NATIONAL
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New Foreign Secretary
- Seasoned diplomat Vikram Misri, widely regarded as an expert on China and national security, assumed charge as India’s new foreign secretary recently.
- Mr. Misri, a 1989-batch Indian Foreign Service officer who was serving as the deputy national security advisor, succeeded Vinay Kwatra.
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Defence MoS says HAL has huge role to play in achieving Make-in-India dream in defence
- Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth said that public sector aerospace and defence company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has a huge role to play in achieving the 'Make in India dream' in Defence, as he called upon the company to contribute towards achieving 'Viksit Bharat'.
- Seth visited the HAL facilities here and while addressing HAL's top management, he assured the company of government support. He called upon the Bengaluruheadquartered company to ensure that the various challenges in design and development as well as production and delivery are addressed in time to contribute to achieving Viksit Bharat as envisaged by the government.
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India, Thailand conclude 'Maitree' military exercise
- The 13th edition of the joint military exercise Maitree 2024 between the Indian Army and the Royal Thailand Army culminated with a grand closing ceremony at Tak Province, Thailand.
- The ceremony, graced by Major General Narongrit Panikabutr, Commander of the 4th Infantry Division of the Royal Thailand Army, as Chief Guest, marked the successful completion of two weeks of intensive training and collaboration.
INTERNATIONAL
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Bangladesh prefers India over China in $1 billion river project
- Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government would prefer neighbouring India execute a $1 billion river development project, a move that would soothe New Delhi’s security concerns.
- “China is ready but I want India to do the project,” Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told reporters at a press conference in Dhaka.
- China and India both want to execute the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration — a Dhaka-led initiative to better manage the river’s waters — as the two nations vie for influence in neighbouring Bangladesh.
- The project to develop the river basin of 414 km (257.25 miles) long Teesta River that flows from India into Bangladesh figured prominently in talks during Hasina’s visit to New Delhi in June. The two countries share numerous rivers that flow from the Himalayas into the Bay of Bengal.
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China, Russia start joint naval drills, days after NATO allies called Beijing a Ukraine war enabler
- China and Russia's naval forces kicked off a joint exercise at a military port in southern China, official news agency reported, days after NATO allies called Beijing a "decisive enabler" of the war in Ukraine.
- The Chinese defense ministry said in a brief statement force from both sides recently patrolled the western and northern Pacific Ocean and that the operation had nothing to do with international and regional situations and didn't target any third party.
- The exercise, which began in Guangdong province and is expected to last until mid-July, aimed to demonstrate the capabilities of the navies in addressing security threats and preserving peace and stability globally and regionally, which would include anti-missile exercises, sea strikes and air defense.
SPORTS
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Copa America 2024
- Argentina won its second straight Copa America championship 2024.
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Paris Olympics 2024
- Star Indian shuttlers Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have received a favourable draw for the Paris Olympics beginning July 26.
- Satwik, 23, and Chirag, 27, who claimed the Thomas Cup gold and Commonwealth Games gold in 2022, have been seeded third.
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Champions Trophy 2025
- The Pakistan Cricket Board wants the BCCI to provide written proof of the Indian government's denial of permission in case the team refuses to come here for next year's Champions Trophy citing a travel ban on security grounds, sources said.
- The host Board also wants the matter to be sorted as soon as possible, given that the tournament is scheduled in February-March.
