United States President Joe Biden and his top advisors have warned Israel that it will become increasingly difficult for it to pursue its military goals in Gaza as global outcry intensifies about the scale of humanitarian suffering in the crisis-stricken region, CNN reported.
Expressing "serious concerns" over Chinese military modernisation, Defence Minister A K Antony on Wednesday said India needs to carry out a "comprehensive review" of its defence preparedness and "remain vigilant" to meet its security challenges.
Targeting Defence Minister A K Antony for "inaction" in the Tatra truck deal even after he was alerted about it through a letter in May 2008, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday wondered if the minister was "under pressure" at that time and sought an explanation from the prime minister. "What prompted Antony to become inactive on this issue? Whose pressure was it? At whose behest were these sudden changes in procurement criteria made? The govt owes an explanation," BJP said.
South Asia's top air show Aero India 2011 took-off on an impressive note with an exquisite flying display and mid-air manoeuvres by Indian and foreign aircraft.
A committee tasked by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to assess the situation on the China border is understood to have reported that Indian troops are not being allowed to patrol up to the perceived Line of Actual Control by Chinese army.
After the Environment Ministry recommended demolition of the Adarsh Housing Society in Mumbai, Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday said he would take a decision on the issue after getting the Central Bureau of Investigation report. "We will take a decision after the CBI inquiry is over," he told mediapersons in New Delhi.
India and Russia will sign a pact on Thursday to extend their military cooperation programme till 2020 as Defence Minister A K Antony and his counterpart Anatoly Serdyukov discussed a wide range of issues, including the upgrade of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov.
Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday met Defence Minister A K Antony in New Delhi. Rajapaksa and his Indian counterpart Shashikant Sharma had discussed increasing the frequency of joint exercises, training of Lankan officers in Indian institutes, supply of non-lethal defence equipment and other issues.
Amid demands for withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from their state, Kashmiri Pandits on Wednesday opposed any such move and asked the Centre to take the views of all shades of opinion of the state before deciding on any major issue related to the state.
The army is planning to procure 100 self-propelled artillery howitzers and three Indian vendors, including two private companies, have been selected for trial of their equipment, Defence Minister A K Antony told the Lok Sabha on Monday.
India conveyed its serious concerns over the US military aid to Pakistan being misused against it and asked America to establish a "monitoring mechanism" to ensure that this does not happen on Friday.
India is concerned over thriving terror camps in Pakistan, but the bilateral talks between the two sides would continue, Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday said.
The 2+2 was attended by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and their Indian counterparts S Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh respectively.
"Within a few months we are going to change the defence procurement procedure again," Defence Minister A K Antony told the Lok Sabha during Question Hour.
Defence Minister A K Antony has ordered re-investigation into the mysterious death of Captain Sumit Kohli in Jammu and Kashmir, heeding to the demands of his family that had maintained that it was a murder and not a suicide as claimed by the Army.
The deal is estimated to be worth Rs 12,000 crore.
India on Wednesday inducted the Russian-origin nuclear-powered submarine 'Nerpa' into the Navy, joining the elite league of nations having such sophisticated warships.
Computer networks of the Eastern Naval Command were "probably compromised" after hacking attempts in 2011 and appropriate steps have been taken since then to strengthen it, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Wednesday.
According to defence ministry figures, infiltration attempts in Kashmir jumped to 83 during April, marking a four-fold increase.
Though Antony did not name the IAF chief in his reply, former Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi's role in the deal is being inquired by the CBI. Tyagi's bank account was recently frozen by the investigative agency and he was also questioned by them.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh unfurled the National Flag on the ramparts of the Red Fort on Sunday to celebrate the 64th Independence Day. After unfurling the tricolour, Dr Singh addressed the nation.
China on Thursday said it is verifying Indian Defence Minister A K Antony's allegations that the Chinese helicopters violated Indian airspace twice last month and reiterated its stand to resolve the border dispute with India through negotiations.
The computers of highly sensitive Defence Research and Development Organisation have reportedly been hacked.
Press Council Chairperson Markandey Katju has demanded that the government reinstate Defence Research and Development Organisation scientist Aijaz Ahmed Mirza who was arrested on terror charges but released on bail as the National Investigation Agency did not file a chargesheet against him.
The only way out of the downward spiral of purchases, scams, cancellations and blacklistings is the systematic and relentless indigenisation of defence equipment, says Ajai Shukla
The army is planning to procure 100 self-propelled artillery howitzers and three Indian vendors, including two private companies, have been selected for trial of their equipment, Defence Minister A K Antony told the Lok Sabha on Monday.
The central government on Wednesday stated that China had intruded twice into Indian airspace in March when its helicopters were found flying over territories of Himachal Pradesh.
Against the backdrop of the killing of Al Qeada leader Osama bin Laden and the situation in Pakistan, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday took stock of the country's overall security scenario with the military top brass.
Antony has asked Defence Secretary Shekhar Dutt to furnish the report by Friday.
Antony told the Lok Sabha that in the recent past it has come to the notice of India that Pakistani elements planted mines on November 24-26, 2012 in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district.
"Troops should enhance vigil on the border and the LoC keeping in view the increased attempts of infiltration from across the border in 2009 as compared to last year," he told the Unified Headquarter's meeting in Jammu.
The government on Monday said it has conveyed its concerns to China about its activities in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir.
"For the first time, we had an exercise with China in their territory. Next joint exercise will be held in India this year. You can wait for it," Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters in Laungwala at Rajasthan on Sunday.
The change of heart in the US and India was propelled by the increased threat of China to both countries, explains Ambassador T P Sreenivasan.
Top Congress leaders on Thursday held consultations with party chief Sonia Gandhi on the Telangana issue.
The first Indian military outpost abroad is nearing completion in Tajikistan but some technical problems are hindering its full-fledged functioning, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Monday. "The base in Tajikistan is almost complete. But some technical problems are there," Antony said.
Amid reports of Gorshkov deal entering into rough weather, Defence Minister A K Antony on Saturday said the government was trying to settle the issue of acquisition of the Russian aircraft carrier with the highest level in Moscow.
On a mission to cool soaring bilateral tensions, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday held extensive talks with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang on a range of issues, including the Taiwan issue and the Ukraine war.
He will meet Governor R L Bhatia on Tuesday morning and will be sworn in later in the day, CLP sources said.
With both India and Pakistan sticking to their respective rigid stances, the two-day defence secretary level talks are unlikely to see any breakthrough. Amir Mir reports from Islamabad.