World

Turkey hiring Kashmiri separatists to tarnish India’s image globally
USA, World

Turkey hiring Kashmiri separatists to tarnish India’s image globally

As a part of a carefully crafted conspiracy to malign India’s image across the world, Ruwa Shah, daughter of separatist leader Altaf Ahmad Shah, in an article published in Turkish media talked about how she feels for her allegedly besieged home while staying thousands of miles away in Turkey. While sharing her views she also mentioned that children in Kashmir never had a normal life.Altaf is an accused of terror funding in a case registered in 2017 by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA). As per NIA, separatist leader Altaf Shah was found to be involved in receiving and collecting funds through illegal means, including hawala for causing disruption in Kashmir Valley by way of pelting stones on security forces, burning schools, damaging public property and waging war against India.Th...
France, India, Australia hold first trilateral dialogue with focus on Indo-Pacific Region
World

France, India, Australia hold first trilateral dialogue with focus on Indo-Pacific Region

India, Australia and France recently held talks for the first time under a trilateral framework with focus on enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.The virtual meeting was co-chaired by François Delattre, Secretary General - Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Foreign Secretary - Ministry of External Affairs of India, and Frances Adamson, Secretary - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia.“The focus of the dialogue was on enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific Region,” the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.According to the official statement released by the Ministry, the outcome-oriented meeting was held with an objective of building on the strong bilateral relations that the three countries share with each other and s...
Chinese national arrested in US in investigation of transfer of software to China
China, World

Chinese national arrested in US in investigation of transfer of software to China

The US Justice Department announced the arrest of a Chinese national and researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles on federal charges of destroying evidence to obstruct an FBI investigation after he was seen throwing a damaged hard drive into a dumpster outside his apartment.Guan Lei, 29, Alhambra, who was in the U.S. on a J-1 non-immigrant visa was arrested pursuant to a one-count criminal complaint unsealed during his initial appearance in United States District Court.The criminal complaint alleges that Guan, threw a damaged hard drive into a trash dumpster near his residence on July 25.The FBI recovered the damaged hard drive after Guan was not allowed to board a flight to China and after Guan refused the FBI’s request to examine his computer.The affidavit in support of th...
New document reveals ISI’s links to Hizbul Chief ahead of Pakistan’s FATF review
World

New document reveals ISI’s links to Hizbul Chief ahead of Pakistan’s FATF review

In October, Pakistan will be thoroughly reviewed in implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Action Plan and mounting evidence is coming to light of Islamabad’s continuing financial support to terrorism.A new document accessed by security agencies confirms links of a terror proxy with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which is likely to further muddy the waters as Pakistan’s Grey Listing is taken up at the FATF plenary session.One of the important terrorist groups that have been used by Pakistan to foment terrorism in India is Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), headed by Mohammad Yusuf Shah, also known as Syed Salahuddin. He is also the head of the United Jihad Council (UJC), an umbrella organisation of terror outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM...
Czech Mayor blasts ‘unmannered rude clowns’ of China after Beijing’s threat
China, World

Czech Mayor blasts ‘unmannered rude clowns’ of China after Beijing’s threat

The mayor of a Prague district lashed out at Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for issuing threats to Czech Republic Senate Speaker Milos Vystrcil following his visit to Taiwan.Wang Yi had warned that Vystrcil would "pay a heavy price" for his “short-sighted behaviour”, accusing the Czech official of committing an act of “international treachery”.Responding to the warning, the Mayor of Prague district Reporyje, Pavel Novotny, in a letter addressed to Wang on his Facebook page, demanded an immediate apology from the Chinese minister, saying this was the last time he opened his mouth against the Czech Republic.He accused Wang of “crossing the lines” of acceptable diplomatic norms and chastised the foreign ministry as “unmannered rude clowns!”Novotny asked China to apologise for the threat “ri...
Developer says ‘New City’ on Thai-Myanmar border part of BRI, despite China’s denials
China, Singapore, World

Developer says ‘New City’ on Thai-Myanmar border part of BRI, despite China’s denials

The Chinese developer of a “new city” project on the Myanmar-Thai border has insisted the project is part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), despite the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar denying the claims.The project in Karen State, known locally as the Shwe Kokko New City after the village where it is located, was launched in 2017 by Yatai International Holdings Group (YIHG) after the company signed a deal with a local ethnic Karen armed group, the Border Guard Force (BGF).Locals have criticised the project over what they see as a lack of transparency, as well as confusion over the scale of construction and a growing influx of Chinese migrants. Also, suspicions have been aroused over possible illicit activity and concerns about the social impacts of casino businesses.From the beginning,...
How China’s top-notch mass surveillance system threatens global freedoms
China, Market, USA, World

How China’s top-notch mass surveillance system threatens global freedoms

Going by the records of Beijing Public Safety Bureau, every step, every action is monitored by state-of-the-art surveillance cameras. Facial recognition algorithms filed away in a secret database could land you in legal trouble for something you did near your front door. A semi-political post made in a private chat could lead to the loss of your job.Yet it is only the beginning of the rise of technologically-advanced China and its dystopian dreams. It might be a deterrent to crime, as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership says, but it also means a substantial loss of privacy and free expression."The Chinese Communist Party is committed to the production and use of technology that controls and surveils its population," Chairman Robin Cleveland and Vice Chairman Carolyn Bartholomew of...
Will ask US for military assistance if China attacks in South China Sea: Philippines
China, World

Will ask US for military assistance if China attacks in South China Sea: Philippines

In a statement, the Philippines have made it clear to China that it would turn to the United States for military help during ongoing flare-ups between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea.Philippines Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr said Manila would invoke its defence agreement with the US if China attacks its naval vessels in the disputed waters."If something happens that is beyond incursion but is, in fact, an attack on say a Filipino naval vessel.....means then I call up Washington DC," he added.Since 1951, the US and the Philippines have had a Mutual Defence Treaty that commits them to support each other in the event if either is attacked.The statement by the Philippines Foreign Secretary marks the first time President Rodrigo Duterte administration openly declaring its intent...
India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar join hands to enhance conservation of river dolphins
World

India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar join hands to enhance conservation of river dolphins

Recognizing the importance of dolphins in an ecosystem and the declining numbers of dolphins, experts from four different countries - India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar joined hands to enhance conservation of river dolphins, paving way for regional cooperation.The decision was taken during a webinar on “Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on the ecosystem health of rivers and its dolphin population: Present status and future strategy for conservation in India-Bangladesh-Myanmar-Nepal” organised by Inland Fisheries Society of India, ICAR – Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, National Mission for Clean Ganga, Professional Fisheries Graduates Forum (PFGF) and Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society.Dr JK Jena, DDG (Fisheries Science), ICAR, during the webinar said, “These anim...
Football: City have unfinished business in the Champions League, says Laporte
World

Football: City have unfinished business in the Champions League, says Laporte

LONDON: The Champions League is the missing piece in Manchester City's growing silverware collection, defender Aymeric Laporte said ahead of his side's last-16 second leg against Real Madrid on Friday. City have dominated English football in recent years under Pep Guardiola, although they finished second to Liverpool in the Premier League this season, but have yet to add Europe's most coveted prize to their trophy cabinet. "City have unfinished business in the Champions League, we have been talking about it for a long time, it's the thing we are missing," Laporte told Spanish newspaper AS on Thursday. "Last year we won four trophies in the same season but couldn't win the Champions League, so if it's our turn this year, perfect." City were knocked out in the quarter-finals last yea...