SOURCE: PTI

A 4,500-tonne high-tech Chinese ‘spy’ ship is back in the Maldivian waters, two months after it spent a week docked at different ports in this archipelago nation. Xiang Yang Hong 03 was docked at the Thilafushi industrial island’s harbour on Thursday morning, news portal Adhadhu.com reported on Friday.

However, “the government has not disclosed the reason for its return. But the government previously confirmed permission for the ship to dock before its first visit,” it said, days after President Mohamed Muizzu, a pro-China leader-led People’s National Congress won the general election, securing 66 out of the 93-member People’s Majlis.

SOURCE: REUTER

India and Oman will sign a trade deal in the coming months, two Indian government officials said, as New Delhi seeks to expand its ties in the Middle East, where rising tensions are putting major shipping routes at risk.

“It will help India with a strategic partner and access to key trade routes in a volatile region,” one official told Reuters. India and Oman have annual trade of less than $13 billion, but the relationship is important for New Delhi as the Gulf nation is a gateway to the narrow Strait of Hormuz between Oman and Iran, a major transit point for global oil shipments.

SOURCE: PTI

Pakistan on Friday urged Indian leaders to stop dragging the country in their speeches for political mileage during the election season. Speaking at a press briefing here, Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Islamabad rejects all the claims made by Indian leaders over Jammu and Kashmir.

“Indian politicians to cease their reckless practice of dragging Pakistan into India’s populist public discourse for electoral motives,” she said.

SOURCE: REUTERS

India expects power generation to grow 9.3% to 1,900 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) during the fiscal year through March 2025, internal projections by the federal power ministry reviewed by Reuters show, the fastest pace of growth since at least 2011/12.

Searing heatwaves and an uptick in economic activity have resulted in India’s electricity generation growing at an average of about 8% annually following the pandemic year of 2020/21, outpacing power demand growth in every major global economy.

SOURCE: ani

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar received a copy of the book ‘India’s Nuclear Titans’ edited by Soumya Awasthi and Shrabana Barua.

He said it is important that the contributions of nuclear titans is recognised by the emerging generations. In a post on X, Jaishankar stated, “Pleased to receive a copy of the book: India’s Nuclear Titans, edited by Soumya Awasthi and Shrabana Barua. Important that the contributions of these Titans is recognized by the emerging generations.”

SOURCE: REUTERS

 Yemen’s Houthis said on Saturday their missiles hit the Andromeda Star oil tanker in the Red Sea, as they continue attacking commercial ships in the area in a show of support for Palestinians fighting Israel in the Gaza war.

The ship’s master reported damage to the vessel, British maritime security firm Ambrey said. Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarea said the Panama-flagged ship was British owned, but shipping data shows it was recently sold, according to LSEG data and Ambrey.

SOURCE: PTI

Two CRPF personnel were killed and two others injured as militants allegedly attacked a camp of security forces in Manipur’s Bishnupur district in the early hours of Saturday, police said. The militants attacked an IRBn (India Reserve Battalion) camp at Naranseina in the Moirang police station area, they said.

“The militants fired indiscriminately from hilltops, targetting the camp. It started around 12.30 am and continued till about 2.15 am. The militants also hurled bombs, one of which exploded in the outpost of CRPF’s 128 battalion,” a senior police officer said.

SOURCE: IANS

 The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari, conferred Presidential awards on 51 air warriors on Friday. The recipients included three Yudh Seva medallists, seven Vayu Sena medallists (Gallantry), 13 Vayu Sena medallists, and 28 Vishisht Seva medallists.

The awards were conferred during the Air Force Investiture Ceremony held near the Param Yodha Sthal, a part of the National War Memorial (NWM) complex in Delhi.

SOURCE: PTI

Pakistan business leaders in an interactive session with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged him to initiate trade talks with India to promote business and commerce which would greatly benefit the economy of the cash-strapped country.

Posing tough questions during an hour-long meeting at the Sindh CM House in Pakistan’s commercial capital on Wednesday, Karachi’s business community appreciated the prime minister’s determination to tackle economic issues but advised him to focus on bringing about political stability to “turn around” the economy.

SOURCE: PTI

China today said it will talk only with the representatives of the Dalai Lama and not the officials of the Tibetan government in exile based in India but ruled out dialogue on the highest Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader’s long-pending demand for autonomy for his remote Himalayan homeland.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin was reacting to reports of the back-channel talks between the Tibetan government-in-exile and the Chinese government when he said China does not legitimise the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharamshala.

SOURCE: PTI

Top officials of India and South Korea on Friday discussed developments in the areas of disarmament and non-proliferation relating to nuclear, chemical and biological domains.

India-Republic of Korea Consultations on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation were held in Seoul, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. “The two sides discussed developments in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation relating to nuclear, chemical and biological domains, as well as regional non-proliferation issues, outer space security-related matters, conventional weapons, including AI in the military domain and multilateral export control regimes,” it said.

SOURCE: PTI

India on Friday emphasised on the need to adopt a “zero-tolerance approach” towards terrorism in all its forms for prosperity and development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states, officials said.

Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane put forth New Delhi’s assertion in this regard as he participated in the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan. “During the meeting, a protocol was signed by the defence ministers of all SCO member states. A Joint Communique was issued after the meeting, in which the SCO defence ministers agreed, amongst other initiatives, to developing the idea of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, which is rooted in the ancient Indian philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’,” the defence ministers said in a statement.

SOURCE: ANI

The Indian Air Force (IAF) embarked on a transformative digital journey by integrating with the DigiLocker platform, a flagship initiative under the Digital India program, here on Friday. In a ceremonial event held at Air Headquarters, Vayu Bhawan, the IAF and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to leverage DigiLocker’s secure and accessible document repository services.

This integration is expected to revolutionize the way critical service documents of IAF personnel, both serving and retired, are issued, accessed, and verified digitally. By harnessing the power of cutting-edge technology, the IAF reaffirms its commitment to data security, operational efficiency, and seamless access to information.

SOURCE: ANI

Indian Navy’s indigenous stealth frigate, INS Sahyadri participated in the Maritime Partnership Exercise with Royal Navy’s RFA Argus and RFA Lyme Bay, part of the UK Littoral Response Group South, the Indian Navy said.

The exercise, which took place on Thursday aimed to enhance interoperability and strengthen maritime cooperation between the two nations, Exercise Highlights include Tactical manoeuvres, Boarding operations, Surface engagement against simulated asymmetric threats, Cross-deck visits, and Cross-deck helicopter operations.

SOURCE: PTI

Two terrorists were killed and two army personnel got injured today as an encounter between terrorists and security forces continued for the second day in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said. The encounter began on Thursday at Check Mohalla Nowpora in the Sopore area of north Kashmir. After the night’s lull, a fresh exchange of firing took place on Friday morning, they said.

Two terrorists have been killed so far, according to the officials.