SOURCE: UNI

“If helpless people come and knock on the door, I will help”, said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee about the turbulent situation in Bangladesh. The Center has contested this comment. This time, Bangladesh also reacted to the Chief Minister’s comment on providing shelter to refugees. This remark of the Chief Minister was strongly opposed by the governments of the neighboring countries. It is said that a letter has also been sent to the Government of India in this regard.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said on Tuesday, “We have a very close relationship with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. I am saying this with respect to her. This comment can create a lot of confusion. So we have sent a note to the Government of India in this regard.”

SOURCE: ANI

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy arrived in the national capital on Wednesday morning (July 24) in the first high-level visit by the newly-elected Labour government in the UK. Lammy is on a two-day tour to highlight the importance of a new partnership between the UK and India that focuses on economic, domestic and global security. In his first visit to India, Lammy will hold meetings with external affairs minister Jaishankar and commerce minister Piyush Goyal. He will also meet climate and business leaders to unlock the full potential of the UK-India partnership, per the statement from the British High Commission.

The statement from the British High Commission also states that Lammy will push for a reset of the UK-India partnership, including by reinforcing the UK’s commitment to securing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for greater growth in both countries. Earlier, during his campaign, Lammy had said, “India is the emerging superpower of the 21st century, the largest country in the world with 1.4 billion people and one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

SOURCE: PTI

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday dismissed from service four employees, including two cops, for their “deep involvement” in anti-national activities.

The activities of these employees had come to the adverse notice of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, as they found them thickly involved in activities prejudicial to the interests of the State evidencing their involvement in terror-related activities, an official spokesman here said.

SOURCE: PTI

An unidentified terrorist was killed and a soldier injured in an overnight encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, the Army said on Wednesday.

“Based on specific input regarding presence of terrorists in general area Kowut, Kupwara, a Joint Search Operation was launched by #IndianArmy and @JmuKmrPolice on days leading up to 23 July 24,” the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps posted on X.

SOURCE: ANI

In a significant milestone, Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) successfully launched the first indigenous P1135.6 Frigate on Tuesday. According to an official statement, the vessel is the first of the two Frigates of the P1135.6 Class being constructed at GSL. It is the first time these vessels are being constructed indigenously. With the launch of this frigate Triput, the Indian Navy and GSL continue their march towards self-reliance, making ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ a reality.

This strategic move adds another Defence Shipyard to the league of yards capable of building weapon-intensive platforms. The ship was launched by Adv. Rita Sreedharan, in the presence of PS Sreedharan Pillai, Governor of Goa, the Chief Guest for the occasion. The launching ceremony was attended by Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Vice Chief of Naval Staff, and Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay, Chairman and Managing Director of GSL, along with officials from the Ministry of Defence, senior flag officials of the Indian Navy, and GSL employees.

SOURCE: ANI

In a latest collaboration, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus Helicopters have formalised a contract to establish the H125 Final Assembly Line (FAL) in India.

The FAL will be the first instance of the private sector setting up a helicopter assembly facility here in India, which will be responsible for the production of Airbus’ best-selling H125 helicopter from its civil range for India and the neighbouring countries, according to an official press release from Airbus.

SOURCE: PTI

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday proposed roping in the private sector to boost the share of nuclear power in India’s energy basket, as it aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2070.

Presenting the Union Budget, Sitharaman announced that the government will partner with the private sector to set up Bharat Small Reactors and in the research and development of small modular reactors.

SOURCE: ANI

Taking a strong view into the accident involving INS Brahmaputra warship, the Naval headquarters has ordered a detailed probe led by a Rear Admiral to determine the exact causes and establish accountability based on the inquiry report. The warship is resting on one side in the Naval Dockyard after a fire incident on board on Sunday night.

Indian Navy chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi has given strict instructions to the officials concerned to be very careful in handling of vital national assets during his visit to Mumbai to review the cause of the accident, Defence Sources told ANI.

SOURCE: ANI

Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan said that the accident involving the INS Brahmaputra warship that is resting on one side in the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, in which one sailor is missing is sad and they are trying to locate him wherever he is. The warship is resting on one side in the Naval Dockyard after a fire incident on board on Sunday night. “It is a sad incident but the navy will inquire into what happened and whatever corrective measures need to be taken will certainly be taken. The ship had a fire, like all of you know and in fighting the fire, a lot of water was used.

Perhaps because of that, some of the stability of the ship may have gotten upset so the ship just tilted to one side and is resting on the jetty,” he said on Tuesday. Swaminathan said that the missing sailor was seen coming out of the ship trying to swim ashore but later they don’t know what happened to him. “The ship can very well be made upright. Water can be pumped out, we can do a damage assessment and we can reset the ship as soon as we can.

SOURCE: API

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has made a provision of Rs 1000 crore in her budget to promote the indigenous space economy. She said that the Indian space economy will grow five times in the next decade. This is a venture capital fund. Through which investments will be made in the space industry.

The Finance Minister did not say how and in what way this investment will be made. But this news has created a wave of happiness in the private space industry. Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder of space-tech startup Agnikul, said that this is great news. This will help private space companies to move forward. Along with this, new players will come into the field.

SOURCE: PTI

The asylum applications of migrants entering the UK illegally from countries on its designated safe states list, including India, will be fast-tracked to deport them back speedily under new Labour government proposals.

UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said she has begun the work to move staff from the previous Conservative-led government’s now-abolished Rwanda scheme to a new Returns and Enforcement programme. In place of the policy of trying to fly out illegal migrants to the African country, the Home Office plans to increase the returns to the countries of origin, starting with an increase in raids on businesses employing illegal workers.

SOURCE: PTI

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday arrested two persons under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) allegedly linked to the funding of the subversive activities of Pro-Pakistan terrorist organisation Hizbul Mujahideen.

“Jammu-based ED has arrested 2 accused persons, namely Arshad Ahmed Allie and Fayaz Ahmed Dar under the provisions of PMLA in connection with a case involving narco-terrorism, linked to funding of the subversive activities of terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen,” the organisation said on X.

SOURCE: ANI

Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has asserted that the disputed tri-junction of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura are to be Nepali territories. Participating in the Question-answer session in the parliament, the Nepali Prime Minister asserted that a recent meeting between the Prime Ministers of Nepal and India has agreed to pursue a diplomatic route to resolve border-related issues. “Regarding the international border of Nepal, the federal parliament, the Government of Nepal and all the Nepali are steadfast.

The second amendment of the Constitution of Nepal had incorporated the new political map of Nepal in Schedule 2 and we have unprecedented agreement while doing so. As per the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, the Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh, all the territories that lie on the West of Kali- the Mahakali River belongs to Nepal, the government is steadfast and clear about it,” Oli said. Further adding, “During the high-level visits between the Nepali and Indian Prime Ministers the issues of the border have been raised timely and these issues would be resolved through the established mechanisms.

SOURCE: IANS

 In a move to bring in the private sector in the nuclear power sector, the Indian government will partner with private players in setting up small reactors, for research and development of small modular reactors, and newer nuclear energy technologies. Presenting her seventh Union budget on Tuesday in the Parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: “Nuclear energy is expected to form a very significant part of the energy mix for Viksit Bharat.”

“Towards that pursuit, our government will partner with the private sector for setting up Bharat Small Reactors, research & development of Bharat Small Modular Reactors, and research & development of newer technologies for nuclear energy. The R&D funding announced in the interim budget will be made available for this sector,” she said.

SOURCE: PTI

The government on Tuesday allocated Rs 6,21,940 crore for the defence budget for 2024-25, up from last year’s outlay of Rs 5.94 lakh crore. The capital outlay has been pegged at Rs 1,72,000 crore. The total allocation to the defence sector is 12.9 per cent of the total budget of the government of India for the financial year 2024-25. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the allocation of Rs 1,05,518 crore for domestic capital procurement will provide further impetus to atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in the defence sector.

As far as the allocation to the Ministry of Defence is concerned, I thank Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for giving the highest allocation to the tune of Rs 6,21,940.85 crore, which is 12.9 per cent of the total budget of the government for 2024-25, Singh said on X. “The capital outlay of Rs 1,72,000 crore will further strengthen the capabilities of Armed Forces.