<p>Tsongmo, a well-known tourist spot in Sikkim, close to Nathula Pass&nbsp;has been hit by a major avalanche on Tuesday. According to&nbsp;PTI, seven&nbsp;people, including a child have&nbsp;died as a result of the natural disaster.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"By 3 PM, 14 persons were rescued and taken to nearby Army medical facility. However, seven persons succumbed. The other seven persons were administered first aid and returned to Gangtok," said the Army.</p>

<p>As per&nbsp;an Army statement, it is estimated that five to six vehicles and 20 to 30&nbsp;visitors who were travelling to Nathu La got stuck in the snow.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sikkim | 22 tourists rescued after avalanche strikes at 14th mile on Jawaharlal Nehru road connecting Gangtok with Nathula; rescue operation underway, says BRO.<br />
<br />
350 stranded tourists and 80 vehicles were rescued after snow clearance from the road. <a href="https://t.co/xJAnNR09Bv">pic.twitter.com/xJAnNR09Bv</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1643195395923931136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>At least 150 visitors were in the region when the avalanche occurred at 12:15 pm on the 15th Mile of the Jawaharlal Nehru Road between Gangtok and Nathu La.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted saying "all possible assistance is being provided to those affected" and that he was distressed by the tragedy.</p>

<p>"Distressed by the avalanche in Sikkim. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I hope the injured recover soon. Rescue ops are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to those affected," tweeted the Prime Minister.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Distressed by the avalanche in Sikkim. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I hope the injured recover soon. Rescue ops are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to those affected: PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a></p>
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1643237480265654272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The Nathu La Pass is a popular tourist site and is located on the border with China at a height of 4,310 metres (14,140 feet) above sea level.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Centre was closely monitoring the situation.</p>

<p>"My sincerest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in the tragic avalanche in Sikkim. We are closely monitoring the situation and the teams of NDRF will reach the affected area soon. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," he tweeted.</p>

<p><em><strong>Disclaimer:&nbsp;WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media.</strong></em></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In a tragic incident, at least 6 tourists died after massive avalanche hit road connecting Sikkim 's capital Gangtok with Nathulapass on China border.<br />
<br />
350 stranded tourists &amp; 80 vehicles were rescued after snow clearance from the road. Evacuation ongoing<a href="https://t.co/S6HOXUAVkI">pic.twitter.com/S6HOXUAVkI</a></p>
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeghUpdates/status/1643212339171438592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Videos taken from the scene showed the magnitude of the tragedy. The rescue effort and efforts to rescue those who are trapped were being carried out by dozens of personnel.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Tsongmo, a well-known tourist spot in Sikkim, close to Nathula Pass has been hit by a major avalanche on Tuesday. According to PTI, seven people, including a child have died as a result of the natural disaster.

Tsongmo, a well-known tourist spot in Sikkim, close to Nathula Pass has been hit by a major avalanche on Tuesday. According to PTI, seven people, including a child have died as a result of the natural disaster. "By 3 PM, 14 persons were rescued and taken to nearby Army medical facility. However, seven persons succumbed. The other seven persons were administered first aid and returned to Gangtok," said the Army. As per an Army statement, it is estimated that five to six vehicles and 20 to 30 visitors who were travelling to Nathu La got stuck in the snow. Sikkim | 22 tourists rescued after avalanche strikes at 14th mile on Jawaharlal Nehru road connecting Gangtok with Nathula; rescue operation underway, says BRO. 350 stranded tourists and 80 vehicles were rescued after snow clearance from the road. pic.twitter.com/xJAnNR09Bv — ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2023 × At least 150 visitors were in the region when the avalanche occurred at 12:15 pm on the 15th Mile of the Jawaharlal Nehru Road between Gangtok and Nathu La. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted saying "all possible assistance is being provided to those affected" and that he was distressed by the tragedy. "Distressed by the avalanche in Sikkim. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I hope the injured recover soon. Rescue ops are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to those affected," tweeted the Prime Minister. Distressed by the avalanche in Sikkim. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I hope the injured recover soon. Rescue ops are underway and all possible assistance is being provided to those affected: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 4, 2023 × The Nathu La Pass is a popular tourist site and is located on the border with China at a height of 4,310 metres (14,140 feet) above sea level. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the Centre was closely monitoring the situation. "My sincerest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in the tragic avalanche in Sikkim. We are closely monitoring the situation and the teams of NDRF will reach the affected area soon. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured," he tweeted. Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of photos and videos shared on social media. In a tragic incident, at least 6 tourists died after massive avalanche hit road connecting Sikkim 's capital Gangtok with Nathulapass on China border. 350 stranded tourists & 80 vehicles were rescued after snow clearance from the road. Evacuation ongoingpic.twitter.com/S6HOXUAVkI — Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) April 4, 2023 × Videos taken from the scene showed the magnitude of the tragedy. The rescue effort and efforts to rescue those who are trapped were being carried out by dozens of personnel. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Avalanche in India's Sikkim: Seven tourists including one child dead, several feared trapped

<p dir="ltr">Spaceplanes are highly sophisticated aerospace vehicles - while within the earth's atmosphere, they can glide and land on an airstrip like a plane and while in space, they can manoeuvre like a spacecraft. The most common spaceplanes are the 1980s-era American-origin Space Shuttle and the Soviet-origin Buran. But neither of these giant astronaut-ferrying spaceplanes are in operation. In 2023, only the US and China are known to operate autonomous and reusable spaceplanes. India could soon be the third entrant into this exclusive club, thanks to its indigenous spaceplane known as 'Reusable Launch Vehicle - Technology Demonstrator' (RLV-TD). This prototype has been developed by the Indian space agency ISRO and its testing is being carried out with the support of Indian Defence lab DRDO and the Indian Air Force.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">What a wow moment, a 20yr old dream becomes a reality for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/isro?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#isro</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/india?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#india</a> 🇮🇳🇮🇳🚀🚀🚀<br />
<br />
Here’s the RLV-TD <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#indian</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/space?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#space</a> plane autonomously coming in to land and touching down at speeds close to 350kmph… it was a flawless landing and the plane is in impeccable condition <a href="https://twitter.com/isro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isro</a> <a href="https://t.co/kuIDo2GqqP">pic.twitter.com/kuIDo2GqqP</a></p>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1642392331860213761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 2, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>America has been operating the 'Boeing X-37B' spaceplane for nearly a decade and the plane has proven its ability to remain in space for more than 900days, in a single trip. As per reports, China is widely regarded to operate its own spaceplane, but details are very sketchy. Given that spaceplanes have both civil and military applications, it is certain that no country would ever reveal the real intent and nature of operations being carried out by these autonomous aerospace vehicles.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>How do Spaceplanes reach Earth orbit and return ?</strong></h2>

<p dir="ltr">Spaceplanes are not standalone vehicles, they ride piggyback on a large rocket during their onward journey . It is the rocket which actually carries the spaceplane to an orbit around the earth. Once in earth orbit, the spaceplane is on its own. It performs its mission and then de-orbits(manoeuvres to re-enter the earth) and gets drawn by earth's gravitational pull and re-enters the earth's atmosphere, where it encounters temperatures close to 2000degrees Celsius. As the plane descends into the denser layers of the earth's atmosphere, it uses its control surfaces (rudder, aileron, elevator) to glide and make a runway landing.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 dir="ltr"><strong>How far has India come ? What is India's reusable vehicle like ?</strong></h2>

<p dir="ltr">On April 2,&nbsp;2023, the Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO) demonstrated the precise runway landing of an unmanned, fully autonomous, indigenous space plane. The space plane was dropped mid-air from an altitude of 4.5 kms, by an Indian Air Force 'Chinook' tandem-rotor helicopter. After being dropped, the space plane glided down and covered a distance of nearly 4.6kms, while performing autonomous navigation, guidance and control calculations. Finally, the plane manoeuvred deftly and landed precisely on a runway at a high-speeds of 350kmph. Top ISRO officials leading the project had told WION that the plane landed just as planned, perfectly along the runway centreline. The landing was so perfect that the spaceplane is said&nbsp;to be in impeccable condition, at the Aeronautical Test Range tarmac in Chitradurga, Karnataka.</p>

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-a00feaf4-7fff-7695-a152-df232b39ad50">I</b>n a first in the world, a winged body has been carried to an altitude of 4.5 kms by a helicopter and released for carrying out an autonomous landing on a runway. RLV is essentially a space plane with a low lift-to-drag-ratio requiring an approach at high glide angles that necessitated a landing at high velocities of 350 kmph" said the Indian Space agency, ISRO. The Indian spaceplane prototype weighs 1.6tons(similar to that of a SUV), and&nbsp;measures 6.5meters in length and 3.6meters in breadth. The idea for ISRO's spaceplane was born nearly two decades ago and development work has been going on for more than ten years. The recent unmanned landing is a validation of how far ISRO has come in mastering sophisticated autonomous technologies and the avionics, computing systems that make it possible.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Explaining the progress of 'RLV-TD' testing to WION, ISRO, VSSC Director, Dr&nbsp;S. Unnikrishnan Nair said that the same RLV-TD vehicle had earlier(in 2016) successfully been carried to 65kms altitude by a rocket. From there, the vehicle re-entered the denser parts of the atmospshere at Hypersonic speeds, almost five times the speed of sound (hypersonic speed or Mach5) and finally made a splashdown landing in the Bay of Bengal(simulated runway). However, the ocean landing was a preliminary step and the precise runway landing is a really sophisticated and technologically complex feat that takes forward the progress of making the spaceplane a reality, he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-348a7e35-7fff-cd81-da1e-a7a9eb2dddfe">What's next for 'RLV-TD' ?&nbsp;</b></h2>

<p dir="ltr">So far, the RLV has shown that it can be flown to the upper atmopshere on a rocket and can come back and make a precise, autonomous runway landing. What remains to be done is, for the RLV to reach space(on a rocket), orbit the earth, carry out experiments, de-orbit, re-enter the earth's atmopshere.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">ISRO Chairman, Dr&nbsp;S. Somanath said that the RLV-TD is a great opportunity for India to develop an 'ORV'(orbital landing experiment) and that this work was already progressing. 'ORV' is an experiment where the space plane is flown to space atop a rocket and then brought back to land on a runway, completely autonomously. "This RLV landing is taking us closer to developing a reusable rocket/landing craft for very specific mission goals" he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Dr&nbsp;Unnikrishnan Nair told WION that the present 'RLV-TD' vehicle was meant for demonstration purpose and the actual vehicle would be about 1.6times larger in size. The actual RLV plane is meant to be launched to space atop a modified-GSLV&nbsp;rocket, he said. It is envisioned that the spaceplane would be able to sustain in orbit for almost a month, he added.</p>

<p dir="ltr">On the recent test and the homegrown systems for the same, ISRO said "The runway landing experiment (LEX) utilised several indigenous systems. Localized Navigation systems based on pseudolite systems, instrumentation, and sensor systems, etc. were developed by ISRO. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the landing site with a Ka-band Radar Altimeter provided accurate altitude information". The RLV LEX demanded several state-of-the-art technologies including accurate Navigation hardware and software, Pseudolite system, Ka-band Radar Altimeter, NavIC receiver, indigenous Landing Gear, Aerofoil honey-comb fins and brake parachute system, the Indian space agency added.</p>

<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-a8ba8c31-7fff-c78b-f173-9a032ec064ca">Advantages of Autonomous Reusable spaceplanes&nbsp;</b></h2>

<p dir="ltr">The Space shuttle was a reusable space plane, but it cost a huge deal of money to operate. The main role of the space shuttle was to ferry cargo and astronauts to the International space station and bring them back. The shuttle also performed a variety of roles such as placing satellites in orbit, constructing and servicing the International Space station, carrying out space science experiments etc. While the shuttle did render great service to international space missions and transported cargo and astronauts to low earth orbit, it was prohibitively expensive as the per flight cost is estimated at $1.6bn. The shuttle's ferrying role has been replaced by SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets and Crew dragon capsules.</p>

<p dir="ltr">It must also be noted that there were two catastrophic disasters involving the shuttle, which led to the loss of 14 crew members in total and billions of dollars worth of equipment. When it comes to unmanned and autonomous solutions, the cost is much lower and so are risks. Putting humans on-board an aerospace vehicle makes the mission much more complicated, heavy and expensive, as hundreds of technologies have to be developed and installed for the safe travel and return of the humans.</p>

<p dir="ltr">With an unmanned platform, it is possible to carry out civilian and military experiments in space and bring the plane back. Even in case of a mission failure, there is no loss of precious human life and trained scientific talent. The development of reusable rockets that are capable of vertical landing (as demonstrated by SpaceX), also complements the existence of spaceplanes that can land on a runway. Having such a combination of reusable rocket and reusable space plane can even help perform space missions without leaving behind space debris.&nbsp;</p>

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Spaceplanes are highly sophisticated aerospace vehicles - while within the earth's atmosphere, they can glide and land on an airstrip like a plane and while in space, they can manoeuvre like a spacecraft.

Spaceplanes are highly sophisticated aerospace vehicles - while within the earth's atmosphere, they can glide and land on an airstrip like a plane and while in space, they can manoeuvre like a spacecraft. The most common spaceplanes are the 1980s-era American-origin Space Shuttle and the Soviet-origin Buran. But neither of these giant astronaut-ferrying spaceplanes are in operation. In 2023, only the US and China are known to operate autonomous and reusable spaceplanes. India could soon be the third entrant into this exclusive club, thanks to its indigenous spaceplane known as 'Reusable Launch Vehicle - Technology Demonstrator' (RLV-TD). This prototype has been developed by the Indian space agency ISRO and its testing is being carried out with the support of Indian Defence lab DRDO and the Indian Air Force. What a wow moment, a 20yr old dream becomes a reality for #isro #india 🇮🇳🇮🇳🚀🚀🚀 Here’s the RLV-TD #indian #space plane autonomously coming in to land and touching down at speeds close to 350kmph… it was a flawless landing and the plane is in impeccable condition @isro pic.twitter.com/kuIDo2GqqP — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) April 2, 2023 × America has been operating the 'Boeing X-37B' spaceplane for nearly a decade and the plane has proven its ability to remain in space for more than 900days, in a single trip. As per reports, China is widely regarded to operate its own spaceplane, but details are very sketchy. Given that spaceplanes have both civil and military applications, it is certain that no country would ever reveal the real intent and nature of operations being carried out by these autonomous aerospace vehicles. How do Spaceplanes reach Earth orbit and return ? Spaceplanes are not standalone vehicles, they ride piggyback on a large rocket during their onward journey . It is the rocket which actually carries the spaceplane to an orbit around the earth. Once in earth orbit, the spaceplane is on its own. It performs its mission and then de-orbits(manoeuvres to re-enter the earth) and gets drawn by earth's gravitational pull and re-enters the earth's atmosphere, where it encounters temperatures close to 2000degrees Celsius. As the plane descends into the denser layers of the earth's atmosphere, it uses its control surfaces (rudder, aileron, elevator) to glide and make a runway landing. How far has India come ? What is India's reusable vehicle like ? On April 2, 2023, the Indian Space Research Organization(ISRO) demonstrated the precise runway landing of an unmanned, fully autonomous, indigenous space plane. The space plane was dropped mid-air from an altitude of 4.5 kms, by an Indian Air Force 'Chinook' tandem-rotor helicopter. After being dropped, the space plane glided down and covered a distance of nearly 4.6kms, while performing autonomous navigation, guidance and control calculations. Finally, the plane manoeuvred deftly and landed precisely on a runway at a high-speeds of 350kmph. Top ISRO officials leading the project had told WION that the plane landed just as planned, perfectly along the runway centreline. The landing was so perfect that the spaceplane is said to be in impeccable condition, at the Aeronautical Test Range tarmac in Chitradurga, Karnataka. In a first in the world, a winged body has been carried to an altitude of 4.5 kms by a helicopter and released for carrying out an autonomous landing on a runway. RLV is essentially a space plane with a low lift-to-drag-ratio requiring an approach at high glide angles that necessitated a landing at high velocities of 350 kmph" said the Indian Space agency, ISRO. The Indian spaceplane prototype weighs 1.6tons(similar to that of a SUV), and measures 6.5meters in length and 3.6meters in breadth. The idea for ISRO's spaceplane was born nearly two decades ago and development work has been going on for more than ten years. The recent unmanned landing is a validation of how far ISRO has come in mastering sophisticated autonomous technologies and the avionics, computing systems that make it possible. Explaining the progress of 'RLV-TD' testing to WION, ISRO, VSSC Director, Dr S. Unnikrishnan Nair said that the same RLV-TD vehicle had earlier(in 2016) successfully been carried to 65kms altitude by a rocket. From there, the vehicle re-entered the denser parts of the atmospshere at Hypersonic speeds, almost five times the speed of sound (hypersonic speed or Mach5) and finally made a splashdown landing in the Bay of Bengal(simulated runway). However, the ocean landing was a preliminary step and the precise runway landing is a really sophisticated and technologically complex feat that takes forward the progress of making the spaceplane a reality, he added. What's next for 'RLV-TD' ? So far, the RLV has shown that it can be flown to the upper atmopshere on a rocket and can come back and make a precise, autonomous runway landing. What remains to be done is, for the RLV to reach space(on a rocket), orbit the earth, carry out experiments, de-orbit, re-enter the earth's atmopshere. ISRO Chairman, Dr S. Somanath said that the RLV-TD is a great opportunity for India to develop an 'ORV'(orbital landing experiment) and that this work was already progressing. 'ORV' is an experiment where the space plane is flown to space atop a rocket and then brought back to land on a runway, completely autonomously. "This RLV landing is taking us closer to developing a reusable rocket/landing craft for very specific mission goals" he said. Dr Unnikrishnan Nair told WION that the present 'RLV-TD' vehicle was meant for demonstration purpose and the actual vehicle would be about 1.6times larger in size. The actual RLV plane is meant to be launched to space atop a modified-GSLV rocket, he said. It is envisioned that the spaceplane would be able to sustain in orbit for almost a month, he added. On the recent test and the homegrown systems for the same, ISRO said "The runway landing experiment (LEX) utilised several indigenous systems. Localized Navigation systems based on pseudolite systems, instrumentation, and sensor systems, etc. were developed by ISRO. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the landing site with a Ka-band Radar Altimeter provided accurate altitude information". The RLV LEX demanded several state-of-the-art technologies including accurate Navigation hardware and software, Pseudolite system, Ka-band Radar Altimeter, NavIC receiver, indigenous Landing Gear, Aerofoil honey-comb fins and brake parachute system, the Indian space agency added. Advantages of Autonomous Reusable spaceplanes The Space shuttle was a reusable space plane, but it cost a huge deal of money to operate. The main role of the space shuttle was to ferry cargo and astronauts to the International space station and bring them back. The shuttle also performed a variety of roles such as placing satellites in orbit, constructing and servicing the International Space station, carrying out space science experiments etc. While the shuttle did render great service to international space missions and transported cargo and astronauts to low earth orbit, it was prohibitively expensive as the per flight cost is estimated at $1.6bn. The shuttle's ferrying role has been replaced by SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets and Crew dragon capsules. It must also be noted that there were two catastrophic disasters involving the shuttle, which led to the loss of 14 crew members in total and billions of dollars worth of equipment. When it comes to unmanned and autonomous solutions, the cost is much lower and so are risks. Putting humans on-board an aerospace vehicle makes the mission much more complicated, heavy and expensive, as hundreds of technologies have to be developed and installed for the safe travel and return of the humans. With an unmanned platform, it is possible to carry out civilian and military experiments in space and bring the plane back. Even in case of a mission failure, there is no loss of precious human life and trained scientific talent. The development of reusable rockets that are capable of vertical landing (as demonstrated by SpaceX), also complements the existence of spaceplanes that can land on a runway. Having such a combination of reusable rocket and reusable space plane can even help perform space missions without leaving behind space debris. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Explained: Why India's fully-autonomous, re-usable spaceplane is a significant aerospace tech leap

Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is on a 3-day visit to India. On Tuesday, he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What is this visit all about? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: What is Bhutan's king doing in India?

China is on a diplomatic blitz to win friends. Its leaders & diplomats are travelling globally to strike new alliances. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: China is trying to make friends

The Indo-China tensions over the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh are on the rise. In a move seen as a reiteration of China's claim over Arunachal Pradesh, China has released a third set of names of 11 cities in the state. China calls the Indian state “Zangnan, the southern part of Tibet”.

China provokes India by ‘renaming’ 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh

The Indian government has provided some respite to the crude oil industry. The government has slashed windfall gains tax on domestic crude oil to nil from Rs 3,500 per tonne. The government also halved the tax on diesel exports to 50 paise per litre. The levies on the export of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and petrol continue to be nil.

Why has India slashed the windfall tax on crude oil to zero?

China has renamed 11 places in the northeast Indian state Arunachal Pradesh that it says are part of South Tibet. This was the third time China has unilaterally renamed places in Arunachal Pradesh, having done it in April 2017, and in December 2021.

China renames places in India's Arunachal Pradesh state

The talks on Tuesday between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck covered entire gamut of bilateral ties including issues of respective national interests.

India: PM Modi holds talks with Bhutan King; focus on bilateral ties

An avalanche in India’s northeastern state of Sikkim has killed at least seven people, injured 11, and trapped an unknown number of tourists. All seven killed on Tuesday were tourists and people are feared trapped in the snow, rescue officials said.

India: Seven killed, many trapped in avalanche in India’s Sikkim state

The changed names include that of mountain peaks, rivers and residential areas. This was the third time China has unilaterally renamed places in Arunachal Pradesh, having done it in April 2017, and in December 2021.

China 'renames' 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh, calls it ‘southern Tibet'

<p dir="ltr">The Higher reaches in Kashmir valley received fresh snowfall today, areas like Gurez in North Kashmir and Sonamarg in central Kashmir are again covered in a white layer of snow. The change in weather also resulted in an Avalanche in Zojila area of Central Kashmir.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The MeT department has predicted intermittent precipitation and thunderstorms to continue at most places of Kashmir and at isolated places of Jammu till April 06.</p>

<p>Srinagar Leh National Highway was closed for traffic after an avalanche hit the Zojila area in Central Kashmir's Ganderbal district. The avalanche hit the Panimatha and Kai-Pathri of Zojila pass after the fresh snowfall in the higher reaches. The government has pushed machinery for clearing of the highway.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/avalanche-in-sikkim-six-tourists-including-one-child-dead-several-feared-trapped-578997">Avalanche in Sikkim: Six tourists including one child dead, several feared trapped</a></p>

<p>''Fresh snowfall was witnessed in the upper areas of Kashmir Valley including Gurez, Zojila and Pir Panjal range. Two snow avalanches hit the Srinagar-Leh highway at Zojila Pass due to which the road connecting Kargil and Leh with Srinagar has been closed for traffic.</p>

<p>Officials said that BRO teams have started the snow clearance operation</p>

<p>The traffic on Srinagar- Jammu National Highway was briefly halted due to the multiple mudslides in Ramban area. The highway was cleared, and traffic was restored.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The MeT Department has also advised the farmers to avoid spraying of Orchards till April 6 and maintain proper drainage to drain out excess water in fields. Meanwhile, the MeT official said that Srinagar recorded a low of 6.9°C against 7.9°C on the previous night and it was 0.5°C above normal for the summer capital.</p>

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The Higher reaches in Kashmir valley received fresh snowfall today, areas like Gurez in North Kashmir and Sonamarg in central Kashmir are again covered in a white layer of snow.

The Higher reaches in Kashmir valley received fresh snowfall today, areas like Gurez in North Kashmir and Sonamarg in central Kashmir are again covered in a white layer of snow. The change in weather also resulted in an Avalanche in Zojila area of Central Kashmir. The MeT department has predicted intermittent precipitation and thunderstorms to continue at most places of Kashmir and at isolated places of Jammu till April 06. Srinagar Leh National Highway was closed for traffic after an avalanche hit the Zojila area in Central Kashmir's Ganderbal district. The avalanche hit the Panimatha and Kai-Pathri of Zojila pass after the fresh snowfall in the higher reaches. The government has pushed machinery for clearing of the highway. ALSO READ | Avalanche in Sikkim: Six tourists including one child dead, several feared trapped ''Fresh snowfall was witnessed in the upper areas of Kashmir Valley including Gurez, Zojila and Pir Panjal range. Two snow avalanches hit the Srinagar-Leh highway at Zojila Pass due to which the road connecting Kargil and Leh with Srinagar has been closed for traffic. Officials said that BRO teams have started the snow clearance operation The traffic on Srinagar- Jammu National Highway was briefly halted due to the multiple mudslides in Ramban area. The highway was cleared, and traffic was restored. The MeT Department has also advised the farmers to avoid spraying of Orchards till April 6 and maintain proper drainage to drain out excess water in fields. Meanwhile, the MeT official said that Srinagar recorded a low of 6.9°C against 7.9°C on the previous night and it was 0.5°C above normal for the summer capital. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Kashmir's higher reaches receive fresh snowfall; avalanche hits Zojila

India-china tensions set to escalate as Beijing unilaterally renames 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh

Bhutanese King who is on a three-day visit to India will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today and speak with India's President Droupadi Murmu. The goal of the visit is to deepen and broaden relations between the two countries. The Bhutanese King has previously met with India's national security adviser, Ajit Doval.

India-Bhutan Relations: Doklam issue on the cards?

<p>The dominance of US dollar in global trade is facing a significant challenge as emerging global economies, such as China and India, step forward to trade in their own currencies. Besides, countries either seen as aligned or neutral by the West in terms of the ongoing Russian offensive in Ukraine, are increasingly banding together to focus on mutual global finance.</p>

<h2><strong>BRICS currency to challenge US dollar's dominance?</strong></h2>

<p>The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries are reportedly exploring the creation of a common currency for trade amongst themselves. A new financial arrangement, seen with a potential to translate into a common BRICS currency, could be announced as soon as in August 2023 at the forthcoming BRICS summit in South Africa.</p>

<p>While speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum event in New Delhi, India, last week, Alexander Babakov, the deputy chairman of Russian parliament the State Duma, said that the plan is to initially transition to using domestic currencies in transactions. Following this, the introduction and circulation of a digital or an alternative form of currency could be explored. The potential introduction of a common BRICS currency is significant given the bilateral differences between India and China due to ongoing military standoff along the Line of Actual Control between the two Asian giants.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Babakov pointed out that the BRICS leaders summit will reveal a preparedness to implement this particular initiative, with work on the project ongoing, Russian news agency Sputnik reported.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Gravitas: India pushes for trade in rupee</strong></p>

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<p>"The US dollar plays a far too dominant role in global finance," Jim O’Neill, the former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. chief economist who coined the acronym BRIC, wrote in a paper published in the Global Policy journal last month.</p>

<p>"Whenever the Federal Reserve Board has embarked on periods of monetary tightening, or the opposite, loosening, the consequences on the value of the dollar and the knock-on effects have been dramatic."</p>

<p>Brazil, Russia, India and China established BRIC in 2009 and the bloc became BRICS a year later when South Africa was admitted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If it expands to include other "emerging nations with persistent surpluses," a globally fairer, multi-currency global system could emerge, O’Neill said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>India, China march forward to internationalise their currencies</strong></h2>

<p>India has been making consistent efforts to replace the dollar with rupee as global reserve currency. New Delhi is offering countries facing dollar shortage to settle their trade payments in Indian rupee. The country aims to “disaster proof” countries in its immediate neighbourhood and the one with which it shares significant trade volumes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/rupee-and-taka-to-replace-dollar-as-currency-of-exchange-between-india-bangladesh-568558">Rupee and Taka to replace Dollar as currency of exchange between India, Bangladesh</a></strong></p>

<p>China set up its own commodity exchange in Shanghai – the Shanghai International Energy Exchange (INE) in 2018 for oil deliveries from countries such as Iran, Venezuela and Russia. The contracts traded in INE are solely in the Chinese renminbi.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-to-use-indian-rupee-for-international-trade-543895">Sri Lanka to use Indian rupee for international trade, more countries aim to follow</a></strong></p>

<p>A potential deal between China and Saudi Arabia to settle trade transactions in renminbi may further push back the US dollar from the oil territory.</p>

<h2><strong>Why uproar against the US dollar's dominance in global trade?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>This is because the US dollar, almost hegemonically, is a dominant force in global finance. This can be best illustrated by the US dollar's status in global oil trading. Most of the trade is denominated in the US dollars even when neither the barrels of crude (in terms of country of origin) nor the parties trading it have anything to do with it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Basel, Switzerland-based Bank for International Settlements, approximately half of global trade is invoiced in US dollars.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This disproportionately large reliance on the US dollar is in spite of the United States accounting for just over a 10th of global trade.</p>

<p>The dollar’s dominance in global trade means the burden of dollar-denominated debt for other nations rises and falls with the exchange rate. This destabilises the economies of the countries with US monetary policy often playing a defining role than its own domestic decisions.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


The dominance of US dollar in global trade is facing a significant challenge as emerging global economies, such as China and India, step forward to trade in their own currencies.

The dominance of US dollar in global trade is facing a significant challenge as emerging global economies, such as China and India, step forward to trade in their own currencies. Besides, countries either seen as aligned or neutral by the West in terms of the ongoing Russian offensive in Ukraine, are increasingly banding together to focus on mutual global finance. BRICS currency to challenge US dollar's dominance? The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries are reportedly exploring the creation of a common currency for trade amongst themselves. A new financial arrangement, seen with a potential to translate into a common BRICS currency, could be announced as soon as in August 2023 at the forthcoming BRICS summit in South Africa. While speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum event in New Delhi, India, last week, Alexander Babakov, the deputy chairman of Russian parliament the State Duma, said that the plan is to initially transition to using domestic currencies in transactions. Following this, the introduction and circulation of a digital or an alternative form of currency could be explored. The potential introduction of a common BRICS currency is significant given the bilateral differences between India and China due to ongoing military standoff along the Line of Actual Control between the two Asian giants. Babakov pointed out that the BRICS leaders summit will reveal a preparedness to implement this particular initiative, with work on the project ongoing, Russian news agency Sputnik reported. ALSO WATCH | Gravitas: India pushes for trade in rupee × "The US dollar plays a far too dominant role in global finance," Jim O’Neill, the former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. chief economist who coined the acronym BRIC, wrote in a paper published in the Global Policy journal last month. "Whenever the Federal Reserve Board has embarked on periods of monetary tightening, or the opposite, loosening, the consequences on the value of the dollar and the knock-on effects have been dramatic." Brazil, Russia, India and China established BRIC in 2009 and the bloc became BRICS a year later when South Africa was admitted. If it expands to include other "emerging nations with persistent surpluses," a globally fairer, multi-currency global system could emerge, O’Neill said. India, China march forward to internationalise their currencies India has been making consistent efforts to replace the dollar with rupee as global reserve currency. New Delhi is offering countries facing dollar shortage to settle their trade payments in Indian rupee. The country aims to “disaster proof” countries in its immediate neighbourhood and the one with which it shares significant trade volumes. ALSO READ | Rupee and Taka to replace Dollar as currency of exchange between India, Bangladesh China set up its own commodity exchange in Shanghai – the Shanghai International Energy Exchange (INE) in 2018 for oil deliveries from countries such as Iran, Venezuela and Russia. The contracts traded in INE are solely in the Chinese renminbi. ALSO READ | Sri Lanka to use Indian rupee for international trade, more countries aim to follow A potential deal between China and Saudi Arabia to settle trade transactions in renminbi may further push back the US dollar from the oil territory. Why uproar against the US dollar's dominance in global trade? This is because the US dollar, almost hegemonically, is a dominant force in global finance. This can be best illustrated by the US dollar's status in global oil trading. Most of the trade is denominated in the US dollars even when neither the barrels of crude (in terms of country of origin) nor the parties trading it have anything to do with it. According to Basel, Switzerland-based Bank for International Settlements, approximately half of global trade is invoiced in US dollars. This disproportionately large reliance on the US dollar is in spite of the United States accounting for just over a 10th of global trade. The dollar’s dominance in global trade means the burden of dollar-denominated debt for other nations rises and falls with the exchange rate. This destabilises the economies of the countries with US monetary policy often playing a defining role than its own domestic decisions. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

BRICS common currency soon? India, China step up to counter US dollar's dominance

Bhutan's King Jigme Wangchuk is in India for a three-day visit. The monarch's trip comes as a response to the invitation of Indian President Droupadi Murmu and aims to bolster the bilateral relationship between both neighbours.

Bhutan King Jigme Wangchuk in India for a 3-day-visit to strengthen diplomatic ties | WION Dispatch

Following several acts of vandalisation of the tricolour. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar issued a stern warning to the Khalistani separatists. The foreign minister categorically stated that India will not tolerate vandalism of its national flag.

"India will not allow its national flag to be put down": EAM S Jaishankar warns Khalistanis

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all latest news and top headlines from all across the globe - Bhutan King Jigme Wangchuk landed in India’s capital New Delhi on Monday, commencing this three-day visit to the nation. India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar received him at the airport.

Bhutan's King arrives in New Delhi on a three-day visit | WION Speed News

India's market regulator, SEBI is investigating possible violation of transaction rules in the Adani Group's dealings with at least three offshore entities that have links to the brother of the conglomerate's founder.

SEBI investigates Adani's offshore deals for possible rule violations

USA and Canada house the most number of notorious gangsters wanted in India, a list prepared by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has revealed. The list, first seen by Hindustan Times, features 28 Indian gangsters, including the killers of Punjabi Singer Sidhu Moosewala.

USA and Canada house the most number of notorious gangsters wanted in India, a list prepared by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has revealed. The list, first seen by Hindustan Times, features 28 Indian gangsters, including the killers of Punjabi Singer Sidhu Moosewala. Out of the 28 gangsters, 5 are suspected to be based in the United States while 9 of them are suspected to be living in Canada. As per the list released by the Home Ministry, Satinderjit Singh aka Goldy Brar, who is suspected to be in the United States, tops the list of gangsters. He is believed to have masterminded the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in collaboration with Lawrence Bishnoi. Anmol Bishnoi, also known as Bhanu, is another gangster on the list who is charged with criminal conspiracy to carry out targeted killings of social and religious leaders, singers, businessmen, and film stars. He is said to be hiding in the US and is accused of having links with Pakistan and pro-Khalistan elements in other countries. The list also includes other notorious gangsters like Sachin Thapan, who is accused in the Moosewala murder case, Gurjant Singh alias Janta, and Romi Hong Kong. Lucky Patyal, also named in the list, had his premises raided by the NIA last year as part of their crackdown on arms smuggling, narco-terrorism, targeted killings, extortion, kidnapping, and other criminal and terror acts. Here is the full list of Indian gangsters living abroad and the countries providing shelter to them, as reported by Hindustan Times. GANGSTER SUSPECTED LOCATION SATINDERJIT SINGH ALIAS GOLDY BRAR UNITED STATES ANMOL BISHNOI UNITED STATES HARJOT SINGH GILL UNITED STATES DARMANJIT SINGH ALIAS DARMAN KAHLON UNITED STATES AMRIT BAL UNITED STATES SUKHDOOL SINGH ALIAS SUKHA DUNEKE CANADA GURPINDER SINGH ALIAS BABA DALLA CANADA SATVEER SINGH WARRING ALIAS SAM CANADA SNOVER DHILLON CANADA LAKHBIR SINGH ALIAS LANDA CANADA ARSHDEEP SINGH ALIAS ARSH DALA CANADA CHARNJEET SINGH ALIAS RINKU BIHLA CANADA RAMANDEEP SINGH ALIAS RAMAN JUDGE CANADA GAGANDEEP SINGH ALIAS GAGNA HATHUR CANADA VIKRAMJEET SINGH BRAR ALIAS VIKKI UAE KULDEEP SINGH ALIAS DEEP NAWANSHAHARIA UAE ROHIT GODARA EUROPE GAURAV PATYAL ALIAS LUCKY PATYAL ARMENIA SACHIN THAPAN ALIAS SACHIN BISHNOI AZERBAIJAN JAGJEET SINGH ALIAS GANDHI MALAYSIA JACKPAL SINGH ALIAS LALI DHALIWAL MALAYSIA HARWINDER SINGH ALIAS RINDA PAKISTAN RAJESH KUMAR ALIAS SONU KHATRI BRAZIL SANDEEP GREWAL ALIAS BILLA ALIAS SUNNY KHAWAJKE INDONESIA MANPREET SINGH ALIAS PEETA PHILIPPINES SUPREET SINGH ALIAS HARRY CHATHA GERMANY GURJANT SINGH ALIAS JANTA AUSTRALIA RAMANJIT SINGH ALIAS ROMI HONG KONG HONG KONG The list from the Indian ministry of home affairs is released a day after Indian Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar slammed western countries for failing to provide ample security to Indian diplomatic missions and consulates. Jaishankar referred to the incident of the Indian flag being pulled down by Khalistani extremists in the Indian High Commission in London while saying that India will not accept such acts of violence. Also Read | Jaishankar warns Khalistan supporters, says India won`t accept its national flag being pulled down “We've seen incidents in London, Canada, San Francisco, there's a very small minority, behind that minority there are many interests...If they don't provide security then there will be reaction from India. This is not an India that will accept its national flag pulled down," the External Affairs Minister stated. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

India names and shames US and Canada for providing shelter to most-wanted Indian gangsters

In a continuing effort to be the country's leading investment destination, a high-level delegation led by Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha, India will be visiting Japan from 4th April 2023 to promote investment opportunities in Odisha.

India: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik to lead delegation to japan from April 4 to 11

S. Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, criticised the West for interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries, saying that the West has a longstanding bad habit of doing so and believes it has a divine mandate to do so.

Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar reacts as West comments on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms - Twitter bans over 680,000 accounts in India over nudity and sexual exploitation, Climate activists turn landmark Rome fountain black, New French bill requires influencers to disclose use of filters & photoshop, Pope Francis discharged from hospital in Rome.

Over 680,000 Twitter accounts banned in India over nudity, sexual exploitation | Trending on WION

The Pakistan Occupied Kashmir's (PoK) assembly has supported the Indian Home Minister Amit Shah's proposal for the opening of Sharda Peeth Corridor. The PoK government has suggested that Kashmiri Pandits and Hindus living in India should be allowed to visit the historic Sharda Peeth temple situated in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

PoK assembly endorses Amit Shah's statement on opening of Sharda Peeth corridor

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<p>Eight people including two children were found dead in the Saint Lawrence River near the Canada-US border on Thursday. Now, a family in the Mehsana district of the western Indian state of Gujarat has claimed that the Indians among the eight dead may have been their kin.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Officials of the Mehsana district administration said some village residents approached the collector and requested that arrangements be made to retrieve the bodies of the four deceased.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is confirmed that four members of a family from Manekpur village in Vijapur taluka of Mehsana went to Canada on a visitor's visa and tried to cross the river. The villagers approached us seeking help to bring back their bodies, which we have reported to the state government," said an official.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to The Hindu report, Pravin Chaudhary, a farmer, his wife Daksha, their son Mit, and daughter Vidhi had reached Canada a few weeks ago on a tourist visa. They were attempting to enter the US illegally by undertaking the risky boat journey across the river.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/authorities-8-dead-during-illegal-river-crossing-on-the-us-canada-border-577963"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Authorities: 8 dead during illegal river crossing on the US-Canada border</strong></a></p>

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<p>Jasubhai Chaudhary, a resident of Manekpur village claimed it was his brother that died in the accident after repeated phone calls to reach him went blank.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Two months ago, my brother, his wife and two children went to Canada on a visitors' visa. Yesterday morning I learnt about the death of members of a family from India in Canada. I tried to contact my brother but was not able to do so. This caused suspicion that they were our family members,"&nbsp;Chaudhary was quoted as saying by PTI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report added that a local agent was involved in human smuggling had sold the dream of living in the US to&nbsp;Pravin and his family.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indians-romanians-likely-among-those-found-dead-while-crossing-into-us-from-canada-illegally-canadian-police-577799" target="_blank"><strong>ALSO READ | Indians, Romanians among eight found dead while crossing into US from Canada illegally</strong></a></p>

<p>To identify the cause of death, authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests, as per reports. The bodies, as per reports, were recovered in a marsh area Thursday during an aerial search with the Canadian Coast Guard.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Eight people including two children were found dead in the Saint Lawrence River near the Canada-US border on Thursday. Now, a family in the Mehsana district of the western Indian state of Gujarat has claimed that the Indians among the eight dead may have been their kin.

Eight people including two children were found dead in the Saint Lawrence River near the Canada-US border on Thursday. Now, a family in the Mehsana district of the western Indian state of Gujarat has claimed that the Indians among the eight dead may have been their kin. Officials of the Mehsana district administration said some village residents approached the collector and requested that arrangements be made to retrieve the bodies of the four deceased. "It is confirmed that four members of a family from Manekpur village in Vijapur taluka of Mehsana went to Canada on a visitor's visa and tried to cross the river. The villagers approached us seeking help to bring back their bodies, which we have reported to the state government," said an official. According to The Hindu report, Pravin Chaudhary, a farmer, his wife Daksha, their son Mit, and daughter Vidhi had reached Canada a few weeks ago on a tourist visa. They were attempting to enter the US illegally by undertaking the risky boat journey across the river. WATCH | Authorities: 8 dead during illegal river crossing on the US-Canada border × Jasubhai Chaudhary, a resident of Manekpur village claimed it was his brother that died in the accident after repeated phone calls to reach him went blank. "Two months ago, my brother, his wife and two children went to Canada on a visitors' visa. Yesterday morning I learnt about the death of members of a family from India in Canada. I tried to contact my brother but was not able to do so. This caused suspicion that they were our family members," Chaudhary was quoted as saying by PTI. The report added that a local agent was involved in human smuggling had sold the dream of living in the US to Pravin and his family. ALSO READ | Indians, Romanians among eight found dead while crossing into US from Canada illegally To identify the cause of death, authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests, as per reports. The bodies, as per reports, were recovered in a marsh area Thursday during an aerial search with the Canadian Coast Guard. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Family of four from Gujarat identified in Canada's fatal St. Lawrence River crossing: Reports

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