Tag: India

News & Politics

What Is Indian Agenda Of High-Level Talks With Chinese Military?

HT News

India and China have decided to hold high-level talks in the Indian Border Point Meeting hut in Chushul-Moldo to resolve the standoff at LAC on Ladakh and Sikkim border. Lieutenant General Harinder Singh, Commander of 14 Corps will meet his Chinese counterpart the Commander of the Tibet Military District.

Indian agenda for the high-level talks

According to official sources, India will insist on restoration of the previous state of affairs in all areas of eastern Ladakh. Also, India will oppose the huge build up of Chinese forces in the region and ask China not to oppose infrastructure development on the Indian side.

Chinese military has been obstructing normal patrolling by Indian troops along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh and Sikkim. Also, it alleged Indian army of trespassing into the Chinese side. The present standoff has already witnessed skirmishes between soldiers of the two armies in the Pangong Tso Lake region on May 5 and May 6.

Reason for the Indo-China standoff

India has been developing roads in the Finger area around the Pangong Tso Lake and in the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie area in Galwan Valley. But China is strongly opposing the infrastructure buildup by India. For India, this infrastructure is important for smooth patrolling of the area. And the country has decided to continue with its road buildup projects despite stiff opposition by China.

History of Indo-China relations

Both the countries have fought a brief war in 1962 and were also involved in a military standoff in Doklam that lasted for three months in 2017.

Source: https://bit.ly/2Ya3qnU

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International News & Politics

China Upset Over US Inviting India, Russia To G7

HT News

As the president of G7, Trump wants to invite India, Australia, South Korea and Russia to the group. And he has already sent his invites to the countries. But he is yet to receive confirmation from those nations.

China criticized US move on G7

China said that any move to seclude China in the global platform was doomed to fail. It said that China believed all international organizations and conferences should be conducive to mutual trust between countries. It further said that any attempt to make a small circle against China would become unpopular.

Russia yet to respond to the G7 call

Russia was a former ally of G8 before it was expelled from the group in 2014 by then US President Barack Obama. Obama took the strong step of ousting Russia from the group after Russia took Crimea. Since then Russia had developed a close strategic partnership with China. But the reports are that Russia has shown interest in joining the group.

G7 invitees

G7 is a group of seven developed economies – US, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada. The group members hold annual presidency and they meet once every year. This year, the G7 group is expected to meet in September.

The group president can invite head of the states to discuss global issues. Last year, India joined the group at the invitation of French President Emanuel Macron. This year, US President Trump wants India and three other countries to attend the G7 meet.

Source: https://bit.ly/304H0XZ

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International News & Politics

US Worried Over Increased Chinese Presence On LAC Said Mike Pompeo

HT News

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned India-China stand off while attacking China in Marc Thiessen and Danielle Pletka of AEI’s ”What The Hell Is Going On” Podcast.

China increasing forces along LAC

Mike Pompeo said that China had moved its forces up to north of India along Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh and Sikkim. He said that both the armies building up their strength was a clear indication of escalating tension. He further said that the hardening of positions continued even two separate face-offs between India and China.

China hiding truth in coronavirus pandemic

Pompeo alleged that the Communist Party of China (CPC) continued to hide and delay the response on coronavirus pandemic that began in Wuhan in China. Also, he alleged that the CPC robbed the Chinese people in China and Hong Kongers in Hong Kong of their freedom. He said that the authoritarian regime in China had an impact on the people around the world.

Mike Pompeo said that the above mentioned two incidents reveal the true nature of the Communist Party of China. He alleged that China continued to steal intellectual property and advancing in the South China Sea.

US can stop China

Pompeo said that the US had the responsibility and capability to safeguard the interests of its citizens from China. He said that China had developed its military capabilities only to threaten its neighbours. And that the US had responded to China in the real way for the past two decades.

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International News & Politics

Xi Jinping Prepares China For The Worst-Case Scenario

HT News

China has stepped up its battle preparedness amid a face-off with Indian soldiers along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Chinese Premier Xi Jinping ordered the military to be ready for the worst-case scenario without mentioning any specific threat to the country.

Chinese preparedness for battle

Recently China increased its defense budget by 6.6% to $179 billion. It is the second larges military spender after the US and its defense budget is nearly three-times that of India. But the recent increase in the defense budget is the lowest in recent years.

Power to Xi Jinping

The 66-year old leader is the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC). Also, he has prospects of lifelong tenure in power. As head of two-million-strong military, he called a meeting of all country’s top military and police officials during the current parliament session in Beijing to update them about the present situation.

Battling the US

The US has increased its patrolling in the disputed South China Sea as well as the Taiwan Straits. Also, the US has alleged China of spreading coronavirus pandemic to the world. And this war of words has grown bitter in the last couple of days.

Battling India

There have been two face-offs between Chinese and India soldiers. Also, both the countries have strengthened their border presence along the LAC. And the standoff seems to be worsening day-by-day. China is facing India in Sikkim and Ladakh. But India has denied escalation of tension.

Source: https://bit.ly/2X7c7jC

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National News & Politics

China-India Border Tension Reaches Next Level

HT News

India and China have escalated their surveillance along LAC (line of actual control) but it isn’t the regular patrolling as both the sides are busy building troops on the LAC. Military experts say that it is a bigger crisis than Doklam in 2017.

Face-off between Indian and Chinese troops

India has increased its military strength in Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley after the China deployed around 2,000 to 2,500 troops in these contentious areas. And the Chinese army is gradually building temporary infrastructure to support its military. But the strength of the Indian army is much better in comparison to the Chinese side.

India is more concerned about the key points where China is deploying more troops. Their presence in Indian Post KM120 along the Darbuk-Shayok-Daulat Beg Oldie road in Galwan Valley is cause of tension for the Indian army.

Chinese army strengthening its positions

They have erected around 100 tents in the Galwan Valley and they are bringing heavy equipment for construction of bunkers in the area. And it happened in last two weeks. On the Indian side, the army has resorted to “aggressive patrolling” to areas including Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldi.

Recent skirmishes

On May 5, both the armies involved into a violent face-off in eastern Ladakh and it spilled over the next day until local commanders decided to hold a meeting to disengage the troops. The Chinese army hit the Indian soldiers with iron rods, sticks and they even resorted to stone pelting in Pangong Tso lake area.

Source: https://bit.ly/2LWlJaF

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Media & Entertainment

Watch The Best TV Series In March On Amazon Prime Video

HT News

In India, Amazon Prime is the most popular online content streaming service. It has added more features in March, and it costs only Rs. 999 per year. What is more amazing is that it allows viewing content in HD or 4K without any additional charge.

If you haven’t subscribed to Amazon Prime, then you should do it now and enjoy the following TV shows….

4 Blocks (2017-Present)

It is a German language crime-drama set in the Berlin borough of Neukolin. A Lebanese drug cartel wants to exit the violent life for the sake of his wife and daughter. But he was pulled in the mud by a police operation.

The Adventures of Tintin (1991-1992)

Co-produced by Belgium, Canada and France, it is the cartoonist adaptation of the most famous work of cartoonist Georges Prosper Remi. Spread over 39 half-hour episodes, the show delivers amazing adventures.

The Affair (2014-Present)

A schoolteacher and a budding novelist enter an extramarital relationship with a young waitress. The story is about how they try piecing her together her life.

The Big Bang Theory (2007-2009)

This story is both loved and hated by viewers. It is about the lives of two physicists with an aspiring actress neighbour and a few geeky friends that include an aerospace engineer and an astrophysicist.

Bosch (2014-Present)

Inspired from the novels of Michael Connelly, it is the story of a Lost Angeles Police detective and a Gulf War and Afghanistan veteran Hieronymus “Harry Bosch”. He solves inscrutable cases.

Source: https://bit.ly/3by5gnD

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Viral

West Bengal Reporting First COVID-19 Case Takes Total Tally To 142

HT News

After 142 coronavirus cases and 3 deaths, the government has stopped people coming from infected nations including European Union, Malaysia, Philippines and Afghanistan. Also, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has started exploring possibility of testing people with no travel history. ICMR is also considering including private laboratories for mass testing.

Highlights of the story

• West Bengal got its first COVID-19 case when a man arrived from England was tested positive in Kolkata airport. He was immediately admitted to infectious diseases hospital.

• Maharashtra with 39 COVID-19 cases is still the worst hit state in India.

• The man who died in Mumbai recently came from Dubai on March 5. He was admitted to a private hospital for respiratory problems but test positive for coronavirus. His wife is also infected with virus but she is stable.

• In Noida, two more people are tested positive for coronavirus. In Ladakh, three more coronavirus patients took the toll to 6.

• Presently people with a travel history to infected countries are tested for COVID-19 due to limited testing facility. But there is a loud cry to test everyone with coronavirus symptoms. South Korea showed by aggressive testing can help control COVID-19.

• ICMR director told that they weren’t averse to private labs testing COVID-19 and that they were making safety rules to allow private labs in mass testing.

• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi warned of economic devastation in the next six months due to coronavirus.

• Kerala government launched a mass hand washing campaign named “break the chain”.

• The World Health Organization appreciated India’s response and commitment to control COVID-19.

Source: https://bit.ly/3d7i6e9

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Business

SBI Cards IPO Allotment And Refund To Be Done On March 13 And March 12 Respectively

HT News

The SBI Cards and Payments Services IPO will soon start allotment of shares to applicants. According to the prospect filed by the company, the successful applicants will receive their shares in the demat accounts by March 13.

The refund process will start soon

The company will start allotting shares on 13 March and at the same time, it will initiate the refund process for the investors that won’t get shares. The refund process will start on 12 March.

The IPO was hugely popular

SBI invited bids for its IPO between March 2 and 5 and it received a huge response from the investors. Its share was subscribed 26.54 times. State Bank of India (SBI) is the largest lender of the country and its credit arm aims to raise around Rs. 10,350 crore through the IPO.

The investors are closely watching the IPO that is expected to get listed on March 16. The bidders can visit the portal link Intime India to check the subscription status. They will need using their Permanent Account Numbers (PAN) or application number of client ID to check the status of their subscription.

Source: https://bit.ly/2wS1Ixo

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Cricket Sports

ICC World Test Championship: India Lost Its First Match By 10 Wickets

HT News

India lost the first Test of the two-match series with New Zealand on Monday. It was the first match of the ICC World Test Championship. It is the first in the series and 100th Test victory for the Kiwis.

Highlights of India v/s New Zealand First Test Match

• New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and put India to bat first in overcast conditions.

• On the first day, India lost five wickets before rain washed out the final session.

• Ajinkya Rahane scored highest 46 runs from India in the first inning.

• In bowling, Kyle Jamieson and Southee picked up four wickets each and Trent Boult got one.

• New Zealand batting score was 225 for seven wickets but the last three wickets added 123 runs and gave Kiwis a lead of 183 runs.

• Kane Williamsons cored highest 89 runs for New Zealand.

• India started poor in the second innings when Prithvi Shaw handed an easy catch to Tom Latham at short square-leg.

• Indian captain Virat Kohli gave his worst performance as he could manage only a total of 21 runs in the match.

• From India side, Cheteshwar Pujara faced 81 deliveries but became victim of a judgemental error when he left a length delivery from Boult on Day 3 and lost his stump.

• It was the first time that India lost a match in ICC World Test Championship.

• Tim Southeeclaimed his 10th five-wicket haul in the Test Match. He removed JaspritBumrah for a duck.

• The second match of the series will be played at Christchurch on Saturday.

Source: https://bit.ly/3c39hSe

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International News & Politics

Why Is Trump Excited About Visiting India?

HT News

US President Donald Trump said that he was willing to sign a trade pact with India during his visit to New Delhi on February 24 and 25. He is coming on the invitation of Narendra Modi and Modi assured that Trump’s visit would be a very special one in establishing the Indo-US friendship.

Indo-US trade deal

India is demanding certain benefits like exemption from high duties, resumption of export benefits and greater market access for its domestic products. The US also wants greater access for its products and cut on import duties. It also raised concerns over high trade deficit with India. It was $16.9 billion in 2018-19.

PM Modi tweeted for Trump

Modi said that India and US shared a common commitment to democracy and pluralism. The further said that a robust friendship between India and US isn’t good only for the citizens of both countries but for the world.

Past meetings of Modi and Trump

Modi and Trump have developed a personal rapport over the three years. In 2019, they met a record four times and it includes the historic joint summit before a strong 50k audience of Indian-Americans in Houston.

https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1227479519285645314

This year, the two leaders have spoken over phone on two occasions and now Donald Trump is traveling to India on Modi’s invitation. Trump is already excited about meeting hundreds and thousands of Indians in Ahmedabad.

Ahmedabad cricket stadium

Built at a cost of $100 million, the Moetara Stadium in Ahmedabad is the largest cricket stadium in the world. It can seat 1,10,000 audiences that is much bigger than the seating capacity of Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia that can … Read the rest