SOURCE: ANI

Emphasising the need to coexist peacefully while rejecting terrorism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday interacted with 250 children from Jammu and Kashmir in the national capital and urged them to spread the message of peace in the Union Territory (UT). Shah appealed to the children to assure their parents and neighbours that the “entire country belongs to them.” He further stated that if terrorism is eradicated, there would be no need for police or military presence in the region.

The interaction was part of the government’s continued efforts to integrate Jammu and Kashmir’s youth into the national mainstream and promote harmony in the region. “Go back to their villages and talk to their parents, siblings, friends, relatives, and people in their village about peace, harmony, and development. This country belongs to everyone, and it is important to instill this belief in the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Shah told the group of 250 children of Jammu and Kashmir under ‘Watan Ko Jano’ programme.

SOURCE: IANS

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi received a warm welcome from India’s Ambassador Sanjeev Singla in Paris ahead of the former’s interaction with his French counterpart over bilateral Defence cooperation and global security challenges, an official said here on Monday.General Dwivedi’s visit from February 24 to 27, aims to strengthen the military collaboration between India and France, an engagement that comes close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to France where he co-chaired the AI Action (WA:ACT) Summit in Paris.

Starting with a Guard of Honour, the Indian Army chief’s busy schedule on Monday will include discussions with his French counterpart, CEMAT (Chef d’Etat-Major de l’Armee de Terre) General Pierre Schill, to foster stronger military ties between the two nations, said an official statement.

SOURCE: IANS

Government-owned power giant NTPC (NSE:NTPC) and EDF (EPA:EDF) India, a subsidiary of France’s Electricite de France, have entered into a partnership to set up pumped hydro storage and hydro projects bundled with renewable energy initiatives along with exploring opportunities in the distribution business.“NTPC and EDF India have signed a non-binding term sheet to develop, own, operate and maintain pumped storage projects and any other hydro-power projects,” according to a joint statement issued by the two companies.

The agreement was signed by Federico D’Amico, CEO of EDF India, and JC Kakoti, NTPC’s GM Hydro Engineering. NTPC Chairman and Managing Director Gurdeep Singh and EDF France Chairman and CEO Luc Remont. Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal and senior ministry officials were also present on the occasion.

SOURCE: PTI

Two members of the proscribed Kangleipak Communist Party (City Meitei) were arrested for making a video threatening the security forces for arresting some village volunteers, police said on Sunday. Moirangthem Thoiba (36) was arrested from Thamnapokpi in Bishnupur district, while Saikhom Lemburs Singh was nabbed from Imphal East district, they said. Singh was also involved in extortion, police said.

In another operation, a combined team of Manipur Police and Assam Rifles arrested two cadres of the banned United National Liberation Front (K). Those arrested were identified as Wangkhem Rohit Singh (18) and Thangjam Nongan Meetei (18). They were involved in extortion of money from shops and vehicles, police said.

SOURCE: ANI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar along with the Head of Mission and Ambassadors from 45 countries took an Elephant Safari in Kaziranga National Park on Monday ahead of the Advantage Assam summit that is being held in Guwahati from February 25. “I am very happy to see more, tourists growing. We are here for Advantage Assam. We are going to Guwahati after this. We want to you know, give Assam and NE states a higher profile.

Get more tourists, International interest, more investors. So it is a very good direction and to see this early morning. It’s a great start to the day.” External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar said. Responding to a comment by media that Kaziranga has the highest Tourist inflow he said, “Yes I know. They were telling me that we have already crossed three lakhs. It’s a good trend. Even the PM says we should visit every state because we have abundance of both natural and creative tourism.

SOURCE: PTI

An American Airlines flight from New York to New Delhi was diverted to Rome due to a “possible security issue”, according to a media report. American Airlines flight AA292 departed New York’s JFK International Airport on February 22 and was scheduled to arrive at Delhi but was diverted to Rome.

A report in ABC News quoted the airline as saying that the American Airlines flight from New York to Delhi was diverted to Rome over a “possible security issue.” Italy’s ANSA news agency said that the diversion was caused by an “alleged bomb threat”.

SOURCE: IANS

Security forces started searches at multiple locations near the Line of Control (LoC) in J&K’s Poonch district on Monday after tip-offs about suspicious activity, officials said. Officials said that acting on intelligence inputs about suspicious movement, the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the J&K Police and troopers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jointly cordoned off Phamarnar, Kiker Morh, Jabdan Gali, and Harni in the Gursai and Brella and Kasbalari areas of Mendhar and the Bafliaz forest in Surankote for searches.  “No contact has been so far established with the terrorists yet while the searches are still going on,” an official said.

Due to scant snowfall this winter, all the traditional infiltration routes are open along the LoC in J&K. For this reason, the army on the LoC and police and other security forces in the hinterland are maintaining high vigil to thwart any terrorist attempt to sneak into this side of the LoC. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who recently chaired two high-level security review meetings on J&K, has reportedly given clear orders to the security forces to ensure zero infiltration and zero tolerance to terrorists.

SOURCE: PTI

Six Bangladeshis, some of whom worked in Mumbai as masons earlier, have been apprehended by the BSF personnel in Meghalaya, officials said on Sunday. 

The incident happened on Saturday after they crossed over from Bangladesh to Meghalaya once more to go to Mumbai again in search of employment.  Acting on a tip-off, the BSF personnel apprehended the six Bangladeshi nationals, four from the West Jaintia Hills district and two from the South Garo Hills district, in well-coordinated operations, they said. 

SOURCE: PIB

General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), departed on an official visit to France from 24th to 27th February 2025, as part of efforts to bolster India-France defence cooperation.

On 24th February 2025, the COAS will engage with senior military leadership of France at Les Invalides, Paris. The day will begin with a Guard of Honour followed by discussions with General Pierre Schill, CEMAT (Chef d’État-Major de l’Armée de Terre – the French Army Chief). The aim of the meeting will be to foster stronger military ties between the two nations. The itinerary also includes a visit to the École Militaire, the prestigious Military School and Institution Complex in Paris, where the COAS will be briefed on Future Combat Command (CCF). Additionally, General Dwivedi will be briefed at the Technical Section of the French Army (STAT) and visit the Battle Lab Terre at Versailles.

SOURCE: IANS

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has accused left-wing politicians of being “nervous” over Donald Trump’s victory, claiming that conservatives are unfairly labelled as a “threat to democracy” while leftist leaders are celebrated for similar global alliances.

Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) 2025 in Washington on Sunday, Meloni praised Trump and US Vice-President JD Vance while taking aim at “elites” and left-wing leaders.

SOURCE: RUTERS

Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab, Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce (RR.L), opens new tab are expanding parts sourcing from India, driving growth in the country’s emerging aerospace sector and pushing local firms to elevate their games, industry insiders say.

Bengaluru-based Hical Technologies and JJG Aero are among those riding the wave. Hical, a supplier to Raytheon Technology and Boeing among others, aims to double revenue to 5 billion rupees ($57.57 million) from its aerospace division in three years, said Yashas Jaiveer Shashikiran, joint managing director.

SOURCE: UNI

Pakistani leaders often compare their country with India. The latest comparison has been made by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Addressing a public function on Saturday, Shahbaz Sharif said, “If we do not defeat India, then change my name.” However, this challenge of Shahbaz Sharif was not about any war, but about progress. Addressing the rally, Shahbaz Sharif said that if Pakistan does not surpass India in terms of progress, then “my name is not Shahbaz Sharif.” Shahbaz Sharif made this comment while addressing a large crowd in Dera Ghazi Khan. During this, he launched several developmental projects and vowed to make Pakistan a great nation by taking it out of the current challenges.

Shahbaz Sharif was quite aggressive while addressing the crowd. He vowed that “If we do not overtake India, my name is not Shahbaz Sharif. We will make Pakistan a great nation and overtake India.” According to Pakistani media reports, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif confidently declared that Pakistan’s future is made for greatness and promised to lead the country to prosperity.

SOURCE: ANI

Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, reiterated on Friday that its satellite telecom service is ready for rollout in India and that it is waiting for the Centre’s greenlight.

Satellite telecom in India will help the country provide much-needed services to remote interior places where conventional telecom services tend to be costly. “We are one of the leading players and are waiting for permissions. We are providing these services in many parts of the world already. So I think it’s a great initiative, and we have already sought our permissions to launch”, Mittal told reporters on the sidelines of SOUL Leadership Conclave here in the national capital.“So, as soon as we are given the green light, we launch our services,” the telecom leader added. “There are lots of parts of the world and lots of people still living in those dark areas which need to be lit up. The only way it can be done is through satellite broadband connectivity”.

SOURCE: PTI

Twelve Indian nationals, who were deported to Panama by the US, returned to India from the Latin American nation on Sunday evening, officials said. The deportees arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, marking the first batch of Indians returning from Panama following their deportation by the US. The 12 Indians are learnt to be part of 299 undocumented migrants deported to Panama by the US a few days back.

The Trump administration has begun a mass deportation programme of foreign nationals living illegally in the US.

SOURCE: PTI

The latest annual report of the Finance Ministry said USAID funded seven projects worth $750 million in 2023-24. “Currently, seven projects worth a total budget of $750 million (approximately) are being implemented by the USAID in partnership with the government of India,” the Finance Ministry annual report for 2023-24 said.

For the financial year 2023-24, an obligation of a total of $97 million (about Rs 825 crore) has been made by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) under the seven projects, it said. The Department of Economic Affairs under the Finance Ministry which is the nodal department for bilateral funding arrangements has also shared the details of projects funded in 2023-24 in the report.