SOURCE: BLOOMBERG

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said discussions on a peace plan were a focus in a meeting with his Indian counterpart as the war-torn nation continues to shore up support against Russia.

Kuleba met Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Friday during a two-day trip to India — Ukraine’s first high-level visit to the South Asian nation since Russia’s invasion two years ago. “We paid specific attention to the Peace Formula and next steps on the path of its implementation,” Kuleba said, referring to an initiative that requires Russian forces to withdraw from all Ukrainian territory.

SOURCE: ANI

 Director General of European Space Agency (ESA), Josef Aschbacher, heaped praise on the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for its recent successful launches and said that India’s accomplishments in space and especially in lunar exploration is ‘astonishing’.

Aschbacher posted an appreciation post on X, after ESA hosted its 323rd Council meeting in Paris which was attended by the ISRO Chairman, S Somanath.

SOURCE: IANS

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said that India is a democratic nation with a robust judiciary which can not be compromised by any individual or any group. Describing Indian democracy as unique, Vice President Dhankhar said India does not need lessons from anyone on the rule of law, in an oblique reference to recent observations by the US in connection with the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case.

The Vice President made the remarks while attending a programme to inaugurate the renovated premises of the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA).

SOURCE: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi freed Jammu and Kashmir from the clutches of Article 370, terrorism and separatism which is the biggest achievement of the BJP-led government, Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday said.

Thakur made this assertion as he joined BJP candidate Jugal Kishore, who submitted his nomination papers from the Jammu Lok Sabha seat after a massive road show here. He said Prime Minister Modi-led government provided new wings of development to Jammu and Kashmir over the past 10 years besides showing that it cannot stay silent on Pakistan-sponsored terror attacks like the previous regime by conducting surgical strikes across the border.

SOURCE: ANI

A group of pro-Palestinian people stormed the outlet of American fast food restaurant chain, KFC overnight in Mirpur city of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) allegedly referring to it as an Israeli outlet. The mob, which reportedly claimed that there were Israeli items at KFC, pelted stones and clashed with the local police.

According to reports, while attacking the KFC, the people shouted anti-Israel and pro-Palestine slogans. Several protesters were reportedly injured in police firing and many vehicles and shops were set ablaze.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG

In a display of the Indian Army’s conventional deterrence capabilities, the Rising Sun missile specialists successfully launched a BrahMos missile over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands today. The supersonic missile soared high above the islands, highlighting the precision and power of India’s missile technology.

The Indian Army’s Eastern Command stated that this exercise served to showcase the “unparalleled might” of the BrahMos missile and the “formidable force” of the Rising Sun BrahMos warriors. The successful launch is seen as a significant reminder of India’s commitment to defending its sovereignty and maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG

In a display of growing defense cooperation between India and the United States, the Indian Navy’s Hawks 132 trainer aircraft from INAS 551 participated in joint exercises alongside the US Air Force’s B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber over the Bay of Bengal as part of Ex TigerTriumph-2024. A C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft from the USAF also joined the formation flight.

This exercise is not the first time the US has deployed a strategic bomber to participate in military drills with India. In 2019, a B-1 Lancer bomber was involved in similar exercises. The participation of these powerful bombers underscores the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations and their shared commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

SOURCE: ANI

At least 23 Pakistani nationals were rescued from the clutches of Somali pirates during a daring 12-hour-long operation in the Arabian Sea, said the Indian Navy.

The dramatic rescue unfolded in the early hours of March 29, 2024, when the Indian Navy warship INS Sumedha intercepted the hijacked vessel, FV Al-Kambar, as it was being held captive by pirates. Acting swiftly, INS Sumedha was soon joined by the guided missile frigate INS Trishul to bolster the operation.

SOURCE: PTI

Pakistan on Thursday clarified that it has no plan to resume trade relations with India which has been “non-existent” since 2019 after the Indian government abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The clarification from Pakistan’s Foreign Office comes days after the new Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said in London that Pakistan will seriously consider restoring trade ties with India that have remained suspended since August 2019.

In August 2019, India suspended Article 370 giving special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into centrally-administered Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. At the weekly briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch was asked to comment on reports about the possibility of resumption of trade ties with India.

SOURCE: ANI

In a major reform towards ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and to achieve self-reliance in defence, the Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence has issued a notification for the re-organisation of the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA).

According to an official release from the Ministry of Defence, “The Department of Defence Production under the Ministry of Defence has issued a notification for the re-organisation of the Directorate General of Quality Assurance (DGQA), which is aimed at speeding up quality assurance processes and trials and reducing layers of decision-making.”

SOURCE: ANI

India has renewed electricity export permission to Nepal for three months, as New Delhi’s Himalayan neighbour continues to face power crisis, officials said on Friday. The renewal came two days before the formal expiration of the existing agreement, which was extended for a year in 2023.

The existing permission was set to expire on the 31st of this month. Officials from both Nepal and India were in discussion to renew the agreement, which took three months to form, officials confirmed.

SOURCE: ANI

US Marine CH-53E ‘Super Stallion’ made its maiden landing at Naval Air Station at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam. As part of the ongoing India-US joint exercise ‘Exercise Tiger Triumph’, stated a press release on Friday.

These heavy lift helicopters of the Marine Corps are operating from US Navy ships as part of bilateral tri-service exercise in Kakinada. In consonance with Indian Navy and Air Force helicopters, they have undertaken various transportation and HADR missions.

SOURCE: ANI

India and Ukraine discussed regional and global matters including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and efforts to achieve a ‘peaceful settlement’, during the visit of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro to New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

FM Kuleba was on an official visit to India on March 28-29. During his visit, FM Kuleba met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Deputy National Security Adviser, Vikram Misri. The meeting between Jaishankar and Kuleba held on Friday focused on fostering constructive dialogue and strengthening bilateral relations between India and Ukraine, including in areas such as trade and investment, science and technology, defence, agriculture, health, culture, and education, the statement read.

SOURCE: PTI

The Chhattisgarh Police on Friday refuted Maoist allegations of staging a recent encounter in which six Naxals were killed, saying it was a tactic to undermine the credibility of security forces and a diversionary method to hide their own violent acts.

Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P emphasised that Maoists often resort to such claims to divert attention from their own violent acts, highlighting the extremists’ responsibility for numerous civilian deaths.

SOURCE: PTI

The Assam government has extended the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 in four districts for six months from April 1. The state government’s political department issued a notification, stating that the ‘Disturbed Area’ tag under the AFSPA has been extended in areas covering Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo and Sivasagar districts.

The Assam Police had submitted a report, asserting that there was an improvement in the law and order situation in the state, barring one militant organisation being active in the four districts.