World

Pentagon chief stresses stronger alliances to counter China, Russia
30Oct By Desk TeamNo Comments
China, Market, World

Pentagon chief stresses stronger alliances to counter China, Russia

WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Mark Esper revealed a new initiative on Tuesday (Oct 20) to strengthen and expand US alliances with "like-minded democracies" to counter Russia and China. Esper said the Pentagon would systematically monitor and manage its relationships with partner countries, aiming to find ways to coordinate militaries and also to advance US arms sales. The initiative, called the Guidance for Development for Alliances and Partnerships(GDAP), came just two weeks before the presidential election that, if President Donald Trump loses, could see Esper replaced in January. It also came after nearly four years of Trump's efforts to restructure and even dismantle alliances, including threatening NATO. "America's network of allies and partners provides us an asymmetric ad...
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The fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan, explained
29Oct By Desk TeamNo Comments
Market, World

The fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan, explained

At the call of the CCAF (Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France) several hundred people belonging to the Armenian community in France gathered near the Azerbaijan Embassy in Paris, France, on September 29, 2020, to protest against the war that broke out in recent days in Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan with the support of Turkey. Samuel Boivin | NurPhoto via Getty Images LONDON — The re-emergence of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region have ratcheted up fears of a wider regional conflict at the crossroads of Asia and Europe. Dozens have been reported killed and hundreds wounded since fighting between the two former Soviet republics broke out on Sunday. The contested mountainous enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh is...
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India passes bleak landmark of 8 million COVID-19 infections
29Oct By Desk TeamNo Comments
World

India passes bleak landmark of 8 million COVID-19 infections

MUMBAI: India crossed a grim milestone of 8 million coronavirus cases on Thursday (Oct 29), with a daily rise of 49,881 infections, health ministry data showed. The world's second most populous nation also has the second highest tally of infections after the United States, which has recorded 8.8 million. Cases in India have dipped sharply from September's peak, but experts warn the current festival season could bring another spike. The death toll has been low relative to infections, with 517 new deaths in the last 24 hours carrying the total to 120,527, the ministry said. Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
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Turkey hiring Kashmiri separatists to tarnish India’s image globally
27Oct mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
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...
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France, India, Australia hold first trilateral dialogue with focus on Indo-Pacific Region
4Oct mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
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...
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Chinese national arrested in US in investigation of transfer of software to China
30Sep mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
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...
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New document reveals ISI’s links to Hizbul Chief ahead of Pakistan’s FATF review
30Sep mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
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...
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Czech Mayor blasts ‘unmannered rude clowns’ of China after Beijing’s threat
29Sep mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
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...
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Developer says ‘New City’ on Thai-Myanmar border part of BRI, despite China’s denials
29Sep mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
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,...
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How China’s top-notch mass surveillance system threatens global freedoms
26Sep mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
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...
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