SOURCE: PIB

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation today with the President of the Russian Federation, H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin.

PM congratulated him on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation and conveyed his best wishes for peace, progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Russia.  The two leaders agreed to make concerted efforts towards further strengthening the Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership between the two countries in the years to come. 

SOURCE: ANI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that there is a greater sense of pride in the nation now and that over the last five years he has seen foreign policy becoming a vote-determining issue. Speaking at News 18 Rising Bharat Summit 2024 on Wednesday, the external affairs minister said that the sentiment is growing as there is a great sense of pride in the nation about itself. “As people’s basic necessity is met, there is a new thought pervading the middle-class.

People today know that water, electricity, health needs will be provided,” Jaishankar said. The External Affairs Minister said, “When I go out and explain foreign policy I would say Modi ki guarantee works outside as much as it works back home….You know the Modi ki guarantee also applies that we keep petrol prices at a reasonable price by not bowing down to political pressure.

SOURCE: PTI

Sri Lanka has said it will allow foreign offshore research ships for replenishments at its ports despite a one-year ban on such vessels, a senior official has said after China protested to Colombo for allowing a German survey ship but turning down Beijing’s similar request.

This is the first time Sri Lanka has officially admitted that foreign research vessels will be allowed for replenishments since President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government imposed a one-year ban on offshore research vessels in December last year after strong security concerns raised by India and the US following the visit of two Chinese high-tech research vessels in 14 months.

SOURCE: PTI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today took a critical view of some of the key decisions made by the Jawaharlal Nehru government, and said one needs to get out of this “cult worship” that the period from 1946 onwards was “great years” and the country did “splendidly”.

In the early years, it was very much “a Nehruvian ideological bubble” when it came to foreign policy and “vestiges of that continue, even today,” he said in response to a question during a session at the News18 Rising Bharat Summit.

SOURCE: Government of Pakistan.

Pakistan denounces the Indian authorities’ decision to declare the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Freedom League and four factions of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples League as “unlawful associations”. It also denounces the decision to extend the ban on Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Mohd. Yasin Malik faction) for five more years.

With the fresh notifications, a total of 14 Kashmiri political parties have become outlawed in Indian Jammu and Kashmir . The affiliates of these parties are also facing persecution. Most notably, a death penalty has been sought for Mr. Yasin Malik, who was awarded life sentence in 2022. However, such oppressive tactics cannot suppress the Kashmiri people’s aspirations for realization of their inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

SOURCE: IANS

India on Tuesday slammed the Uniting for Consensus (UFC) model on UNSC reforms, citing that it won’t empower Africa or Global South nations or change permanent seat membership. The UFC, which comprises 12 countries and two observers, including a P5 nation, stands against the idea advocated by a majority of the UN member states — which is an expansion in the permanent and non-permanent categories of an expanded Security Council.

Some of the countries in the group — nicknamed the Coffee Club — include Mexico, Pakistan, Canada, Turkey and China as one of its Observer members.

SOURCE: IANS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that he was convinced that India will become the world leader in AI with its young innovators emerging as a driving force to take the nation ahead.

Addressing the Startup Mahakhumb at the Bharat Mandapam here, the Prime Minister said, “India will have the upper hand in AI and we will not let the opportunity go.” He exhorted the young startup founders to find solutions that will not only help India solve its problems and achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat but also create a better future for the world.

SOURCE: AFI

A 2004 article from Flight International, a renowned aerospace magazine, has resurfaced online, sparking a wave of interest. Authored by Veena Singh, the piece titled (original title can be inserted here) details discussions between China and India regarding collaboration on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas program.

The article reveals that in late July 2004, a high-level Chinese delegation, led by Aviation Industries of China vice-president Zhang Yang-Chong, visited India to explore joint development of the LCA. This news comes as a surprise, considering the current geopolitical realities between the two nations.

SOURCE: AFI

Chennai-based Agnikul Cosmos, a private space startup, is poised for a major milestone. This Friday, they plan to test-fire their indigenously developed rocket, Agnibaan SOrTeD (Suborbital Tech Demonstrator).

The 580-kilogram Agnibaan will take off from Sriharikota. This first test flight will focus on reaching a suborbital altitude of 20 kilometers before returning and splashing down in the Bay of Bengal. The rocket can potentially carry a payload of up to 7 kilograms.

SOURCE: AFI

In a recent column for Tribune.com.pk, Dr. Moonis Ahmar, a former Dean Faculty of Social Science at the University of Karachi, highlighted a critical issue that often remains overlooked amidst the complex geopolitics of South Asia: the persecution faced by Indian Muslims. Dr. Ahmar’s reflections resonate deeply, shedding light on the moral imperative for Pakistan and Bangladesh to stand in solidarity with their fellow Muslims across the border.

Principally, Dr. Ahmar argues, the creation of Pakistan was rooted in the aspiration to provide a homeland for Muslims in the Indian Subcontinent. Yet, despite this foundational principle, the influx of Indian Muslims into Pakistan ceased after 1951. This historical fact raises pertinent questions about the responsibility of Pakistan, and indeed Bangladesh, towards their brethren facing persecution in India.

SOURCE: ANI

US envoy to India, Eric Garcetti on Tuesday congratulated the India and US navies for the ‘stellar kick-off’ of the India-US joint exercise ‘Tiger Triumph 2024’ and said such exercises underscore the significant US-India Defence partnership.

“Congratulations to @USNavy and @IndianNavy for a stellar kick-off to #TIGERTRIUMPH 2024! Joint exercises like this underscore the vital #USIndiaDefense partnership, strengthening our bonds and securing our shared interests. Together, we’re paving the way for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific that benefits all nations. #USIndiaFWD,” Envoy Garcetti posted on X.

SOURCE: ANI

The massive operation carried out by the Indian Navy to rescue a commercial ship from pirates off Somalia’s coast last weekend shows how New Delhi’s military has developed special forces capabilities on par with some of the world’s best, CNN reported, citing several analysts.

The navy rescued 17 crew members of the vessel MV Ruen during an anti-piracy operation lasting nearly two days, with no casualties reported. Around 35 pirates surrendered and were taken into custody, the Indian Navy said.

SOURCE: ANI

The South Korean Air Force’s Chief of Staff, General Lee Youngsu on Tuesday visited the Air Force Station and the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) in Gwalior.

The Korean Air Force chief was accompanied by the Director General of Air Force Operations, Air Marshal Surat Singh. He also visited the maintenance complex and interacted with the IAF Air Warriors. “General Lee Youngsu, Chief of Staff, Republic of Korea Air Force along with DG Air Ops Air Marshal Surat Singh visited Air Force Station Gwalior and the Tactics & Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) today,” Indian Air Force posted on X.

SOURCE: PIB

Indian Navy and Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi, symbolising their commitment to promote technology development, innovative solutions and joint R&D. Rear Admiral K Srinivas, Asst. Chief of Materiel (Dockyard & Refit) at Naval Headquarters and Prof. (Ms) Rintu Banerjee, Dean (R&D) of IIT Kharagpur signed in presence of Prof. Virendra Kumar Tiwari, Director of IIT Kharagpur.

The strategic collaboration focuses on joint research and development initiatives involving teams from Indian Navy and IIT Kharagpur. The MoU will be co-ordinated by INS Shivaji, Lonavala.

SOURCE: UNI

The Indian Army has started training over 1000 freshly inducted J&K police officers at Corps Battle School (CBS) Bhalra Bhaderwah in Jammu region, officials said on Tuesday. The initiative is aligned to the long term vision of Indian Army for operation and intelligence synergy between J&K Police and Army in the conflict hit region.

Army said 1042 Police Sub Inspectors and 62 Deputy Superintendents of Police (Probationers) are being trained at Army’s White Knight Corps Battle School in Bhalra. “Towards bolstering synergy & interoperability with @JmuKmrPolice, #IndianArmy commenced training of freshly inducted 1042 Police Sub Inspectors and 62 Deputy Superintendents of Police (Probationers) at #WhiteKnightCorps Battle School in #Bhalra under the aegis of #DhruvaCommand.