SOURCE: PTI

A Hawk trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed at Kalaikunda in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district during a training sortie on Tuesday, a defence official said. Both the pilots ejected safely, he said. The plane crashed near the Kalaikunda Air Force Station while returning from the training sortie, he said.

A court of inquiry has been constituted to find out the cause of the accident.

SOURCE: PTI

A day after Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said those who entered and settled in the state after 1961 would be identified and deported, experts on Tuesday raised doubts over viability of the move. They said the identification of illegal immigrants was a “welcome step” but their deportation would be difficult unless the foreign countries concerned recognise them as their bonafide citizens.

The northeastern state has been rocked by ethnic strife since May last year, and the government has accused a section of immigrants from neighbouring Myanmar of fomenting trouble. Speaking at the launch of ‘Project Buniyaad’ on Monday, the chief minister said, “Those who entered and settled in the state after 1961, irrespective of castes and communities, would be identified and deported.”

SOURCE: ANI

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the World Government Summit, Burj Khalifa in Dubai lit up with the words ‘Guest of Honor – Republic of India.’ Dubai’s Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has extended a warm welcome to PM Modi. He noted that the strong ties between the two nations serve as a model for international cooperation.

At the invitation of UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, PM Modi will participate in the World Government Summit 2024 set to be held in Dubai as a Guest of Honour and deliver a special keynote address at the Summit.

SOURCE: ANI

A China-manufactured drone and a huge quantity of drugs were intercepted by the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police near border villages along the international border, Khalsa Vox reported. The first incident unfolded near Chann Kalan village in the Amritsar sector when BSF personnel intercepted the movement of a suspicious drone on February 10.

The BSF’s Quick Response Team (QRT) tracked the drone’s movement and subsequently discovered it in a partially damaged condition in an agricultural field near the village. The drone was identified as a Quadcopter model DJI Mavic 3 Classic, manufactured in China, and was believed to have been used for clandestine operations.

SOURCE: AFI

Kalyani Steel Limited, a leading player in the Indian aerospace and defense sector, is set to establish titanium metal and aerospace components manufacturing plant at Gajamara in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district. This significant project holds immense potential for India’s aerospace ambitions and Odisha’s economic development.

The plant, with an investment of Rs 26,000 crore, will place India on the global map of titanium products, a segment expected to witness phenomenal growth in the coming years. Titanium, known for its strength, lightweight properties, and resistance to corrosion, is a crucial material in aircraft manufacturing. This project will enable India to not only meet its domestic needs but also cater to the international demand for high-quality titanium products.

SOURCE: AFI

S Christopher, the former chairman of India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), recently emphasized the importance of fostering closer collaboration between Indian and US academia and industry in defense manufacturing. He identified several key areas for improvement and suggested potential solutions to facilitate smoother collaboration.

Dr. Christopher highlighted the crucial role academic institutions can play in bridging the gap between the two countries. He proposed involving both Indian and US academic institutions in joint research and development projects. This would encourage cross-pollination of ideas and expertise, leading to innovative solutions for shared defense challenges.

SOURCE: AFI

Gunshots rang out in the early hours of Monday at a residence in the Greater Toronto Area linked to an associate of Gurpatwant Pannun, the general counsel for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).

The targeted property, currently undergoing construction in Brampton, is registered under the ownership of Inderjeet Singh Gosal. Gosal, known for his involvement in coordinating the self-styled Khalistan Referendum held in Surrey, British Columbia on September 23, stepped up after the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18.

SOURCE: ANI

The Israeli Minister of Transport and Road Safety, Miri Regev, paid tribute to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at Mumbai’s Nariman House on Monday. After laying flowers at a column raised in memory of the 26/11 victims, the minister also interacted with members of the Indian Jewish community at the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue.

In one of the deadliest terror attacks to have been perpetrated on Indian soil, 10 members of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba infiltrated India’s commercial capital by the sea on the night of November 26, 2008, opening fire on unarmed civilians at some prominent public spaces across Mumbai. Over the course of four days, they killed 166 people, mostly civilians and foreigners, and left another 300 injured. One of the locations targeted by the terrorists was the Nariman House, also known as the Chabad House in Mumbai. The attack on the Jewish installation in the city claimed the lives of four Israeli citizens.

SOURCE: United News of Bangladesh (UNB)

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Monday said both Bangladesh and India agreed to use non-lethal weapons to reduce border killing to zero. “He (Indian FM) agreed with me that there will be no border killing if non-lethal weapons are used,” Dr Hasan told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The issue of border killings was discussed during his bilateral meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House on February 7. Cargo vessel movement between India’s Maya and Rajshahi’s Sultanganj begins

SOURCE: REUTERS

Pakistan’s election has been remarkable in producing a result disappointing to most of its foreign partners and rivals, with little reason for optimism about the government that will eventually emerge from it, foreign policy analysts said.

Pakistan’s two largest political parties have been wrangling over who will be prime minister after an inconclusive vote last week forced them to join forces and try to form a coalition in a parliament dominated by independents.

SOURCE: PTI

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday welcomed the release of eight Navy veterans who were facing death row in Qatar and said it strengthened the belief in seriousness and the ability of the Modi government to protect its citizens at any cost.

Qatar released the eight jailed former Indian Navy personnel nearly three-and-a-half months after they were handed down death sentences in a case of suspected espionage. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said seven of them returned to India in the early hours of Monday.

SOURCE: PTI

India and Qatar enjoy historically close and friendly relations and the multi-faceted ties between the two countries have continued to deepen in recent years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday ahead of his visit to Doha.

PM Modi said he was looking forward to meeting Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, “under whose leadership Qatar continues to witness tremendous growth and transformation”. The prime minister said this in a departure statement ahead of his two-nation visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar. PM Modi is scheduled to travel to Doha on Wednesday afternoon after concluding his two-day visit to the UAE.

SOURCE: ANI

The GOC White Knight Corps, accompanied by GOC CIF (R), has reiterated the Army’s commitment to community engagement during his visit to Poonch-Rajouri. The primary objective of the visit was to enhance unity and collaboration, thereby fortifying peace and stability in the region.

His visit to Poonch-Rajouri was aimed at fostering unity and collaboration to strengthen peace and stability. The Corps Commander encouraged continued cooperation between the populace and security forces, highlighting the crucial role community support plays in maintaining peace and security.

SOURCE: ANI

Jammu and Kashmir Police filed a chargesheet against two terrorists, who were booked in a case here on their return from Pakistan via Nepal over 13 years ago, officials said on Monday. The chargesheet against Abdul Waris of Kishtwar and Masrat Hussain of Doda was filed on Monday in the court of 3rd Additional Sessions Judge (NIA), Jammu, in connection with a case registered against them under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Ranbir Penal Code, a police spokesman informed. According to officials, the case was registered against them on October 25, 2010, under sections 13, 17 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at Banu Fort police station following their arrest from railway station Jammu.

They were arrested with Rs 50,000 each and incriminating anti-national material, including printed letter-pads of banned terror outfits, the officials said. During questioning, they confessed to have crossed LoC from Poonch, adding that they went to Pakistan about 10-11 years ago to receive training in handling arms and ammunition, officials said.

SOURCE: ANI

Locals held a massive protest in Khaplu district in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) against rising load shedding in the region, Pakistan vernacular media Daily K2 reported. The protestors have called out the “incompetence” of the electricity department which has failed to provide three-phase electricity.
They have alleged that certain influential people are being given 24-hour electricity through a special line, while the general public is being subjected to 18-hour load shedding.

According to the vernacular media, the prolonged and unannounced load shedding is also impacting the business sector. It has become a norm to damage transformers due to dead electricity. The electricity system in the district has been in disarray for the last two months, the officials of the electricity department are absent from the district, the protestors said.