
Indian Ocean navies push for regional response mechanism, discuss joint operational guidelines
The Indian Navy hosted the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Working Group Meeting on Maritime Security (IWG-MARSEC) from 24 to 25 June 2025.
The Indian Navy on Thursday said, 'Discussions focused on enhancing information-sharing frameworks, advancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), and adopting collaborative approaches to mitigate emerging threats.'
The Working Group also deliberated on the formulation of harmonised operational guidelines and practical measures to facilitate coordinated and timely regional responses, the Navy added.
The outcomes of the meeting are expected to play a significant role in reinforcing the collective resolve of member navies to uphold a safe and secure Indian Ocean Region.
The event brought together representatives from 13 IONS member nations, Australia, Bangladesh, France, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Thailand.
As one of the key Working Groups of the IONS construct, the IWG-MARSEC serves as a dedicated platform for dialogue, cooperation, and actionable outcomes.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
79th Independence Day 2025 theme revealed: Event details, special guest list, history and more
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Since then, Independence Day has been observed annually with ceremonies across the country, with the Red Fort serving as the focal point for the official celebrations. The Independence Day 2025 Ceremony When the Prime Minister arrives at the Red Fort, he will be received by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, and Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh. Following a formal introduction to senior military officials, the Guard of Honour will be presented, consisting of 96 personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Delhi Police. The Indian Air Force is the coordinating service for Independence Day 2025. The ceremonial march will be commanded by Wing Commander AS Sekhon, with each contingent led by its respective officers. The National Flag hoisting will be synchronised with a 21-Gun Salute, performed by the 1721 Field Battery (Ceremonial) using indigenous 105mm Light Field Guns. The National Anthem will be played by the Air Force band, which will include 11 Agniveer Vayu musicians for the first time. As the flag is hoisted, two Mi-17 helicopters will shower flower petals over the venue—one carrying the tricolour and the other displaying a flag dedicated to Operation Sindoor. Operation Sindoor in Focus Operation Sindoor will receive special recognition during this year's event. Its logo will be displayed at Gyanpath, with floral decorations inspired by the mission. The official invitation cards for the Independence Day 2025 ceremony will feature both the Operation Sindoor emblem and a watermark of the Chenab Bridge, symbolising the rise of Naya Bharat. Formation of the 'Naya Bharat' Logo Following the flag hoisting and the Prime Minister's address, 2,500 National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets and 'My Bharat' volunteers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force will form the 'Naya Bharat' logo at Gyanpath. The event will conclude with the singing of the National Anthem. Special Guest List for Independence Day 2025 Around 5,000 special guests from across India have been invited to witness the celebrations at the Red Fort. This Independence Day 2025 guest list includes: Indian contingent of Special Olympics 2025 Winners of international sports events and Khelo India Para Games gold medallists Top-performing farmers in various government schemes, including beekeeping, medicinal plant cultivation, and credit guarantee programmes Best-performing Sarpanches under rural development initiatives like Catch the Rain Abhiyan and Open Defecation Free Plus Villages Young authors from the PM YUVA Mentorship Scheme Entrepreneurs from PM Van Dhan Yojana, National SC/ST Hub, and VISVAS Skilled youth under schemes such as PM-VIKAS, SHREYAS, and PM-DAKSH Beneficiaries of PM Awaas Yojana Gramin and Lakhpati Didi initiative Social workers, Anganwadi staff, Swachhta campaign achievers, and innovators from Defence Excellence projects Representatives from Vibrant Villages and tribal children from Andaman & Nicobar Islands Additionally, over 1,500 participants from different states and union territories, dressed in traditional attire, will add a colourful cultural touch to the event. Why the Independence Day 2025 Theme Matters The theme 'Naya Bharat' reflects India's determination to strengthen its economy, improve security, empower communities, and promote innovation. It serves as both a celebration of past achievements and a vision for the nation's future. Happy Independence Day wishes and messages 2025 This Independence Day, let's take a pledge to protect the peace and unity of our great nation. Happy Independence Day! Thousands laid down their lives so that our country stays strong, never forget their sacrifice… Happy 79th Independence Day! Thousands of soldiers laid down their lives so that we can live freely. We owe our freedom to the martyrs. Happy 79th Independence Day! Wishing you a Happy Independence Day 2025! May the tricolour always fly high and our nation continue to prosper. Independence Day is both an occasion to celebrate and to remember the struggles of those who fought to give us this gift. Happy Independence Day 2025! Wishing you a Happy Independence Day! May our nation continue to prosper and grow. On this Independence Day, may our dreams for a brighter tomorrow come true! Enjoy a day filled with patriotic spirit. We should salute the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters and soldiers who made the dream of independent India a reality. United we stand, proud we rise. Have a day full of pride, honour, and joy. Happy Independence Day! Freedom in the Mind, Faith in the words, Pride in our us salute the nation on this Independence Day! This Independence Day, let's take a pledge to protect the peace and unity of our great nation. Happy Independence Day! Happy Independence Day to my wonderful family! May this day remind us of the strength and resilience of our nation. Let's celebrate our freedom and work together to make India even better. May our country continue to flourish and celebrate many more years of independence. Happy Independence Day to all! Seven decades and nine years of freedom - let's make it count. Happy Independence Day! May the glory of Independence Day be with us forever. Here's wishing you a very happy Independence Day! Freedom is a hard-won gift, and we are blessed to have it. Let's appreciate and celebrate our freedom. Happy Independence Day! Saluting the bravery of our freedom fighters. Wishing you a Happy Independence Day! A big salute to all the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our independence! Jai Hind! The future, progress, and development of our great country depend not only on technological advancements but also on building social cohesion and trust. Happy Independence Day! On this special day, here's wishing our dreams of a new tomorrow come true! May your Independence Day be filled with patriotic spirit! Happy Independence Day! May our nation continue to grow in strength and prosperity. Let's honour our past, celebrate our present, and look forward to a brighter future together. Freedom is something that money can't buy; it's the result of the struggles of many Bravehearts. Let us honour them today and always. Happy Independence Day 2025! May the Indian flag always fly high. Wishing you a Happy Independence Day! Thousands laid down their lives so that our country stays strong, never forget their sacrifice… Happy 79th Independence Day! No nation is perfect; it needs to be made perfect. Happy Independence Day! Happy Independence Day! May our nation's future be as bright as our phone screens. Carried with care, coated with pride, dipped in love, fly in glory, moments of freedom in the shade of joy. Proud to be an Indian! Wish you a very Happy Independence Day 2025! 28 States, 7 Union Territories, 1652 Total Languages, 6 Major Religions, 100s of Festivals & 1 Country! Proud to be an Indian! Happy Independence Day! Wishing you a Happy Independence Day! May our country always be a symbol of hope and freedom. Celebrate the free spirit of India. May this Independence Day fill your life with happiness and prosperity. Happy Independence Day 2025! Happy Independence Day! Let's celebrate the freedom we enjoy and honour the heroes who made it possible. May this day bring you closer to your loved ones and inspire you to strive for greatness. The Independence Day 2025 ceremony will be a blend of tradition, patriotism, and innovation—showcasing India's military strength, cultural diversity, and commitment to building a developed Naya Bharat by 2047. With a grand guest list, impressive ceremonies, and the symbolic theme, this year's celebrations promise to be truly memorable. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.

The Hindu
17 hours ago
- The Hindu
Fishermen protest demanding immediate release of arrested fishermen
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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
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Trump officials say the administration is striving to make the contracting process more efficient. "Defense Secretary Hegseth is doing a great job restoring a focus on warfighters at the DOD while carrying out the American people's agenda to more effectively steward taxpayer dollars," White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement. Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson said the agency is taking "swift action" to fix the "antiquated" defense contracting process by implementing Trump's executive orders. "This is how we will rebuild the military with necessary speed while ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely in the process," she added. 'STRATEGIC PAUSE' In 2019, Accenture said it had won a contract to expand an HR platform to modernize the payroll, absence management, and other HR functions for the Air Force with Oracle software. The project, which includes other vendors and was later expanded to include Space Force, grew to cost $368 million and was scheduled for its first deployment this summer at the Air Force Academy. An April "status update" on the project conducted by the Air Force and obtained by Reuters described the project as "on track," with initial deployment scheduled for June, noting that it would end up saving the Air Force $39 million annually by allowing it to stop using an older system. But on May 30, Darlene Costello, then-Acting assistant Secretary of the Air Force, sent out a memo placing a "strategic pause" on the project for ninety days and calling for the study of alternate technical solutions, according to a copy of the memo seen by Reuters that was previously unreported. Costello, who has since retired, was reacting to pressure from other Air Force officials who wanted to steer a new HR project to SalesForce and Palantir, three sources said. Palantir co-founder Thiel was an early backer of President Donald Trump and has close ties with key Washington lawmakers, including Vice President JD Vance, whom he supported in a 2022 U.S. Senate race. Palantir in April won a $30 million contract from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to develop an operating system that identifies undocumented immigrants and tracks self-deportations, its largest single award from the agency among 46 federal contract actions since 2011. The Air Force said in a statement that it "is committed to reforming acquisition practices, assessing the acquisition workforce, and identifying opportunities to improve major defense acquisition programs." Accenture, Costello, Palantir and SalesForce did not respond to requests for comment. Space Force, which operates within the Air Force, was set to receive the Air Force's new payroll system in the coming months. But it is also pulling out of the project because officials there want to launch yet another HR platform project to be led by Workday, according to three people familiar with the matter. The service put out a small business tender on May 7 for firms to research HR platform alternatives, with the goal of selecting a company that will recommend Workday as the best option, the people said. Space Force did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Now the Air Force and Space Force "want to start over with vendors that do not meet their requirements, leading to significant duplication and massive costs," said John Weiler, director of the Information Technology Acquisition Advisory Council, a government-chartered nonprofit group that makes recommendations to improve federal IT contracting. Oracle said in a statement it was "working closely with DOGE to accelerate the government's transformation to modern technology at the best price for the taxpayer." 'BEYOND EXASPERATED' In 2022, the Honolulu-based Nakupuna Companies took over a 2019 project with other firms to integrate the Navy's payroll and personnel systems into one platform using Oracle software and known as "NP2". The project, which has cost about $425 million since 2023, according to the Government Accountability Office, was set to be rolled out earlier this year after receiving a positive review by independent reviewer and consulting firm Guidehouse in January, according to a copy obtained by Reuters. But the head of Navy's human resources, now retired Admiral Rick Cheeseman, sought to cancel the project according to a June 5 memo seen by Reuters, directing another official to "take appropriate contractual actions" to cancel the project. Navy leaders instead mandated yet another assessment of project, according to a memo seen by Reuters, leaving it in limbo, two sources said. Cheeseman's reason for trying to kill the project was his anger over a decision by DOGE earlier this year to cancel a $171 million contract for data services provider Pantheon Data that essentially duplicated parts of the HR project. In an email obtained by Reuters, he threatened to withhold funding from the Nakupuna-led project unless the Pantheon contract was restored. "I am beyond exasperated with how this happened," Cheeseman wrote in a May 7 email to Chief Information Officer Jane Rathbun about the contract cancellation, arguing the Pantheon contract was not "duplicative of any effort." "From where I sit, I'm content taking every dime away from NP2 in order to continue this effort," he added in the email. Cheeseman did not respond to a request for comment. Rathbun and Pantheon Data declined to comment. The pausing of NP2 was "unexpected, especially given that multiple comprehensive reviews validated the technical solution as the fastest and most affordable approach," Nakupuna said in a statement, adding it was disappointed by the change because the project was ready to deploy. The Navy said it "continues to prioritize essential personnel resources in support of efforts to strengthen military readiness through fiscal responsibility and departmental efficiency."