SOURCE: AFI

In Canada, concerns are growing over the influence of rogue elements within the country’s security services on its foreign policy. Observers suggest that a few anonymous members of Canada’s unaccountable security apparatus have exerted control over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet, forcing them to act in ways that align with the spies’ interests rather than the nation’s best interests.

Leaked intelligence regarding alleged Chinese interference in Canada’s domestic affairs has been a focal point of these concerns. It’s believed that this information was selectively shared by these elements in the security services. Trudeau’s response, which included appointing a special rapporteur and eventually capitulating to demands for a public inquiry, has been criticized as bending to the pressure of these unaccountable actors.

SOURCE: AFI

Tensions are rising in the diplomatic arena as Bangladesh joins the list of nations expressing grievances against Canada’s extradition policies. The focus of this controversy is Canada’s refusal to extradite Noor Chowdhury, the self-confessed assassin of Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

In an exclusive interview, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, AK Abdul Momen, expressed his concerns, stating, “Canada must not be a hub of all the murderers. The murderers can go to Canada and take shelter, and they can have a wonderful life while those they killed, their relatives are suffering.” This statement highlights a growing sentiment among nations that Canada’s extradition stance, particularly its opposition to the death penalty, is increasingly viewed as a protective shield for criminals.

SOURCE: AFI

The prospect of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s upcoming visit to India later this year has garnered significant interest from both sides. Although the discussions surrounding this visit are in their preliminary stages, if realized, it would be a momentous occasion as it marks the first visit by a Ukrainian President to India since the Ukraine conflict erupted last year.

The matter of President Zelensky’s visit has been the subject of discussions at various levels with the Indian authorities, including through the National Security Advisor (NSA) level mechanism. Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, and India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval have engaged in deliberations regarding this visit.

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant development, the Indian Army has issued an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the acquisition of 6,425 units of Multi Spectral Camouflage Nets (MSCN) specially designed for deployment in High Altitude Areas (HAA). This collaborative effort between the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF) places a strong emphasis on indigenous production under the ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’ classification.

Under this AoN, the Indian Army will receive 6,175 nets tailored for High Altitude areas, while the IAF will procure 250 units for various applications within their domain. Previously, the IAF had acquired 6,000 similar MSCNs, produced by an Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) – M/s Entremonde Polycoaters Ltd. These acquisitions are intended to provide camouflage for IAF installations.

SOURCE: PTI

A group of eminent Indian-Americans has condemned the brazen hateful comments and a hostile environment against Hindus in Canada and asked Ottawa not to mix freedom of expression with freedom for terror and endorse hate crimes by being silent on the issue. The demand by Indian-Americans came after an offensive video from a pro-Khalistan group threatening Hindus in Canada to leave the country went viral.

“It is concerning to see Khalistani terrorists repeatedly threaten Hindu Canadians by desecrating and scarring Hindu sacred spaces on Canadian soil. Silence in the face of such brazen Hinduphobia – or worse, the justification that this is an acceptable form of political expression – is tantamount to the endorsement of hate crimes,” said Professor Indu Vishwanathan, co-founder and co-director of the Understanding Hinduphobia at the Hindu University of America.

SOURCE: IANS

A group of Indian hackers has claimed the responsibility for a cyberattack that temporarily disabled the website of the Canadian Armed Forces. The development came in the wake of diplomatic relations between India and Canada nosediving in the last week over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

The group of Indian hackers named Indian Cyber Force shared the screenshot on the social media platform X. The group also shared the screenshot of taking down the Canadian Armed Forces. The group in its post on X claimed responsibility and said: “Canadian Airforce Website has been taken down. Target – forces.ca/en/ Check host – check-host.net/check-report/1… Duration: 2 hour.”

SOURCE: PTI

The Afghan embassy in India has purportedly come out with a communication on closing down its operations and New Delhi is examining its authenticity, sources have said.

The embassy has been headed by Ambassador Farid Mamundzay and it is learnt that he is currently in London. Mamundzay was appointed by the previous Ashraf Ghani government and he has been operating as the Afghan envoy even after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021.

SOURCE: REUTERS

When the Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) Chandrayaan-3 mission landed on the moon, more than 8 million people tuned in for the event’s YouTube live-stream – a record for the site.

The landing was a win for India’s low-cost space engineering, and science, as well as a quiet initiative to rebrand the 54-year-old space agency as approachable, according to more than a dozen current and former employees, and 10 consultants and industry experts.

SOURCE: PTI

The Gujarat police have registered an FIR against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), for threatening to turn the Cricket World Cup, starting on October 5 at Narendra Modi stadium here, into “World Terror Cup”, an official said on Friday.

In the first information report (FIR), the cyber crime branch of the Ahmedabad police said that people from across the country have received Pannun’s threat via a pre-recorded voice message sent from a foreign number.

SOURCE: ANI

In a mega push to promote indigenously designed and developed weapon systems, the Indian Army has moved a proposal to the Defence Ministry to buy 400 howitzers from Indian firms.  Indian Army’s Regiment of Artillery is looking to use the expertise of Indian Industry to produce 155 mm/52 calibre Towed Gun System, which will be lighter, versatile and cater for future technological advancements. 

“A proposal for buying 400 155mm 52 calibre towed gun systems (TGS) along with towing vehicles from Indian firms under the Buy Indian-IDDM category has been moved to the Defence Ministry. The government is expected to soon take a decision on the TGS at a high-level meeting,” senior military officials told ANI. 

SOURCE: ANI

Air Marshal Vibhas Pande, Maintenance Command Chief of the Indian Airforce, said on Thursday that though the current Russia-Ukraine conflict has affected the supply chain globally, due to indigenisation in the Indian Airforce, it has not affected the country “very badly”.

“The best part is that we have inherent capabilities. Su30 is an HAL-manufactured aircraft. Over a period of time, HAL has also indigenised a lot of equipment that is needed for the operation of Su-30, especially for day-to-day requirements. So it (Russia-Ukraine conflict) has not actually affected us very badly because of indigenisation which has happened at HAL as well as BRDs. BRDs have indigenised ARS (automated replenishment systems),” the Air Marshal said speaking to ANI.

SOURCE: AFI

The early days of the Indian space program were marked by trial and error as Indian scientists grappled with rocketry, lacking the essential technology for large rockets. They progressed from using foreign-origin experimental rockets to building their own sounding rockets and later moved on to constructing small orbital rockets like SLV-3 and ASLV. However, the development of the more substantial and capable PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) posed a unique challenge, as revealed in Dr. Madhavan Nair’s recently published autobiography, ‘Rocketing Through the Skies.’

During the late 1970s and 1980s, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) teams engaged in extensive debates and discussions regarding various aspects of the PSLV’s development, including the number of stages it would comprise and the propulsion technologies it would employ. Dr. Madhavan Nair, the former ISRO Chairman, played a significant role in this endeavor, serving as the Associate Project Director of the PSLV at the time.

SOURCE: AFI

Hyderabad-based Zen Technologies has been awarded two contracts worth INR 2.27 billion (USD 27.3 million) and INR 1.2 billion by the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) in September. These contracts pertain to the supply of counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UASs) and driving simulators to the Indian Army.

Under these contracts, Zen Technologies will provide at least 20 units of its Zen Anti-Drone System (ZADS), a C-UAS solution, and 69 driving simulators for the Ashok Leyland Stallion range of trucks. Delivery of these systems is scheduled to commence from March 2024.

SOURCE: ANI

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada is still committed to building closer ties with India, despite “credible allegations” of the Indian government’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada-based National Post reported.

Pointing to the increasing influence of India worldwide, Trudeau said that it is “extremely important” that Canada and its allies continue to engage with India.

SOURCE: AFI

The competition between India and China has extended into the realm of lunar exploration. After India’s successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 rover on the moon last month, tensions have risen as a top Chinese scientist, Ouyang Ziyuan, claimed that India’s claims about the achievement are overstated.

Ouyang Ziyuan, considered the father of China’s lunar exploration program, argued that the Chandrayaan-3 landing site, at 69 degrees south latitude, is not close enough to the lunar south pole to be considered a polar landing. He emphasized that the true lunar south pole region is defined as between 88.5 and 90 degrees south.