Page 153 - External Affairs & Defence Security

Army plans to boost air defence capabilities with new guns, potent radars

Asserting the need for modernisation with an emphasis on 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', Lt Gen D'Cunha also cautioned that the Indian industry must offer "reduced timelines" when it comes to delivery

EU Commission prez, top Europe leadership to visit India from Feb 27-28

During the visit, the College of Commissioners and the Indian government will hold a plenary session chaired by President on der Leyen and Prime Minister Modi

Ukraine war: US objects to calling Russia 'aggressor' in G7 statement

One senior official from a G7 country said that Canada had circulated the first draft of the statement to the other six member countries

Israeli PM Netanyahu decries release of wrong body as ceasefire violation

The incident raised questions about the future of the fragile ceasefire deal, which has paused over 15 months of war and is due to see its first phase end in early March

S Jaishankar, Chinese counterpart discuss bilateral ties, border peace

The meeting lasted for about 30 minutes, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters in response to a query during his weekly briefing

Bhutan PM calls Modi his 'mentor', seeks guidance for public service reform

In his address, the Bhutanese prime minister humbly submitted that he had come to attend the event to not offer any leadership lessons but to learn as a student

India, Bangladesh agree to launch new 'hotline' between border forces

This was the first time that a high-level meeting between the two forces took place after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh on August 5 last year

SC orders Yasin Malik to appear virtually before Jammu court from Tihar

Mehta said it appeared all the accused were working in tandem to delay the trial while pointing out that Malik refused to engage a lawyer and others were opposing the transfer of trial

'Deeply concerning': MEA reacts to Trump's claim on $21 mn USAID funding

Relevant departments and agencies are looking into this matter, said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Donald Trump's remarks regarding the '$21 million allocation to India for voter turnout'

EAM Jaishankar stresses G20's importance, calls for finding common ground

Jaishankar was speaking at the G-20 Session titled 'Discussion on the Global Geopolitical Situation' in South Africa on Thursday

Trump again slams $21 mn USAID funding for India, calls it kickback scheme

Speaking at the Republican Governors Association meeting in Washington DC, US President Donald Trump questioned the rationale behind the expenditure

India, Pak hold flag meeting along LoC in J&K's Poonch to ease tensions

The ceasefire violations along the borders of Jammu and Kashmir have been rare since the two countries renewed an agreement on February 25, 2021

VP Jagdeep Dhankhar urges exposure of those behind attack on democracy

Last week, the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by billionaire Elon Musk had announced a series of expenditure cuts, including USD 21 million allocated for voter turnout in India.

ED conducts searches in Mohali in connection with Canada's gold heist case

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday searched the Mohali premises of a man who is an alleged suspect in Canada's biggest-ever gold heist of more than USD 20 million, official sources said.

Trump's voter turnout claim false: $21 mn funded to Bangladesh, not India

USAID's official records confirm that no projects funded by the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening have been implemented in India since 2008

Security forces recover arms, ammunition, apprehend 16 cadres from Manipur

The operations were conducted in the Imphal West, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Tengnoupal, Jiribam, and Kakching districts of Manipur

Who is Veena Reddy? Ex-USAID India director faces heat over $21 mn funding

The BJP, and the Congress clash over Trump's $21 million voter turnout funding claim; records show the amount was sanctioned for Bangladesh in 2022, not India

G20's ability to harmonise views key to drive global agenda: Jaishankar

Jaishankar is in Johannesburg on a two-day visit to South Africa to participate in the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Jaishankar calls on S African prez, meets counterparts from Russia, China

Jaishankar, who is in Johannesburg on a two-day visit to South Africa to participate in the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, assured India's support for South Africa's G20 priorities

Trump claims USAID funding in India was to get 'someone else elected'

Donald Trump's remarks came days after DOGE disclosed that the United States Agency for International Development contributed $21 million to boost 'voter turnout' in India