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SOURCE: PTI

In an indirect goodwill message to India, Pakistan’s former premier Nawaz Sharif on Friday said that his government would try to improve relations with the neighbouring countries. Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) technically emerged the single largest party in the National Assembly despite the fact that the number of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supported independent candidates was higher than any political party.

“We would improve ties with the world and with our neighbours and try to solve all issues with them (neighbours),” the 74-year-old former three-time premier said.

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SOURCE: PTI

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) worth Rs 5077 crore has been reported by companies operating in the defence sector, the defence ministry said in Lok Sabha on Friday. The data was provided by Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt while replying to a question. The defence industry sector was opened up in May 2001 for private sector participation, he said.

“The FDI limit in the defence sector was enhanced in 2020 up to 74 per cent through the automatic route for companies seeking new defence industrial licence and up to 100 per cent by the government route wherever it is likely to result in access to modern technology,” Bhatt said.

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SOURCE: PTI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday called for shoring up engagement among countries of Indian Ocean region to confront challenges like safeguarding sovereignty, dealing with cases of disregard to maritime laws and flouting of long-standing pacts, in remarks seen as an oblique reference to China’s military assertiveness including along the Line of Actual Control.

In an address at the seventh Indian Ocean Conference in Perth, he also flagged concerns over unsustainable debt, opaque lending practices, unviable projects and “injudicious” choices, in thinly veiled comments that came amid concerns over many countries falling into the Chinese ‘debt trap’.

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SOURCE: ANI

The Iranian ambassador to India, Iraj Elahi, on Friday said the cooperation and collaboration between the two countries in the development of the Chabahar port and the International North-South Transport Corridor is a testament to the growing bilateral ties. Speaking to ANI at the Iranian embassy in the national capital on Friday, the envoy said, “Economic relations between Iran and India are developing across sectors.

The cooperation between the two countries in the development of Chabahar port, as the golden gateway connecting nations along the Indian Ocean to Central Asia and the Caucasus, and the cooperation in the International North-South Transport Corridor are important examples of the growing cooperation and bilateral ties.” The Chabahar port in Iran is seen as a key component of India’s connectivity initiatives, holding immense significance as it provides a viable and shorter route for trade between India, Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.

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SOURCE: ANI

Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, will be on an official visit to India from February 11 to 15, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press release. This will be the first official visit by Kao to India since assuming charge in January 2023. During the visit, Secretary-General of ASEAN is scheduled to have meetings with the External Affairs Minister and other dignitaries in Delhi.

He will deliver the Sapru House Lecture organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) on the theme “The ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the Evolving Regional Architecture,” MEA also said. At the invitation of the Government of India, Secretary-General of ASEAN will visit the Mahabodhi Temple Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Gaya. He is scheduled to deliver an address on “The Future of ASEAN: ASEAN’s Relevance and Resilience in the Evolving Strategic Environment” at the Nalanda University in Rajgir.

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SOURCE: IANS

India and Rwanda held the first edition of Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting in Rwandan capital Kigali, an official statement said on Friday. The JDCC was to discuss a wide range of opportunities to enhance defence cooperation between the two countries, the Defence Ministry statement said, adding that the detailed discussions were held in areas like training cooperation, joint military exercises, defence industrial cooperation etc.

The Indian delegation highlighted the growing prowess of Indian defence manufacturers to export to friendly countries, while the Rwandan side evinced keen interest in augmenting training cooperation, expressing confidence in the growing capabilities of the Indian defence industry.

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SOURCE: ANI

A special NIA court has sentenced an ISIS operative to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for promoting the banned terrorist outfit’s violent ideology and agenda and conspiring to carry out suicide attacks in Kerala’s Kochi. The accused, Riyas Aboobacker alias Abu Dujana, a resident of Palakkad (Kerala), has also been fined by the special Ernakulam (Kerala) court, which found him guilty under sections 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and section 120B of Indian Penal Code.

Riyas was arrested by the NIA on September 24, 2019 and charge-sheeted in October of the same year. He is the third person to be convicted in the ISIS Kasaragod module case relating to the activities of 14 youths from Kasaragod district of Kerala who, along with their families, had exited India between May and July 2016 and had joined ISIS or Daish in the Islamic Caliphate announced by the proscribed terrorist organisation.

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SOURCE: PTI

Families of Agniveers dying in the line of duty should get the same benefits that are extended to those of regular military personnel, a parliamentary panel has recommended. Under the existing provisions, families of Agniveers who die in the line of duty are not eligible for regular benefits like pension.

“Considering the plight of family members/next of kin, the Committee desire after martyrdom of an Agniveer, the same benefits should be provided to their family members that are provided to the family of a regular soldier,” the Parliamentary Standing Committee On Defence said in its latest report.

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SOURCE: IANS

Women officers of the Indian Air Force, Army and Navy interacted with over 700 Indian students from various CBSE-affiliated schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. According to the Ministry of Defence, the students were eager to know about the opportunities for women in the Indian armed forces and were thrilled to listen to the stories of grit, passion and success.

The women officers from the three services – Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth, Colonel Ponung Doming and Lieutenant Commander Annu Prakash – were part of an Indian delegation to Saudi Arabia headed by Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt, to attend the World Defence Show 2024 in Riyadh.

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SOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s state-owned aerospace and defense giant, has set its sights on a new horizon: the Hindustan 228 Amphibian. This ambitious project aims to develop a civilian variant of the Dornier Do-228 seaplane, addressing the need for efficient connectivity between India’s mainland and its island chains.

India boasts a vast coastline dotted with strategically important islands, including the Andamans and Nicobars in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshadweep islands in the Arabian Sea. However, accessing these islands often presents logistical challenges, with travel options mainly limited to ships and helicopters. The Hindustan 228 Amphibian has the potential to revolutionize island connectivity, offering a faster, more weather-independent, and cost-effective solution.

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SOURCE: IDRW.ORG TEAM

Range Aero, a Bengaluru-based drone startup, has set its sights on revolutionizing short-haul logistics with the unveiling of the Jestar Logistics drone. This autonomous freight helicopter promises to transform how goods are delivered, particularly in remote or challenging environments.

Jestar boasts an impressive range of 200 kilometers and a payload capacity of 150 kilograms, making it well-suited for various applications. Imagine delivering essential supplies to disaster-stricken areas, transporting medical equipment to remote villages, or efficiently restocking inventory in inaccessible locations – the Jestar’s capabilities open up a world of possibilities.

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SOURCE: AFI

The Western Naval Command of Indian Navy has announced maiden flight of the Drishti 10 drone, manufactured by Adani Defence and Aerospace took place on Friday. This advanced unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) promises to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s maritime surveillance capabilities.

The Drishti 10, also known as the “Starliner,” boasts an impressive 36-hour endurance, allowing for extended surveillance missions. Its 450 kg payload capacity ensures it can carry essential equipment for comprehensive data collection. Notably, the Drishti 10 is the only all-weather military platform with STANAG 4671 certification, signifying its compliance with international airworthiness standards for UAVs. This versatility enables it to operate in various weather conditions and seamlessly integrate into segregated and unsegregated airspace.

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SOURCE: Embraer

Embraer Defense & Security and Mahindra announced today that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the objective of jointly fulfilling the acquisition of the C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft by the Indian Air Force in its upcoming Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) procurement project. The MoU was signed at the Embassy of Brazil in New Delhi.

“We are honored to announce this MoU with Mahindra . India has a diverse and strong defense and aerospace industry and we have chosen Mahindra as our partner to jointly pursue the MTA program” said Mr Bosco da Costa Junior, President & CEO, Embraer Defense & Security. “India is a key market for Embraer and we fully support India’s ambitions for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. We see this partnership as a symbol of strengthening relations between Brazil and India and a way to foster Global South cooperation.”

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SOURCE: AFI

he Indian Army is looking beyond its traditional partner, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), for technology solutions. Dissatisfied with the results of projects funded through DRDO’s Technology Development Fund (TDF), the Army is now exploring alternative avenues and leveraging its own expertise to drive innovation.

This shift comes after two crucial projects were scrapped in the last six months due to unsatisfactory outcomes from the TDF platform. The fund, aimed at promoting self-reliance through indigenous defense technology, appears to have fallen short of the Army’s expectations.

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SOURCE: IANS

A synthetic aperture radar (SAR) on a car for surveillance? Yes, that is what space sector startup, Sisir Radar Private Ltd has innovated. Normally, the SAR is fitted to a satellite to look down through the clouds. After testing its SAR on a drone, Sisir Radar has now successfully tried that principle with a radar fitted on a car and picked up signatures at 1.5 km distance.

“Conventional surveillance radars are big in size and can be a target of attack. On the other hand, a mobile SAR radar cannot be an easy target,” Tapan Misra, Founding Director and Chief Scientist, told IANS.

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