on Friday.
About 17 minutes after the lift off, the EOS-08 satellite and the 0.2 kg SR-0 DEMOSAT , developed by Space Kidz India, would be injected into a 475 km circular orbit with an inclination of 37.4 deg to the equator.
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India is interested in advancing its relationship with Bangladesh under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma said on Wednesday but did not comment on how long the ousted leader Sheikh Hasina would stay in India.
Verma’s remarks came after a meeting with Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Daily Star newspaper reported.”We are interested in advancing our relationship with Bangladesh,” Verma told the media after a meeting with Foreign Affairs Adviser Hossain at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Vowing its support, India has strongly asserted that African representation in both permanent and non-permanent categories will be an indispensable part of United Nations Security Council reform for a more representative and effective council. Delivering a statement at the UNSC high-level debate, India’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, R Ravindra, said, “We are convinced that African representation in both permanent and non-permanent categories will be an indispensable part of UNSC reform for a more representative and effective council.
” He called out the Security Council for not being able to deliver on its primary responsibilities. “…The recent global geopolitical events have clearly shown that the UN Security Council is unable to deliver on its primary responsibilities to safeguard international peace and security when the world needs it the most.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS

An American-made assault rifle was recovered from the encounter site in J&K’s Udhampur district on Wednesday, said officials, adding that one terrorist has been injured in the ongoing anti-terrorist operation.
Officials said that the terrorist was injured in the ongoing encounter at the Akar Forests area of the district, but had evaded capture by hiding somewhere in the dense forest.
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India is observing the ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’ today – August 14 – to pay tribute to those who lost their lives and were displaced during the country’s partition in 1947. In an effort to remind current and future generations of the deep scars left by the Partition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in 2021 that August 14 would be observed annually as ‘Partition Horrors Remembrance Day’.
The observance aims to commemorate the sacrifices made by those who suffered during the Partition and to keep their memories alive.
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An army officer was killed and a terrorist injured on Wednesday in the ongoing anti-terrorist operation in Akar forests bordering between J&K’s Udhampur and Doda districts. Official sources said that an army captain, Deepak was martyred in the operation in Akar forests bordering between Udhampur and Doda districts of J&K.
The sources stated that captain Deepak led from the front and continued to direct his men towards neutralising the terrorists. “He suffered gunshot injuries due to firing by terrorists and was evacuated to hospital. However, the captain succumbed to serious injuries and made the supreme sacrifices for the nation,” sources added.
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A suspected Pakistani intruder trying to infiltrate into India from the Punjab border was shot dead by the BSF amid an ongoing “high alert” ahead of Independence Day.
A Border Security Force (BSF) spokesperson said the man was spotted “surreptitiously” crossing the international boundary in the Dal village of Tarn Taran district around 8:30 pm on Monday and approaching the border fence.The BSF personnel on duty challenged the intruder but he did not stop and continued to advance towards the border security fence, the spokesperson said.
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India has carried out a “successful” maiden flight test of the long-range glide bomb (LRGB) Gaurav from a Su-30 MK-I fighter jet of the Indian Air Force. During the flight test, the glide bomb hit the target erected at Long Wheeler’s island with pinpoint accuracy, the defence ministry said on Tuesday.
The test was conducted off the coast of Odisha. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented the DRDO, the Indian Air Force and the industry for the successful flight test of the glide bomb. He described the successful test as a major milestone in the country’s effort to develop indigenous defence technologies for further strengthening the capability of the armed forces.
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India’s exports of military hardware have recorded a 78 per cent jump to Rs 6,915 crore in the April-June quarter of the current financial year (2024-25) from Rs 3,885 crore in the same quarter of 2023-24 reflecting the continuing growth in the defence sector as the country marches towards the Atmanirbhar Bharat goal. According to the Economic Survey 2023-24, tabled in Parliament on July 22, India recorded its highest-ever defence exports, totalling $2.5 billion (Rs.20,915 crore) in FY 2023-24.
This marks a 25 per cent increase from $2 billion in FY 2022-23, reflecting a consistent upward trajectory over recent years. “India’s defence exports have grown over 12 times since FY 2017, highlighting the country’s commitment to becoming a significant player in the global defence market,” the survey stated.
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US aerospace giant Boeing has partnered with India’s AI Engineering Services Ltd to provide overhaul services to the Indian Navy’s fleet of 12 P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft.
As part of the partnership, the first landing gear overhaul of a P-8I aircraft was recently completed at naval base INS Rajali in Tamil Nadu, Boeing India said on Tuesday.”This is a first in India and reflects the growth in India’s indigenous capabilities for undertaking complex Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services,” it said in a statement.
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The Indian Coast Guard (ICG)’s aircraft and hovercrafts along with other vessels are carrying out surveillance operations along the maritime boundary with Bangladesh to prevent an illegal influx into India amid escalating unrest and the collapse of the government in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is experiencing a volatile political situation, with Sheikh Hasina resigning from the post of Prime Minister on August 5 amid mounting protests.
The protests, led mainly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, evolved into anti-government demonstrations. In response to the heightened tensions in the neighbouring country, the ICG has strengthened security along the international maritime boundary line to prevent any illegal intrusions into India.
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The Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajot (BJHM), a grand national alliance of 23 religious organisations in the country, said on Tuesday that as many as 278 Hindu families have faced massive violence and vandalism in 48 districts of the nation since Sheikh Hasina resigned as the Prime Minister on August 5.
Releasing detailed data on the horrendous acts of violence committed against the Hindu community in the country between August 5 and August 12, BJHM leaders said they continue to live in fear despite having lived in the country for generations.
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Amid the ongoing violence in Bangladesh, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that it is difficult for people in India to be indifferent when every symbol of the country’s friendship with Bangladesh is being attacked there.
Pointing to the turmoil in Bangladesh, Mr Tharoor said it is tragic to see what was hailed as a democratic revolution degenerating into anarchy, and violence targeting the minorities and the Hindu minority. “It’s extremely tragic that what was hailed as a democratic, popular revolution has degenerated into anarchy, and violence targeting the minorities and the Hindu minority… We in India must stand with the people of Bangladesh. But it’s difficult for us to be indifferent when every symbol of India’s friendship with Bangladesh is being attacked,” Mr Tharoor told ANI.
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The five-member Indian committee to monitor the current situation along the Bangladesh border has made communication with their counterparts while the border guarding forces of the two countries have held 83 flag meetings in the last three days as well as 241 simultaneous coordinating patrolling in the vulnerable border area.
The Border Security Force (BSF) shared the input informing that “a meeting of members to monitor the current situation on the India-Bangladesh border was held on August 10 in conformity to directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)”. The Indian government on August 9 had constituted a five-member committee to monitor the current situation on the India-Bangladesh border to maintain communication channels with their counterpart authorities in Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Indian citizens and people belonging to minority communities in the neighbouring country.
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