Page 2 - National Security

Hong Kong court hearing final arguments in Jimmy Lai's security trial

A Hong Kong court began hearing final arguments Monday in the landmark national security trial of former pro-democracy newspaper founder Jimmy Lai, who could be sentenced to up to life in prison if he is convicted. Lai, 77, was arrested in 2020 under a national security law imposed by Beijing following anti-government protests in 2019. He is being tried on charges of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiring with others to issue seditious publications. Lai founded Apple Daily, one of the local media outlets that was most critical against Hong Kong's government. His high-profile case which has already stretched nearly 150 days, far beyond the original estimate of 80 days is widely seen as a trial of press freedom and a test for judicial independence in the Asian financial hub. Prosecutors allege that Lai asked foreign countries, especially the United States, to take actions against Beijing under the guise of fighting for freedom and democracy. On

NSA Doval meets Russia's first deputy PM, discusses military-technical ties

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval held talks with Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov here on bilateral military-technical ties and implementation of joint projects in strategic sectors. Doval is in Russia to hold crucial talks on bilateral energy and defence ties and to prepare the ground for President Putin's visit to India later this year. Doval and Manturov met on Friday, according to the Russian Embassy in India. The talks covered "topical issues of #RussiaIndia military-technical cooperation, as well as the implementation of joint projects in other strategic sectors, including civil aircraft manufacturing, metallurgy, and the chemical industry," the embassy said in an X post. On Thursday, Doval called on Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin to discuss bilateral cooperation between the two countries. During the meeting, he reiterated New Delhi's commitment to continue cooperation on all fronts with Russia in spite of outside pressure. The NSA's

Delhi High Court rejects Celebi's plea against revoked security permit

Delhi High Court upholds government's revocation of Celebi's security clearance, citing espionage concerns and the risk of dual-use logistics amid geopolitical tensions

India's alarm over Chinese spying rocks the surveillance industry

In rejecting the request, the government said India's policy "addresses a genuine security issue" and must be enforced, the minutes show

National security: How India can secure much-needed funds for defence

Experts say increasing the defence budget as a share of GDP even by a single basis point could significantly increase access to funds

Celebi's clearance revoked amid unprecedented situation, says Centre

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Delhi HC that Celebi's clearance was revoked citing national security and reasons could not be shared without undermining the action

LTTS, BITS Pilani, CRENS team up for R&D, skill growth in national security

L&T Technology Services on Wednesday said it has signed an MoU with BITS Pilani and the Centre for Research and Excellence in National Security (CRENS), to drive R&D and skill development in areas critical to national security. Hosted at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani's Hyderabad campus, CRENS will be the central hub for this collaboration, engaging with law enforcement, industry specialists, and academic researchers to drive technological innovation and comprehensive skill development. Participation from defence experts, including former leaders from the armed forces and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), will also be seen, a company statement said. "This landmark collaboration aims to drive Research & Development (R&D), innovation, and skill development in areas critical to national security, including cybersecurity, perimeter security, digital forensics, and emerging technologies," it said. LTTS and BITS Pilani ...

At UN, India stresses maritime, anti-terror strategy for national security

India told the UN Security Council that it views maritime security and countering terrorism as central to its national security and economic interests as it continues to evolve its strategy in response to new threats and geopolitical shifts in the Indo-Pacific region. India, having a long coastline, extensive seafarer community, and capable maritime forces, is actively pursuing its role as a responsible maritime power to safeguard its interests and address emerging threats, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said Tuesday. He was addressing the UNSC high-level open debate on Maintenance of international peace and security: Strengthening Maritime Security through International Cooperation for Global Stability' presided over by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis under Greece's Presidency of the Council for the month of May. "India views maritime security and countering terrorism as central to its national security and economic interests. Its

Security clearance can't hinge on public perception: Çelebi to HC

Govt defends move citing national security

Pahalgam attack: Intel had warned of terror strikes, say officials

The alerts had led to heightened security, with top police officials camping in Srinagar and overseeing combing operations around Dachigam and Nishat

SL to table 'secret' defence deal with India in Parl: Prez Dissanayake

However, President Dissanayake dismissed allegations of secrecy, saying the deal with India will strengthen defence ties while respecting sovereignty

Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif's YouTube channel blocked in India over security

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's YouTube channel was blocked in India on Friday amid ongoing tension between the two countries following the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. "The content is currently unavailable in this country because of an order from the government related to national security or public order. For more details about government removal requests, please visit the Google Transparency Report," read a message on the blocked channel. The government had earlier this week blocked 16 Pakistani YouTube channels for allegedly disseminating "false, provocative and communally sensitive content" about India and has also strongly objected to the BBC's reportage on the Pahalgam attack. The government's move follows recommendations from the Ministry of Home Affairs in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in the upper reaches of the Kashmir resort town in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. Besides, the Ministry of External Affairs will

Trump plans record $1.01 trillion national security budget this year

The defense budget will fund the Golden Dome missile defense project, shipbuilding and nuclear modernization, border security among its top priorities

Trump names Rubio as interim NSA, Waltz to be nominated ambassador to UN

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he's naming Secretary of State Marco Rubio as acting national security adviser to replace Mike Waltz, whom he is nominating for United Nations ambassador. Trump announced the moves shortly after news broke that Waltz and his deputy Alex Wong were departing the administration just weeks after it was revealed that Waltz added a journalist to a Signal chat being used to discuss military plans. Trump said Rubio will continue to serve as secretary of state. I am pleased to announce that I will be nominating Mike Waltz to be the next United States Ambassador to the United Nations. From his time in uniform on the battlefield, in Congress and, as my National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz has worked hard to put our Nation's Interests first, Trump wrote on social media. In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as National Security Advisor, while continuing his strong leadership at the State Department. Together, we will continue to fi

'No one will be spared': Shah vows retribution for Pahalgam terror attack

Union Home Minister Amit Shah vows strict action after the Pahalgam terror attack, promising to hunt down every perpetrator and reiterating the Modi government's zero-tolerance stance on terrorism

Ex-R&AW chief Alok Joshi to head revamped National Security Advisory Board

The government reconstitutes NSAB with former R&AW chief Alok Joshi as chairman; includes retired top brass from military, police, and diplomacy in 7-member advisory panel

Amritpal's father slams Punjab govt for extending his son's NSA detention

Jailed radical preacher Amritpal Singh's father Tarsem Singh on Sunday slammed the AAP-led Punjab government for extending his son's detention under the National Security Act, alleging it wanted to keep the Khadoor Sahib MP behind bars as it considers him as a "threat" in the political space. Tarsem's reaction came after the Punjab government extended his detention under the NSA for another year. Amritpal (32) is lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail. He detained under the NSA following his arrested on April 23, 2023. Speaking to the media in Amritsar, Tarsem strongly condemned the extention of Amritpal's detention, alleging the state government has "thrown all rules to the wind". Detaining Amritpal under the NSA for the third time is a "blot on democracy", he alleged. He alleged that the state government was "hand-in glove" with the Centre in issuing the fresh order of Amritpal's detention under the NSA. Asked about the Punjab government's move of extending Amritpal's detention, Sing

Submit data or lose right to enrol foreign students: Trump warns Harvard

The Donald Trump administration has threatened to revoke Harvard University's eligibility to enrol international students if it doesn't submit detailed records of its foreign student's illegal and violent activities. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Wednesday wrote a scathing letter demanding detailed records on Harvard's foreign student visa holders' illegal and violent activities by April 30, or face immediate loss of Student and Exchange Visitor Programme (SEVP) certification, a DHS news release said. Harvard bending the knee to antisemitism driven by its spineless leadership fuels a cesspool of extremist riots and threatens our national security. With anti-American, pro-Hamas ideology poisoning its campus and classrooms, Harvard's position as a top institution of higher learning is a distant memory. America demands more from universities entrusted with taxpayer dollars, Noem said. DHS said since Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Harvard's fore

Trump blocks Musk from secret China briefing: 'What the f*** is he doing?'

Trump blocked Elon Musk from top-secret China briefing over Tesla ties, erupting: "What the f*** is Elon doing there?"-raising fresh questions about influence and trust

Khalilur Rahman redesignated as National Security Advisor of Bangladesh

Dr Rahman will retain his functions as the High Representative for the Rohingya issue and assist the Chief Adviser in the discharge of his responsibilities regarding the Bangladesh Defence Ministry