SOURCE: PTI

India needs stronger armed forces with modern equipment to become a developed nation by 2047, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday while underlining the need for effective utilisation of financial resources by the three services.

Mr Singh made the remarks after launching several digital initiatives of the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) during its 276th annual day celebrations at Delhi Cantonment.

SOURCE: PTI

The Afghanistan Embassy in India announced Saturday night that it is ceasing its operations from October 1, citing a lack of support from the host government, failure to meet expectations in serving Afghanistan’s interests, and a reduction in personnel and resources.

In a statement, the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi said it regrets to announce the decision to cease its operations, effective October 1, 2023.

SOURCE: ANI

Prabhjot Kaur, General Secretary, Glasgow Gurdwara, has condemned the incident, where Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Vikram Doraiswami was stopped from attending a planned interaction at the religious site and termed it “disorderly behaviour.” Kaur said that Police Scotland arrived at the site and took cognizance of the matter after the incident occurred at the Glasgow Gurdwara.

She stressed that Gurdwara is open to people from all communities and they welcome everyone openly according to the principles of their faith. Speaking to ANI, Prabhjot Kaur said, “An incident occurred on September 29, 2023, at Glasgow Gurdwara where the Indian High Commissioner was on a personal visit facilitated by a member of the Scottish Parliament.

SOURCE: ANI

Massive protests against exorbitant electricity bills have shaken Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as outraged citizens hit streets across the area. In response to a call by local leaders, residents from every corner of PoK have taken to the streets, decrying the unjust burden of high power costs. Protesters said they would bring the entire region to a halt if their demands were not met immediately.

A protester could be heard saying “As you all know, since last night, a curfew-like situation has been created by the administration in certain areas and in the city. It’s the 30th of September today, and the people are enraged due to the arrests of local leaders. Everyone, including political figures, has participated in the protest against the administration.”

SOURCE: ANI

Indian Naval Ships Ranvijay (guided-missile Destroyer), Kavaratti (ASW Corvette), submarine Sindhukesari and a long range Maritime Patrol Aircraft P8I participated in the 30th edition of Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) in Singapore, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. First held in 1994, the three-decade-old annual exercise kicked off with an opening ceremony on September 21, which was attended by personnel from both the navies. The ceremony saw unveiling of the SIMBEX 30th Edition Logo.

The Harbour Phase witnessed a wide range of professional interactions, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges, conduct of combined aviation and firefighting/damage control exercises, and the signing of a Joint Standard Operating Procedure (JSOP) on Submarine Rescue between India and Singapore in presence of the High Commissioner of India to Singapore and the Singapore Navy Fleet Commander, the Ministry stated.

SOURCE: PTI

An aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) with six persons on board made an “emergency” landing at a village in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal on October 1 due to a technical snag, a police official said. The pilot and the five crew members are safe, Berasia police station inspector Narendra Kulaste, who was at the spot, told PTI over phone. The incident took place at around 8.45 a.m., he said.

The aircraft, of IAF’s III HU unit, made the “emergency” landing in a sugarcane field near a lake in Dungariya village, nearly 60 km from the Bhopal district headquarters, he said.

SOURCE: ANI

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a supplementary chargesheet against four top leaders of the banned CPI(Maoist) involved in the murder of a civilian in Bihar five years ago, according to NIA release.

Naresh Singh Bhokta was kidnapped and murdered by members and cadres of the banned outfit in November 2018. The aim was to spread fear and terror while propagating the CPI (Maoist) anti-India ideology, it said.

SOURCE: IANS

The J&K government on Sunday placed Additional Superintendent of Police (Addl SP) Budgam and arrested Deputy SP under suspension with immediate effect.

An order issued by financial commissioner (Home), R.K. Goyal said on Sunday that Addl SP Budgam, Gowhar Ahmad Khan is placed under suspension with immediate effect and ordered to remain attached with zonal police headquarters Kashmir till the inquiry ordered against him is completed.

SOURCE: IANS

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) has been extended in four Assam districts for six months, with effect from Sunday, police said. At a programme to mark Assam Police Day, DGP G P Singh said that Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, and Charaideo districts would continue to be listed as “disturbed areas”.

These four districts in upper Assam have historically served as ULFA strongholds.The “disturbed areas” notification is valid for six months, after which the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) may decide to prolong it.

SOURCE: AFI

The long-anticipated Tejas Mk 2 light combat aircraft (LCA), proudly designed and made in India, could finally take its maiden flight by 2025, now powered by an American engine. Prabhulla Chandran VK, the Director of Avionics and Weapons Systems at the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the pivotal organization behind the indigenous fighter’s design, provided this promising update.

Hope for the Tejas Mk 2 soared when GE Aerospace of the United States announced on June 22 that it had inked a deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to manufacture fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force. This announcement coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States.

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant achievement, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft has surpassed a distance of 9.2 lakh kilometers from Earth, effectively escaping the sphere of our planet’s gravitational influence. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced this milestone, revealing that the spacecraft is now charting its course towards the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1).

This remarkable feat marks the second instance in which ISRO has successfully sent a spacecraft beyond Earth’s gravitational pull, with the first being the Mars Orbiter Mission.

SOURCE: AFI

In a significant development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended a 51-year-old man named Seiminlun Gangte from the hill district of Churachandpur in a case tied to a transnational conspiracy. This conspiracy involves terror groups operating from Myanmar and Bangladesh with the aim of “waging war” against the Government of India by exploiting the ongoing ethnic unrest in Manipur.

Seiminlun Gangte was taken into custody by the NIA in connection with a case registered suo moto on July 19 in New Delhi. His arrest took place in the Phuoljang area. According to his wife, Mangshi Seiminlun, before the unrest erupted, her husband worked as an English teacher at a private school in Kwakta. Subsequently, due to the violence that began in May, he shifted to Churachandpur, where he worked at a warehouse, transporting goods for the proprietor Kamaluddin, residing in Kwakta.

SOURCE: REUTERS

The death toll from a large blast at a mosque in Pakistan rose to 59 on Saturday as the government vowed to find the perpetrators and accused India’s intelligence agency of being involved. Friday’s blast tore through a mosque in Mastung in the southern province of Balochistan after a bomber detonated his explosives near a police vehicle where people were gathering for a procession to mark the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad.

Pakistani officials have long claimed that India sponsors violent groups in Pakistan – claims India has always denied.

SOURCE: ANI

The residents of the bordering villages in Arunachal Pradesh are expressing their outrage over China’s actions towards the North Eastern state and asserted that the state will forever remain an integral part of India.

In August this year, China released a ‘standard map’ claiming Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as part of its territory. The villagers of Sengnup, Kharseneng, and Grengkhar villages under the Tawang sector said that they are living in a peaceful environment and they feel secure because of the Indian army and the current government.

SOURCE: ANI

United Kingdom Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan on Saturday said that she was “concerned” to see that the Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami was stopped from meeting the Gurudwara Committee in Glasgow. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, Trevelyan said that the security and safety of foreign places is of utmost importance and places of worship in the United Kingdom should be open to all.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan said, “Concerned to see that the Indian High Commissioner @VDoraiswami was stopped from meeting with the Gurudwara Committee at the Gurudwara in Glasgow. The safety and security of foreign diplomats is of utmost importance and our places of worship in the UK must be open to all.” Earlier today, India’s High Commission in London said it has reported to authorities in the UK the “disgraceful incident” at the Glasgow Gurudwara where elements from outside Scotland “deliberately disrupted” a planned interaction organised for the High Commissioner and Consul General of India.