Page 163 - External Affairs & Defence Security News

India, France sign pact on modular reactors, launch roadmap on AI

France reiterated its firm support for India's permanent membership of the UNSC

PM Modi arrives in Washington DC to rousing welcome by Indian diaspora

Prime Minister Modi arrived in the US on Wednesday where he will meet President Donald Trump on Thursday for his bilateral meeting after last month's inauguration ceremony

Pak troops violate J-K ceasefire, suffer losses as Indian Army retaliates

The ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the Krishna Ghati sector came a day after two Indian Army personnel including a captain were killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion

Time for private industry to take a lead in defence manufacturing: Rajnath

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's call to private industry follows the MoD designating 2025 as the 'Year of Reforms', including streamlining defence acquisition, a long-standing challenge

PM Modi to meet Musk in US, Starlink's entry in India likely on agenda

Musk in December said Starlink satellite internet was inactive in India after authorities seized two of the company's devices, one in an armed conflict zone and another in a drug smuggling bust

HAL inks long-term pact for LEAP engine components with Safran Aircraft

Under the terms of the contract, HAL will manufacture forged parts for LEAP engines at its state-of-the-art Ring Rolling facility at the Foundry & Forge Division in Bengaluru

Indian refiners work to build sanctions-proof supply chain for Russian oil

Some are existing outfits that have not been impacted by the punitive measures, while others are newly created, replacing those that are now off-limits

India, France to ensure standards governing AI reflect democratic values

Acknowledging the progress in developing artificial intelligence, India and France will seek to ensure that norms and standards governing their use reflect democratic values

PM Modi departs for key US trip after completing two-day France visit

Modi will be the fourth foreign leader to visit Trump in the weeks after the American leader's inauguration as the 47th President of the US in January

Modi, Macron expect Indian student count in France to reach 10,000 in 2025

Modi and Macron launched an India-France Roadmap on Artificial Intelligence (AI), rooted in philosophical convergence in their approaches focusing on the development

India, France intend to jointly develop advanced nuclear reactors

SMRs are compact nuclear fission reactors that can be manufactured in factories and then installed elsewhere. They typically have a smaller capacity than conventional nuclear reactors

US tariffs may divert steel shipments to India, affecting local prices

Icra noted that these two countries rank among the top three steel exporters to India, accounting for 40-55 per cent of India's overall finished and semis (finished) steel imports

PM Modi, President Macron hold talks on more engagement in Indo-Pacific

This area of partnership assumes greater salience in the backdrop of the just concluded AI Action Summit and the upcoming India-France Year of Innovation in 2026, the statement said

Sheikh Hasina's ousted regime carried out extrajudicial killings: UN report

The findings, drawn from a probe into events between July and August 15, estimate that approximately 1,400 demonstrators were fatally shot, with children accounting for 12-to-13% of casualties

Safran and BEL forge partnership for manufacturing HAMMER weapon in India

HAMMER (Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) is a combat-proven weapon system known for its high accuracy and modular design making it adaptable for multiple platforms

Aero India 2025: Defence secy meets with leading global aerospace companies

These meetings focused on advancing strategic partnerships, technology transfer, and future opportunities in the aerospace and defence sectors

Taiwan detects 30 Chinese military aircraft, 7 vessels around territory

In recent weeks, China had visibly increased its capacity to conduct amphibious assaults on Taiwan's beaches

Aero India 2025: Military gadgets for civilian use compete for attention

Usha-Urja's 'wind turbine' makes use of what looks like two split open PVC pipes twisted into an awkward shape onto a base that can be expanded

'Just not confident': IAF chief 'frustrated' with HAL over Tejas jets delay

During an inspection at the air show, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh conveyed his dissatisfaction to officials from HAL, expressing a lack of confidence in the state-run aerospace firm

India to share list of 12 US-based gangsters with Washington on PM's visit

The list includes high-profile criminals such as Anmol Bishnoi and Goldy Brar, both of whom are linked to major organised crime networks operating in India