SOURCE: AFI

Gurpreet Singh, a 26-year-old Indian national and supporter of the Khalistan movement, has been sentenced to 28 months in jail for a stabbing attack during last year’s Indian Independence Day celebrations in Southall, UK.

Singh carried out the attack using a kirpan, a religious sword often carried by Sikhs. He wounded two men of Indian origin and a female police officer during the altercation. The court records indicate that Singh was found to be in possession of three kirpans in total, but used one with a particularly dangerous 20cm blade in the assault.

SOURCE: AFI

Russia’s Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov, has expressed unwavering confidence in the strength of the India-Russia partnership. In an interview with Rossiya-24, he asserted that attempts to disrupt their cooperation, presumably referencing Western sanctions, will be futile.

“No matter who” tries to hinder their ties, Ambassador Alipov declared that India and Russia consistently find methods to navigate around sanctions and maintain their collaboration. He emphasized, “it’s impossible to prevent” this continued partnership.

SOURCE: AFI

Images of a Vanguard-class nuclear submarine returning to Faslane, Scotland, have sparked fresh concerns about the state of the UK’s nuclear deterrent. The photos, captured by locals, reveal visible signs of rust and missing panels on the submarine’s exterior.

This revelation comes on the heels of a troubling report last month, which claimed that a Trident missile test-fired from a Vanguard submarine failed for the second consecutive time. Additionally, unconfirmed reports from last year suggested a near-catastrophic incident involving a malfunctioning depth gauge on another Vanguard sub, leaving the crew unaware of their perilous descent towards crush depth.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Navy, in a display of swift and coordinated action, played a key role in the successful rescue of multiple hijacked vessels and their crews across two separate operations.

In a collaborative effort, the Indian Navy joined forces with the Seychelles Defence Forces and the Sri Lanka Navy to intercept a hijacked vessel. Their combined efforts led to the apprehension of all three pirates by the Seychelles Coast Guard. Most importantly, the six crew members on board were rescued and confirmed safe.

SOURCE: AFI

India’s acquisition of the S-400 long-range air defense missile system from Russia has been hit by a further delay. While three squadrons have already been delivered, the remaining two squadrons won’t arrive until August 2026, according to information conveyed by Russia to India.

This delay is attributed to the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine. The original agreement stipulated delivery of all five squadrons by 2024. However, Russia’s focus on its own military needs in the conflict has necessitated a revised schedule.

SOURCE: AFI

The much-anticipated launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite is experiencing a delay. Initially planned for an early 2024 launch, the mission will now likely lift off no earlier than late May.

This shift comes despite the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirming that the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) intended for the NISAR mission is on schedule for completion by March-April. However, final testing and integration of the sophisticated radar instrument on the satellite itself are taking longer than anticipated.

SOURCE: AFI

A growing rift between Azerbaijan and Armenia has drawn India into the geopolitical spotlight. Recent developments highlight a potential escalation as Azerbaijan directs criticism towards India’s arms sale to Armenia.

India’s recent major sale of weapons systems to Armenia has triggered discontent in Azerbaijan. This discontent has reportedly spilled over into the information sphere, with the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry suspected to be behind efforts to spread negative information about Indian military technology.

SOURCE: AFI

A recent Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) crash has brought renewed focus to the safety records of the Tejas and its competitor, the Pakistan Air Force’s JF-17 Thunder. On March 12th, 2024, an IAF Tejas LCA unfortunately crashed while returning from the “Bharat Shakti” military exercise. This marks the first such accident for the Tejas in its 23-year history.

In contrast, the JF-17 Thunder has a history of accidents. According to The Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network, the JF-17 has been involved in four crashes since 2011, with at least one fatality. These incidents occurred in: