In an earlier release, the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka said the visit of CNS symbolises strong relations and close cooperation between the two countries, with Sri Lanka being accorded the status of 'Priority One' partner by India.

London [UK], September 19 (ANI): At Queen Elizabeth's funeral ceremony on Monday, while several members of the royal family were seen sporting military uniforms, there were some who wore suits.

Islamabad [Pakistan], September 15 (ANI): The adjacent nations of Pakistan and Iran have long been involved in a face-off as border incursions, cross-border terrorism, heavy tariffs on border trade, illegal immigration and risks of sectarian fault lines continue to remain main points of contention between the duo, media reports said.

Kochi (Kerala) [India], August 15 (ANI): The Southern Naval Command celebrated the 76th Independence Day at its base in Kochi, where a ceremonial wreath was laid by Vice Admiral MA Hampiholi at the SNC War Memorial in honour of all Naval personnel who have made the supreme sacrifice for the country in the line of duty.

New Delhi [India], August 3 (ANI): Delhi Police Crime Branch on Tuesday arrested one man wanted in the Jahangirpuri riots, who along with other co-accused allegedly instigated violence during the Hanuman Jayanti celebration.

New Delhi [India], June 11 (ANI): The government of India on Friday has taken a landmark decision to address the existing anomaly with respect to the compensatory allowance for Risk and Hardships (Sea Going Allowance) faced by personnel of the Indian Navy while being deployed at sea, said the Ministry of Defence.

Kolkata Apr 19 PTI India especially West Bengal could deepen its people-to-people ties with neighbour Bangladesh said Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das former Secretary-East in the Ministry of External Affairs while pointing out that in the official domain collaboration between the two governments had been strengthened significantly in all areas in recent years Ganguly Das in an interaction with PTI on Tuesday suggested that there can be joint theatrical productions and ballets collaborative writing of books and works on Rabindranath Tagore between people who share a common culture and language With a 4096-km-long border it is quite natural that there will be issues between India and Bangladesh But many complicated problems have been resolved Both countries now work together in many sectors including connectivity But there is not much public awareness regarding the collaboration and only issues such as border shoot-outs and illegal immigration are highlighted she told PTI Ganguly Das who served as Indias High Commissioner to Dhaka before taking up her assignment as Secretary-East said that deeper cultural ties will help in removing misconceptions and stereotypes that people of both Bangladesh and India especially West Bengal harbour towards each other An average educated Bangladeshi looks to India and says we are blood brothers He or she acknowledges Indias role in their countrys liberation just as we acknowledge the gallantry shown by Bangladeshs freedom fighters However there will always be discordant notes which can be isolated through frequent cultural exchanges she said One Bangladeshi top Naval officers wife once told me she goes to Kolkata to watch first-day-first-show of almost all movies People come from there for education medical treatment and even to shop as it should be between neighbours Similarly many Indians do business or study medicine in Bangladesh she said However with both parts of Bengal sharing a common history for thousands of years their present-day relationship should be much more vibrant the former diplomat said Ganguly Das said that Bengali-language cinema is one area where there can be massive collaboration between the two countries She pointed out over-the-top OTT platforms net-based movie theatres such as Netflix and Hoi Choi have made it easier for people from both sides of the border to see each others movie offerings India-Bangladesh joint production movies such as Padma Nadir Majhi 1993 Moner Manush 2010 and Shankhachil 2016 were widely popular in both the countries The two countries are now working on a joint production of a bio-pic on Sheikh Mujibbur Rehman the founder of Bangladesh which is being directed by Shyam Benegal There can be joint production of dramas ballets There should be collaborative writing of books Works can be done on Rabindranath Tagoreso many Bangladeshi students come to Santiniketan for studies she said West Bengal and Bangladesh were part of a common homeland of Bengalis which was partitioned in 1947 when Pakistan was carved out of India The western part of Bengal became the Indian state of West Bengal while the eastern half first became East Pakistan and subsequently the independent nation of Bangladesh in 1971 PTI ACD JRC JRC

New Delhi [India], March 16 (ANI): The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has said that there has been a low selection rate of male NCC 'C' certificate cadets in the Indian armed forces.

Kochi [Kerala], January 26 (ANI): Seychelles Peoples Defence Force Ship Zoroaster is on a goodwill visit to Kochi from January 25- 26, the Navy said on Wednesday.

Kochi Dec 22 PTI The Southern Naval Command SNC on Wednesday displayed the countrys maritime prowess and operations before President Ram Nath Kovind who is also the supreme commander of the Indian armed forces as part of the naval operation demonstration held here Kovind who is on a four-day visit to the southern state also visited the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant and interacted with the Navy officers who provided him with a first hand brief on the progress of the sea trials The President who reached Kerala on December 21 was accompanied by his wife Savitha Kovind and daughter Swathi Kovind was accorded a guard of honour after which the Navy band performed before the August gathering comprising the President Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan State Industries Minister P Rajeeve Southern Naval Command Flag Officer Commanding-in Chief Vice Admiral M A Hampiholi among others The demonstration held in the Ernakulam Channel commenced with MARCOS Marine Commandos carrying out simulated combat beach reconnaissance and assault using inflatable watercraft Gemini followed by delivering the programme brochure to the President During the 40-minute-long demonstration Kovind witnessed various fly past performances by fixed wing aircraft Dornier the Anti-Submarine warfare helicopter Seaking 42 B the indigenously manufactured surveillance and search and rescue helicopter ALH Advanced Light Helicopter and the Angels of the Sea Chetak helicopter Seaking 42 B demonstrated the sonar dunk operations to detect the submarines INS Sunayna INS Sharda and INS TIR undertook demonstrations including simulated firing of guns and helicopter landing demos Special operations by MARCOS from air and water simulation of VBSS Visit Board Search and Seizure operations and helobatics by ALH and Chetak helicopters including SAR Search and Rescue were part of the demonstration The highlight of the day was the manning of the yard and arms of the Sail training ship INS Tarangini A specially trained sniffer dog of the Indian Navys Explosive Ordnance Disposal team demonstrated its special capability of detecting an explosive device following which a remotely operated vehicle was used to transfer the explosive to the Explosive containment vehicle After the demonstration President and his family along with the dignitaries proceeded to the Cochin Shipyard Limited CSL and visited IAC Vikrant which is under construction here This was the first visit of the Supreme Commander of the Indian armed forces to the IAC and he was provided with a first hand brief on the progress of the sea trials and the commissioning of the vessel Navy officials said that the President took a brief walk around of the aircraft carrier and expressed satisfaction on the progress and appreciated the efforts of the Indian Navy and the Cochin Shipyard Limited Kovind will fly to Thiruvananthapuram on December 23 to attend a few functions there and will leave for New Delhi on December 24 PTI RRT APR APR