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Global South realizes that no-one is immune from Western economic banditry

“Understanding is growing that absolutely no-one is immune from state banditry on the part of the collective West," Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov said at a meeting of the Business Council under the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday.

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India successfully sent first batch of bananas to Russia, Rosselkhoznadzor says 🇷🇺 🇮🇳 The joint effort to gain access for Indian fruits, especially bananas, has been a multi-year process. This breakthrough signifies the growing export of Indian bananas to the Russian market, with the volume expected to increase in the future. ▪Rosselkhoznadzor has confirmed that there are currently no restrictions on the import of fruit and vegetable products from India to Russia. Indian fruit can be freely supplied to the Russian Federation as long as it is accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate. Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia

❗️ The Russian troops destroyed a warehouse of air weapons of the Ukrainian armed forces: military personnel and equipment in 112 districts were hit. 🇷🇺🪖 Other statements from the Russian Defense Ministry briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine: ▪️ In the south of the Donetsk region, Russian forces repelled two attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces. Ukrainian losses amounted to 195 servicemen; ▪️ In the DPR, Ukrainian losses amounted to up to 290 servicemen, one tank and two infantry fighting vehicles; ▪️ In the Krasny Liman area, Ukrainian losses amounted to 240 servicemen; ▪️The Russian air defense forces shot down two HIMARS missiles and 30 drones in one day; Subscribe to @SputnikInt

India unveils first hypervelocity missile test facility for space & defence research 🇮🇳 To boost India's space advancements, IIT Kanpur has successfully created and tested the country's first hypervelocity expansion tunnel test facility. This platform allows for the study of aerodynamics in space capsules and cruise missiles, which travel at hypersonic speeds exceeding Mach 5 or 10 km per second.

"The facility, named S2, is capable of generating flight speeds between 3-10 km/s, simulating the hypersonic conditions encountered during atmospheric entry of vehicles, asteroid entry, scramjet flights, and ballistic missiles," the institute's release reads.

▪The 24 metre long facility is called Jigarthanda, nicknamed S2, and is located at IIT Kanpur's Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory (HEAL) in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. The S2 has been designed and developed indigenously over a period of three years. Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia

⚡️Rosoboronexport denies information about alleged disruption of deliveries of S-400 air defence systems to India The contract is being fulfilled within the terms agreed by the parties, the company's Director General Alexander Mikheev told Sputnik during the World Defense Show arms exhibition in Saudi Arabia. Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia

🇷🇺 🇮🇳 Vladimir Putin, a prominent figure in global politics, has undertaken numerous state visits to various countries. We have compiled a collection of President Putin's visits to India throughout his political career. 📹 Watch the video to learn more! Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia

"The BrahMos-NG was earlier called BrahMos-M (Mini) because it was conceived as a missile that could be carried by medium and light fighters, not just heavy fighters like the Su-30MKI, as is the case with the BrahMos-A," Defense expert and retired IAF pilot, Vijainder K Thakurtold Sputnik India on Monday.

How BrahMos-NG would transform LCA Tejas into a potent war machine 💭 "The imperative for reducing the weight of the BrahMos NG to around 1,200 kg from the 3,000 kg of the BrahMos and the 2,500 kg of the BrahMos-A was to enable even a light fighter like the Tejas LCA Mk-1A to carry the missile," Thakur explained. ▪Notably, this is crucial for equipping India's homegrown combat plane LCA Tejas with the BrahMos as its underwing hardpoint can support a max of 1,250 kg weight including the launcher. 🚀 🇮🇳 Thakur opined that by flying at medium altitudes, the fighter will be able to precisely locate and engage targets near the maximum range of the BrahMos-NG, without the long delays associated with target detection and engagement linked with optical or radar imaging satellites. Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia

Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhny has allegedly agreed to leave his post and be the country's ambassador to Britain, a Rada deputy claimed. Subscribe to @SputnikInt

West’s Bizarre Coverage of India Ploy to Tarnish BJP Ahead of Elections 🇮🇳 🗳 The "biased coverage" of the Ram Temple consecration ceremony in western media has decisively proven that it is "anti-Hindu" and against Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) politics, experts have told Sputnik India.

“I attribute this to the French Indologists such as Christophe Jaffrelot, who are government-sponsored and have generally spread hatred about the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Mr Modi,” French Indologist and author Francois Gautier said.

▪On the other hand, Binay Kumar Singh, a senior fellow at New Delhi-based think tank the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation (SPIRF) suggests that the West do this because it wants developing nations such as India to remain economically and politically subservient to it.

“The Ram Mandir consecration is not only a matter of historical justice for a large section of India's population, but it is also a case of conflict resolution. Both the Hindus and Muslims decided to resolve the Ram Mandir issue through democratic means, which is by approaching the highest court of the land. The real idea is that dispute has been settled,” Binay Kumar Singh, a senior fellow at New Delhi-based think tank the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation (SPIRF), explained.

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What Does Imran Khan's Latest Conviction Mean for Pakistan's Political System?

"The rulings against Khan and his wife show that the military or the establishment as many like to call it, is really out to get the former PM. These stunts so close to the elections are not necessary, it is creating a big political divide in the country... and internationally it is making Pakistan look bad," former defense attache and political observer Khalid Mahmood told Sputnik India on Monday.

🇵🇰 The defense attache said these moves may create a lot of anger in the public and unfortunately result in chaos. ▪️Sputnik India also spoke to a PTI supporter, who asked to remain anonymous, about the cases.

"All of these cases right now are happening to bring Khan under pressure, jailing his wife, summoning his elderly sister Aleema Begum is just to add to Khan's mental anguish," the supporter said.

▪️Meanwhile, political analyst and former unit manager at Engro Corporation, Shahid Rashid told Sputnik India that these verdicts against Khan and his family show that "the judicial system has been buried in Pakistan”. Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia

Western press unleashes crusade against BJP and Modi, as elections near 🌐 Apparently, one of the reasons for this campaign is support for a multipolar world via BRICS and mounting resistance to US hegemony. 🗳 Besides, the US has a reputation for meddling in elections, as can be seen in some South Asian countries. Check out Sputnik's video to find out how the US has tried to interfere in South Asia’s voting process. Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia

❗️In the DPR, the Russian forces have taken more advantageous positions. Ukrainian losses amounted to up to 290 military personnel, two armored vehicles and four cars. 🇷🇺🪖 Other statements from the Russian Defense Ministry briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine: ▪️ In Krasny Liman, Russian forces repelled two attacks by Ukrainian troops. Ukrainian losses amounted to 260 soldiers; ▪️ In the Kupyansk region, Russian troops repelled seven attacks by Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian losses amounted to 130 servicemen; ▪️ In the south of Donetsk, Russian troops destroyed a field ammunition depot for Ukrainian artillery. Ukrainian losses amounted to more than 145 servicemen; ▪️ The air defense of the Russian Federation shot down 58 drones of the Ukrainian armed forces in one day. Subscribe to @SputnikInt

"As an independent country we want to have positive bilateral relations with India in various fields which are of interest to both countries and people," Suhail Shaheen, the head of Taliban's* Political Office in Doha, told Sputnik India.

🏳 Shaheen highlighted that people of India and Afghanistan have historically had better relations, expressing confidence that the two governments could normalise the relationship based on strong people-to-people links.

"We want to resume and improve them based on mutual interest," stated Shaheen.

▪The comments by the Taliban delegate come as New Delhi revealed last week that it took part in a regional meeting on Afghanistan in Kabul this month. ▪New Delhi maintains a technical team at its diplomatic mission in Kabul, which has been functioning with a reduced staff strength. *under UN sanctions Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia

Deadly attack on police station in Northwestern Pakistan 🚨 Ten police officers died and six others were injured after unknown armed people had assaulted a police station in northwestern Pakistan in the early hours of Monday, broadcaster Geo News reported. 🇵🇰 The station in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was attacked at 3 a. m. local time (22:00 GMT, February 4), the Pakistani broadcaster said citing police. ▪Heavy gunfire on the station came from all sides, with attackers using grenades as well. The police retaliated, although the militants managed to escape. The injured were taken to the hospital. Pakistan has seen a resurgence of attacks over past days as the country approaches its national elections later this week. Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia

▪️Russian Foreign Ministry congratulates Sri Lanka on Independence Day ▪️Indigenous SAMHO missile development marks India's strides toward Self-reliance in defense ▪️Ukrainian losses amounted to 380 soldiers in the DPR. Russian air defenses shot down 97 drones ▪️Russian cosmonaut breaks space endurance record Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia

🇷🇺 🇮🇳 Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian PM Narendra Modi have crossed paths numerous times throughout their political endeavors. We have compiled a compilation of videos showcasing all Modi's visits to Russia. Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia

Su-30MKI and Tejas own the sky 🇮🇳 ✈️ 🇷🇺 Bringing you an incredible video gem from the Indian Air Force (IAF) showcasing the power and agility of the Sukhoi Su-30 MKI and Tejas! With its unmatched capabilities and cutting-edge technology, the Su-30 MKI and Tejas proves why it is a force to be reckoned with. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this breathtaking display of aerial prowess. Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia

Indigenous SAMHO Missile Development Marks India's Strides Toward Self-Reliance in Defense

"SAMHO's development is significant for India's combat potential as this missile has an operational range of 1.5-5 km and it is a potent weapon for Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA)," Lieutenant-Colonel (Retd) J.S. Sodhi told Sputnik India on Sunday.

Critical Milestone in India's Bid to Accomplish Self-Reliance in Defense Sector 🇮🇳 India's premier defense research body, DRDO, stated that the development of SAMHO is a significant milestone in India's pursuit of becoming a producer of high-quality military hardware. ▪️SAMHO will soon enter mass production for the Indian Armed Forces, boosting India's self-reliance in defense. ▪️SAMHO will be deployed in Arjun and Russian T-90 tanks of the Indian Army which will make both these tanks lethal and give them a great edge in armored warfare. ▪️ The development of SAMHO showcases the success of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make In India initiatives, as India now exports arms to 85 countries and ranks 23rd globally in weapon system production. According to the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), SAMHO is an anti-tank guided missile, primarily designed to intercept and neutralize incoming rockets fired by the enemy. How SAMHO's Deployment Would Give Edge to India's Ground Forces 🪖 The retired military officer argues that tanks are crucial in modern warfare due to their maneuverability, firepower, and ability to create shock and awe. Sodhi predicts that India will incorporate SAMHO missiles into its tank battalions deployed in the Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat plains. Inductions of similar weapons will also take place in tanks stationed in the mountainous regions of Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and northeastern states, including Arunachal Pradesh, which shares a long and disputed border. Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia

Russian Foreign Ministry congratulates Sri Lanka on Independence Day

"The policy of the colonialists, in particular the British, who acted in the spirit of “divide and rule,” led to an actual violation of the ethnic harmony that had developed in society and had a negative impact on the development of the country," the ministry said.

🇷🇺 🇱🇰 It noted that, continuous non-violent resistance, by the youth associations, the Buddhist revival movement and political parties, against the colonial oppression and the imposition of Western traditions and values, ultimately led to the country gaining its long-awaited independence, in 1948. ▪Diplomatic relations between Russia and Sri Lanka were established on February 19, 1957. Since then, Russian-Lankan ties have invariably been built on the basis of equality, goodwill and willingness to take into account each other’s interests Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia

Russian cosmonaut breaks space endurance record 🧑‍🚀 🇷🇺 Oleg Kononenko has surpassed his fellow countryman Gennady Padalka's record of spending over 878 days in orbit (from 1998 to 2015), according to Roscosmos, the Russian space agency. ▪Kononenko is now expected to achieve a remarkable milestone of spending a total of 1,000 days in space on June 5. Subscribe to @sputniknewsindia