Europe was the centre of power in the nineteenth century, the twentieth century was Americanized. Now, Asia’s rise has been swift. Over the past few decades, the Centre of power has shifted from West to East. &nbsp;India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s remarks on the “Asian century” triggered the discourse on how normalcy matters between New Delhi and Beijing in shaping the "Asian Century" which was itself coined by the former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in 1988. 

Addressing the future of India-China relations at Chulalongkorn University, he described it as an extremely difficult phase. It is, however, worthwhile to quote the former U.S. Senator and American diplomat, “There are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, just permanent interests.” In response, Beijing backs that ‘we have far more common interests than differences'. This piece provides three reasons to substantiate the notion of an Asian century and further highlight that organizations like BRICS and SCO may diffuse the existing deep hostilities and suspicions within the Asian region. Under this backdrop, let us examine how New Delhi and Beijing can shape the Asian Century. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Firstly, Asia is the home for fast-growing Emerging Markets. Asia currently hosts two fast-growing economies that are in the top 10 by GDP PPP. For example, in 2021 China was in the second place on the list (only the United States remained ahead), whereas India ranked sixth, and this Asian country was ahead of such mature economies as Canada, Italy, France, and Australia. Both countries aim to ensure economic growth, and they are the largest consumers of natural and mineral resources in the world that to provide the industries with ‘’combustible materials’’. In 2020, China was the world's biggest importer of crude oil ($150 billion), iron ore ($99 billion), petroleum gas ($36.6 billion) and copper ore ($33.9 billion). 

As of 2021, China remained the largest importer of crude oil, ahead of the USA. China accounted for 22.3% of global crude oil imports. At the same time, India imported 10.4% of global crude oil imports. And the country ranked third with this indicator. Coal is another raw material that could provide rapid growth for China and India economies and to decrease the poverty of its population.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2021, China and India were among the top five countries that were world leaders in coal imports. In terms of coal imports, India ranked first. China was in third place behind Japan. It is interesting to note that Asian countries accounted for the highest dollar worth of imported coal in 2021 with purchases amounting to $120.5 billion or 80.9% of the worldwide total. &nbsp;

Currently, the geopolitical situation is beneficial for these Asian countries and probably it will help to bring the Asian century much closer. Russia is one of the largest oil and coal exporters in the world. Western countries have imposed a ban to buy Russian hydrocarbons. That is the reason India and China increased Russian oil and coal imports. Actually, in the July 2022 India's coal import raised 10% on-month to 2.03 million tons from Russia. On the other hand, in June 2022, China increased coal imports from Russia by 22%compared to the previous month, to 6.12 million tons. 

Secondly, Asia is the venue for Demographic Giants. The problem of ensuring growth for the two Asian economies is directly related to the urgency to reduce poverty and to improve living standards for the population. India and China are two demographic giants. These are the most populated countries in the world. In 2022, China ranked first in the world, and India ranked second. Both countries have populations over a billion. The BRICS countries (the group also includes Brazil, Russia, and South Africa) are regarded as the five major emerging economies expected to dominate in the 21st century, are all in the top ten most populous countries (South Africa is exception), indicating how important the size of their populations are to their economic expansion. Currently, the main source of economic growth is human capital. The quality of human capital affects the creativity and innovativeness of the country's economy. Unlike mature economies of developed nations, India and China are the largest reservoir of human capital that will ensure economic growth over the long term. In another words, demographic dividend of India and China is one of the main pillar of Asian century.

Thirdly, BRICS is the Frame for Asian Century. India and China are the members of BRICS. The organization is informal, but it is a platform for direct interaction between the countries. This fact allows coordinating actions in different areas (humanitarian sphere, academic and research cooperation, trade, military interactions, etc.). BRICS makes it possible to establish and maintain direct contacts at the highest level. Any organization needs time to develop mutually beneficial mechanisms of interaction. However, it is India and China that can turn the BRICS into a reliable framework for building Asian century. These countries have the great potential because of their demographic, industrial, intellectual and creative resources. The Asian region forms the current agenda that developed countries have to reckon with. 

For a long time, the Asian region was in the shadow of European and American powers. The need to cope with numerous problems and overcome countless disputes did not allow the countries of the region to form a system that would transform their immense potential into a world of prosperity and progress. The Asian century is not about seizing resources and imposing one's power on other peoples and countries. The Asian century will reveal the full diversity of cultures and civilizations of the region, which are capable of providing prosperity and happiness to billions of people on the planet. To ensure the Asian century, two countries that form its basis are of great importance. India and China are able to anchor in the global world to overcome various contradictions and build a system with permanent friends for mutual economic and social prosperity. Billions of people with their everyday hard work and desire for a better life deserve the advent of the Asian century, which will show that cultural, political, language, and ethnical differences are no longer obstacles for true human happiness. 

Dr. Sandeep Tripathi is a Founder President of Forum for Global Studies, New Delhi and Assistant Professor at Sharda University, Greater Noida. 

Dr. Kirill Sablin is an Associate Professor at Department of Economics and Public Administration, Kemerovo State University, Russia.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

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Europe was the centre of power in the nineteenth century, the twentieth century was Americanized. Now, Asia’s rise has been swift. Over the past few decades, the Centre of power has shifted from West to East.

Europe was the centre of power in the nineteenth century, the twentieth century was Americanized. Now, Asia’s rise has been swift. Over the past few decades, the Centre of power has shifted from West to East. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s remarks on the “Asian century” triggered the discourse on how normalcy matters between New Delhi and Beijing in shaping the "Asian Century" which was itself coined by the former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in 1988. Addressing the future of India-China relations at Chulalongkorn University, he described it as an extremely difficult phase. It is, however, worthwhile to quote the former U.S. Senator and American diplomat, “There are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, just permanent interests.” In response, Beijing backs that ‘we have far more common interests than differences'. This piece provides three reasons to substantiate the notion of an Asian century and further highlight that organizations like BRICS and SCO may diffuse the existing deep hostilities and suspicions within the Asian region. Under this backdrop, let us examine how New Delhi and Beijing can shape the Asian Century. Firstly, Asia is the home for fast-growing Emerging Markets. Asia currently hosts two fast-growing economies that are in the top 10 by GDP PPP. For example, in 2021 China was in the second place on the list (only the United States remained ahead), whereas India ranked sixth, and this Asian country was ahead of such mature economies as Canada, Italy, France, and Australia. Both countries aim to ensure economic growth, and they are the largest consumers of natural and mineral resources in the world that to provide the industries with ‘’combustible materials’’. In 2020, China was the world's biggest importer of crude oil ($150 billion), iron ore ($99 billion), petroleum gas ($36.6 billion) and copper ore ($33.9 billion). As of 2021, China remained the largest importer of crude oil, ahead of the USA. China accounted for 22.3% of global crude oil imports. At the same time, India imported 10.4% of global crude oil imports. And the country ranked third with this indicator. Coal is another raw material that could provide rapid growth for China and India economies and to decrease the poverty of its population. In 2021, China and India were among the top five countries that were world leaders in coal imports. In terms of coal imports, India ranked first. China was in third place behind Japan. It is interesting to note that Asian countries accounted for the highest dollar worth of imported coal in 2021 with purchases amounting to $120.5 billion or 80.9% of the worldwide total. Currently, the geopolitical situation is beneficial for these Asian countries and probably it will help to bring the Asian century much closer. Russia is one of the largest oil and coal exporters in the world. Western countries have imposed a ban to buy Russian hydrocarbons. That is the reason India and China increased Russian oil and coal imports. Actually, in the July 2022 India's coal import raised 10% on-month to 2.03 million tons from Russia. On the other hand, in June 2022, China increased coal imports from Russia by 22%compared to the previous month, to 6.12 million tons. Secondly, Asia is the venue for Demographic Giants. The problem of ensuring growth for the two Asian economies is directly related to the urgency to reduce poverty and to improve living standards for the population. India and China are two demographic giants. These are the most populated countries in the world. In 2022, China ranked first in the world, and India ranked second. Both countries have populations over a billion. The BRICS countries (the group also includes Brazil, Russia, and South Africa) are regarded as the five major emerging economies expected to dominate in the 21st century, are all in the top ten most populous countries (South Africa is exception), indicating how important the size of their populations are to their economic expansion. Currently, the main source of economic growth is human capital. The quality of human capital affects the creativity and innovativeness of the country's economy. Unlike mature economies of developed nations, India and China are the largest reservoir of human capital that will ensure economic growth over the long term. In another words, demographic dividend of India and China is one of the main pillar of Asian century. Thirdly, BRICS is the Frame for Asian Century. India and China are the members of BRICS. The organization is informal, but it is a platform for direct interaction between the countries. This fact allows coordinating actions in different areas (humanitarian sphere, academic and research cooperation, trade, military interactions, etc.). BRICS makes it possible to establish and maintain direct contacts at the highest level. Any organization needs time to develop mutually beneficial mechanisms of interaction. However, it is India and China that can turn the BRICS into a reliable framework for building Asian century. These countries have the great potential because of their demographic, industrial, intellectual and creative resources. The Asian region forms the current agenda that developed countries have to reckon with. For a long time, the Asian region was in the shadow of European and American powers. The need to cope with numerous problems and overcome countless disputes did not allow the countries of the region to form a system that would transform their immense potential into a world of prosperity and progress. The Asian century is not about seizing resources and imposing one's power on other peoples and countries. The Asian century will reveal the full diversity of cultures and civilizations of the region, which are capable of providing prosperity and happiness to billions of people on the planet. To ensure the Asian century, two countries that form its basis are of great importance. India and China are able to anchor in the global world to overcome various contradictions and build a system with permanent friends for mutual economic and social prosperity. Billions of people with their everyday hard work and desire for a better life deserve the advent of the Asian century, which will show that cultural, political, language, and ethnical differences are no longer obstacles for true human happiness. Dr. Sandeep Tripathi is a Founder President of Forum for Global Studies, New Delhi and Assistant Professor at Sharda University, Greater Noida. Dr. Kirill Sablin is an Associate Professor at Department of Economics and Public Administration, Kemerovo State University, Russia. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) 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.

India-China: An anchor of the evolving Asian century

Life convicts who has already served 10 years of their sentence and whose appeal has not been heard by the court should be granted bail, the Supreme Court of India said on Thursday. However, the bench of Justices also added that there can be circumstances where the bail will be denied.&nbsp;

Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and&nbsp;Abhay Sreenivas&nbsp;Oka were hearing several pleas concerning convicts whose appeals were pending in various high courts. Advocate Gaurav Agarwal, appointed as amicus curiae, told the apex court that 5,740 such appeals were currently pending in the courts.

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When it comes to the people who have already served 14 years in prison, the apex court said that the cases should be referred to the respective governments for consideration of premature release.

While the decision will lie with the governments, India's top&nbsp;court suggested that the process should be completed within a fixed time period in order to decrease the number of backlogs.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/six-countries-not-invited-for-queen-elizabeth-iis-funeral-see-complete-list-516447" hreflang="en">Six countries not invited for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral - See complete list</a>

The data presented by Agarwal revealed that Bihar had the highest number of cases which were eligible for premature release – 268. On the other hand, the Allahabad High Court had the highest number of appeals filed by people who have already served 14 years or more in prison – 385.&nbsp;

The Supreme Court of India&nbsp;said that the high courts need to schedule the appeals of all the eligible convicts by January 2023 and use the next four months to identify all cases that will fall under the purview of this observation. &nbsp;

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Life convicts who has already served 10 years of their sentence and whose appeal has not been heard by the court should be granted bail, the Supreme Court of India said on Thursday.

Life convicts who has already served 10 years of their sentence and whose appeal has not been heard by the court should be granted bail, the Supreme Court of India said on Thursday. However, the bench of Justices also added that there can be circumstances where the bail will be denied. Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abhay Sreenivas Oka were hearing several pleas concerning convicts whose appeals were pending in various high courts. Advocate Gaurav Agarwal, appointed as amicus curiae, told the apex court that 5,740 such appeals were currently pending in the courts. Also read | SCO Summit LIVE | Putin thanks China's Xi, Modi lands in Samarkand When it comes to the people who have already served 14 years in prison, the apex court said that the cases should be referred to the respective governments for consideration of premature release. While the decision will lie with the governments, India's top court suggested that the process should be completed within a fixed time period in order to decrease the number of backlogs. Also read | Six countries not invited for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral - See complete list The data presented by Agarwal revealed that Bihar had the highest number of cases which were eligible for premature release – 268. On the other hand, the Allahabad High Court had the highest number of appeals filed by people who have already served 14 years or more in prison – 385. The Supreme Court of India said that the high courts need to schedule the appeals of all the eligible convicts by January 2023 and use the next four months to identify all cases that will fall under the purview of this observation.

Grant bail to life convicts who have spent 10 years in jail: Indian Supreme Court

As Samarkand hosts the SCO or Shanghai cooperation organization summit, we bring you sights of this fabled city of Uzbekistan. Our correspondent Sidhant Sibal travels to Gur e Amir, the tomb of Timur and explains its significance.

Uzbekistan: Tomb of Timur and its connect with India

Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, on Tuesday, while speaking at an event to commemorate the relations between India and Mauritius expressed gratitude to New Delhi for their continued support and unwavering commitment to making CECPA a reality. Notably, this is one of the first such agreements that India has signed with an African country.&nbsp;

The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) is a trade agreement between India and Mauritius. 
 
“The CECPA forms a part of a broader strategy between the Governments to broaden our economic horizons and plays an integral part in facilitating cross-border trade and investment,” said PM Jugnauth, at an event celebrating the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between India and Mauritius.&nbsp;

According to the local media, he also expressed gratitude to the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the realisation of CECPA and said, “India has been a partner and friend like no other to Mauritius.” PM Jugnauth said that the event further highlights the long-lasting friendship and deep-rooted ties shared by the people of both countries.&nbsp;

The agreement came into force on April 1, 2021, and focuses predominantly on trade between the two countries besides including&nbsp;sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, dispute settlement, movement of natural persons, telecom, financial services, customs procedures and cooperation in other areas, stated a press release by the Indian ministry of commerce and industry.&nbsp;

PM Jugnauth also went on to highlight New Delhi’s technical, financial and diplomatic support, citing the completion of recent projects like the Metro Express, the new Supreme Court, and the new ENT hospital. 
 
“Government is investing massively in the upgrading of infrastructure to make sure businesses operate in the best environment as well as pave the way to the sustainable, intensive, and modern economy,” said the island nation’s PM, according to local media.&nbsp;

The foreign affairs minister of Mauritius, Alan Ganoo, echoed a similar sentiment describing India as a staunch supporter of Mauritius. He said that they have benefitted from New Delhi’s support and called CECPA a pivotal milestone, “Indian investors can use Mauritius as a gateway for production and subsequent exports to African market” Ganoo added. Notably, Mauritius has duty-free access to the 650 million consumer market which the foreign minister attributed to the country’s membership in COMESA and SADC.&nbsp; 
 
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-signs-fta-with-mauritius-extends-100-million-defence-line-of-credit-365504">India signs FTA with Mauritius, extends $100 million defence line of credit</a>

Meanwhile, Mauritius also benefits from preferential market access into India for the island nation’s 615 products, including frozen fish, speciality sugar, biscuits, fresh fruits, juices, mineral water, beer, alcoholic drinks, soaps, bags, medical and surgical equipment, and apparel, said India’s commerce ministry in their statement. 
 
On the other hand, the pact cover 310 export items from India such as food and beverages, agricultural products, textile and textile articles, base materials, electronic items and electricals, plastics and chemicals and wood.&nbsp;

The aforementioned event was attended by the High Commissioner of India, K Nandini Singla, who also reiterated CECPA’s benefits in enhancing the well-being of people from both countries. “The CECPA holds tremendous potential to boost bilateral trade and is an ideal platform to explore new opportunities in Africa,” said Singla. India has always been one of Mauritius’ top three trading partners since its independence, while Mauritius has been among the top three sources of FDI into India, indicated the high commissioner.&nbsp;

“We look forward to Mauritius continuing to be a cherished partner in our growth story”, Singla concluded. The event also saw the launch of a booklet penned by the Economic Development Board (EDB) titled, “Mauritius-India: A guide to Business Development”, reported the local media.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, on Tuesday, while speaking at an event to commemorate the relations between India and Mauritius expressed gratitude to New Delhi for their continued support and unwavering commitment to making CECPA a reality.

Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, on Tuesday, while speaking at an event to commemorate the relations between India and Mauritius expressed gratitude to New Delhi for their continued support and unwavering commitment to making CECPA a reality. Notably, this is one of the first such agreements that India has signed with an African country. The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) is a trade agreement between India and Mauritius. “The CECPA forms a part of a broader strategy between the Governments to broaden our economic horizons and plays an integral part in facilitating cross-border trade and investment,” said PM Jugnauth, at an event celebrating the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between India and Mauritius. According to the local media, he also expressed gratitude to the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the realisation of CECPA and said, “India has been a partner and friend like no other to Mauritius.” PM Jugnauth said that the event further highlights the long-lasting friendship and deep-rooted ties shared by the people of both countries. The agreement came into force on April 1, 2021, and focuses predominantly on trade between the two countries besides including sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, dispute settlement, movement of natural persons, telecom, financial services, customs procedures and cooperation in other areas, stated a press release by the Indian ministry of commerce and industry. PM Jugnauth also went on to highlight New Delhi’s technical, financial and diplomatic support, citing the completion of recent projects like the Metro Express, the new Supreme Court, and the new ENT hospital. “Government is investing massively in the upgrading of infrastructure to make sure businesses operate in the best environment as well as pave the way to the sustainable, intensive, and modern economy,” said the island nation’s PM, according to local media. The foreign affairs minister of Mauritius, Alan Ganoo, echoed a similar sentiment describing India as a staunch supporter of Mauritius. He said that they have benefitted from New Delhi’s support and called CECPA a pivotal milestone, “Indian investors can use Mauritius as a gateway for production and subsequent exports to African market” Ganoo added. Notably, Mauritius has duty-free access to the 650 million consumer market which the foreign minister attributed to the country’s membership in COMESA and SADC. ALSO READ | India signs FTA with Mauritius, extends $100 million defence line of credit Meanwhile, Mauritius also benefits from preferential market access into India for the island nation’s 615 products, including frozen fish, speciality sugar, biscuits, fresh fruits, juices, mineral water, beer, alcoholic drinks, soaps, bags, medical and surgical equipment, and apparel, said India’s commerce ministry in their statement. On the other hand, the pact cover 310 export items from India such as food and beverages, agricultural products, textile and textile articles, base materials, electronic items and electricals, plastics and chemicals and wood. The aforementioned event was attended by the High Commissioner of India, K Nandini Singla, who also reiterated CECPA’s benefits in enhancing the well-being of people from both countries. “The CECPA holds tremendous potential to boost bilateral trade and is an ideal platform to explore new opportunities in Africa,” said Singla. India has always been one of Mauritius’ top three trading partners since its independence, while Mauritius has been among the top three sources of FDI into India, indicated the high commissioner. “We look forward to Mauritius continuing to be a cherished partner in our growth story”, Singla concluded. The event also saw the launch of a booklet penned by the Economic Development Board (EDB) titled, “Mauritius-India: A guide to Business Development”, reported the local media. (with inputs from agencies)

Mauritius PM hails India for CECPA agreement, says it fosters trade between the two countries

India and France are marking 75 years of diplomatic relations. To further strengthen ties, the French foreign minister is in India for a three-day visit. The French foreign minister met the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

French foreign minister Catherine Colonna in New Delhi to strengthen ties

Both China and Russia have long sought to position the SCO as an alternative to the western multilateral groups, they could possibly be closer to this aim now than ever before. Russia has time and again called the geopolitics of the America-led western alliances as predatory.

Kremlin: SCO Summit will showcase an alternative to western world

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be at Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to attend the first in-person summit of the SCO. So what does India hope to achieve at the summit and how is Russia using the grouping as an alternative to the India-led Western alliance? Molly Gambhir speaks to Sidhant Sibal and Anas Mallick.

WION Fineprint | What does India hope to achieve at the SCO Summit?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan's new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will both be in the same room at the Shanghai cooperation organization or SCO summit but any structured bilateral between the sidelines is unlikely. India and Pakistan both became members of the grouping in 2017 and since then leaders of the 2 countries have been present at various meetings, including at Defence, foreign and NSA levels.&nbsp;

The grouping's meeting in the past has seen both Indian, and Pakistani leadership present under the same roof, but given the state of the relationship, no talks have happened. In 2019, the last time the in-person summit of SCO grouping happened in Kyrgyzstan, both Indian PM Modi and Pakistan's then Prime Minister Imran Khan were present together.

Earlier this year, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Pakistani Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto were present together at the SCO foreign ministers' meet in Tashkent, but no meeting happened. That time speaking to WION, Bhutto ruled out any meeting between the 2 leaders.

Earlier&nbsp;this year, as part of diplomatic protocols, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to the new Pakistani PM pointing out that New Delhi would like to have "normal neighbourly relations" calling for "constructive engagement" but also raising the issue of terror with Islamabad, calling for an "environment free of terror and violence". Last month, the Indian Prime Minister extended his condolences on the devastating floods in the country, responding to which the Pakistani PM thanked him and expressed optimism that his country will overcome the adverse impact of the natural calamity.

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Saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by this natural calamity and hope for an early restoration of normalcy.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1564254916134473728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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But on any chances of humanitarian assistance, MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said, "Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has shared his sadness at the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. You've seen his comments. He has extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by the natural calamity".

Under the present Modi government, attempts have been made to reach out to Islamabad since 2014. India invited the then Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif, the elder brother of the current Pakistani PM to the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi. Both PM Modi and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif met on the sidelines of the&nbsp;SCO summit in Russia in July of 2015, and in the same year, both met on the sidelines of the Paris climate change summit in December 2015, a picture that showed both sitting together in a very informal close manner.&nbsp;

Later that month, PM Modi made a surprise visit to Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore. That was the first visit by any Indian Prime Minister to Pakistan in more than 10 years, raising hopes for peace between New Delhi and Islamabad. The then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also took the initiative to propose a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue in December 2015.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-asks-afghanistan-to-locate-and-arrest-of-jem-chief-maulana-masood-azhar-515965" hreflang="en">Pakistan asks Afghanistan to locate and arrest JeM chief Masood Azhar</a>

But all the outreach was followed by major terror attacks like the Pathankot Airbase attack on 2 January 2016, and the attack on the Indian army Camp in Uri in August 2016. 2018, attempts were again made, with a proposed meeting of Indian, and Pakistani foreign ministers on the sidelines of UNGA but it was cancelled at the last moment after terrorist entities brutally killed three police personnel in Jammu and Kashmir.

The big blow to ties came in February 2019 after the Pulwama terror attack in which India's 40 security personnel were martyred. This terrorist act was perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Pakistan-based terrorist organization proscribed by the United Nations which is led by UN-designated and internationally proscribed terrorist Masood Azhar. Later that year, Islamabad suspended People to people ties, and trade ties and downgraded its relationship with India after New Delhi removed the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

A bilateral between Indian and Pakistani leaders is a farfetched thing now, a pull aside will be a miracle. While for India, the issue of Pakistan's support of terror has been a major concern, for Pakistani PM Shahbaz Sharif, any meeting with Indian PM Modi means facing the wrath of Imran Khan ahead of elections. For the foreseeable future, India-Pakistan ties remain in a deep freeze, a freeze that is unlikely to go very soon.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan's new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will both be in the same room at the Shanghai cooperation organization or SCO summit but any structured bilateral between the sidelines is unlikely.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan's new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will both be in the same room at the Shanghai cooperation organization or SCO summit but any structured bilateral between the sidelines is unlikely. India and Pakistan both became members of the grouping in 2017 and since then leaders of the 2 countries have been present at various meetings, including at Defence, foreign and NSA levels. The grouping's meeting in the past has seen both Indian, and Pakistani leadership present under the same roof, but given the state of the relationship, no talks have happened. In 2019, the last time the in-person summit of SCO grouping happened in Kyrgyzstan, both Indian PM Modi and Pakistan's then Prime Minister Imran Khan were present together. Earlier this year, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Pakistani Foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto were present together at the SCO foreign ministers' meet in Tashkent, but no meeting happened. That time speaking to WION, Bhutto ruled out any meeting between the 2 leaders. Earlier this year, as part of diplomatic protocols, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to the new Pakistani PM pointing out that New Delhi would like to have "normal neighbourly relations" calling for "constructive engagement" but also raising the issue of terror with Islamabad, calling for an "environment free of terror and violence". Last month, the Indian Prime Minister extended his condolences on the devastating floods in the country, responding to which the Pakistani PM thanked him and expressed optimism that his country will overcome the adverse impact of the natural calamity. Saddened to see the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by this natural calamity and hope for an early restoration of normalcy. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 29, 2022 × But on any chances of humanitarian assistance, MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi said, "Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has shared his sadness at the devastation caused by the floods in Pakistan. You've seen his comments. He has extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the injured and all those affected by the natural calamity". Under the present Modi government, attempts have been made to reach out to Islamabad since 2014. India invited the then Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif, the elder brother of the current Pakistani PM to the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi. Both PM Modi and Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Russia in July of 2015, and in the same year, both met on the sidelines of the Paris climate change summit in December 2015, a picture that showed both sitting together in a very informal close manner. Later that month, PM Modi made a surprise visit to Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore. That was the first visit by any Indian Prime Minister to Pakistan in more than 10 years, raising hopes for peace between New Delhi and Islamabad. The then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also took the initiative to propose a Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue in December 2015. Also read | Pakistan asks Afghanistan to locate and arrest JeM chief Masood Azhar But all the outreach was followed by major terror attacks like the Pathankot Airbase attack on 2 January 2016, and the attack on the Indian army Camp in Uri in August 2016. 2018, attempts were again made, with a proposed meeting of Indian, and Pakistani foreign ministers on the sidelines of UNGA but it was cancelled at the last moment after terrorist entities brutally killed three police personnel in Jammu and Kashmir. The big blow to ties came in February 2019 after the Pulwama terror attack in which India's 40 security personnel were martyred. This terrorist act was perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a Pakistan-based terrorist organization proscribed by the United Nations which is led by UN-designated and internationally proscribed terrorist Masood Azhar. Later that year, Islamabad suspended People to people ties, and trade ties and downgraded its relationship with India after New Delhi removed the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. A bilateral between Indian and Pakistani leaders is a farfetched thing now, a pull aside will be a miracle. While for India, the issue of Pakistan's support of terror has been a major concern, for Pakistani PM Shahbaz Sharif, any meeting with Indian PM Modi means facing the wrath of Imran Khan ahead of elections. For the foreseeable future, India-Pakistan ties remain in a deep freeze, a freeze that is unlikely to go very soon.

No structured Indo-Pak meet on the sidelines of SCO Summit in Samarkand

In India,&nbsp;at least 12&nbsp;people&nbsp;were killed and over a dozen were&nbsp;injured in an accident after a passenger bus fell&nbsp;into a gorge in the Poonch area of Jammu. Reports suggested that an overloaded minibus skidded off the road and fell into a very deep gorge early morning in the Poonch district. Five people are critically injured and they are&nbsp;airlifted to the government hospital in Jammu.&nbsp;

Officials said the accident occurred near the Brari Ballah Sawjian area after the driver of the bus bearing number JK12-1419 lost control. The Bus skidded off the road and rolled several hundred meters into the gorge. Jammu and Kashmir’s LG Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the incident and announced ex gratia relief.&nbsp;

"Saddened by loss of lives due to a road accident in Sawjian, Poonch. Condolences to bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Rs. 5 lakhs would be given to the next of kin of deceased. Directed Police and Civil authorities to provide best possible treatment to the injured," said LG Manoj Sinha.&nbsp;

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The loss of lives due to an accident in Poonch is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones. Wishing the injured a speedy recovery. Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs. 50,000 would be given to the injured: PM
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia/status/1569937534427463683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti also expressed shock over the incident. "Shocked to hear about the unfortunate accident at Sawajian Mandi in Poonch. Deepest condolences to the grieving families &amp; prayers for the injured," said Mehbooba Mufti.&nbsp;

Soon after the accident, locals, police and the army rushed to the spot and launched a massive rescue operation. Those who are injured have been shifted to the hospital.&nbsp;

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In India, at least 12 people were killed and over a dozen were injured in an accident after a passenger bus fell into a gorge in the Poonch area of Jammu. Reports suggested that an overloaded minibus skidded off the road and fell into a very deep gorge early morning in the Poonch district.

In India, at least 12 people were killed and over a dozen were injured in an accident after a passenger bus fell into a gorge in the Poonch area of Jammu. Reports suggested that an overloaded minibus skidded off the road and fell into a very deep gorge early morning in the Poonch district. Five people are critically injured and they are airlifted to the government hospital in Jammu. Officials said the accident occurred near the Brari Ballah Sawjian area after the driver of the bus bearing number JK12-1419 lost control. The Bus skidded off the road and rolled several hundred meters into the gorge. Jammu and Kashmir’s LG Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the incident and announced ex gratia relief. "Saddened by loss of lives due to a road accident in Sawjian, Poonch. Condolences to bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Rs. 5 lakhs would be given to the next of kin of deceased. Directed Police and Civil authorities to provide best possible treatment to the injured," said LG Manoj Sinha. The loss of lives due to an accident in Poonch is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones. Wishing the injured a speedy recovery. Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs. 50,000 would be given to the injured: PM — PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 14, 2022 × The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti also expressed shock over the incident. "Shocked to hear about the unfortunate accident at Sawajian Mandi in Poonch. Deepest condolences to the grieving families & prayers for the injured," said Mehbooba Mufti. Soon after the accident, locals, police and the army rushed to the spot and launched a massive rescue operation. Those who are injured have been shifted to the hospital. 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.

India: At least 12 dead, several injured in bus accident in Poonch area of Jammu

The Vedanta Group and Foxconn, a Taiwanese electronic manufacturing powerhouse, have announced plans to establish a massive semiconductor manufacturing facility in Gujarat, India.

Vedanta-Foxconn to set up semi-conductor units in Gujarat

Indian PM Narendra Modi will travel to Uzbekistan for the crucial SCO meeting, which is scheduled to be held on September 15-16. PM Modi will also hold bilateral meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin to boost trade ties.

WION Dispatch | SCO Summit 2022: Vladimir Putin to meet Indian PM Modi to boost trade ties

India criticised Sri Lanka over the 'lack of measurable progress' in the reconciliation of Lankan Tamils. Is India leveraging the issue after Colombo's decision to permit a Chinese research voyage last month? Molly Gambhir tells you.

Gravitas: India calls out Sri Lanka over Tamil reconciliation

India will take over the Presidency of the SCO this year. New Delhi is in a position to dictate the agenda of the SCO. Which issues will India focus on? Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: At this year's SCO Summit, A unique opportunity for India

Kashmir used to be the favourite location for the Bollywood Film Industry till the 1980s before the insurgency started. And after 30 long years, the Indian Film Industry is back in the Valley.

India: Bollywood filmmakers return to picturesque valley of Jammu and Kashmir

Twitter whistleblower Peiter “Mudge” Zatko told the Senate Judiciary Committee in the United States on Tuesday that the social media company knowingly allowed India and China to add their agents to their workforce. Zatko, who was their former security chief, said that Twitter hired at least one agent from China’s intelligence service and accused the company of giving nations access to their data, according to AP.&nbsp;

Zatko has been extremely vocal about Twitter’s weak cyber defence, and said that the lack of focus on security has made the “company vulnerable to exploitation by teenagers, thieves and spies”.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/narendra-modi-to-meet-vladimir-putin-at-sco-summit-focus-on-trade-and-energy-ties-515924" hreflang="en">Modi to meet Putin at SCO summit, focus on trade and energy ties</a>

“I am here today because Twitter leadership is misleading the public, lawmakers, regulators and even its own board of directors,” Zatko said as he began his sworn testimony according to Associated Press.&nbsp;

“They don’t know what data they have, where it lives and where it came from and so, unsurprisingly, they can’t protect. It doesn’t matter who has keys if there are no locks,” he added. &nbsp;

Zatko’s testimony can be a huge boost to Tesla CEO Elon Musk who walked away from the proposed $44 billion Twitter takeover deal after accusing the platform of having a huge number of fake users. &nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-staff-member-injured-as-package-explodes-on-northeastern-university-campus-515935" hreflang="en">One staff member injured as package explodes on Northeastern University campus</a>

The trial involving Musk and Twitter will begin on October 17 with the latter looking for compensation due to the deal breaking down but Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick, the&nbsp;head&nbsp;judge&nbsp;of&nbsp;Delaware's&nbsp;Court of Chancery, ruled that all new evidence from Zatko’s testimony will be included.&nbsp;

In an official statement, Twitter denied all allegations brought forward by Zatko and said that their hiring process is “independent of any foreign influence” and they give special attention to data privacy.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Twitter whistleblower Peiter “Mudge” Zatko told the Senate Judiciary Committee in the United States on Tuesday that the social media company knowingly allowed India and China to add their agents to their workforce.

Twitter whistleblower Peiter “Mudge” Zatko told the Senate Judiciary Committee in the United States on Tuesday that the social media company knowingly allowed India and China to add their agents to their workforce. Zatko, who was their former security chief, said that Twitter hired at least one agent from China’s intelligence service and accused the company of giving nations access to their data, according to AP. Zatko has been extremely vocal about Twitter’s weak cyber defence, and said that the lack of focus on security has made the “company vulnerable to exploitation by teenagers, thieves and spies”. Also read | Modi to meet Putin at SCO summit, focus on trade and energy ties “I am here today because Twitter leadership is misleading the public, lawmakers, regulators and even its own board of directors,” Zatko said as he began his sworn testimony according to Associated Press. “They don’t know what data they have, where it lives and where it came from and so, unsurprisingly, they can’t protect. It doesn’t matter who has keys if there are no locks,” he added. Zatko’s testimony can be a huge boost to Tesla CEO Elon Musk who walked away from the proposed $44 billion Twitter takeover deal after accusing the platform of having a huge number of fake users. Also read | One staff member injured as package explodes on Northeastern University campus The trial involving Musk and Twitter will begin on October 17 with the latter looking for compensation due to the deal breaking down but Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick, the head judge of Delaware's Court of Chancery, ruled that all new evidence from Zatko’s testimony will be included. In an official statement, Twitter denied all allegations brought forward by Zatko and said that their hiring process is “independent of any foreign influence” and they give special attention to data privacy. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

India, China had their agents working for Twitter, says whistleblower

Indian PM Narendra Modi will travel to Uzbekistan for the crucial SCO meeting, which is scheduled to be held on September 15-16. The Indian leader will also hold bilateral meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin to boost trade ties.

SCO Summit 2022: Putin to meet Indian PM Modi; Energy, food security on agenda

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit is scheduled to take place on September 15 and 16 in Uzbekistan's Samarkand. A total of 15 leaders have been invited to participate in the geopolitical event, which is held once every year.

Here are five key things to look for in this year's SCO summit:

First in-person SCO summit after 2019

This will be the first in-person summit since June 2019, when the SCO summit was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The 2020 Moscow summit was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2021 summit at Dushanbe was conducted in a hybrid mode.

This is the first time that Xi Jinping will attend a multilateral summit where PM Modi will also be present in three years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/shanghai-cooperation-organisation-sco-summit-live-updates-515964">Also read |&nbsp;SCO Summit 2022 in Uzbekistan live updates | Xi Jinping to meet Putin, no clarity on India-China talks</a>

What’s there for India?

The SCO is important for India because of its growing trade relations with several Central Asian economies that are also members of the summit.

India can address issues related to terrorism as many of these SCO members want to fight terrorism, cross-border organised crime, illegal migration, and human trafficking. India also has close strategic, cultural, and economic ties with Russia, which is a major player in the SCO.

Important Bilaterals for India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet Xi in person for the first time since the 2019 BRICS Summit in Brazil. Since then, Indian and Chinese troops have faced off in a series of deadly skirmishes as a result of multiple Chinese intrusions in Ladakh and Sikkim.

PM Modi is also expected to hold his first ever bilateral meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisiand and meet Russian PM Putin on the sidelines of the geopolitical event.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspense-remains-on-bilateral-meeting-between-indias-modi-and-chinas-xi-on-sidleines-of-sco-meet-516004">Also read |&nbsp;Suspense remains on bilateral meeting between India's Modi and China's Xi on sidelines of SCO</a>

Iran to partake in 2023 SCO summit as full member

At the SCO's upcoming summit, Iran is set to become the ninth member state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will discuss its SCO membership as well as meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for discussions on the Iran nuclear deal.

Ukraine Conflict

The biggest challenge to Uzbekistan’s big summit lies to the west—in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In the wake of the Ukraine crisis, China and Russia are likely to unveil their response to the rapidly changing world order. Issues of regional and global importance, such as the Ukraine conflict and its fallout on the global economy, are expected to come up at the meeting.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit is scheduled to take place on September 15 and 16 in Uzbekistan's Samarkand. A total of 15 leaders have been invited to participate in the geopolitical event, which is held once every year.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit is scheduled to take place on September 15 and 16 in Uzbekistan's Samarkand. A total of 15 leaders have been invited to participate in the geopolitical event, which is held once every year. Here are five key things to look for in this year's SCO summit: First in-person SCO summit after 2019 This will be the first in-person summit since June 2019, when the SCO summit was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The 2020 Moscow summit was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while the 2021 summit at Dushanbe was conducted in a hybrid mode. This is the first time that Xi Jinping will attend a multilateral summit where PM Modi will also be present in three years. Also read | SCO Summit 2022 in Uzbekistan live updates | Xi Jinping to meet Putin, no clarity on India-China talks What’s there for India? The SCO is important for India because of its growing trade relations with several Central Asian economies that are also members of the summit. India can address issues related to terrorism as many of these SCO members want to fight terrorism, cross-border organised crime, illegal migration, and human trafficking. India also has close strategic, cultural, and economic ties with Russia, which is a major player in the SCO. Important Bilaterals for India Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet Xi in person for the first time since the 2019 BRICS Summit in Brazil. Since then, Indian and Chinese troops have faced off in a series of deadly skirmishes as a result of multiple Chinese intrusions in Ladakh and Sikkim. PM Modi is also expected to hold his first ever bilateral meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisiand and meet Russian PM Putin on the sidelines of the geopolitical event. Also read | Suspense remains on bilateral meeting between India's Modi and China's Xi on sidelines of SCO Iran to partake in 2023 SCO summit as full member At the SCO's upcoming summit, Iran is set to become the ninth member state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will discuss its SCO membership as well as meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for discussions on the Iran nuclear deal. Ukraine Conflict The biggest challenge to Uzbekistan’s big summit lies to the west—in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In the wake of the Ukraine crisis, China and Russia are likely to unveil their response to the rapidly changing world order. Issues of regional and global importance, such as the Ukraine conflict and its fallout on the global economy, are expected to come up at the meeting. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

SCO summit: Five key things to look for this year

An Indian-origin man was sentenced to six weeks' jail on Tuesday for stealing three cans of Coca-Cola worth a little more than $2 (SGD3) from a minimart at a local housing estate.

The man identified as Jeswindar Singh Dilbara Singh, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of theft, Channel News Asia reported.

The court was told that Singh was walking past a minimart in the Bukit Merah public housing estate on August 26 when he stopped and pulled open the fridge door, and took three cans of Coca-Cola without paying for them.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trending-on-wion-report-children-increasingly-using-social-media-to-escape-negative-feelings-515727">WATCH |&nbsp;Trending on WION | Report: Children increasingly using social media to escape 'negative feelings'</a>

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Later that morning, the owner of the shop was preparing for business when his wife noticed that the fridge door was slightly open. The couple watched their CCTV footage and saw Singh stealing three cans of Coca-Cola valued at $2 (SGD3) &nbsp;from the fridge.

The couple then called the police after which the man was identified using police camera footage and he was arrested that same day. 
The police raided his flat and recovered two cans of Coca-Cola from his fridge.

The cans were returned to the minimart. The third can was consumed by the man, and he did not make any restitution, the prosecutor said.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

An Indian-origin man was sentenced to six weeks' jail on Tuesday for stealing three cans of Coca-Cola worth a little more than $2 (SGD3) from a minimart at a local housing estate.

An Indian-origin man was sentenced to six weeks' jail on Tuesday for stealing three cans of Coca-Cola worth a little more than $2 (SGD3) from a minimart at a local housing estate. The man identified as Jeswindar Singh Dilbara Singh, 61, pleaded guilty to one count of theft, Channel News Asia reported. The court was told that Singh was walking past a minimart in the Bukit Merah public housing estate on August 26 when he stopped and pulled open the fridge door, and took three cans of Coca-Cola without paying for them. WATCH | Trending on WION | Report: Children increasingly using social media to escape 'negative feelings' × Later that morning, the owner of the shop was preparing for business when his wife noticed that the fridge door was slightly open. The couple watched their CCTV footage and saw Singh stealing three cans of Coca-Cola valued at $2 (SGD3) from the fridge. The couple then called the police after which the man was identified using police camera footage and he was arrested that same day. The police raided his flat and recovered two cans of Coca-Cola from his fridge. The cans were returned to the minimart. The third can was consumed by the man, and he did not make any restitution, the prosecutor said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Indian-origin man sentenced to prison for stealing three Coca Cola cans worth $2 in Singapore

The sky over the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, especially in Lucknow on Monday (September 12) evening, was bathed in a rare glimmer, or what locals call "amazing lighting." The electromagnetic light seems to be travelling in a straight line.

Locals recorded the flashing lights with their phones and videos on social media sites. The pictures and video went viral within a few moments.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-doctor-runs-for-45-minutes-leaving-his-car-behind-in-traffic-to-perform-urgent-surgery-515333">Also read |&nbsp;Watch: Doctor runs for 45 minutes leaving his car behind in traffic to perform urgent surgery&nbsp;</a>

The video attracted the attention of online users, some of whom even referred to the lights in Lucknow's sky as "strange."

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After August 13 2002, where mysterious attacks went for 3-4 months, by insectiod electric robots like creatures blinking lights in night at state of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UttarPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UttarPradesh</a> They're back straight at capital Lucknow on September 12, after two decades I guess! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ET?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ET</a> Most of us have camera now. <a href="https://t.co/WdFd7nBQfr">pic.twitter.com/WdFd7nBQfr</a>
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&nbsp;

A local on social media stated, "Today at 7:15 pm around I saw one mysterious object full of light, like train, is traveling in sky and light coming out from bogies windows," India TV reported.

Another instance was a picture taken by a pilot that had all netizens excited. He was in awe at what he observed as those plans flew over the Atlantic Ocean. There were crimson, shimmering dots in the sky in front of him.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/around-150-families-being-shifted-from-their-homes-to-welcome-8-cheetahs-from-namibia-on-17-sep-515470">Also read |&nbsp;Around 150 families being shifted from their homes to welcome 8 Cheetahs from Namibia on 17 Sep</a>

The pilot claimed that he hadn't seen anything like this, nor did the Twitterverse.

Later, official defence sources confirmed the light to be a satellite and earlier media reports said that it was one of Elon Musk's "Starlink" satellites, news agency ANI reported.

Notably, similar mysterious lights that baffled people were photographed in Punjab's Pathankot in December 2021. Before this, in June 2021, unusual lights flickering in the night sky had been seen in Gujarat and surrounding areas, sparking rumours about UFOs.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The sky over the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, especially in Lucknow on Monday (September 12) evening, was bathed in a rare glimmer, or what locals call "amazing lighting.

The sky over the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, especially in Lucknow on Monday (September 12) evening, was bathed in a rare glimmer, or what locals call "amazing lighting." The electromagnetic light seems to be travelling in a straight line. Locals recorded the flashing lights with their phones and videos on social media sites. The pictures and video went viral within a few moments. Also read | Watch: Doctor runs for 45 minutes leaving his car behind in traffic to perform urgent surgery The video attracted the attention of online users, some of whom even referred to the lights in Lucknow's sky as "strange." After August 13 2002, where mysterious attacks went for 3-4 months, by insectiod electric robots like creatures blinking lights in night at state of #UttarPradesh They're back straight at capital Lucknow on September 12, after two decades I guess! #ET Most of us have camera now. pic.twitter.com/WdFd7nBQfr — Anivesh Pant (@versatileastute) September 12, 2022 × A local on social media stated, "Today at 7:15 pm around I saw one mysterious object full of light, like train, is traveling in sky and light coming out from bogies windows," India TV reported. Another instance was a picture taken by a pilot that had all netizens excited. He was in awe at what he observed as those plans flew over the Atlantic Ocean. There were crimson, shimmering dots in the sky in front of him. Also read | Around 150 families being shifted from their homes to welcome 8 Cheetahs from Namibia on 17 Sep The pilot claimed that he hadn't seen anything like this, nor did the Twitterverse. Later, official defence sources confirmed the light to be a satellite and earlier media reports said that it was one of Elon Musk's "Starlink" satellites, news agency ANI reported. Notably, similar mysterious lights that baffled people were photographed in Punjab's Pathankot in December 2021. Before this, in June 2021, unusual lights flickering in the night sky had been seen in Gujarat and surrounding areas, sparking rumours about UFOs. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Watch | Mysterious lights in Indian sky leave Lucknow residents awestruck

In a bid to boost ties, Nepal ad China on Monday signed a six-point memorandum of understanding in Kathmandu. The path was signed after Chinese leader Li Zhanshu held wide-ranging talks with Nepal house of representative speaker Agni Prasad Sabkota.

Nepal: Xi's confidant visits the Himalayan Nation, signs a six point pact

Relations between India and Uzbekistan go back in history. Uzbekistan has had a civilization deeply connected with India. Diplomatic relations between New Delhi and Tashkent progressed well over the years. India's second Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri breathed his last in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan & India's shared past: Death of former Indian PM Shastri

The Indian forest service has clashes over the use of acronym - IFS, its association shooting off a letter to Ashwini Kumar Choubey, minister of state (MoS) Environment Forest and Climate Change who has raised it with the Department of Personnel.

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The letter has been sent by Chairman of the Indian forest service union Dr. SP Yadav to MoS Ashwini pointing out that the service has a history of over 100 years. The letter explained that the department of personnel and training (DoPT)/appointment committee of cabinet (ACC) has started the use of IFoS for the service making a case that it should be IFS.

The key contentions of the association is that IFS should not be used for Indian foreign service and that the acronym is popular domestically as "forest service". Important to note, it has been an old issue and in 2017 as well the matter was raised as well by the union.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/i-lost-everything-recounting-bitter-memories-of-2611-karambir-kang-urges-to-combat-terrorism-514933">'I lost everything': Recounting bitter memories of 26/11, Karambir Kang urges for action to combat terrorism</a>

While the Indian foreign service came into existence in 1946 and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kashmiri-baker-pays-tribute-to-queen-elizabeth-ii-514889">Indian</a> forest service was created in 1966. But the union, in its pleas, has pointed out that the forest service earlier existed as Imperial forest service (IFS) which was created by the British govt in India in 1866 and the acronym IFS came into existence then. It has even highlighted the use of abbreviation IFS in govt forest codes and manuals.

Meanwhile MoS Choubey has written to Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS&nbsp;in the Ministry of Personnel for the use of IFS for Indian forest service. He forwarded the case made by the union that IFS has been used since the 1920s and recent changes have been made with use of IFoS even by the various departments, officials documents for the service. In the letter he said that this "impacts the morale of the officers." The matter has been raised telephonically as well by Minister Ashwini with Minister Jitendra and that no such official order exists on the use of IFoS for the Indian forest service, emphasising on use of IFS.

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The Indian forest service has clashes over the use of acronym - IFS, its association shooting off a letter to Ashwini Kumar Choubey, minister of state (MoS) Environment Forest and Climate Change who has raised it with the Department of Personnel.

The Indian forest service has clashes over the use of acronym - IFS, its association shooting off a letter to Ashwini Kumar Choubey, minister of state (MoS) Environment Forest and Climate Change who has raised it with the Department of Personnel. The letter has been sent by Chairman of the Indian forest service union Dr. SP Yadav to MoS Ashwini pointing out that the service has a history of over 100 years. The letter explained that the department of personnel and training (DoPT)/appointment committee of cabinet (ACC) has started the use of IFoS for the service making a case that it should be IFS. The key contentions of the association is that IFS should not be used for Indian foreign service and that the acronym is popular domestically as "forest service". Important to note, it has been an old issue and in 2017 as well the matter was raised as well by the union. Also read | 'I lost everything': Recounting bitter memories of 26/11, Karambir Kang urges for action to combat terrorism While the Indian foreign service came into existence in 1946 and the Indian forest service was created in 1966. But the union, in its pleas, has pointed out that the forest service earlier existed as Imperial forest service (IFS) which was created by the British govt in India in 1866 and the acronym IFS came into existence then. It has even highlighted the use of abbreviation IFS in govt forest codes and manuals. Meanwhile MoS Choubey has written to Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS in the Ministry of Personnel for the use of IFS for Indian forest service. He forwarded the case made by the union that IFS has been used since the 1920s and recent changes have been made with use of IFoS even by the various departments, officials documents for the service. In the letter he said that this "impacts the morale of the officers." The matter has been raised telephonically as well by Minister Ashwini with Minister Jitendra and that no such official order exists on the use of IFoS for the Indian forest service, emphasising on use of IFS. WATCH WION live TV here:

Indian forest service clashes over use of acronym 'IFS'; says impacts morale

On Monday, the parliamentary standing committee on health and family welfare submitted a report to the Rajya Sabha recommending that cancer should be declared as a ‘notified disease’ citing many unreported cancer deaths in India. The committee also noted that this hinders data collection due to the ambiguity of the actual cause of death and called for a CoWin-like portal for registration.&nbsp;

The committee made these recommendations in the 139th report on “Cancer Care Plan and Management: Prevention, Diagnosis, Research &amp; Affordability of Cancer Treatment” submitted to the Chairman of the upper house of Parliament. “The Committee notes that Cancer is still not classified as a notifiable disease which results in underreporting of cancer deaths…It has been brought to the notice of the Committee that many times death is simply recorded as a cardio-respiratory failure without mentioning the actual cause of death,” states the report.&nbsp;

A ‘notifiable disease’ is any disease that a citizen needs to report to the public health authorities, which is mandated by law. The collation of this information allows the authorities to monitor the disease and issue early warnings in case of a possible outbreak. Therefore, the committee has called for cancer to be a notified disease which would mandatorily require cancer deaths to be reported to the government machinery. &nbsp;

The panel headed by MP Ram Gopal Yadav also called for a CoWin-like portal for registration, which would aid real-time data collection, and counselling, while also offering supportive resources for cancer care with interactive tools. The report added, “The portal can also be equipped to aid those affected by cancer by guiding them through the treatment and management journey”.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, they have also expressed displeasure over the current mechanism in place which is the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP). The NCRP has been working since 1982 through two other registries, Population Based Cancer Registry (PBCR) and Hospital Based Cancer Registry (HBCR). Notably, only 10% of the Indian population is covered by PBCRs. The committee strongly believes that there is an urgent need for rural-based PBCRs “to get realistic information about the incidence and type of cancers across the country.”&nbsp;

The committee also called upon the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (ICMR) to take requisite action and set up a population-based cancer registry in rural areas of these states – Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Orissa. “Such requisite action is all the more necessary to collect data &amp; information not only for policy making on cancer treatment but also for uniform distribution of cancer care,” the report noted.&nbsp;

The Ministry must also expand the scope of PBCR and ensure conducting more rural-based PBCRs to get accurate information about the incidence and types of cancer across the country, said the committee. They also recommend that the Ministry link the Cancer Registry data with Ayushman Bharat/PMJY, mortality databases, and the Hospital Information System (HIS) which they believe would improve cancer registration, follow-up, and outcome data.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

On Monday, the parliamentary standing committee on health and family welfare submitted a report to the Rajya Sabha recommending that cancer should be declared as a ‘notified disease’ citing many unreported cancer deaths in India.

On Monday, the parliamentary standing committee on health and family welfare submitted a report to the Rajya Sabha recommending that cancer should be declared as a ‘notified disease’ citing many unreported cancer deaths in India. The committee also noted that this hinders data collection due to the ambiguity of the actual cause of death and called for a CoWin-like portal for registration. The committee made these recommendations in the 139th report on “Cancer Care Plan and Management: Prevention, Diagnosis, Research & Affordability of Cancer Treatment” submitted to the Chairman of the upper house of Parliament. “The Committee notes that Cancer is still not classified as a notifiable disease which results in underreporting of cancer deaths…It has been brought to the notice of the Committee that many times death is simply recorded as a cardio-respiratory failure without mentioning the actual cause of death,” states the report. A ‘notifiable disease’ is any disease that a citizen needs to report to the public health authorities, which is mandated by law. The collation of this information allows the authorities to monitor the disease and issue early warnings in case of a possible outbreak. Therefore, the committee has called for cancer to be a notified disease which would mandatorily require cancer deaths to be reported to the government machinery. The panel headed by MP Ram Gopal Yadav also called for a CoWin-like portal for registration, which would aid real-time data collection, and counselling, while also offering supportive resources for cancer care with interactive tools. The report added, “The portal can also be equipped to aid those affected by cancer by guiding them through the treatment and management journey”. Meanwhile, they have also expressed displeasure over the current mechanism in place which is the National Cancer Registry Programme (NCRP). The NCRP has been working since 1982 through two other registries, Population Based Cancer Registry (PBCR) and Hospital Based Cancer Registry (HBCR). Notably, only 10% of the Indian population is covered by PBCRs. The committee strongly believes that there is an urgent need for rural-based PBCRs “to get realistic information about the incidence and type of cancers across the country.” The committee also called upon the National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (ICMR) to take requisite action and set up a population-based cancer registry in rural areas of these states – Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Orissa. “Such requisite action is all the more necessary to collect data & information not only for policy making on cancer treatment but also for uniform distribution of cancer care,” the report noted. The Ministry must also expand the scope of PBCR and ensure conducting more rural-based PBCRs to get accurate information about the incidence and types of cancer across the country, said the committee. They also recommend that the Ministry link the Cancer Registry data with Ayushman Bharat/PMJY, mortality databases, and the Hospital Information System (HIS) which they believe would improve cancer registration, follow-up, and outcome data. (With inputs from agencies)

Cancer should be made a ‘notified disease’, recommends Parliamentary panel

The Internet has brought a paradigm shift in information warfare (IW) that considers information not only as a target but also as a tool to conduct overt and covert operations. Having taken a giant leap in cyber technology over other global players, including from US and West, Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE, amongst others, pose a big cyber threat to the world, including the Indo-Pacific region. As a counter-measure to China’s IW, India’s ban on 54 Chinese apps in June 2020, followed by more bans in August 2020 and February 2022, testifies that India cannot remain a spectator and belittle the threat, in the backdrop of imperialistic designs of China in the region.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
China’s advancement in technology and skill development in the realm of the cyberworld has global implications, amid the ongoing Sino-US power struggle for positioning itself as the most influential global power.&nbsp;

Information Warfare is now a key ingredient in China’s commercial and military strategy formulation. The Chinese IW strategy known as ‘Integrated Network Electronic Warfare (EINW)’, comprises various elements of electronic warfare and network-centric warfare techniques to deter and disrupt the capabilities of the enemy by targeting their information system and collecting sensitive information through cyber espionage.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Notably, China has established a big global digital infrastructure, facilitating its control and monitoring of all social platforms. Over 300 Chinese diplomats in 120 countries across the world, with equivalent to more than 500 official accounts, maintain their presence on social networks like Twitter and Facebook. Further, China has made agreements with social media influencers across the world, including India to push its narrative on sensitive issues.

Over the years, India has been witnessing a growth in cyber-attacks reportedly by China-sponsored hackers, targeting both government and public domain in India, ranging from the first recorded cyber-attack (June 1998) on the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre computers to repeated violations of the Indian power sector and other such sectors. As per Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), India in 2021, faced 1,402,809 cyber security incidents as against 1,158,208 incidents in 2020. Further, there was a 51-per cent increase in ransomware incidents between 2021 and the first half of 2022. 
&nbsp; 
Significantly, Chinese cyber-attacks have been in sync with internal developments in India as evident by the fact that about 80,000 cyber-attacks followed after the demonetisation of banknotes in November 2016, while more than 40,000 cyber-attacks followed Sino-India clashes in Galwan, aimed at stealing sensitive information.&nbsp;

In May 2017, &nbsp;India's fighter jet Sukhoi Su-30 crashed on the India-China border. An investigation by the Indian Air Force revealed that the cause of the crash was a cyber-attack when the plane was airborne.&nbsp;

Indian agencies NTRO and military intelligence attributed the attack to Chinese PLA’s media wing to avenge the construction of road by India in the Doklam region, perceived by China as its own territory. 
&nbsp; 
India, the emerging global political and economic power, needs to safeguard its interest amid growing Chinese ambitions to control world trade, strategic affairs as well as information sector to project its better image. China’s hidden agenda to belittle Indian efforts/vaccines to fight the Covid pandemic is an example of Chinese IW against India.&nbsp;

China’s mouthpiece ‘Global Times’ has been reporting the so-called failure of the Indian government to effectively tackle the pandemic and spreading fake news that in order to divert attention from Covid, India may stimulate nationalist sentiments and provoke China and Pakistan on borders.&nbsp;

Following the announcement (April 2020) of new FDI rules by India, the areas witnessing a spurt in the attack by Chinese hackers were focused at ascertaining the changes in Indian policies in manufacturing, export, import and other policy frameworks, which were born on Chinese interests. IT ministry has attributed such attacks to 'Stone Panda', a Chinese threat actor group, linked to the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) entities in Guangzhou. &nbsp;

In 2010, China succeeded in compromising Indian communication satellite INSAT-4B by using the ‘Stuxnet worm’, which led to disruption in TV signals, across the country. Subsequently, National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) was created by the Indian government to safeguard future breaches in the information sphere.

In 2013, Chinese hackers stole several files from the DRDO computers and diverted them to Guangdong Province-based server in China. Additionally, Chinese cyber operations also targeted the Indian Space Research Organisation, BSNL and other Public sector undertakings, including health, consumer industries and banking/financial entities.

India has been calling upon the UN to develop norms for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace and a common understanding on cyber-attacks/sovereignty.&nbsp;

India’s vulnerability to cyber-attacks, primarily, has its roots to lack of governmental control, in line with, the constitutional right of freedom of expression, overflow of information, be it in internet or media/social platforms. In contrast, China enjoys full control over the flow of information. In this scenario, India, in order to protect its cyber-space from information warfare, needs to maintain a proper balance between democratic principles and national security.

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

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The Internet has brought a paradigm shift in information warfare (IW) that considers information not only as a target but also as a tool to conduct overt and covert operations.

The Internet has brought a paradigm shift in information warfare (IW) that considers information not only as a target but also as a tool to conduct overt and covert operations. Having taken a giant leap in cyber technology over other global players, including from US and West, Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE, amongst others, pose a big cyber threat to the world, including the Indo-Pacific region. As a counter-measure to China’s IW, India’s ban on 54 Chinese apps in June 2020, followed by more bans in August 2020 and February 2022, testifies that India cannot remain a spectator and belittle the threat, in the backdrop of imperialistic designs of China in the region. China’s advancement in technology and skill development in the realm of the cyberworld has global implications, amid the ongoing Sino-US power struggle for positioning itself as the most influential global power. Information Warfare is now a key ingredient in China’s commercial and military strategy formulation. The Chinese IW strategy known as ‘Integrated Network Electronic Warfare (EINW)’, comprises various elements of electronic warfare and network-centric warfare techniques to deter and disrupt the capabilities of the enemy by targeting their information system and collecting sensitive information through cyber espionage. Notably, China has established a big global digital infrastructure, facilitating its control and monitoring of all social platforms. Over 300 Chinese diplomats in 120 countries across the world, with equivalent to more than 500 official accounts, maintain their presence on social networks like Twitter and Facebook. Further, China has made agreements with social media influencers across the world, including India to push its narrative on sensitive issues. Over the years, India has been witnessing a growth in cyber-attacks reportedly by China-sponsored hackers, targeting both government and public domain in India, ranging from the first recorded cyber-attack (June 1998) on the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre computers to repeated violations of the Indian power sector and other such sectors. As per Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), India in 2021, faced 1,402,809 cyber security incidents as against 1,158,208 incidents in 2020. Further, there was a 51-per cent increase in ransomware incidents between 2021 and the first half of 2022. Significantly, Chinese cyber-attacks have been in sync with internal developments in India as evident by the fact that about 80,000 cyber-attacks followed after the demonetisation of banknotes in November 2016, while more than 40,000 cyber-attacks followed Sino-India clashes in Galwan, aimed at stealing sensitive information. In May 2017, India's fighter jet Sukhoi Su-30 crashed on the India-China border. An investigation by the Indian Air Force revealed that the cause of the crash was a cyber-attack when the plane was airborne. Indian agencies NTRO and military intelligence attributed the attack to Chinese PLA’s media wing to avenge the construction of road by India in the Doklam region, perceived by China as its own territory. India, the emerging global political and economic power, needs to safeguard its interest amid growing Chinese ambitions to control world trade, strategic affairs as well as information sector to project its better image. China’s hidden agenda to belittle Indian efforts/vaccines to fight the Covid pandemic is an example of Chinese IW against India. China’s mouthpiece ‘Global Times’ has been reporting the so-called failure of the Indian government to effectively tackle the pandemic and spreading fake news that in order to divert attention from Covid, India may stimulate nationalist sentiments and provoke China and Pakistan on borders. Following the announcement (April 2020) of new FDI rules by India, the areas witnessing a spurt in the attack by Chinese hackers were focused at ascertaining the changes in Indian policies in manufacturing, export, import and other policy frameworks, which were born on Chinese interests. IT ministry has attributed such attacks to 'Stone Panda', a Chinese threat actor group, linked to the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) entities in Guangzhou. In 2010, China succeeded in compromising Indian communication satellite INSAT-4B by using the ‘Stuxnet worm’, which led to disruption in TV signals, across the country. Subsequently, National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) was created by the Indian government to safeguard future breaches in the information sphere. In 2013, Chinese hackers stole several files from the DRDO computers and diverted them to Guangdong Province-based server in China. Additionally, Chinese cyber operations also targeted the Indian Space Research Organisation, BSNL and other Public sector undertakings, including health, consumer industries and banking/financial entities. India has been calling upon the UN to develop norms for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace and a common understanding on cyber-attacks/sovereignty. India’s vulnerability to cyber-attacks, primarily, has its roots to lack of governmental control, in line with, the constitutional right of freedom of expression, overflow of information, be it in internet or media/social platforms. In contrast, China enjoys full control over the flow of information. In this scenario, India, in order to protect its cyber-space from information warfare, needs to maintain a proper balance between democratic principles and national security. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) 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.

Information warfare against India - the China angle

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