SOURCE: ANI

Israeli ambassador to India, Naor Gilon, emphasised that the Israel-linked cargo ship ‘MSC Aries’, seized by Iran on Saturday with 17 Indian nationals onboard, is “just piracy, simple, clear piracy,” adding that this should not be allowed.

Notably, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy seized the Israel-linked MSC ARIES container ship near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, which had 17 Indian nationals onboard, according to the sources. The ship in question was the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries, a container ship owned by Zodiac Maritime, based in London. Zodiac Maritime is a division of Zodiac Group, owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer.

SOURCE: IANS

The demand for a declared National Security Strategy (NSS) is rightly a matter of public debate and open analysis by strategic experts. It has to be realised, however, that not all aspects of the strategy of handling national security could be openly announced for the very reason of confidentiality of the information on the country’s threat scenario which is at the base of responses required to be put in place under that strategy at any given point of time.

The security scenario has a large variable component in today’s world and it is accepted that the life of long-range security assessments itself had generally been shortened.

SOURCE: PTI

An elderly couple in this northern Kerala district is facing anxious moments thinking about the safety of their son onboard a seized Israel-linked cargo ship in the gulf region and praying for his return.

Shyamnath, their son, is among the 17 Indians onboard an Israeli-linked cargo ship seized by the Iranian military near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. The ship ‘MSC Aries’ was seized recently. Shyamnath’s parents Vishwanathan and Shyamala, who are yet to come to terms with the news, said here that they talked to him on Saturday.

SOURCE: PTI

Hours after Iran launched dozens of drones and missiles at Israel in a retaliatory attack, India on Sunday said it is concerned over escalating hostilities between the two sides that threaten regional peace and security.

Iran carried out the attack on Israel in response to a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus on April 1 in which seven Iranian Revolutionary Guards personnel, including two generals, were killed.

SOURCE: ani

In the middle of a raging Gaza conflict and escalating tensions between Israel and Iran due to recent attacks, the question of the safety and security of Indian construction workers looms large. Israeli envoy to India Naor Gilon, during an interview with ANI, emphasised that these workers ‘will be as safe as the Israeli population’ since his country treats Indian workers as part of the Israeli population.

Addressing concerns about the safety and security of the Indian workers, Gilon underlined that Israel is doing its maximum to protect everyone in Israel and that the workers are no different from other Israeli citizens.

SOURCE: PTI

The second group of Indian military personnel operating a helicopter has left the Maldives on April 9 under a bilateral agreement with India, President Mohamed Muizzu has announced.

Muizzu announced this on Friday while speaking during a campaign event for ruling party candidates ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for later this month. “The first team has already gone. Now, on April 9, the soldiers on the second platform have also been withdrawn,” Muizzu was quoted as saying by the local media.

SOURCE: ANI

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy seized the Israel-linked MSC ARIES container ship near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, The Times of Israel reported, citing Iranian news agency.

The ship in question was the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries, a container ship owned by Zodiac Maritime, based in London. Zodiac Maritime is a division of Zodiac Group, owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer. The MSC Aries was last seen on Friday, sailing towards the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Dubai, according to The Times of Israel. The ship is currently sailing through the Persian Gulf, according to ship tracking site, Marine Traffic.

SOURCE: PTI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday discussed with his British counterpart David Cameron the “emerging” situation in West Asia arising out of escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.

The telephonic conversation between Jaishankar and Cameron came on a day Iranian military seized a cargo ship with Israeli links near the Strait of Hormuz. The ship has 17 Indian crew members. “Spoke to UK Foreign Secretary Lord @David_Cameron today. Discussed the emerging situation in West Asia as also our bilateral ties,” Jaishankar said on ‘X’.

SOURCE: PTI

The 4th edition of AeroDef India will take place April 18-20, 2024, at the Yashobhoomi India International Convention Centre in Dwarka, New Delhi. Hosted by the Sustainable Development Leaders Council (SDLC), the event aims to connect Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with major players in the aerospace and defence manufacturing sector.

AeroDef India will provide a platform for both Indian and international manufacturers to source components, materials, and sub-assemblies from India’s growing defence MSME sector. It’s a key opportunity for MSMEs to showcase their capabilities to OEMs, strategic partners, and public sector units (PSUs).

SOURCE: UNI

Director General of Border Security Force (BSF) Nitin Agrawal has stressed on further strengthening the anti-infiltration grid along the Line of Control (LoC) in close cooperation with the Army. Agrawal said this during a meeting at Frontier headquarters of the Force at Humhama on the outskirts of Srinagar.

A spokesman of the Force said that BSF DG accompanied by Special Director General (DG) of BSF’s Western Command in Chandigarh Yogesh Bahadur Khurania, visited Kashmir Frontier between April 11 and 12 to review the security situation and operational preparedness of the force along the LoC as well as for the general election.

SOURCE: PTI

Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar visited the Western Naval Command during which he also interacted with the elite MARCOS and commended them for various operations, officials on Friday said.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, as part of his farewell visit to WNC, Mumbai, interacted with the officers, sailors and defence civilians of the command on several issues of human resources, administration and operations, they said.

SOURCE: PTI

Two persons were killed in a gunfight that broke out between two armed groups in Manipur’s Imphal East district on Saturday, police said. The victims are yet to be identified. The shootout happened at a place close to the border of Kangpokpi district, a police officer said. Additional state and central forces have been rushed in to contain the situation, he said.

The incident came a day after three persons were injured in a gunfight between armed village volunteers and unidentified gunmen in Tengnoupal district.

SOURCE: PTI

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against two accused, including the key conspirator, in last year’s Manipur car bomb blast case in which three people were injured, an official statement issued on Saturday said.

The agency filed the charge sheet before a special NIA court in Manipur’s Bishnupur on Friday, it said. The explosion, triggered by a bomb planted in a Mahindra Scorpio, took place on a bridge adjoining Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai and Kwakta area, along Tiddim road (NH-02), in Kwakta ward no. 07 (KMC), Bishnupur on June 21, 2023. Three people were injured in the blast which damaged the bridge, an electric pole, electrical assets and surrounding houses.

SOURCE: ANI

Gopichand Thotakura is poised to make history by becoming the second Indian citizen to travel to space. He will travel to space as part of the crew for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin’s New Shephard-25 (NS-25) mission.

The flight date will be announced soon. Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, a former Indian Air Force pilot, was the first Indian citizen to travel to space in 1984.

SOURCE: ANI

Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra visited Washington, DC, United States, from April 10-12. During his visit, Foreign Secretary Kwatra undertook a detailed review of the progress made towards further consolidating the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, informed the Embassy of India in the US.

During his visit to Washington, DC, Foreign Secretary had discussions with his counterparts at the State Department, Deputy Secretary Richard Verma and Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell, as well as other senior officials, the embassy’s press release said.