SOURCE: PTI

China on Monday continued to claim that Arunachal Pradesh is part of its territory, notwithstanding India dismissing Beijing’s claim as “absurd” and “ludicrous”. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian reiterated China’s claim reacting to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s assertions on Saturday, dismissing China’s repeated claims on Arunachal Pradesh as “ludicrous” and that the frontier state was a “natural part of India”.

“This is not a new issue. I mean China has laid claim, it has expanded its claim. The claims are ludicrous to begin with and remain ludicrous today,” Jaishankar said in response to a question on the Arunachal issue after delivering a lecture at the prestigious Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) of the National University of Singapore (NUS).

SOURCE: ANI

The Western Seaboard witnessed eight submarines operating together in a recently concluded exercise in the Arabian Sea, demonstrating their high levels of operation readiness, officials said on Monday.

In a post on X, Western Naval Command said, Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh embarked the units at sea and reviewed the conduct of the exercise. He complimented the pack for their professionalism and splendid conduct.

SOURCE: ANI

In the Right of Reply against Pakistan during 148th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh slammed Pakistan for supporting terrorists and said Islambad should be advised to stop terror factories that continue to launch cross-border terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

At the 148th Assembly of the IPU in Geneva, Harivansh Narayan Singh said, “IPU Members are well aware that Pakistan has an established history of harboring, aiding and actively supporting terrorists. Let me recall that Osama Bin Laden, the face of global terror, was found in Pakistan. The country holds the ignoble record of hosting one of the largest number of terrorists proscribed by the UN Security Council. I trust that Pakistan will draw the correct lessons for the good of its own people.”

SOURCE: PTI

Russia is a country with which India has always had a positive relationship and both countries have taken extra care to look after each other’s interests, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday, as he dismissed the notion that Moscow is drifting towards China.

Interacting with the Indian community in Singapore, Jaishankar said India should look at its relationship with Russia or any other country from its perspective.

SOURCE: IANS

Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral R Hari Kumar on Saturday said that the Indian Navy ships deployed in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden will ensure the safety of seafarers. “As part of the ongoing Operation Sankalp, Indian Navy ships are deployed in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden towards the safety of seafarers and mercantile trade passing through the region,” the Indian Navy Chief said.

He said that the Indian Navy displayed have high degree of professionalism and upheld the principles of international law and commitment to ensuring safe seas and maritime security in the region.

SOURCE: IANS

India and Russia should deepen their economic and industrial relations further than having a buyer-seller relationship, said Russian Senator Konstantin Dolgov. “India is an important partner for Russia in logistics but the relationship should not be just a buyer-seller relationship. India should take steps to deepen its economic relations with Russia,” Dolgov told IANS here on Monday.

Dolgov representing the Murmansk Oblast constituency in Russia was here to participate in the session on `Production of Rare Earth Metals. Global Demand and National Challenges’ at the global nuclear power conference AtomExpo 2024.

SOURCE: PTI

India has signed an additional grant of Sri Lanka Rupees 150 million to build houses and infrastructure facilities in the Buddhist sacred town of Anuradhapura, the Indian High Commission has said.

Santosh Jha, the High Commissioner of India, and the relevant Sri Lankan officials on March 21 exchanged letters about the grant to the island nation.

SOURCE: ANI

In a significant operation, the security forces have uncovered a Naxal weapons workshop and a stockpile of locally made firearms in Odisha’s Koraput district. The discovery was part of an operation conducted close to the Sunki area in Koraput on Sunday.

“Acting swiftly on specific intelligence provided by field ‘G’ Team, an Anti-Naxalite Deployment (ADP) consisting of three Sub-Officers and 14 Other Ranks, under the command of Inspector Sandeep Kerketta, was deployed from COB Sunki, at 6 am,” said the Border Security Force (BSF) During patrolling near Alasi village, the force said, the ADP encountered two suspicious individuals in the jungle, who promptly fled towards the Andhra border upon noticing the presence of the BSF ADP party.

SOURCE: ANI

Assam Rifles apprehended one cadre belonging to the insurgent group, National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang Yung Aung) in the general area of Merangkong, Nagaland, officials said on Monday. According to a press release from HQ IGAR (N), the apprehended individual and the recovered weapon have been handed over to the police.

The operation was conducted on March 23. “Acting on specific intelligence regarding the presence of a cadre in the general area of Merangkong, Nagaland, Assam Rifles launched a special operation on March 23, 2024 and apprehended one cadre of the NSCN-KYA Group,” the statement added.

SOURCE: ANI

US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, on Monday extended Holi wishes to the people of India
In a video message shared on X, the US envoy Garcetti expressed warm wishes to all celebrating the festival of Holi.

“I want to wish everybody a very happy Holi. We have this amazing gujiyas, which has a little bit of an American twist with some pistachios in here, beautiful rose water. There’s no better way than to celebrate Holi across the Indo-Pacific together,” Garcetti said in a video message while showcasing special Gujiyas adorned with an American twist.

SOURCE: AFI

India has positioned its research vessel, RV Samudra Ratnakar, between two Chinese survey ships, XIANG YANG HONG 01 and XIANG YANG HONG 03, located off India’s eastern coast. This deployment comes amid concerns over the presence of Yuan Wang 3, a Chinese military survey ship, in the same region.

The RV Samudra Ratnakar is a state-of-the-the-art oceanographic research vessel operated by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). Built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea, the 103-meter long vessel is equipped for extended missions, capable of continuous sailing for 45 days and accommodating up to 73 personnel, including 25 geoscientists.

SOURCE: AFI

Prominent defense journalist Anantha Krishnan M has confirmed that India’s indigenously developed Tejas Mk1A fighter jet achieved a significant milestone on Friday, March 22nd, 2024, with the successful completion of its Low-Speed Taxi Trials (LSTT).

This achievement marks a major step forward for the Tejas Mk1A program, paving the way for its much-anticipated maiden flight. According to sources, HAL Chairman is reviewing all system clearances meticulously. With HAL and ADA teams working tirelessly, the first flight is now expected to take place within the coming week, potentially before March 31st.