SOURCE: PTI
India today said it was in touch with Moscow for early “discharge” of Indians working as support staff to the Russian Army, and urged its nationals to stay away from the conflict zone in Ukraine. The comments by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal came following a report that some Indians are working as support staff to the Russian Army in the conflict zone.
“We are aware that a few Indian nationals have signed up for support jobs with the Russian Army,” Mr Jaiswal said.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
A recent leak of data allegedly linked to a Chinese cybersecurity contractor has raised concerns about potential cyberattacks on Indian government agencies and businesses. The leaked information, reviewed by India Today’s Open-Source Intelligence team, suggests that hackers associated with the Chinese government may have targeted key offices like the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, as well as private entities like Reliance Industries Limited and Air India.
The leak reportedly includes thousands of documents, images, and chat messages associated with iSoon, a company believed to be connected to China’s Ministry of Public Security. The information suggests that iSoon may have been involved in a series of cyberattacks on Indian targets, potentially including data theft and surveillance operations.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2024, addressed the issue of Kashmir, highlighting the different perspectives surrounding the conflict.
Responding to a question about the role of values in international relations, Jaishankar noted that interests often play a significant role. He cited the example of Kashmir, where India initially presented the issue as an “aggression” to the United Nations, while others framed it as an “accession” based on their own geopolitical considerations.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Indian authorities have identified over a dozen social media influencers and vloggers suspected of spreading Chinese government narratives, raising concerns about potential threats to national security. These individuals, with sizeable followings, particularly among young audiences, are believed to be motivated by financial gain and potentially contributing to a manipulative information ecosystem orchestrated by Chinese state agencies.
Officials highlight the urgency of addressing this issue due to the influencers’ potential to shape public opinion. They believe this may be part of a broader Chinese Communist Party (CCP) strategy to utilize foreign influencers in adversary countries like India to disseminate preferred narratives domestically and internationally.
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM.
India and Indonesia are on the cusp of finalizing a significant defense deal, inching closer to a contract for the purchase of the Indo-Russian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile. Sources familiar with the negotiations have indicated that price negotiations have been concluded, with the final contract awaiting the formation of a new government.
This potential acquisition would mark a major milestone for both nations. If finalized, Indonesia would become the second country in Southeast Asia, after the Philippines, to acquire the BrahMos, bolstering its coastal defense capabilities against growing regional concerns.
Continue readingSOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM.
Thane-based startup Edith Defence Systems Private Limited (EDSPL) is making waves in the military technology sector with its development of the “Black Panther,” a robot dog designed for both surveillance and combat missions. This news comes amidst growing global interest in utilizing robotic systems for military applications.
EDSPL claims the Black Panther prototype is currently undergoing testing and boasts several impressive features:
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI WITH IDRW.ORG TEAM.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is poised to bolster its surveillance and defense capabilities with the acquisition of new high-power radars and close-in weapon systems from Larsen and Toubro (L&T). With deals worth approximately Rs 13,000 crore approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security.
Initially shrouded in ambiguity regarding the origin of the high-power radar, recent developments indicate that L&T’s High Power Radar (HPR) will be a licensed variant of the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Elta-developed ELM-2084 MMR. This advanced radar system, equipped with 3D Multi-beam Operation by Active Electronically Steered Array (AESA) technology, offers unparalleled capabilities in aerial surveillance and threat detection.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is poised to enhance its aerial firepower with plans to expedite the conversion of an additional 20 Su-30MKI fighter jets, equipping them with the formidable BrahMos-A Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM).
The BrahMos-A ALCM stands out as one of the deadliest Air to Surface weapon system in the world, boasting a range of 450km and blistering Mach 3 speed. Its precision strike capabilities and unparalleled speed make it a formidable asset for India’s air defense arsenal, capable of neutralizing high-value targets with swift and decisive precision.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Recently, officials from the Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Laut, TNI-AL) and other delegations attending MILAN 2024 had the unique opportunity to board India’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant. This landmark event not only showcased India’s naval prowess but also highlighted the spirit of maritime cooperation and friendship between the two nations.
INS Vikrant stands as a symbol of India’s growing maritime capabilities and its commitment to bolstering naval power in the Indo-Pacific region. As the largest warship ever built in India, INS Vikrant represents a significant milestone in the country’s defense modernization efforts and indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.
Continue readingSOURCE: REUTERS
India has asked Russia for the early release of some Indians working with the Russian army in “support jobs”, New Delhi said on Friday, urging its nationals to stay away from the two-year-old Ukraine war.
The statement from the Indian foreign ministry came after the Hindu newspaper reported that around 100 Indians had been recruited in the past year under contracts lasting at least a year. Nationals of many countries have sought work with the Russian army, including from India’s neighbour Nepal.
Continue readingSOURCE: AFI
Dr. Tobias Lindner, Germany’s Minister of State for Federal Foreign Office, recently highlighted growing concerns over China’s assertive behavior and its implications for the rule-based international order. Speaking on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue 2024, Lindner emphasized the importance of upholding sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the principles of peaceful dispute resolution in the face of escalating tensions.
Lindner underscored Germany’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the one and unique rule-based international order, emphasizing the special responsibility borne by United Nations members and the permanent members of the Security Council in preserving global stability and security. Against the backdrop of increasing assertiveness from China, particularly in regions such as Taiwan, the South China Sea, and along the border with India, Lindner stressed the imperative of resolving disputes peacefully and through mutual consent.
Continue readingSOURCE: PIB
The Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) payload onboard the Aditya-L1 has been operational and performing nominally. Its advanced sensors have successfully detected the impact of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) including those that occurred during February 10-11, 2024.
PAPA is an energy and mass analyzer designed for in-situ measurements of solar wind electrons and ions in the low energy range. It has two sensors: the Solar Wind Electron Energy Probe (SWEEP, measuring electrons in the energy range of 10 eV to 3 keV) and the Solar Wind Ion Composition Analyser (SWICAR, measuring ions in the energy range of 10 eV to 25 keV and mass range of 1-60 amu). The sensors are also equipped to measure the direction of arrival of solar wind particles.
Continue readingSOURCE: REUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin flew on a modernised Tu-160M nuclear-capable strategic bomber on Thursday in a move likely to be seen in the West as a pointed reminder of Moscow’s nuclear capabilities. The giant swing-wing plane, codenamed “Blackjacks” by military alliance NATO, is a modernised version of a Cold War-era bomber that the former Soviet Union would have deployed in the event of nuclear war to deliver weapons at long distances.
Putin, who is expected to easily win another six-year term next month, made the flight at a time when Moscow and the West are at odds over Russia’s war in Ukraine and the death in prison of opposition politician Alexei Navalny.
Continue readingSOURCE: PTI
)
The US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma has met with senior Indian ministers and officials in New Delhi to advance the US-India global strategic partnership and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region, according to his spokesperson.
Verma, the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, is the highest-ranking Indian American in the State Department.
Continue readingSOURCE: IANS
The Indian Navy has launched a probe into reports of large fishing vessels bearing Chinese flags allegedly sneaking into the Indian territorial waters in the Arabian Sea near the Karnataka coastal region, sources stated on Friday.
Sources told IANS that the incident was reported three days ago and the Indian Navy is looking into the matter. The intrusions by the Chinese fishing boats came to light after two videos went viral on social media in coastal districts raising concerns.
Continue reading