SOURCE: PTI

Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari has said the traditional boundaries of the land, sea, air, cyber and space domains are increasingly becoming “blurred”, bringing about a “paradigm shift” in war fighting.

In a recorded video address that was played at the inaugural session of the three-day Indian Defence Space Symposium here on Friday, the IAF chief also said in order to “maintain our strategic autonomy”, capabilities must be developed that would be necessary to “defend our interests in space”.

SOURCE: ANI

The Indian ambassador to Austria, Shambhu Kumaran, joined the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Friday. Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, welcomed him and stressed that India is a key partner in all their initiatives.

Grossi further emphasised that India and the IAEA aim to strengthen our collaboration and maximise the potential of IAEA initiatives.

SOURCE: ANI

Top commanders of the Indian armed forces and the DRDO chief on Thursday called for deeper collaboration between the government, industry, startups and end-users like the Indian Army and Navy to bolster the country’s space defence capabilities. 

“I can say that there is enough space for everyone to grow. I wish that all the startups in the space domain graduate to become unicorns and then flourish as global partners in the times to come,” said General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, Indian Armed Forces, in a virtual address at the Indian DefSpace Symposium 2024 organised by the Indian Space Association (ISpA).

SOURCE: PTI

InterGlobe Enterprises, the parent company of IndiGo, and US-based Archer Aviation will launch an all-electric air taxi service in India in 2026, that will carry passengers from Connaught Place in the national capital to Gurugram in Haryana in just 7 minutes. Archer Aviation will supply 200 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that can carry four passengers besides a pilot and operate just like helicopters but with lesser noise and better safety.

The 200 planes, each having 12 rotters, will cost around USD 1 billion.

SOURCE: PTI

In a first, the Delhi Police personnel with weapons will be seen travelling in metro trains during emergency situations to avoid getting stuck in traffic jams and reach the spot sooner, officials said today.
According to officials, the Delhi Police has got the go-ahead on its proposal in a recent meeting with the DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Coorporation) and CISF (Central Industrial Security Force), which is deployed at the stations for security checks.

As of now, the Delhi Police personnel are not allowed to travel in metro with weapons.

SOURCE: IANS

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday said it has seized a China-made drone near the India-Pakistan border in Punjab’s Amritsar district along with a packet of 500 gm of heroin.

Acting on a tip off, the BSF troops carried out an extensive search operation in the suspected area. At about 4.45 p.m. on Friday, the troops successfully recovered one drone along with one packet of suspected heroin of 500 gm, the BSF Punjab Frontier said.

SOURCE: ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated countrymen after India delivered the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines as part of the $375 million deal between the two sides signed in 2022.

Addressing a rally in Domah, PM Modi said, “Now we are also exporting BrahMos missiles. The first batch of this missile is going to the Philippines today. I congratulate all the countrymen on this.” India delivered the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines on Friday, as part of the USD 375 million deal between the two sides signed in 2022.

SOURCE: NIA

In a major step towards destroying the financial infrastructure of Narco-Terror operatives in the country, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has frozen the immovable property of a key operative in a 2021 case relating to a fatal motorcycle borne explosion in Punjab, with links to notorious Pakistan-based Khalistani terrorists Habib Khan alias Doctor and Lakhveer Singh alias Rode.

The property of Surat Singh @ Surti, resident of Village Mahatam Nagar, PS Sadar Fazilka, Punjab, has been frozen under the provisions of the NDPS Act 1985. The said property comprises Khewat numbers 84/78, 93/87, and 95/89, totaling an area of 13 Kanal, 17 Marla, and 05 Sarsai.

SOURCE: IANS

Nalin Prabhat, a 1992 batch IPS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG).

“Nalin Prabhat, presently working as an Additional Director General in the CRPF, has been appointed as the Director General of the National Security Guard (NSG) in Level-16 of the pay matrix from the date of joining the post and up to August 31, 2028, i.e., date of his superannuation or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” read the official order.

SOURCE: IANS

Air India on Friday extended the suspension of its flight services to Israel’s capital Tel Aviv till April 30, in the wake of prevailing conflict and tension between Israel and Iran. “Our flights to and from Tel Aviv will remain suspended until 30th April 2024, in view of the emerging situation in the Middle East,” the airline said in a statement.

The Tata-run airline has also offered one-time waiver for passengers rescheduling their flights. “We are continuously monitoring the situation and are extending support to our passengers who have confirmed bookings for travel to and from Tel Aviv during this period, with a one-time waiver on rescheduling and cancellation charges,” the airline said.

SOURCE: ANI

 The lumberjacks of Skardu in Gilgit Baltistan on Thursday staged a protest against regular power cuts in the area. The protestors claimed that their business is being heavily affected because of these cuts. Hence, they are now forced to protest in front of the district collector’s office, Skardu TV reported.

A local leader Shiekh Hassan Durabi said that the businesses of these people have been destoyed. “The people who can afford motorised lumber machines also have not paid the fees of their kids. As their only way of earning their income is not functioning. They however are not demanding a regular supply of electricity but a mere 12 to 14 hours so that they can operate during the daylight,” Durabi said.

SOURCE: IANS

At least two jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deployed on poll duty in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district were reported injured after a shell of Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL) exploded, a police official said.

The incident occurred in Galgam village under the Usoor police station area when a team of security personnel was out on an area domination operation on Friday.

SOURCE: IANS

A 25-year-old man was arrested in Tripura while attempting to cross into Bangladesh illegally, officials said here on Friday, adding that he claimed to be a Pakistani-born Bangladeshi national who had travelled across India.

The official said the youth, named Ayan Alam was detained by border villagers at Jalefa in South Tripura district on Thursday night and was handed over to the police later. Alam’s mobile phone, a few thousand rupees and some Indian documents, including an Aadhaar card, were recovered from his possession. The documents were being examined to corroborate the truth of his confession and his Pakistan connection, the official told the media.

SOURCE: PTI

The US is not sending any election observers to India but is eager to continue to deepen and strengthen its cooperation with partners in India, the State Department has said.

“I’m not aware of the United States sending any observers. We generally don’t, in the case of advanced democracies like in the case of India,” Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson of the State Department told reporters at his daily news conference on Thursday.

SOURCE: IANS

Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, V.K. Birdi on Thursday chaired a meeting to review the security arrangements put in place for the smooth and successful conduct of upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir, a statement said.

The meeting delved into strategies aimed at safeguarding the safety and security of the general public while maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.