SOURCE: IANS

In a significant step towards enhancing military cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, is on a two-day official visit to the Sapta Shakti Command headquartered in Jaipur from June 12 to 13.

Upon his arrival, Lt Gen Rodrigo was accorded a warm and ceremonial welcome by Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh, Army Commander of the South Western Command. The visit underlined the deep-rooted defence ties and mutual respect shared between the two neighbouring nations.

SOURCE: IANS

With the further improvement of the situation in Manipur, the state government on Friday restored mobile internet and data services in five valley districts, an official said.

Commissioner (Home) N. Ashok Kumar in an order said that in view of overall improvement of law and order in the five districts and the inconveniences faced by the general public during such period of suspension of internet services, the state government has decided to lift any form of internet suspension in the territorial jurisdictions of these districts. The five Imphal valley districts include Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching.

SOURCE: IANS

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, June 13, announced that Israel launched Operation Rising Lion against Iran, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat of nuclear weapons to Israel’s very survival.

He asserted that the operation will continue for as many days as it takes to remove this threat.

“In recent months, Iran has taken steps that it has never taken before, steps to weaponise this enriched uranium. If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time. It could be a year. It could be within a few months, less than a year. This is a clear and present danger to Israel’s very survival,” Netanyahu said in a video statement.

SOURCE: IANS

India and China have agreed to expedite steps to resume direct air services between the two countries and also hold talks to resolve trade issues. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting between Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, who is on a two-day visit to New Delhi from June 12 -13.

“The Foreign Secretary hoped for the early conclusion of an updated Air Services Agreement. The two sides further agreed to take practical steps for visa facilitation and exchanges between media and think-tanks,” according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday.

SOURCE: IANS

In a significant push to strengthen New Delhi’s broader outreach in East and Central Asia, India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh on Friday held a meeting with Brigadier General Gankhuyag Devadorj, State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence of Mongolia, during his ongoing visit to Ulaanbaatar.

The discussions marking a growing convergence in strategic interests between India and Mongolia spanned a wide range of strategic issues to bolster defence ties, laying special emphasis on collaboration in new and emerging technology domains aimed at further strengthening India-Mongolia defence ties.

SOURCE: PTI

Indians in Iran on Friday were advised by the embassy here to remain vigilant, avoid all unnecessary movements and observe safety protocols following the launch of Israel’s strikes on the country.

Israel attacked Iran’s capital early Friday in strikes that targeted the country’s nuclear programme. The Indian Embassy in Tehran in an advisory posted on X said, “In view of the current situation in Iran, all Indian nationals & persons of Indian origin in Iran are requested to remain vigilant, avoid all unnecessary movements, follow the Embassy’s Social Media accounts & observe safety protocols as advised by local authorities.”

SOURCE: IANS

Several Arab countries on Friday issued strong condemnation of Israel’s attack on Iran early on Friday, which has significantly escalated tensions in the region and raised the spectre of a broader conflict between the long-standing rivals.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Israeli aggressions against the brotherly Islamic Republic of Iran, which undermine its sovereignty and security and constitute a clear violation of international laws and norms. While the Kingdom condemns these heinous attacks, it affirms that the international community and the Security Council bear a great responsibility to immediately halt this aggression,” read a statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

SOURCE: UNI

An Apache helicopter of the Indian Air Force (IAF) made an emergency landing in Punjab’s Nangalpur area, reported PTI. The reason for the landing is still not known, and more details are awaited.

This is the second such incident in a week. On June 6, the IAF was forced to make a similar emergency landing in a field near Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur. 

SOURCE: IANS

The Indian Army has launched a large-scale blood donation camp at the Military Cantonment in Ahmedabad to aid victims of the devastating Air India AI-171 plane crash. Around 300 army personnel have stepped forward to voluntarily donate blood to support the city’s emergency response efforts as hospitals continue treating those injured in the tragedy.

Leading by example, their commanders also participated in the drive, donating blood as a symbol of the armed forces’ dedication to national service beyond the battlefield.

SOURCE: PTI

India has abstained in the UN General Assembly from a vote on a draft resolution that demanded an ‘immediate, unconditional and permanent’ ceasefire in Gaza. The 193-member United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to adopt the resolution introduced by Spain that demanded an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire, to be respected by all parties and recalled its demand for the immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups.

India was among the 19 nations that abstained, while 12 nations voted against the resolution, which got 149 votes in favour.

SOURCE: AP

A chartered spaceflight for India, Poland and Hungary’s first astronauts in decades has been delayed indefinitely because of leak concerns at the International Space Station.

NASA said Thursday that it wants to monitor the cabin pressure on the Russian side of the orbiting lab before accepting visitors. Officials stressed that the seven astronauts currently at the space station are safe and that other operations up there aren’t affected.

SOURCE: PTI

Pakistan’s record on terrorism is “very clear” and the Pahalgam attack is only the recent example of cross-border terrorism, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal’s remarks at his weekly media briefing here came in response to a query on the recent comments made by a top US general on Washington’s ties with New Delhi and with Islamabad.

“We have to have a relationship with Pakistan and with India. I do not believe it is a binary switch that we can’t have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India,” US Army General Michael Kurilla, Commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), had said.

SOURCE: PTI

Describing Indian and Canada as “vibrant democracies”, the external affairs ministry on Thursday said New Delhi believes the forthcoming meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries on the sidelines of the G7 Summit will offer an important opportunity to exchange views and explore pathways to reset bilateral ties.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this in response to a query during his weekly media briefing.

SOURCE: PTI

A British agency that investigates civil aircraft accidents and serious incidents on Thursday said it will be deploying a multidisciplinary investigation team to India to support the Indian-led investigation into the plane crash in Ahmedabad.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said it has “formally offered its assistance” to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau in India. It said it would have “expert status” in the Indian investigation because UK citizens were on board the plane.

SOURCE: PTI

At least five MBBS students, one PG resident doctor and the wife of a superspecialist doctor of the BJ Medical College in Ahmedabad were killed and over 60 medical students injured when an Air India plane crashed into the college complex, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) claimed.

The search operation at the crash site is still going on and many are feared buried in the debris, FAIMA national vice president Dr Divyansh Singh said. “Bodies that have been found were totally charred,” he added.