Month: February 2025

The Australian Government has raised concerns with China following an incident involving a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and a People’s Liberation Army-Air Force (PLA-AF) J-16 fighter aircraft in the South China Sea on Tuesday.

According to the Australian Defence Ministry, the PLA-AF aircraft released flares in close proximity to the RAAF P-8A, posing a risk to the aircraft and its crew. Fortunately, no injuries or damage were reported.

“The Australian Government has expressed its concerns to the Chinese Government following an unsafe and unprofessional interaction with a People’s Liberation Army – Air Force (PLA-AF) aircraft. On 11 February 2025, a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft conducting a routine maritime surveillance patrol in the South China Sea experienced an unsafe and unprofessional interaction with a PLA-AF J-16 fighter aircraft,” the Australian Defence Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

It added, “The PLA-AF aircraft released flares in close proximity to the RAAF P-8A aircraft. This was an unsafe and unprofessional manoeuvre that posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel.”

The statement further said that no injuries were sustained by Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel nor was damage caused to the RAAF P-8A. “The safety and wellbeing of our ADF personnel continues to be our utmost priority,” the statement said.

It added, “Australia expects all countries, including China, to operate their militaries in a safe and professional manner. For decades, the ADF has undertaken maritime surveillance activities in the region and does so in accordance with international law, exercising the right to freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters and airspace.”

Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of National Defence spokesperson condemned Australia’s deliberate provocations in violating China’s sovereignty in the South China Sea.

Zhang Xiaogang, the spokesperson, urged Australia on Friday to impose stricter controls on its military activities in the region, warning that such provocations could harm both Australia and regional stability, Xinhua reported. (ANI)

Ten convoys carrying humanitarian aid from the UAE, a generous contribution from Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the “Mother of the Nation,” Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, have entered the Gaza Strip via the Egyptian Rafah crossing.

This aid delivery is part of the UAE’s ongoing commitment to supporting and providing relief to the Palestinian people.

The convoys comprise 175 trucks carrying over 2,400 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including food supplies, medical provisions, children’s nutritional supplements, dates, shelter tents, clothing, and other essential items.

This latest delivery brings the total number of aid convoys entering Gaza under Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 to 175. These convoys have played a significant role in mitigating the difficult conditions faced by Gaza residents, easing hardship for the most vulnerable populations, and ensuring access to basic necessities.

The UAE remains steadfast in its humanitarian support for the Palestinian people in Gaza, working to alleviate the challenging circumstances they endure, reduce the suffering of the most vulnerable, and provide for their essential needs. (ANI/WAM)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday expressed confidence in the security of jails in the state following the extradition approval of Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, and said, “We kept Kasab. We can keep him (Tahawwur Rana) too.”

Fadnavis referred to the security measures implemented for Ajmal Kasab, one of the terrorists involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Speaking to reporters after a review meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the North Block, Fadnavis thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts in securing Rana’s extradition. He noted that the US had previously been reluctant to extradite Rana despite evidence linking him to the planning of the 26/11 attacks.

“The US has agreed to the extradition of the mastermind behind the 26/11 attacks, Tahawwur Rana. I thank PM Modi for this… Previously, we conducted an online investigation that proved Pakistan’s involvement in the attack. He was under America’s protection, and they were not ready to extradite him. After PM Modi’s efforts, President Trump has agreed to it. I consider this a very important development,” the Maharashtra CM said.

“The US has agreed to the extradition of the mastermind behind planning the 26/11 attacks, Tahawwur Rana. I thank PM Modi for this… Previously, we did an online investigation, which proved Pakistan’s hand behind the attack. He was under America’s protection, and they were not ready to extradite him… After PM Modi’s efforts, President Trump has agreed to it… I consider this a very important event,” he added.

Earlier on Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced the extradition of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack accused, Tahawwur Rana, to India and said he will face justice.

He made the announcement during a joint press conference with PM Narendra Modi following their bilateral meeting at the White House in Washington DC.

“I am pleased to announce that my administration has approved the extradition of one of the plotters (Tahawwur Rana) and one of the very evil people of the world, having to do with the horrific 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, to face justice in India. He is going back to India to face justice,” the US President said.

The US State Department said last month that it is evaluating the next steps regarding Tahawwur Rana’s extradition to India.

Pakistani-origin businessman Tahawwur Hussain Rana was convicted for his role in the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai. Rana’s co-conspirators included David Headley, who pleaded guilty and cooperated against Rana.

The 26/11 attacks resulted in the death of 174 people, including 20 security personnel and 26 foreigners, and over 300 others were injured in the horrific attacks that took place at Mumbai’s Taj Hotel on November 26, 2008. (ANI)

The leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the President’s rule imposed in Manipur. Kharge said that suspending his own party’s government is a direct admission that it has failed the people of Manipur.

In a post on X, Kharge termed the President’s rule a constitutional ‘crisis’ in the state, claiming that the BJP’s MLAs are unwilling to accept the baggage of the government’s incompetence.

Further sharpening his attack on the BJP, he said that despite 11 years of rule at the centre and 8 years at the state, the central government imposed presidential rule in Manipur.

“It is your party that has been ruling at the Centre for 11 years. It is your party that was ruling Manipur for 8 years. It is the BJP that was responsible for maintaining law and order in the state. It is your government that is responsible for national security and border patrol,” Kharge said on X.

“The imposition of President’s rule by you, suspending your own party’s government, is a direct admission of how you failed the people of Manipur,” the Congress president stated.

“You have imposed President’s rule not because you wanted to, but because there is a constitutional crisis in the state, as none of your MLAs are willing to accept the baggage of your incompetence,” he added.

Taking a further dig at BJP’s “double engine’ government (government at the centre and state), he said, “Your double engine ran over the lives of the innocent people of Manipur!”

He pointed out the need to listen to the pain and trauma of the suffering people of Manipur.

“High time you now step in Manipur and listen to the pain and trauma of the suffering people and apologise to them. Do you have the courage of conviction?” he questioned.

He said that the people of the northeastern state will not forgive Prime Minister Modi and the BJP.

Meanwhile, security has been heightened in the capital city of Imphal on Friday in the wake of the president’s rule imposed in Manipur amid prolonged ethnic violence and political instability in the region.

President Droupadi Murmu imposed President’s Rule in Manipur on Thursday after receiving a report from the state governor.

The move comes days after N. Biren Singh resigned from his position as the Chief Minister of Manipur on February 9. His resignation came amid violence and political instability that had plagued the state for nearly two years.

The imposition of the President’s Rule can last up to six months, subject to parliamentary approval. During this period, the central government will oversee governance, and fresh elections may be called to elect a new assembly.

The unrest in Manipur primarily involved clashes between the majority Meitei community and the minority Kuki-Zomi tribes. Tensions escalated over disputes related to economic benefits, job quotas, and land rights. The violence resulted in hundreds of fatalities and displaced approximately 60,000 individuals. (ANI)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday directed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to implement the three new criminal laws across all commissionerates in the state as soon as possible.

Shah’s directive came during a review meeting on the implementation of the three new criminal laws in Maharashtra, attended by CM Fadnavis, officials from the Maharashtra government, and the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Chairing the meeting, Shah also urged the Maharashtra government to establish an ideal Directorate of Prosecution system in accordance with the new criminal laws–the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023; that replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.

The meeting reviewed the implementation and present status of various new provisions relating to police, jail, courts, prosecution and forensics in Maharashtra.

During the discussion, the Home Minister said that the essence of the three new criminal laws introduced by Prime Ministe Narendra Modi lies in the provision of delivering justice within three years, from the filing of an First Information Report (FIR) till the Supreme Court’s verdict in any case.

Shah has held similar meetings with other states in the past few months regarding implementation of the three new criminal laws. Those states include Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Haryana. (ANI)

Security has been heightened in the capital city of Imphal on Friday in the wake of the president’s rule imposed in Manipur amid prolonged ethnic violence and political instability in the region.

President Droupadi Murmu imposed President’s Rule in Manipur on Thursday after receiving a report from the state governor.

The move comes days after N. Biren Singh resigned from his position as the Chief Minister of Manipur on February 9. His resignation came amid violence and political instability that had plagued the state for nearly two years.

The decision, exercised under Article 356 of the Constitution, means that the state’s administrative functions will now be directly controlled by the President through the Governor.

The proclamation, published in the Gazette of India issued by the Union Home Ministry, states that the powers of the Manipur Legislative Assembly will be transferred to Parliament, effectively suspending the state government’s authority.

Under this order, the Governor’s powers will now be exercised by the President; the state legislature’s authority will be assumed by Parliament; and specific articles of the Constitution, including those concerning legislative procedures and governance, have been suspended to ensure smooth central administration.

President’s Rule is typically imposed when a state government is deemed incapable of functioning as per constitutional norms. The move follows political instability and law-and-order concerns in Manipur. The suspension of legislative powers means that all state laws and decisions will now be made under central authority, either by Parliament or the President.

The imposition of President’s Rule can last up to six months, subject to parliamentary approval. During this period, the central government will oversee governance, and fresh elections may be called to elect a new assembly.

The unrest in Manipur primarily involved clashes between the majority Meitei community and the minority Kuki-Zomi tribes. Tensions escalated over disputes related to economic benefits, job quotas, and land rights. The violence resulted in hundreds of fatalities and displaced approximately 60,000 individuals. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid tribute to the 40 CRPF personnel who lost their lives in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi said, “Homage to the courageous heroes we lost in Pulwama in 2019. The coming generations will never forget their sacrifice and their unwavering dedication to the nation.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tribute, calling the attack a “cowardly act of terrorism”.

“On behalf of the grateful nation, I pay my heartfelt tribute to the soldiers who were martyred in the cowardly terrorist attack in Pulwama on this day in the year 2019,” he wrote in a post on X.

“Terrorism is the biggest enemy of the entire human race, and the whole world has united against it. Be it a surgical strike or an airstrike, the Modi government is determined to completely destroy the terrorists by running a campaign with a ‘zero tolerance’ policy against them,” he added.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also paid tribute to the soldiers who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack.

In a post on X, Yogi said that the sacrifice of the brave sons of Mother India inspires us to fight unitedly against terrorism.

“Heartfelt tribute and salute to all the immortal brave soldiers martyred in the cowardly terrorist attack in Pulwama! The sacrifice of the brave sons of Mother India inspires us to fight unitedly against terrorism. Jai Hind,” the CM said.

On February 14, 2019, a suicide bomber rammed an IED-laden vehicle into a CRPF convoy, killing 40 soldiers. Days after the attack, the Indian Air Force carried out multiple aerial strikes on February 26, 2019, at JeM terror camps in Pakistan’s Balakot, killing a “large number” of terrorists and destroying their infrastructure.

The airstrike was launched in the early hours of February 26, and Pakistan’s efforts to launch an offensive the next day to target Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir were thwarted by an alert IAF.

In the dogfight, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, flying a MiG-21 Bison fighter plane and chasing Pakistani jets, crossed over to PoK, where his aircraft was shot down. He was taken into custody by Pakistan. India also shot down a Pakistani fighter jet. (ANI)

Cold wave conditions continued to grip Jammu and Kashmir, as Srinagar recorded a minimum temperature of 0 degrees Celsius on Friday morning.

Several towns in the Kashmir Valley experienced inclement weather conditions today.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), winter chill continued in Srinagar city. On Friday morning, a minimum temperature of 0 degrees Celsius and a maximum temperature of 15.0 degrees Celsius were recorded here.

Amidst these weather conditions, serene visuals emerged from the Dal Lake, with people enjoying the winter season.

According to the IMD, several towns, including Gulmarg, Pahalgam, and Kupwara, experienced minimum temperatures below zero degrees Celsius in the last 24 hours.

On February 9, the ‘Lal Draman Winter Festival-2025’, organised in Doda district by the District Administration and Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department, attracted thousands of visitors, including tourists, locals, officials, and media, to witness this celebration of culture, adventure, and natural beauty.

Lal Draman, a serene meadow in the picturesque Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, came alive with the much-anticipated winter festival.

The event brought together thousands of visitors and locals, showcasing the beauty and vibrant culture of Lolab Valley of Kupwara district.

The festival, which aimed to celebrate the winter season and promote the region’s scenic beauty and rich cultural heritage, featured a series of exhilarating activities.

The region has recently experienced the extreme and harsh weather conditions of Chillai Kalan, which started on December 21 and ended on January 31.

It is a period marked by sub-zero temperatures, frozen water bodies, and landscapes covered in frost and snow. The region typically experiences significant snowfall, disrupting daily life. During this time, temperatures often drop to extremely low levels, leading to the freezing of water bodies, including parts of the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar. (ANI)