“China ready to maintain communication with Russia and India on advancing the trilateral cooperation,” says Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian

As US and its NATO allies mount greater pressure on Russia on ending the conflict with Ukraine and threaten to impose secondary sanctions on crude oil, separate statements originating from New Delhi and Beijing have, today, been positive on reviving the Russia-India-China format.

In New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, today, while answering media questions on the revival of Russia-India-China format said: “The revival will be worked out among the countries in a mutually convenient manner.” This is a consultative format where three countries come and discuss global and regional issues of interest to them, Jaiswal said when asked about positive opinion of China and Russia on reviving the format.

Earlier this morning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian had set the ball rolling. “China stands ready to maintain communication with Russia and India on advancing the trilateral cooperation,” Lin had said at media briefing in Beijing today.

“China-Russia-India cooperation not only serves the respective interests of our three countries, but also helps uphold peace, security, stability and progress in the region and world,” Lin added.

A few days ago, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said that Russia is negotiating the restoration of the Russia–India–China (RIC) format with Beijing and New Delhi. He pointed out that Russia remains positive towards promoting the operation of this mechanism.

Meanwhile, when asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit to China for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders summit, Jaiswal said, “The SCO meeting is some months away. The participation by countries are finalised as per the mutual convenience. We will let everyone know at the appropriate time.”

Earlier this week External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was in China and had met his counterpart Wang Yi and raised issues of resolution of matters of the border areas and restrictive trade practices by Beijing.

The positive reaction comes after Ottawa was urged to take action to protect the religious rights of people as Rath Yatra procession in Toronto turned tense

Ubeer Naqushbandi Tribune News Service

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said that the process of rebuilding ties between India and Canada is moving in a positive direction, following a year of strained relations over the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023.

The MEA’s comments come just days after India urged Canada to ensure the protection of religious freedoms, following tensions during a Rath Yatra procession in Toronto on July 11. Unidentified individuals reportedly hurled eggs at devotees, sparking outrage and allegations of racism and xenophobia.

During a weekly briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, responding to a question on bilateral relations, said: “We had a meeting at the Prime Ministerial level in Kananaskis, where both leaders affirmed the importance of India-Canada ties. Both sides are now working to rebuild this relationship.”

He added, “We are also working towards the appointment of High Commissioners in both capitals. The movement in India-Canada ties is positive.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Alberta last month. Modi had attended the summit on Carney’s invitation, his first visit to Canada since diplomatic tensions erupted last year.

Carney’s outreach is seen as a signal of the new Canadian government’s intent to reset relations with New Delhi.

Ties had plunged to an all-time low in 2023 after the killing of Nijjar, with then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleging the involvement of Indian agents. New Delhi strongly denied the charges and accused the Trudeau government of harbouring pro-Khalistan elements on Canadian soil.

In October 2023, India recalled its High Commissioner and five other diplomats, while expelling an equal number of Canadian representatives.

Fifth probe into incident as family awaits justice

Punjab Police Offered crores to compromise

CBI TO INVESTIGATE COL BATH CASE : VEDIOS

CBI OVERTAKES COLONEL PUSHPINDER CASE

Mrs Jaswinder w/o Col Bath says she cried on Courts verdict for handing over to CBI

Akash Prime tested, can hit targets in Pak, China

Can’t win modern wars with outdated weapons, says CDS

Jaswinder Kaur Bath, wife of Col Pushpinder Singh Bath, addresses mediapersons in Patiala on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO

Jaswinder Kaur Bath, wife of Col Pushpinder Singh Bath, addresses mediapersons in Patiala on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO

The HC order of shifting the probe to the CBI from the Chandigarh Police, will be the fifth probe in the incident. Earlier, three probes marked in Punjab and the fourth by the Chandigarh Police ended in a stalemate.

Welcoming the Punjab and Haryana High Court directions to shift the case to the CBI, Jaswinder Kaur Bath, wife of Colonel Pushpinder Bath, today criticised the state government, Punjab Police and the Chandigarh Police for allegedly “conniving and conducting botched-up investigations to save the erring cops who assaulted her husband and son”.

To be deployed in high-altitude areas

Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service

After the success of the indigenous Akash missiles during Operation Sindoor, its next version, capable of deployment in high-altitude areas, was successfully tested today.Called Akash Prime, its navigation, flight path and accuracy have been fine-tuned for the Army’s needs to tackle airborne threats from either Pakistan or China.

The successful test was carried out at an altitude of 15,000 feet in Ladakh today, sources said.

The trial was carried out by the Army Air Defence along with senior officials of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, which has developed the system.

During the trial, the Akash Prime —- a surface-to-air missile — registered a direct hit against a very fast-moving airborne target in a high-altitude area in a rarefied atmosphere.

The need to develop the Akash Prime arose as the firing parameters and trajectory of the missile change when launched at high altitudes. The lack of oxygen pressure has to be factored into the trajectory of the missile.

The Army already has Akash missiles in its arsenal which were used with success in Operation Sindoor. The Indian Air Force uses the Akash-NG (New Generation), which offers a significantly extended range (70-80 km).

The focus of the Akash Prime is on enhanced precision and operational capability in specific, difficult terrains and extreme cold weather conditions, while maintaining a range of 30-35 km, consistent with the existing Akash variant of the Army.