Monday, March 18, 2024

Army Raises Elite Unit 'STEAG' To Work On 6G, AI, Critical Tech For Military Use



The Signals Technology Evaluation and Adaptation Group or STEAG is mandated to nurture technologies spanning the complete spectrum of wired and wireless systems, officials said. The hi-tech unit will carry out technical scouting, evaluation, development

New Delhi: The Indian Army has raised an elite unit that will undertake research and evaluation of futuristic communication technologies like 6G, artificial intelligence, machine learning and quantum computing for military use given the changing nature of the field.

The Signals Technology Evaluation and Adaptation Group or STEAG is mandated to nurture technologies spanning the complete spectrum of wired and wireless systems, officials said.

The setting up of STEAG is part of the Army's efforts to develop technologies considering the future battlefield, they said.

"It will be a premier organisation, the first of its kind equipped with the capability to harness niche technology, leverage cutting-edge solutions and identify suitable cases for defence applications by fostering collaboration with academia and industry," one of the officials said.

The elite unit will focus on all upcoming critical technology domains including electronic exchanges, mobile communications, software-defined radios, electronic warfare systems, 5G and 6G networks, quantum technologies, AI, machine learning, etc., he said.

The hi-tech unit will carry out technical scouting, evaluation, development, and management of core ICT solutions, and provide user interface support by maintenance and upgradation of contemporary technologies available in the environment, the official added.

Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande has been highlighting the need for acquiring new technologies by the force in view of the changing nature of warfare.

"Aligning itself with the tenets of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Start-Up India, STEAG will help bridge the divide between the armed forces on the one hand and industry and academia on the other," the official said on condition of anonymity.

The new Centre of Excellence is expected to be a game changer in fostering self-reliance in high-end communication technologies, which have thus far been a monopoly of select countries with advanced economies and research ecosystems, he said.

The Army believes communications are going to be an important component of military operations.

"In the fast-evolving technologies for the battlefield, the side with better communication technologies and the ability to connect the various constituents for information sharing will have an edge over its adversary," another official said.

He said modern warfare necessitates the induction of new equipment to provide seamless communication support to units and formations during operations.

"To imbibe such advancements in technology, the Indian Army has raised this ground breaking technology-oriented unit STEAG which will bolster its capabilities in the digital domain," he added.

(With Agency Inputs)


Drop And Dummy Test Scheduled For Brahmos-NG Missile


Test firing of Ship-Borne BrahMos from Navy's stealth guided-missile destroyer INS Kochi

India has been looking to advance its defence capabilities with a more compact and efficient BrahMos missile.

BrahMos Aerospace, will start drop and dummy testing of the lighter and smaller New Generation (NG) BrahMos missile by mid-2025, with flight trials expected by the end of the same year.

“By 2026, we will induct the missile into the Indian Air Force (IAF),” claimed Atul Dinkar Rane, director general of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and CEO and managing director of BrahMos Aerospace.

(With Agency Inputs)


Rajnath Singh Discusses Security, Defence Ties With U.S. Counterpart Lloyd Austin


The roadmap for India-US defence cooperation was finalised last year, and the two ministers talked about how to carry it out

They discussed current bilateral events, including the February 2024 INDUS-X Summit in New Delhi and the bilateral Tri-Service exercise ‘Tiger Triumph’ which commenced in India on March 18, 2024.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a telephonic conversation with United States Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin on March 18 and discussed a variety of bilateral, regional security, and defence cooperation issues.

Singh and Austin discussed current bilateral events, including the February 2024 INDUS-X Summit in New Delhi and the bilateral Tri-Service exercise ‘Tiger Triumph’ which commenced in India on March 18, 2024.

The Indian Navy's significant contribution to anti-piracy efforts in the Indian Ocean region was acknowledged by the US Secretary of Defence.

The roadmap for India-US defence cooperation was finalised last year, and the two ministers talked about how to carry it out. A brief discussion was also held about other defense-industrial cooperation problems, such as the repair of US naval ships at Indian shipyards.

Launched in June 2023, the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) aims to synchronise defence innovation initiatives in technology, systems, and products. It established a link between the military Innovation Unit (DIU) in the US and Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) in India, the respective national military ecosystem hubs.

Since its inception, the US-India Business Council and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum have supported the establishment of a senior advisory group, the INDUS-X Mutual Promotion of Advanced Collaborative Technologies (IMPACT) has launched initial joint innovation challenges (undersea communications, oil spill detection/integration system), conducted workshops with academia and industry, and held investor-start-up meetings for the defence industry.

The relationship between the US and India has advanced significantly over the past 20 years and has developed into a wide-ranging cooperative effort. Cooperation between the military and security sectors has been crucial in fostering the growth of an all-encompassing global strategic alliance that includes a growing multi-sectoral involvement throughout this time.

Even though there have occasionally been areas of disagreement, both parties have addressed them amicably and cooperatively so far. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US in June 2023 gave the relationship a major boost and increased hopes for increased dynamism and robustness.

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'Ex Tiger Triumph 2024': India, US To Participate In Bilateral Tri-Service Training Exercise From March 18-31


New Delhi: India and the United States are all set for 'Tiger Triumph 2024' as the bilateral, tri-service exercise between the two nations commenced on Monday and will take place until March 31.

"In consonance with the established partnership between India and the US, a bilateral tri-service humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) exercise between both countries, Tiger Triumph-24, is scheduled on the Eastern Seaboard from March 18-31," the Ministry of Defence said in an official press release.

Notably, the exercise is aimed at developing interoperability for conducting HADR operations and refining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to enable rapid and smooth coordination between forces of both countries.

"Indian Navy ships with integral helicopters and landing crafts embarked, Indian Navy aircraft, Indian Army personnel and vehicles and Indian Air Force aircraft and helicopters, along with the Rapid Action Medical Team (RAMT), would be participating in the exercise," the press release said.

The US would be represented by US Navy ships with embarked troops of the US Marine Corps and US Army.

The harbour phase is scheduled for March 18-25.

Moreover, personnel from both navies would participate in training visits, subject matter expert exchanges, sports Events and social interactions.

On completion of the harbour phase, the ships, with the troops embarked, would sail for the sea phase and undertake maritime, Amphibious and HADR operations in accordance with injected situations.

The joint exercise would culminate with a closing ceremony upon completion of the sea phase.

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Lloyd Austin Appreciates Indian Navy’s Anti-Piracy Ops In IOR


The U.S. Secretary of Defence and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had a telephonic conversation

The U.S. Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin appreciated the important role being played by the Indian Navy in conducting anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean Region. This was conveyed during a telephonic conversation with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on March 18.

The comments come in the backdrop of the over 40-hour anti-piracy operation 1600 NM from India that led to the surrender of 35 pirates and release of 17 crew members of the merchant vessel Ruen.

“The two Ministers discussed ways and means to implement the India-U.S. defence cooperation roadmap which was concluded last year. Other defence industrial cooperation issues such as repair of U.S. naval ships in Indian shipyards were also briefly discussed,” a Ministry statement said.

Both Ministers briefly discussed a range of bilateral, regional security and defence cooperation issues, the Ministry said. They reviewed the recent bilateral events such as the INDUS-X Summit held in New Delhi in February, and the bilateral tri-service exercise ‘Tiger Triumph’ which commenced in India on Monday.

Both the Ministers had last met in New Delhi in November 2023 during the India-U.S. Ministerial 2+2 Dialogue.

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South Korea's Air Force Chief Calls On Indian Counterpart Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari In Delhi


New Delhi: South Korean Air Force's Chief of Staff, General Lee Youngsu, called on Indian Air Force Chief, Air Marshal VR Chaudhari, in New Delhi on Monday.

The two leaders, as they met, discussed issues of mutual interest between the forces of the two countries.

In a post on X, the Indian Air Force posted pictures of their meeting, and wrote, "General Lee Youngsu, Chief of Staff, Republic of Korea Air Force called on the CAS Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari in New Delhi."

"Issues of mutual interest & means to further enhance cooperation between the two Air Forces were discussed during the meeting," the IAF added.

The defence relations between the two countries have expanded in recent years, spurred by the convergence of strategic interests, shared mutual goodwill and several high-level exchanges.

India, the United States and South Korea have committed to coordinate 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 last week.

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.

"They also committed to co-ordinate measures to protect sensitive technologies and build trusted technology ecosystems in the region and globally," the US embassy and consulate in South Korea said in a statement.

According to the statement, in this first trilateral technology meeting, the US, South Korea, and India discussed opportunities to cooperate on semiconductor supply chains.

Moreover, they also discussed opportunities in telecommunications and digital public infrastructure; artificial intelligence; quantum; space; advanced materials; clean energy and critical minerals; defence industrial development and production; and biotechnology, including active pharmaceutical supply chains.

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USAID Assistant Administrator For Global Health To Begin India Visit Tomorrow


New Delhi: Assistant Administrator for Global Health at the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr. Atul Gawande, will be visiting India from March 19 to 22 to move forward the US-India health partnership.

During his visit, Assistant Administrator Gawande will be visiting New Delhi, Dewas and Indore in Madhya Pradesh to engage with government officials, healthcare professionals, academics, civil society, and business leaders.

He will be visiting these locations "to underscore the US commitment to partnering with India to forge global solutions to health challenges," the US Embassy said in an official release.

The US-India development collaboration over the past 70 years has been transformational, strengthening both countries and making the world safer and more prosperous.

Today, the US and India are partnering to advance and achieve shared global health and development priorities, the release stated.

"As two of the world's largest economies and hubs for technology and innovation, the United States and India partner to test and pilot healthcare models and high-impact innovations to address complex health challenges that can be scaled and replicated, not just in India, but worldwide," it added.

Gawande's visit will reinforce the US's commitment to collaborate with India to address some of the world's toughest development challenges.

His visit will address challenges including harnessing emerging technologies to advance global health goals, bolstering primary health systems to strengthen global health security, and working directly with communities to formulate the most equitable and effective responses.

Atul Gawande is known for his writings and books about the medical field.

Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Administration, he was a practising general and endocrine surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Moreover, Gawande is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the winner of two National Magazine Awards, Academy Health's Impact Award for highest research impact on healthcare, a MacArthur Fellowship, and the Lewis Thomas Award for writing about science.

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Aim For Me Is How We Can Better Plug Indian, European Economic Ecosystem: EU Envoy To India Herve Delphin


Bangalore: Ambassador of the European Union to India, Herve Delphin in his recent visit to Bengaluru on Monday highlighted that the purpose of his visit is to boost trade and investment flows between the two regions.

In an interview with ANI, Delphin spoke about, the India-EU partnership, "I come here first to watch, to meet, to listen and to learn because the aim for me is how we can better plug the Indian and the European ecosystem, economic ecosystem. We have a good partnership with India in various domains like bio-sector, IT, and pharmaceutical. So with almost 5,000 companies, European companies present in India, a lot are also present in Bangalore specifically."

Additionally, Delphin underscored the significance of his visit, emphasizing the broader purpose of his role as an ambassador.

"When you are accredited as an ambassador, you're not accredited to the capital you are credited to the country. So it's very important for me to travel across the country as such a diverse country and rich country as India," Delphin said.

Regarding his visit to India's technical hub, Bengaluru, the EU ambassador said, "It was only normal for me to travel to Bengaluru. It's the technical hub, the Silicon Valley of India, an area, a region where there is so much that is happening. And so for Europe and the EU, it's very important first to appreciate the diversity."

Meanwhile, speaking regarding the core objective of the European Union's endeavours in its ties with India, he said, "The very purpose of all that the EU is trying to achieve here in its relationship with India, whether the negotiation of the FTA or the setting up of a Trade and Technology Council is really about how we can bring together our economic ecosystems, our digital ecosystems and all these aspects of our economy to make it flourish."

In March 2024, India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) signed a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with four European states- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

EFTA has committed to promote investments to increase the stock of foreign direct investments by USD 100 billion in India in the next 15 years and to facilitate the generation of 1 million direct employment in India

Delphin highlighted the opportunity presented by India's prominence in IT and technology, emphasizing the need to explore and capitalize on potential synergies for mutual economic growth.

"So, I think in coming here at the heart of the digital and tech - one of the key centres of IT in India - it is important to look at those opportunities that we can seize..." he added.

Earlier, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, discussed regarding the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union at the Special Plenary Session of the second CII India Europe Business and Sustainability Conclave held on February 22.

Goyal emphasized the principles of fairness, equity, and balance in FTA negotiations, asserting India's trajectory towards achieving a USD 35 trillion economy by 2047.

"We believe that Free Trade Agreements or bilateral agreements have to be fair, equitable and balanced. Countries across the globe need to recognise that India as a rapidly growing country, is poised to become a USD 35 trillion economy by 2047, " Goyal stated.

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Supreme Court Rejects Alleged Middleman's Bail Request In Chopper Scam Case


New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a fresh bail plea of Christian Michel James, an alleged middleman who is being probed by the CBI and the ED in the alleged ₹ 3,600-crore AgustaWestland chopper scam cases relating to the purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters.

It was argued that James cannot be charged under any other offences apart from those mentioned in the extradition decree and he be granted the benefit of the doctrine of speciality. He was arrested in December 2018 after being extradited from Dubai.

"How can you file the Article 32 (one of provisions in the Constitution which gives right to move the SC for enforcement of fundamental rights) petition in this case?" asked a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

Dealing with the submission that James cannot be charged for other offences which were not part of the extradition decree, the bench said this has been dealt with by it earlier also and it cannot go "ad nauseum" (repeating the same thing until it becomes boring and annoying).

The counsel for the extradited accused said he has been in jail for the last five years and this can be the maximum sentence that can be awarded to him in case of conviction.

On February 7 last year, the top court had denied bail to James and rejected the submission that he be released on the ground that he has completed half of maximum sentence in the cases.

The CJI, while writing the judgment, had said James may pursue his remedy of regular bail before the trial court in the case.

James had sought bail under section 436A of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) which says a person can be released on bail if he has completed half of the maximum sentence prescribed for the offence.

The accused had then challenged the Delhi High Court order dated March 11, 2022 by which his bail pleas were dismissed in both the CBI and ED cases.

Dismissing the bail pleas in both the CBI and ED cases in 2021, a trial court had said considering the overall facts and circumstances, the serious nature of the accusations, the gravity of the offence and the conduct of the accused, it did not consider it a fit case for bail.

The CBI, in its charge sheet, has alleged an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (about ₹ 2,666 crore) to the exchequer due to the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010 for the supply of 12 VVIP helicopters worth 556.262 million euros (around ₹ 3,600 crore).

The ED, in its charge sheet filed in June 2016, had alleged that James received 30 million euros (about ₹225 crore) from AgustaWestland.

He is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case. The other two are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

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Suicide Bomber Kills 7 Pak Soldiers In North Waziristan; Pak Air Force Attacks Afghanistan Kills 8, After Deadly Taliban Raid


A suicide bomber killed seven soldiers at a military checkpoint in Pakistan's North Waziristan district, following a raid by security forces. The Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad group claimed the attack, but security officials believe the group mainly consists of members from the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari promised a strong response, and there was an exchange of fire at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Pakistan Retaliates

Pakistani airstrikes targeted multiple suspected hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban inside neighbouring Afghanistan early on Monday, killing at least eight people and drawing return fire from the Afghan Taliban, officials said.

A Taliban government spokesperson says it “strongly condemns” the attack, calling this “reckless action” a violation of Afghanistan's territory. Pakistan Foreign Ministry later confirmed it targeted “terrorists” in Afghanistan responsible for a deadly suicide attack on Saturday. An exchange of fire has been reported at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border after the early morning air attacks. The incident comes after Pakistan's President Asif Zardari promised to retaliate following the killing of seven soldiers in a suicide attack on security forces' post in North Waziristan.

The latest escalation is likely to further increase tensions between Islamabad and Kabul. The Pakistani strikes came two days after insurgents killed seven soldiers in a suicide bombing and coordinated attack in north-western Pakistan.

The Afghan Taliban denounced the strikes as an aggression on Afghanistan's territorial integrity, saying they killed several women and children. The defence ministry in Kabul said Afghan forces later on Monday "targeted Pakistan's military centres along the border with heavy weapons," without providing details.

The Pakistani strikes were carried out in Khost and Paktika provinces bordering Pakistan, according to two Pakistani security and intelligence officials. The officials provided no further details and spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to reporters.

Pakistan's military did not immediately comment and it was not clear how deep inside Afghanistan the Pakistani jets flew. The airstrikes were the first since 2022, when Pakistan targeted militant hideouts in Afghanistan although Islamabad never officially confirmed those strikes.Chief Afghan Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that Monday's airstrikes killed three women and three children in the district of Barmal in Paktika province while two other women were killed in a strike in Khost province.

"Such attacks are a violation of Afghanistan's sovereignty and there will be bad consequences," Mujahid said.

The two Pakistani officials said mortars fired by the Afghan Taliban wounded four people and that some villagers in the northwestern Kurram district were moving to safer areas late Monday. Pakistani troops fired back, the officials said.

On Saturday, seven Pakistani soldiers were killed when suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden truck into a military post in the town of Mir Ali, a town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. Troops responded and killed all six attackers in a shootout, the military said.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari attended the soldiers' funerals and vowed to retaliate, saying "the blood of our martyred soldiers will not go in vain."

The Mir Ali attack was claimed by a newly formed militant group, Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad but Pakistani security officials believed it's mainly made up of members of the Pakistani Taliban, the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP, which often targets Pakistani soldiers and police.

Muhammad Ali, an Islamabad based security expert, said an army lieutenant colonel and a captain were among those killed in Mir Ali and that Monday's airstrikes were an obvious retaliation, coming within 24 hours of Zardari's warning.

"Pakistan's patience for the Afghan interim government's continued hospitality for terrorists conducting frequent attacks on Pakistan from inside Afghanistan has finally run out," Ali said.

Separately, the Pakistani military said security forces carried out an operation Monday in North Waziristan near the Afghan border, killing eight militants linked to Saturday's attack, but made no mention of the airstrikes inside Afghanistan.

The Afghan Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in 2021 as the U.S. and NATO troops were in the final stages of their pull-out after 20 years of war. The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan emboldened the TTP, whose top leaders and fighters are hiding in Afghanistan.

The Afghan Taliban insist they do not allow the Pakistani Taliban - or any other militant group - to use Afghanistan's soil to launch attacks. However, the TTP has stepped up attacks inside Pakistan in recent years, straining relations between Kabul and Islamabad.

Adding to the tensions between the two countries was a move by Islamabad last year to expel Afghans living in Pakistan without valid documents. Pakistan has long hosted about 1.7 million Afghans, most of whom fled during the 1979-1989 Soviet occupation of their country. More than half a million fled Afghanistan when the Taliban seized power.

So far, Pakistan has expelled nearly half a million Afghans in the ongoing crackdown. Islamabad says Afghans who have refugee status have not been deported.

The deportations have also drawn criticism from the international community and analysts have warned that mass deportations risk radicalizing those who have been forced out of Pakistan - often returning to deplorable conditions back in Afghanistan.

In January, Pakistani strikes - in a tit-for-tat exchanges with Tehran - hit Pakistani militants inside Iran, briefly raising tensions but the two neighbours. The situation calmed after Tehran and Islamabad agreed to cooperate against each other's militants.

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4 Million Devotees Pay Obeisance To Buddha's Relics In Thailand


Bangkok: Thailand's culture ministry announced that over 4 million devotees paid homage to Buddha's holy relics during the entire exposition held in Thailand.

"More than 4 million devotees paid obeisance to holy relics in the entire Thailand exposition," the culture ministry stated.

Earlier today, thousands of devotees paid respects to the sacred relics of Lord Buddha and his two disciples on Monday in Krabi, Thailand.

The holy relics of Lord Buddha and his two disciples are currently enshrined in Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkol in Krabi.

Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Tashi Gyalson and a delegation from the Ministry of Culture also paid respects to the holy relics of Lord Buddha and offered 'sanghadaan' to venerable monks.

"Chairman @tashi_gyalson & delegation from @MinOfCultureGoI paid respects to the holy relics of Lord Buddha & his two disciples currently enshrined in Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkol in Krabi Thailand and offered 'sanghadaan' to venerable monks," the Indian Embassy in Thailand posted on X.

On the third day of the exposition, thousands of devotees visited Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkol to offer prayers.

"On the third day of the exposition, thousands of devotees are visiting Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkol in Krabi to offer prayers to the holy relics of #LordBuddha and his two disciples, which have been brought from India," another post stated.

Earlier this month, devotees paid homage to the holy relics of Lord Buddha and his two disciples in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.

"Over two hundred thousand devotees pay homage today to the holy relics from India at Wat Maha Wanaram in Ubon Ratchathani.

Tomorrow is the last day of exposition at Ubon Ratchathani before the holy relics travel to Krabi," the Indian embassy in Thailand said in a post on X.

Before this, the sacred relics were in the city of Chiang Mai, where thousands of devotees gathered to pay homage.

Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Thailand appreciated the continuous support of Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and his government during the ongoing exposition and said that this would further deepen ties between the people of the two nations.

The relics, which are on a 25-day exposition in four cities of Thailand, were enshrined for public veneration at a specially built mandapam at Sanam Luang Royal Palace grounds during its stay in Bangkok.

After the exposition in the cities of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Ubon Ratchathani from March 9-13, the relics will travel to Krabi.

This will be followed by an exhibition in Krabi from March 14-18.

The holy relics will be escorted back on March 19 from Thailand to their respective homes, concluding a historic and spiritually enriching exposition in Thailand.

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'Look Forward To Working Together': PM Modi Congratulates Russian President Putin On His Re-Election


New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation.

PM Modi said that he is looking forward to further strengthen strategic partnership ties between India and Russia.

In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, "Warm congratulations to H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the President of the Russian Federation."

"Look forward to working together to further strengthen the time-tested Special & Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia in the years to come. @KremlinRussia" PM Modi said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin won the presidential elections on Sunday, receiving 87.17 per cent of the votes based on the result of processing 70 per cent of the electoral protocols, Russia-based TASS reported, citing data from the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation candidate Nikolai Kharitonov secured the second spot with 4.1 per cent of the votes while New People Party candidate Vladislav Davankov stood third with 4.8 per cent votes.

The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) candidate, Leonid Slutsky, received a mere 3.15 per cent of the votes counted.

Putin received more votes in comparison to the 2018 elections where he bagged 76.69 per cent of the total votes counted. The performance of the other candidates was lower than that of the previous competitors of Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018, according to reports.

This was the first time, remote electronic voting was used for the presidential elections in Russia. Residents used the federal platform in 28 regions while people in Moscow cast votes on their own platform.

The final turnout for online voting on the federal platform stood at 94 per cent, meaning that 4.4 million people cast their votes online. In Moscow, almost 3.7 million electronic ballots were issued, including voters who used special terminals at polling stations.

Putin has served four terms as Russian President. He was first elected President in 2000 and again in 2004, 2012, and 2018.

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Rush Lane: Kashmir Witnesses First Formula 4 Race Show Near Dal Lake

A driver of Formula 4 drives on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar on 17 March

Srinagar witnessed its first ever Formula 4 car race from Lalit Ghat to Nehru Park along Boulevard road on the banks of Dal Lake. Racing cars performed stunts and raced along a 1.7 km-stretch as hundreds of people caught a glimpse of the rare event.

The Boulevard road on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar was filled with roars of racing cars on Sunday as Kashmir hosted its first Formula 4 demo race in the capital city. Formula 4 racing cars performed stunts and ram demo races all along the 1.7-km stretch from Lalit Ghat to Nehru Park, captivating tourists and locals. The event, which was jointly organised by Formula 4, Indian Racing League and the state's tourism department, even earned praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The demo run event of Formula 4 cars and bikes in Srinagar was aimed to make motorsport popular across India. The country has played host to top motorsport events like Formula One, Formula E as well as MotoGP. However, this was the first instance of any motorsport event being held in the Kashmir valley. The demo run enthralled those who were present to witness the racing cars and bikes in action.

Elaborate arrangement were made to ensure safety of the drivers as well as viewers during the Formula 4 demo race event. The entire event was monitored through drones. The local authorities had arranged for critical care ambulances and fire extinguishers. They had also put up C-type 2-tier barricades for safety of race cars as well as spectators. Despite all the arrangements, two Formula 4 race cars hit the barricades during the events. However, there was no major damage or injury.

The high octane event was seen as an example showcasing Kashmir as a destination for such events in future. Praising the organisers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media and said, “This is very heartening to see. It will help further showcase the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir. India offers great opportunities for motorsports to thrive and Srinagar is right on top of the places where it can happen." VK Bidhuri, Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, said, “This conveys that, like the rest of the world, Jammu and Kashmir is also not behind in organising these events."

After the successful completion of the first-ever Formula 4 demo race in the state, the local authorities are hopeful that it will open up options for motorsport enthusiasts in Kashmir and become one of the new career options in the valley.

(With Agency Inputs)


Netanyahu Fumes Against U.S. Criticism And Says Israel Won't Stop Until 'Total Victory' Is Achieved


In recent days, top officials from the US, Israel's staunchest ally which has provided key military and diplomatic support during the war, have publicly voiced their frustration with Netanyahu and his government.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed on Sunday against growing criticism from the United States against his leadership amid the devastating war with Hamas, saying the pressure won't stop Israel from achieving "total victory."

In recent days, top officials from the US, Israel's staunchest ally which has provided key military and diplomatic support during the war, have publicly voiced their frustration with Netanyahu and his government.

US President Joe Biden accused Netanyahu of hurting Israel because of the huge civilian death toll in Gaza.

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the country and a strong Israel supporter, then called on Israel to hold a new election, saying Netanyahu had "lost his way." Biden then expressed support for what he called Schumer's "good speech."

The US also has expressed concerns about a planned Israeli assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where about 1.4 million displaced Palestinians are sheltering, and support for a new round of talks aimed at securing a cease-fire in exchange for the return of Israeli hostages.

The Israeli delegation to those talks wasn't expected to leave for Qatar until after Sunday evening meetings of the Security Cabinet and War Cabinet, which will give them directions for the negotiations.

Despite the talks, Netanyahu made it clear Sunday he had no plans of backing down from the fighting that has already killed more than 31,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, in the more than five months since Hamas' October 7 attack on southern Israel killed 1,200 people and left another 250 hostage in Gaza, Israeli authorities say.

He said that calls for an election now - which polls show he would lose badly - would force Israel to stop fighting and would paralyze the country for six months.

"If we stop the war now, before all of its goals are achieved, this means that Israel will have lost the war, and this we will not allow. Therefore, we cannot, and will not, succumb to this pressure," he said.

While the international criticism was mainly directed at Netanyahu and his leadership specifically, his statement Sunday painted it as a broader attack on Israel.

"No international pressure will stop us from realizing all of the goals of the war: Eliminating Hamas, freeing all of our hostages and ensuring that Gaza never again constitutes a threat to Israel," he said.

He reiterated his determination to attack Hamas in Rafah and said that his government approved military plans for such an operation.

"We will operate in Rafah. This will take several weeks, and it will happen," Netanyahu said.

Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul-general in New York and an outspoken critic of Netanyahu, said that the Israeli leader's comments fit in with his efforts to find someone else to blame should Israel not achieve it's wartime goal of destroying Hamas.

"He's looking on purpose for a conflict with the US so that he can blame Biden," Pinkas said.

Both sides have something to gain politically from the public spat. The Biden administration has come under increasing pressure from progressive Democrats and some Arab-American supporters to restrain Israel's war against Hamas. Netanyahu, meanwhile, has used the recurrent arguments to show his base that he can withstand global pressure, even from Israel's closest ally.

Israel's offensive has driven most of Gaza's 2.3 million people from their homes. A quarter of Gaza's population is starving, according to the UN.

The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 31,645 Palestinians have been killed in the war. The ministry doesn't differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

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North Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles As Blinken Visits Seoul


North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Monday in what analysts said was a calculated move to grab attention as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits South Korea for talks.

Blinken is attending the third Summit for Democracy and met President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul early Monday. He is also meeting his South Korean counterpart on the sidelines of the event, for discussions now likely to be dominated by the allies' efforts to counter threats from the nuclear-armed North.

Washington and Seoul wrapped up one of their major annual joint military training exercises last week, prompting angry retorts and live-fire drills from nuclear-armed Pyongyang, which condemns all such exercises as rehearsals for invasion.

Seoul's military said it had detected the launch of "multiple short-range ballistic missiles" early Monday, which flew around 300 kilometres (186 miles) before coming down into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan.

"We are closely sharing relevant information with the US and Japan and are maintaining utmost readiness," the Joint Chiefs of Staff added.

After meeting Yoon, Blinken "condemned the... launch of ballistic missiles by the DPRK and reaffirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to the ROK's security," Spokesperson Matthew Miller said, referring to North and South Korea by their official names.

Japan's top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said the North had fired three short-range ballistic missiles, which landed outside of the country's EEZ and did not cause any damage.

The launches come just days after Seoul and Washington's annual Freedom Shield drills, which this year involved double the number of troops, ended Thursday.

Pyongyang this month warned that Seoul and Washington would pay a "dear price" over the drills, and later announced that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had guided an artillery unit it says was capable of striking the South Korean capital.

"It's a highly calculated move timing-wise by Pyongyang to fire multiple missiles to show they are capable of doing such an act even when the top US diplomat is in town," Professor Choi Gi-il of military studies at Sangji University told AFP.

North Korea typically stages missile launches "as a tit-for-tat" after US-South Korea joint drills, Han Kwon-hee of Korea Association of Defence Industry Studies told AFP.

Blinken's presence only adds to their motivation, he said, as it "means more attention from Washington and adds pressure on host Seoul."

Boosting Deterrence

Monday's ballistic missile test is the North's second this year, after Pyongyang launched one tipped with a manoeuvrable hypersonic warhead on January 14.

Blinken landed in South Korea on Sunday afternoon ahead of the democracy summit, which runs from March 18 to 20 and will bring together government officials, NGOs and civil society members.

Seoul is one of Washington's key regional allies, and the United States has stationed about 27,000 American soldiers in the South to help protect it against the nuclear-armed North.

Conservative President Yoon has boosted ties with Washington and sought to bury the historical hatchet with former colonial power Japan to better guard against Pyongyang's threats.

So far this year, Pyongyang has declared South Korea its "principal enemy", jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification and outreach, and threatened war over "even 0.001 mm" of territorial infringement.

"While South Korea conducted defence training last week alongside international partners, Kim Jong-un personally supervised several military exercises, and now while Seoul hosts a summit of democracies, North Korea fires more missiles," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

"The Kim regime's one-upmanship aims to show strength to its domestic audience, suggest costs on the Korean Peninsula for Seoul's international security cooperation, and warn Washington against increasing pressure on Pyongyang."

Blinken also met South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul for discussions on boosting the alliance, as Washington and Seoul look to improve their so-called "extended deterrence" against North Korea.

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