Asia

In New Year’s speech, Taiwan urges China to have “meaningful” talks
1Jan mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
Asia, China

In New Year’s speech, Taiwan urges China to have “meaningful” talks

In her New year speech, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday said that the country is willing to have "meaningful" talks with China as equals as long as they are willing to put aside confrontation.Democratic Taiwan, claimed by China as its sovereign territory, has come under increasing pressure from Beijing, which has ramped up military activity near the island.China says it is responding to "collusion" between Washington and Taipei, angered at growing US support for the self-governed island. Beijing views this a precursor to Taiwan declaring formal independence.Speaking at the presidential office, Tsai said that in the past year, Chinese military activity near Taiwan has threatened peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region."I want to reiterate, that when it comes to cross-strait r...
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India, Pakistan exchange list of Indian prisoners as part of bilateral agreement
1Jan mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

India, Pakistan exchange list of Indian prisoners as part of bilateral agreement

As part of a bilateral agreement, Pakistan on Friday handed over a list of 319 Indian prisoners including 49 civil and 270 fishermen lodged in the country's jails to the High Commission of India.The Foreign Office (FO) said that the step is consistent with the provisions of the Consular Access Agreement between the two countries signed on May 21, 2008."The Government of Pakistan, today, shared with the Indian High Commission in Islamabad a list of 319 Indian prisoners in Pakistan, including 49 civilians and 270 fishermen prisoners," it said.The Indian government also simultaneously shared the list of 340 Pakistani prisoners in India, including 263 civilians and 77 fishermen with the High Commission for Pakistan in New Delhi, the FO said.Under the agreement, the two countries are required t...
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India, Bhutan sign MoU on cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space
31Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

India, Bhutan sign MoU on cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space

India and Bhutan have agreed to cooperate in the peaceful uses of outer space after the Indian Union Cabinet approved the Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries.According to an official statement, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved MoU between India and Bhutan on Cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space signed on November 19 by both sides at Bangalore/Thimpu and exchanged."This MoU shall enable India and Bhutan to pursue cooperation in potential interest areas, such as remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication and satellite-based navigation; Space science and planetary exploration; use of spacecraft and space systems and ground system; and application of space technology," the statement said.The Cabinet further said that ...
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Jack Ma and the Chinese Economic Identity Crisis
30Dec By Online DeskNo Comments
Asia, China, Market

Jack Ma and the Chinese Economic Identity Crisis

The CCP has time and again demonstrated its nonchalant use of tyrannic authority over its own citizens; a rather transparent demonstration of its execution of oppressive control can be seen with the implementation of the social credit system; it provides a template for its citizens for acceptable social behavior. Offenses such as purchasing too many video games, spending money frivolously, and driving poorly, can warrant throttled internet connections, domestic travel bans, restricted access to education and employment, etc. Ironically, at the same time, China stands as an elected member of the UN Human Rights Council as of 13 October 2020. Unfortunately, the conventions of international affairs overlook these atrocities for the sake of diplomatic survival. In doing so, nations have au...
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Pakistan: First case of new coronavirus variant from UK detected
29Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Pakistan: First case of new coronavirus variant from UK detected

The first case of the new coronavirus variant from UK was confirmed in Pakistan on Tuesday after three samples taken from passengers who had returned from Britain showed 95 pre cent match to the new variant.The health department in Sindh said the samples of 12 returnees were taken for genotyping, out of which six tested positive.“Samples of three U.K. returnees show a 95% match to the new coronavirus variant from the U.K. in the first phase of genotyping,” it said in a tweet.The health department said that the provincial government was tracing contacts of these patients and all those who came in contact with them were being isolated.The new variant is considered as 70% more transmissible and has sparked concerns around the world though health experts say there is no evidence that it is mor...
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J&K: Young entrepreneur sells Kashmiri apples online, introduces new packaging
28Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, Market

J&K: Young entrepreneur sells Kashmiri apples online, introduces new packaging

In the Shopian district of the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, a young entrepreneur is selling world famous Kashmiri apples online by bringing much-needed reforms in the fruit’s packaging at par with global standards.Adnan Ali Khan, 30, has now emerged as a local hero by setting up a supply chain that ensures fair prices to farmers by helping them sell their products on the internet.Khan, a fourth-generation farmer from his family, completed engineering and MBA and is now doing his PhD on “value addition, planning and marketing of Kashmiri products”.He launched his online venture that delivers Kashmiri apples to the doorstep upon receiving orders online.He is probably the first Kashmiri to sell apples in retail packs on the internet. Adnan made his debut in September when he s...
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J&K: Revival of 1902 built Mohra Hydro Electric Project delights Baramulla
26Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

J&K: Revival of 1902 built Mohra Hydro Electric Project delights Baramulla

The Jammu and Kashmir administration’s recent decision to revive its first Hydroelectric Project, one of the oldest hydel power plants in South Asia, Mohra (also spelled as Mahura), has delighted the people of Baramulla.Built in 1902 on the left bank of river Jhelum at Boniyar in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and commissioned in the year 1905, by the then monarch of Jammu and Kashmir, Maharaja Hari Singh, by hiring the services of Canada born engineer, Major Alian de Litbniere, the Mahura Hydroelectric project was built with unique and rare features, which include 11-kilometer-long wooden flume as water conductor.Initially, the power house started generating 3.75 megawatts electricity and also served the purpose of irrigating nearest fields because of its unique construction. The powe...
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J&K: DC Baramulla chairs meeting at Gulmarg
26Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

J&K: DC Baramulla chairs meeting at Gulmarg

In the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Baramulla district, Dr G N Itoo chaired a meeting at Gulmarg to review various arrangements in view of current winter season.On the occasion, Dr Itoo took a detailed appraisal of various necessities put in place for winter tourism at the venue. He stressed for exploring every possibility for promoting winter tourism at Gulmarg and in its peripheral areas.Dr Itoo exhorted upon the concerned officers to put in place a viable mechanism so that the tourists coming at the venue do not face any inconvenience. He also directed to organize several sports activities that will attract tourists from different regions, thereby developing tourism in the region.Moreover, he emphasised to strictly follow all covid-19 guidelin...
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National Lok Adalat held across courts of J&K, Ladakh; 4628 cases settled
24Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

National Lok Adalat held across courts of J&K, Ladakh; 4628 cases settled

National Lok Adalat was held across the Indian union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh with settlement of a total of 4,628 cases in which Rs. 47.70 crore was awarded as compensation amount.As the entire population, including the litigants, are in deep mental stress due to outbreak of covid-19, J&K Legal Services Authority and Ladakh Legal Services Authority, under the stewardship of patron-in-chief and executive chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority, Justice Rajesh Bindal, Chief Justice (A), High Court of J&K and under the guidance of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, Executive Chairman, Ladakh Legal Services Authority organized National Lok Adalats throughout the union territories of J&K and Ladakh.This National Lok Adalat was organized in all the districts of UTs o...
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Over 3.65 lakh J&K accounts benefited under business revival package
24Dec mmBy Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Over 3.65 lakh J&K accounts benefited under business revival package

Over 3.65 lakh accounts in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) have benefited from the first tranche of relief released by the government under its ‘Business Revival Package’ for eligible businesses affected by the ongoing covid-19 pandemic and the restructured accounts of 2014-floods and 2016-disruption.In a statement, the J&K bank said, “As the leading bank, J&K Bank alone has received Rs 222 crores out of the Rs 250 crores released by the government in its first tranche so far out of Rs 950 crores sanctioned for the banking sector. The bank has already passed the amount of Rs 222 crores as relief to 2.61 lakh eligible beneficiary accounts. Meanwhile, other banks operating in the region have released over Rs 27 crore to 1.04 lakh beneficiary accounts.”The J&...
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