SOURCE: AFI

A cartoon depicting the crew of the Indian cargo ship involved in the Baltimore bridge collapse has ignited a firestorm of criticism, raising questions about racism and media insensitivity.

The cartoon, created by Foxford Comics, portrays Indian crew members in stereotypical clothing, appearing panicked and helpless as their ship collides with the bridge. The insensitive portrayal, coupled with the tragic nature of the real-world event, has been widely condemned.

SOURCE: ANI

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has alleged his predecessor and the opposition leader, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, of operating on orders from the foreign ambassador, Maldives-based Maldives News Network reported.

Maldives News Network (MNN) is a registered news network operated by Maldives News Network PVT LTD in the Maldives.

SOURCE: BLOOMBERG

Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar raised more than a few eyebrows last week when he said — almost as an aside — that his country’s new government would “seriously look into matters of trade with India”. A resumption of trade would be something of a climbdown for Pakistan, which cut off economic ties when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unilaterally withdrew Kashmir’s special constitutional status in 2019. Until now, Pakistani leaders have insisted they wouldn’t restore relations until the decision was reversed.

Dar’s statement should not come as a complete surprise. His party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, has a very particular class basis: It’s an alliance between the semi-urban petty bourgeoisie and large industrialists such as its leader, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. These constituencies have always seen the benefits — for themselves and for Pakistan — of normalizing trade ties with a large and growing India.

SOURCE: REUTERS

 Asia’s imports of crude oil are expected to rise to the highest in 10 months as heavyweights China and India lifted arrivals from Russia, but impending maintenance schedules and rising prices mean such levels may not be sustained.

The world’s top importing region is forecast to see arrivals of 27.48 million barrels per day (bpd) in March, up from 26.70 million bpd in February and January’s 27.18 million bpd, according to data compiled by LSEG Oil Research.

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.