SOURCE: IANS

 India is behind an effort at the United Nations (UN) to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) systems are “secure and trustworthy” and to keep them open and accessible to the Global South.

India is cosponsoring with the US a General Assembly resolution that calls for promoting “safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems” and “bridging the artificial intelligence and other digital divides between and within countries”.

SOURCE: IANS

An intelligence team of the Rajasthan Police on Thursday arrested a person named Anand Raj Singh for allegedly collecting defence information of strategic importance and sharing it with three female handlers in the Pakistan intelligence setup via social media.

The accused civilian ran a uniform store outside the Suratgarh Army Cantt, officials said. Additional Director General of Police Intelligence Sanjay Agarwal said that the espionage activities carried out by Pakistani intelligence agencies are being continuously monitored by Rajasthan Intelligence. From the reliable intelligence collected, it was found that a young man named Anand Raj, who runs a uniform store outside Suratgarh Army Cantt, was in constant touch with three female handlers of the Pakistani intelligence setup through social media.

SOURCE: IANS

The Indian Navy got its third 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug ‘Bajrang’ on Thursday under the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Union government.

According to the Navy, the availability of Tugs will provide a fillip to its operational commitments by facilitating naval ships and submarines during berthing and un-berthing, turning and manoeuvring in confined waters.

SOURCE: AFI

A recent assessment by US intelligence agencies has raised concerns about the possibility of armed conflict between India and China, as well as between India and Pakistan. The annual threat assessment, released by the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), highlights the volatile nature of the border disputes and the potential for miscalculation and escalation.

According to the report, the disputed border between India and China continues to strain their bilateral relationship. While significant cross-border clashes have not occurred since 2020, both sides maintain large troop deployments, and sporadic encounters between opposing forces increase the risk of armed conflict. The report underscores the importance of avoiding miscalculation and de-escalating tensions to prevent a dangerous confrontation.

SOURCE: AFI

The recent threat issued by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun towards New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters highlights the persistent challenge posed by extremist elements promoting separatism and violence. Pannun, known for his pro-Khalistan activities, has targeted Peters after the latter questioned claims linking India to the killing of separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

In a concerning development, Pannun issued a threat through a poster advocating violent attacks against India’s top diplomat in Canada. This provocative act underscores the aggressive tactics employed by individuals associated with groups like ‘Sikhs for Justice,’ which have long advocated for the secession of Punjab from India.

SOURCE: PTI

There is an “incredible momentum” in the US-India defence relationship and the much awaited 2+2 dialogue between the two countries will take place here in early April, a top Pentagon official has said during a Congressional hearing on the Indo-Pacific region.

The last meeting of the 2+2 dialogue was held in New Delhi in 2020 and the next meeting is to be hosted by the US in Washington. The 2+2 ministerial dialogue takes place between foreign and defence ministers of both sides.

SOURCE: ANI

Hailing ‘Mission Divyastra’, the successful flight test of the Agni-5 missile conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the former chief of the agency, G Satheesh Reddy, on Wednesday said it was a ‘game-changer’ for armed forces.

The missile is equipped with the MIRV (multiple independently targettable reentry vehicle) technology, enabling it to launch multiple warheads at different targets at the same time.

SOURCE: ANI

Showcasing the increasing role of women in the field of science in the country, a large number of female scientists were involved in the success of the Mission Divyastra led by the Programme Director Sheena Rani. Senior scientist Sheena Rani has been involved in many successful missile tests in the past also. The programme project director Dr Shankari S also played a significant role in the mission’s success, defence officials said.

A significant number of female scientists worked in the programme to develop key technologies for the mission to develop the multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) technology for the Agni-5 missile.

SOURCE: ANI

 India, the United States and South Korea have committed to co-ordinate measures to protect sensitive technologies and build trusted technology ecosystems in the region and globally.

The three nations convened an inaugural trilateral technology dialogue in Seoul on Wednesday. Following the inauguration of the US-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in January 2023 and the US-ROK Next Generational Critical and Emerging Technology Dialogue in December 2023, the US, India, and Korea convened the dialogue in South Korea.

SOURCE: PTI

US lawmakers on Wednesday cited the bold move by India to ban TikTok four years ago as they voted in support of legislation about the Chinese app.

In a major bipartisan move, the House of Representatives passed by 352 to 65 votes the Protecting Americans From Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act co-authored by Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat, and Congressman Mike Gallaghe from the Republican party.

SOURCE: ANI

Days after the Centre notified the Citizenship Amendment Act, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the law will never be taken back and the BJP-led government will never compromise with it. “This is our sovereign right to ensure Indian citizenship in our country. We will never compromise on it and CAA will never be taken back,” he said.

Asked about the Opposition bloc INDIA, specifically a Congress leader saying that they would repeal the law when they come to power, the Home Minister said that even the Opposition is aware it has bleak chances of coming to power.

SOURCE: PTI

Three persons arrested in an ISIS module case last year had allegedly robbed the owner of a saree shop in Satara and used the money to buy materials for bomb-making, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) said on Wednesday.

All three were earlier in the custody of the National Investigation Agency which had busted alleged modules of terror organisation Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in the country.

SOURCE: ANI

An exchange of fire took place between police and the Naxals in Chhattisgarh’s Koyalibeda area on Thursday morning, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Kanker Kalyan Elesela said. “Exchange of fire took place around 7.00 am under the Koyalibeda police station limit on Thursday. Naxalites fled under the cover of forest,” Kanker SP said. Kanker SP said that District Reserve Guard (DRG) team and police are safe.

The search operation is underway. Further details are awaited. Earlier on March 11, a Naxalite was killed during an encounter in Chhattisgarh’s Dantwada district. The Superintendent of Police, Gaurav Rai, confirmed the incident and said that the encounter took place between security forces and Naxalites in the border area of Dantewada, Bijapur.

SOURCE: ANI

The Centre constituted the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, comprising a Delhi High Court judge, to adjudicate whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir (JeI) as an ‘unlawful association’. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a notification in this regard on Wednesday.

“Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir (JeI) has been declared as an unlawful association, vide notification dated February 27, 2024, published in the Gazette of India, Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 5 read with sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby constitutes the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal consisting of Justice Navin Chawla, Judge, High Court of Delhi, for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir (JeI) as unlawful association,” the MHA stated in its notification.

SOURCE: IDRW.ORG

The Indian Army’s Army Aviation Corps is poised to enhance its operational capabilities with the impending arrival of its first squadron of Apache attack helicopters. Scheduled to be raised in Jodhpur on March 15, this development marks a significant milestone in India’s defense strategy. With the delivery expected in May this year, the Indian Army is gearing up to integrate these formidable aircraft into its fleet.

According to Indian Army officials, the initial batch of Apache helicopters, numbering six units, is slated to be delivered from the United States. This procurement underscores India’s commitment to modernizing its armed forces and strengthening its defense posture. The addition of Apache helicopters is expected to bolster the Indian Army’s aerial firepower and reconnaissance capabilities significantly.