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  • Iran’s newly elected parliament convenes despite pandemic

    They also chose a temporary speaker, based on age seniority.

    PTI

    Iran convened its newly elected parliament on Wednesday, dominated by conservative lawmakers and under strict social distancing regulations, as the country struggles to curb the spread of the coronavirus that has hit the nation hard.

    Iran is grappling with one of the deadliest outbreaks in the Middle East, with more than 7,500 fatalities out of over 139,500 confirmed cases. Turkey has the region’s largest outbreak, with 156,800 confirmed cases and more than 4,300 deaths.

    Iranian state TV said all 268 lawmakers who were in attendance on Wednesday have tested negative for the virus. The lawmakers were sworn in after many of them arrived for the opening ceremony wearing face masks and observing social distancing regulations. Temperatures were taken before they entered the parliament building.

    They also chose a temporary speaker, based on age seniority, and were to listen to a message from the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a speech by President Hassan Rouhani. A permanent parliament speaker will be chosen next week, for a one-year term.

    Because of the pandemic, a traditional visit by the newly elected lawmakers to the shrine of the founder of Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, was postponed.

    After keeping shrines, which are typically frequented by scores of visitors, open in the beginning of the outbreak, Iran later imposed lockdown measures, barring visitors from going inside the shrines.

    Iran’s newly elected house is dominated by 220 conservative lawmakers, including more than 50 who are close allies of former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. There are 38 independent lawmakers and 18 pro-reform and moderates, down from 136 in the previous parliament.

    In the February election, 278 parliament seats of the total of 290 seats were decided. Two elected lawmakers later died, including one from COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. Eight newly elected lawmakers were absent from Wednesday’s session; no explanation was given.

    The remaining 14 seats are to be decided in a by-election in 2021. More than 160 of the current lawmakers have had no previous parliamentary experience. There are 16 women lawmakers, one less than in the previous house.

    Iran’s parliament does not have the power to dictate major policies, but it does debate the annual budget and the possible impeachment of ministers. Power in Iran ultimately rests with Khamenei, who has final say on all key matters.

    For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

  • India should pull out forces from Kalapani: Nepalese Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali

    ‘We had pressed India for a meeting between the Foreign Secretaries. But that did not happen’

    India should withdraw security forces from the Kalapani region and restore status quo, Nepalese Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Wednesday.

    He said a solution to the border dispute should be found urgently, even as Indian sources confirmed that they were closely monitoring the debates in Nepal’s Parliament to provide a constitutional guarantee to the new map that shows the disputed region as part of Nepal’s sovereign territory.

    “We want India to honour the letter and spirit of the [Sugauli] Treaty. The most appropriate way of doing this would be to withdraw security forces from Kalapani and hand over the above territories back to Nepal. We merely reiterated that unilateral acts like road construction in Nepal’s territory should not have been done, and the issue should be resolved through talks at the earliest,” Mr. Gyawali said in an interview.

    Mr. Gyawali said Nepal appreciated the ties it shares with India but was disappointed with the November 2019 political map of India that brought the issue back to the table. “The map is a breach of the 1997 understanding that both sides had reached during the Kathmandu visit of Prime Minister I.K. Gujral,” he said.

    The comments from the senior Minister of the government of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli came as the Nepalese government gave more time to the main Opposition Nepali Congress to discuss a proposed amendment to the Constitution. The move is being interpreted as a window of opportunity for diplomacy. However, Mr. Gyawali said the amendment was on track and expected to be fast-tracked in the coming days.

    India has taken note of the parliamentary debates, with informed sources saying the South Block is “carefully following” the developments in Nepal. South Block’s concerns about the Kalapani region is of particular significance as the Lipulekh pass in the region connects India with Tibet.

    “Border issues are sensitive and require trust and confidence to be resolved to the mutual satisfaction,” said a source, indicating a change in thinking. Earlier, officials had said India would consider discussion on the Kalapani issue after the COVID-19 pandemic was dealt with.

    Text of the interview:

    Do you think Nepal can still negotiate flexibly after the new map is given constitutional guarantee?

    The Constitution is the fundamental law of the land. The Constitution has to recognise the country’s salient features, including territory. Every country’s Constitution stipulates the provision pertaining to territory in one way or the other. The measures we have taken lately in assertion of our sovereign territory does not at all preclude settlement of boundary matters through talks.

    Did India deny high-level appointments to the Nepal Ambassador in Delhi?

    Nepal’s effort has always been for early holding of the dialogue. Even before the COVID-19 crisis started, we pursued with the Indian side for fixing the dates of the meeting of the Foreign Secretary-level mechanism that was mandated by the Prime Ministers of the two countries to work on the outstanding boundary issues. That did not happen, as there was no confirmation from the Indian side. On your question about our Ambassador’s meeting with the officials in Delhi, the situation is not like the way it is presented in some media.

    Nepal’s position is based on the Sugauli Treaty. Do you think an agreement between Nepal’s rulers of the early 19th century and a commercial entity like the East India Company can be considered the cornerstone of diplomatic disputes in the 21st century?

    Historical documents should not be seen in that way. In fact, the Sugauli Treaty was a product that came up after Nepal lost wars with the British India. It is not at all a matter of pride for Nepalis to recall the Treaty, as Nepal lost nearly one-third of its territory. Nonetheless, the fact cannot be denied that the same treaty defined the boundary between the two countries in the area we are talking about. It is also pertinent to mention here that modern boundary mapping by the joint survey teams of the two countries started in 1981 and through that nearly 25-years-long joint exercise, the survey teams were able to jointly prepare maps of most of the international boundary alignment between the two countries. On what basis did the survey teams do that exercise? Of course, on the basis of historical treaties and maps and documents, geographical attributes and other agreeable basis of international boundary delineation. Again, except the Sugauli Treaty and its subsequent agreements, including that of 1860, no other treaty between Nepal and India define our boundary. Where will we reach then discarding this historical document? As regards the status of the territories in question, these are Nepali territories as per the Sugauli Treaty and we have evidence to prove that.

    Chinese forces have moved in Ladakh along India’s Himalayan borders to assert its dominance. Is it all coincidental that the Kalapani dispute erupted more or less simultaneously?

    Nepal pursues an independent foreign policy and the policy of close and friendly relations with both of our neighbours. It is totally baseless, therefore, to link our independent decisions with developments elsewhere. Why is it ignored that when India published its new political map in November 2019, we firmly opposed and made public our views against the unilateral act and insisted again that the dispute be resolved through talks? And this time, when there was an announcement on the unilateral act of road construction, we were bound to raise our point. Therefore, the tendency of ignoring how the issue evolved and weaving, instead, a baseless narrative that Nepal is acting at the other’s behest is not helpful and may distract us from a more constructive approach of tackling the issue. We are doing a disservice to our relations by such a negative insinuation and by ignoring and brushing aside the real issue, which is early working for agreeable boundary alignment in the Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura region.

    Can a swap between Susta and Kalapani be an acceptable solution to Nepal?

    I know people are most interested in this question; the question of how this contesting claims on territory can be settled. Only the outcome of talks would determine the nature and content of the future agreement. It is apparent that resolution may not be easy, but there is no other way than settle it respecting the historical facts and evidence. In Nepal and India, everyone with the knowledge of history and geography knows Kalapani, together with Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura, belongs to Nepal. We cannot deny this fact. What we are asking for is early convening of bilateral talks to resolve this issue in keeping with traditionally warm and cordial ties that exist between our two close neighbours.

    What is the status of the Susta dispute. Can you please state the latest negotiating position of Nepal on this issue?

    It is well known that Susta is one of the two spots where the boundary alignment between the two countries remains to be agreed. In the rest of the 1,800-odd-km Nepal-India international boundary, as I already stated, a joint survey has been done, agreed maps have been prepared and initialled at the level of survey chiefs of the two countries. In Susta, as in Kalapani, the understanding between the two countries is to maintain the status quo until an agreement on boundary alignment is reached.

    The strong protest from Nepal after India inaugurated the Lipulekh link road has surprised many observers.

    There is no element of surprise in our statement. As you are aware, the territories east of Kali River, including Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura, belong to Nepal as per Article (V) of the Sugauli Treaty. We want India to honour the letter and spirit of the treaty. You may recall that Nepal had opposed when India published a new political map in November 2019 and urged the government of India to rectify the map. The most appropriate way of doing this would be to withdraw security forces from Kalapani and hand over the above territories back to Nepal. We merely reiterated that unilateral acts like road construction in Nepal’s territory should not have been done and the issue should be resolved through talks at the earliest.

    Nepal and China signed almost 20 agreements last October. A cargo agreement has been operationalised on Monday. What are Nepal’s long-term connectivity plans through China?

    As stipulated in the Trans-Himalayan Multidimensional Connectivity Network, our connectivity agenda with China encompasses transport infrastructure, transit arrangements and transmission infrastructure, among others. With India, we already have a vast network of connectivity that includes road connection which is being further upgraded; railway connection under progress; integrated checkposts; transit arrangements and port facilities, transmission interconnection and lately, the planned waterways. The agenda of a transit treaty review is on in order to make transit arrangement more streamlined. The Railway Service Agreement is also being reviewed to further expand its scope. So, Nepal looks to both its neighbours when it comes to connectivity.

    Nepal’s Defence Minister Ishwor Pokhrel has drawn the Gurkhas of the Indian Army into the controversy saying the Indian CoAS’ comments are an insult to the Nepali Gurkha soldiers working in the Indian Army.

    He may simply have been referring to a feature of arrangements that a number of Nepali nationals have been serving in the Indian Army and have made sacrifices for India’s peace and well-being, thereby emphasising that India should be sensitive to Nepal’s concerns.

    PM Oli’s comments on Indian symbols like the Ashokan lions were unexpected. Can you provide some context to these expressions?

    A bit of clarity is needed here. In fact, the Prime Minister in his statement was elevating the dignity of India’s national emblem by underlining the sanctity of Satyameva Jayate. He was simply saying: let the truth prevail, not our ego and arrogance. One pertinent point I would like to mention here is that with a view to making Nepal-India relations reflective of the 21st century needs, we established the Eminent Persons Group on Nepal-India Relations (EPG-NIR). After a detailed study, deliberations and consultations for over two years, the EPG-NIR has come out with a consensus report. It is waiting for the submission of the report to the two governments. I believe that the implementation of their recommendations will help address some of the difficult issues left by history and enrich the substance of our relationship consistent with the present day realities.

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Amid India-China border standoff, Army Commanders Conference begins

    The sessions by the Northern and Eastern Commands would be of particular interest as they cover the border with China.

    The continuing tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are likely to top the agenda as the biannual Army Commanders Conference (ACC) began on Wednesday, with discussions led by the Army chief and the seven commanders, with a specific session devoted to each command over three days.

    The sessions by the Northern and Eastern Commands would be of particular interest as they cover the border with China. The ACC was originally scheduled for April, but was postponed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, and is now scheduled to be held in two phases.

    The first phase will be held till May 29 and the second in the last week of June, the Army said.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reviewed the situation with the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff and the service chiefs. 

    Several military officers say the issue has to be resolved at the diplomatic and political level as the two Armies are entrenched on the ground and the talks between the local commanders haven’t made any headway.

    “The Army has matched Chinese ingress on the ground and we are prepared to sit there longer, if needed. It is now for diplomacy and political leadership to reach an understanding to sort out the issue,” one officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity. 

    Sources say deliberations are going on daily between the local commanders at different levels up to the rank of Major-General, but there has been no breakthrough. Given this, several officers say it is for diplomacy to work. The extent of the standoff across eastern Ladakh is unlike in the past, so it has to be taken up at the highest level, according to another officer.

    Separately, in the first comments by a senior Minister, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways and former Army chief Gen. V.K. Singh said China was trying to change the LAC to suit its claims.

    Gen. Singh said there was no need to be worried about the situation, because “at present China is in the dock with the whole world, and it is trying to deflect attention from these problems”. “So these tensions it is creating at the LAC are a part of that effort by China. The Army is handling the situation on the ground and the government is in discussions about it and PM [Narendra] Modi will guide us in the right direction,” he said.

    He added that the current situation would not affect road construction on the border, India’s troop deployment or anything else. “Everything has to be dealt with in a very normal and graduated manner.”

    With inputs from The Hindu

  • Govt Extends High-Speed Internet Ban Till June 17

    Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Government on Wednesday extended ban on 4G internet in Jammu and Kashmir till June 17, claiming that the reports received by it suggest spurt in infiltration by militants during the coming weeks.

    “The reports suggest rise in the infiltration of (militant) during the coming weeks due to the onset of summer and melting of snow, which gets facilitated through use of Voice on Internet Protocol (VOIP) and encrypted mobile communication, being used by the operatives/anti-national elements to communicate with their handlers from across the border,” Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary Home Department said and ordered the continuation of ban on high-speed internet till June 17.

    He said that the order has been passed by him on consideration of the overall security scenario and the reports of the law enforcement agencies inter-alia bringing out the necessity of speed-related restrictions on mobile data services to prevent misuse of the internet.

    “I, Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department, being satisfied that, it is absolutely necessary to do so in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the Security of the State and for maintaining public order, hereby order that the directions/restrictions shall continue to remain in force till 17th June, 2020, unless modified earlier,” he said in the order, a copy of which lies with GNS.

    “The (IGsP), Kashmir/Jammu shall ensure communication of these directions to the service providers with immediate effect and ensure their implementation in letter and spirit,” he added.

    He said from May 12 till date, the mobile internet services and even mobile cellular services (voice and SMS) had to be suspended, although for limited periods of time and in specific areas, in view of a number of encounters and militant incidents including Nawakadal, a highly populated residential area of downtown Srinagar, where restrictions had to be imposed for three days due to likelihood of “misuse of the data services by the anti-national elements for mobilizing the crowds and creating law and order situation.”

    “There have also been multiple instances of (militant) acts including attacks on security forces -leading to even death of the SF personnel, and attempts to encourage (militancy) through uploading and circulation of provocative videos and false propaganda -largely relying on internet connectivity, to disturb the public order,” he added. (GNS)

  • Truecaller data of 4.75 cr Indian users leaked on dark web: Report

    Truecaller data of 4.75 crore Indian users have been put on sale on the dark web for around ₹75,000, online intelligence firm Cyble reported. Truecaller however denied the report saying that there’s no breach on its database.

    The Truecaller data is from 2019 and the information available on the dark web has been categorised based on states, cities and carriers, Cyble said in a blog post. User information available includes phone number, carrier, name, gender, email address, Facebook ID and more.

    Cyble has also published the leaked details on its blog post. The security firm also suggested that this information trove will lead to scams, spams, and identity thefts.

    Truecaller on the other hand refutes the report and says that there’s no data breach as claimed by Cyble.

    “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. There has been no breach of our database and all our user information is secure. We take the privacy of our users and the integrity of our services extremely seriously and we are continuously monitoring for suspicious activities. We were informed about a similar sale of data in May 2019. What they have here is likely the same dataset as before. It’s easy for bad actors to compile multiple phone number databases and put a Truecaller stamp on it. By doing that, it lends some credibility to the data and makes it easier for them to sell. We urge the public and users not to fall prey to such bad actors whose primary motive is to swindle the people of their money,” a Truecaller spokesperson said in a statement.

    Truecaller also pointed out that it does not upload a user’s phone book which is a common misconception. Its database is however populated daily by users themselves who mark numbers as spam, correct names and contribute names as well. Cyble is yet to respond to this statement.

    Source: HT Tech

  • Afridi Feels Harbhajan & Yuvraj Are ‘Majboor’ to React Against Him

    IANS

    Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has once again come out with an outrageous claim, stating that people in India are being oppressed.

    Recently, Afridi had to face the wrath of many former Indian cricketers like Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh and Gautam Gambhir for his anti-India remarks. But that hasn’t stopped him.

    “I’ll remain thankful towards Harbhajan & Yuvraj for supporting my foundation. The real problem is that this is their compulsion. They live in that country. ‘Wo majboor hain.’ They know that people are being oppressed in their country. I won’t say anything further,” Afridi said on Pakistan channel Hum News.

    During his recent visit to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), Afridi had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of committing religious atrocities in India. Following this Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan, Yuvraj, Suresh Raina and Gambhir slammed the former all-rounder.

    It came as a huge shock for Harbhajan and Yuvraj because the duo had gone out of their way to support Afridi’s foundation to help the poor and needy in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

    “This is very upsetting what Shahid Afridi has come up with, talking ill about our country and our Prime Minister. This is just not acceptable,” Harbhajan told Sports Tak.

    “To be honest, he (Afridi) asked us to make an appeal for his charity. In good faith, we did it for humanity and for the people suffering due to the coronavirus. But this man is talking ill about our country. All I have to say is we have nothing to do with Shahid Afridi. He has no right to speak ill against our country and he should stay in his country and limits.”

    Yuvraj tweeted: “Really disappointed by @SAfridiOfficial’s comments on our Hon’b PM @narendramodi ji. As a responsible Indian who has played for the country, I will never accept such words. I made an appeal on your behest for the sake of humanity. But never again.”

    However, this is not the first time that Afridi has made anti-India comments. Last year, he had visited the Line of Control (LoC) to “express solidarity with our Kashmiri brethren” following the Indian government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. He had even called for intervention by the UN and the US regarding the same.

  • J&K Reports 162 Fresh Cases, Biggest day spike pushes tally Past 1900-Mark

    Srinagar: In the biggest day spike ever in novel coronavirus cases, Jammu and Kashmir reported 162 COVID-19 infections on Wednesday, taking the overall tally of the patients to 1921.

    Sources told GNS that among the 73 cases were confirmed at microbiology laboratory of CD hospital here, 39 in SKIMS Soura while 38 in Jammu. Remaining cases are from private laboratories, they said. They said there could be repeated cases and would be divulged shortly.

    Among the cases they said Anantnag reported 4 cases, Kupwara 26, Kulgam 27, Bandipora 2, Baramulla 10, Budgam 2, Shopian 12 and Pulwama 21. In Jammu division, they said, Reasi reported three cases, Kathua 3, Samba 3, Ramban 1, Udhampur 11, Jammu 4, Poonch 11 and Rajouri 2. The remain cases are from private labs. (GNS)

  • To be a poor is a curse but to be from red-zone is stigma; Pregnant woman forced to visit 5 hospitals in a day

    Anantnag: On the lame excuse of hailing from a Red Zone, a woman suffering from labour pain was shifted from one hospital to another whole day. The pregnant woman and her family faced lot of inconvenience and agony visiting 5 five hospitals at a stretch.

    All this was done to this pregnant lady in the garb of Covid-19 pandemic and when one minutely observes the chain of events, MCH Anantnag is to blame.

    Sheeraza Jan wife of Muhammad Amin Sheikh, a resident of Kandagund Shangus area of Anantnag was tested positive for Covid-19 on 3 May this month. Accordingly, she was quarantined at PHC Akura Mattan. On May 14, she was declared negative and after her repeated tests on 14 and 18 of the current month, the lady was discharged and a Covid-19 negative certificate was handed over to her.

    The family members told news agency KNT that sheerazh Jan developed labour pain on 26 May and was taken to PHC Shangus. “From 10AM to 2PM she was kept there and then without any treatment referred to MCH Anantnag.”

    At MCH Anantnag doctors refused to attend her saying she hails from a Red Zone. “We produced Covid free certificate as well and yet doctors didn’t attend her. They, however, provided an ambulance to us and asked to get the lady admitted at Sub-District Hospital Bijbehara.”

    “We were shocked and dumbfound when instead of dropping us at SDH Bijbehara, the ambulance driver forcibly got us down near Trauma Hospital Bijbehara-one kilometer away from SDH Bijbehara. Sheeraza was writhing with pain outside on road. This Trauma Hospital is Covid-19 designated hospital and here some doctors advised us to go to SDH Bijbehara. We sought a lift from a kind person who dropped us at SDH Bijbehara. As blood pressure of Sheeraza augmented, the doctors shifted her to LD Hospital Srinagar.”

    The family members said that they arrived at LD Hospital at around 9pm of Tuesday evening where Sheeraza gave birth to a baby boy. “It was a normal delivery. How can i make these ‘inhuman’ doctors posted in different hospitals of Anantnag understand that we suffered like Hell whole day, moving from one hospital to another. Everywhere, we were humiliated and insulted for hailing from a red-zone,” Muhammad Amin, the husband of the woman said.

    “Nobody can imagine our suffering. We went through a strange situation and yesterday, I realized that to be a poor is a curse,” he said and thanked doctors from LD for their benign behavior.

    MCH Anantnag has not a good record when it comes to take care of pregnancy related cases. This hospital is habitual of unnecessary referrals and even those patients are being shifted on immediate basis who are Covid-19 negative.

    Medical Superintendent SDH Bijbehara, Dr Showkat Ahmed Parray told KNT that it is sheer negligence on part of MHC Anantnag. He said he has already made higher ups aware about it. (KNT)

  • Kashmir construction sparks China-India border standoff

    Indian observers say thousands of troops from both sides face each other in Galwan Valley following controversial Indian construction in high-altitude Ladakh area of India-administered Kashmir, scene of a brief but bloody war in 1962 that India lost.

    A Himalayan border standoff between old foes China and India was triggered by India’s construction of roads and air strips in disputed Kashmir as it competes with China’s spreading Belt and Road initiative, Indian observers said on Tuesday.

    Soldiers from both sides have been camped out in the Galwan Valley in the high-altitude Ladakh region of India-administered Kashmir, accusing each other of trespassing over the disputed frontier, the trigger of a brief but bloody war in 1962 that India lost.

    About 80 to 100 tents have sprung up on the Chinese side and about 60 on the Indian side where soldiers are billeted, Indian officials briefed on the matter in New Delhi and in Ladakh’s capital, Leh, said.

    Both were digging defences and Chinese trucks have been moving equipment into the area, the officials said, raising concerns of a long faceoff.

    Flare-up

    “China is committed to safeguarding the security of its national territorial sovereignty, as well as safeguarding peace and stability in the China-India border areas,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s office said in a statement.

    “At present, the overall situation in the border areas is stable and controllable. There are sound mechanisms and channels of communication for border-related affairs, and the two sides are capable of properly resolving relevant issues through dialogue and consultation.”

    There was no immediate Indian foreign ministry comment. 

    It said last week Chinese troops had hindered regular Indian patrols along the de facto border Line of Actual Control (LAC).

    But interviews with former Indian military officials and diplomats suggest the trigger for the flare-up is India’s construction of roads and air strips.

    “Today, with our infrastructure reach slowly extending into areas along the LAC, the Chinese threat perception is raised,” said former Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao.

    “Xi Jinping’s China is the proponent of a hard line on all matters of territory, sovereignty. India is no less when it comes to these matters either,” she said.

    “Currently, government sources assess there are close to 10,000 soldiers of China on Indian territory. Dialogue is frozen, with the Chinese rebuffing Indian calls for flag meetings to resolve the situation,” former Indian military officer and defence expert Ajai Shukla wrote in Business Standard.

    https://twitter.com/ashoswai/status/1264331293707374592?s=20

    Controversial construction 

    After years of neglect Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has pushed for improving connectivity and by 2022, 66 key roads along the Chinese border will have been built.

    One of these roads is near the Galwan valley that connects to Daulat Beg Oldi air base, which was inaugurated last October.

    “The road is very important because it runs parallel to the LAC and is linked at various points with the major supply bases inland,” said Shyam Saran, another former Indian foreign secretary.

    “It remains within our side of the LAC. It is construction along this new alignment which appears to have been challenged by the Chinese.”

    China’s Belt and Road is a string of ports, railways, roads and bridges connecting China to Europe via central and southern Asia and involving Pakistan, China’s close ally and India’s long-time foe.

    Dispute over Kashmir

    India and China engaged in a diplomatic war of words over disputed Kashmir last year when New Delhi unilaterally revoked the disputed region’s limited autonomy and split it into two federal territories – Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir – in a bid to annex both regions. 

    That move was slammed by Pakistan, which administers a portion of Kashmir and claims the whole of Kashmir. It doesn’t claim a silver of the region, called Aksai Chin, that China controls since defeating India in 1962 war. 

    Islamabad’s ally China, which is locked in a decades-old dispute with India over the part of Kashmir called Ladakh, also slammed India for unilaterally changing the region’s status, saying “this is not effective in any way and will not change the fact that the area is under China’s actual control”.

    Source: TRTWorld and agencies

    (This story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

  • Trump urges end to lockdowns as US COVID-19 deaths near 100,000

    Trump, paying increasingly closer attention to his re-election chances, and his backers say the worst is behind the US.

    Even as the United States approached the grim milestone of 100,000 COVID-19 deaths, President Donald Trump is continuing to pressurise state governors to reopen their economies and allow the “transition to greatness” he has adopted as a new campaign slogan to proceed full speed ahead.

    Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, Trump bragged about early gains in the US stock market indices and insisted that, “There will be ups and downs, but next year will be one of the best ever!”

    Trump’s upbeat assessment of the situation facing the US comes after a long Memorial Day holiday weekend that saw Americans in several spots casting aside their fears of the coronavirus and marking the traditional beginning of summer as they would any other year – by packing onto beaches, gathering in back yard barbecues and cramming into crowded swimming pools.

    Officials in all 50 states have already relaxed earlier restrictions to some extent. Even in California, with some of the most stringent coronavirus containment rules in the country, public health officials announced on Monday that retail with in-store shopping and places of worship may now open.

    In New York City, the iconic trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) opened for the first time in two months on Tuesday, but with new restrictions. The NYSE says fewer traders will be on the floor at a given time in order to support six feet physical distancing requirements, and those who are on the floor will be required to wear masks.

    Data from Johns Hopkins University show that the US remains the country with the most coronavirus cases, with more than 1.6 million COVID-19 cases and 98,228 deaths as of Tuesday morning. The number of new cases is declining in 10 US states and remains steady in 22, according to the data, but continues to increase in 18 others – including Georgia, Arkansas, California and Alabama.

    Global health officials warned on Tuesday that the world is still in the very middle of the outbreak, dampening hopes for a speedy global economic rebound and renewed international travel.

    “Right now, we’re not in the second wave. We’re right in the middle of the first wave globally,” said Dr Mike Ryan, the World Health Organization’s executive director.

    “We’re still very much in a phase where the disease is actually on the way up,” Ryan said, pointing to South America, South Asia and other parts of the world.

    But Trump, paying increasingly closer attention towards his chances of being re-elected in November, and his surrogates continue to insist that the worst is behind the US and that fears of the virus have been overblown. Speaking in his first televised interview since leaving the White House, former Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said the nation has overreacted to the pandemic “a little bit”.

    In an interview to CNBC on Monday, Mulvaney referenced the 2017-18 flu season in the US that led to the death of roughly 80,000 people.

    “Not to say that COVID is the ordinary flu, that’s not my point,” Mulvaney said. “But my point is that almost 100,000 people died two years ago from flu and the country didn’t shut down. It’s time to sort of deal with this in the proper perspective, and that’s to allow us to get back to work safely.”

    SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES