New Zealand versus India Highlights Hockey World Cup 2023: At the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India was defeated by New Zealand in their crossover game to end the tournament. After the game ended in a 3-3 draw, New Zealand won in sudden death.

FIH Hockey World Cup: New Zealand win crossover

India and France have carried out a five-day Naval exercise in the Pacific region. The drill's aim was to improve interoperability and prepare joint operations. The annual aero-naval event celebrated the 25th anniversary of the two Nations strategic partnership.

India-France complete five-day annual aero-naval exercise

The government in India has issued new endorsement rules which state&nbsp;that sponsored content must be clearly labelled by social media influencers as such or they will have to pay a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh (USD&nbsp;12,349)&nbsp;for the first time and a repeat offender will have to pay fine of up to Rs 50 lakh (USD&nbsp;61,746)&nbsp;or face a ban of up to six months.&nbsp;

India's Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food &amp; Public Distribution issued the regulations which aim to ensure that the audiences are not deceived by influencers when they are promoting services or products and must comply with the Consumer Protection Act and the guidelines and rules related to them.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/is-more-trouble-brewing-big-tech-firms-back-google-in-a-key-lawsuit-554378">Is more trouble brewing? Big tech firms back Google in a key lawsuit</a>

As per the guidelines, the influencers must disclose the sponsorship clearly and prominently in any endorsement, which makes it difficult for the audience to miss it.&nbsp;

The guidelines apply to any influencer, virtual or celebrity who is reaching the audience and holds the power to influence the audience's decisions related to purchasing a product or opinions about a service, product, experience or brand.&nbsp;

Any material connection of the influencers with the advertiser, which includes incentives, benefits, trips or hotel stays, monetary or other compensation, coverage, free products without or with a condition, media barters, awards, gifts, discounts, employment, personal or family relationships must be disclosed.&nbsp;

WATCH | India: News flagged as fake by government to be banned on social media

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The influencers must make endorsements in clear and simple language, using terms like “paid promotion”, “advertisement” and “sponsored”. No service or product not experienced or used personally should&nbsp;be endorsed by the influencers.&nbsp;

The ministry released the guidelines in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act of 2019, under which guidelines were established for consumers' protection from misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The government in India has issued new endorsement rules which state that sponsored content must be clearly labelled by social media influencers as such or they will have to pay a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh (USD 12,349) for the first time and a repeat offender will have to pay fine of up to Rs 50 lakh (USD 61,746) or face a ban of up to six months.

The government in India has issued new endorsement rules which state that sponsored content must be clearly labelled by social media influencers as such or they will have to pay a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh (USD 12,349) for the first time and a repeat offender will have to pay fine of up to Rs 50 lakh (USD 61,746) or face a ban of up to six months. India's Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution issued the regulations which aim to ensure that the audiences are not deceived by influencers when they are promoting services or products and must comply with the Consumer Protection Act and the guidelines and rules related to them. ALSO READ | Is more trouble brewing? Big tech firms back Google in a key lawsuit As per the guidelines, the influencers must disclose the sponsorship clearly and prominently in any endorsement, which makes it difficult for the audience to miss it. The guidelines apply to any influencer, virtual or celebrity who is reaching the audience and holds the power to influence the audience's decisions related to purchasing a product or opinions about a service, product, experience or brand. Any material connection of the influencers with the advertiser, which includes incentives, benefits, trips or hotel stays, monetary or other compensation, coverage, free products without or with a condition, media barters, awards, gifts, discounts, employment, personal or family relationships must be disclosed. WATCH | India: News flagged as fake by government to be banned on social media The influencers must make endorsements in clear and simple language, using terms like “paid promotion”, “advertisement” and “sponsored”. No service or product not experienced or used personally should be endorsed by the influencers. The ministry released the guidelines in accordance with the Consumer Protection Act of 2019, under which guidelines were established for consumers' protection from misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India: Under new rules, influencers face fine, six-month ban for unlabelled paid promotion

UK International Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch who is in-charge of the negotiation of UK-India free trade deal, has reportedly said that the United Kingdom is not planning to offer more student visas to India under the age of 35.

No more student visas for Indians under FTA; 'No Australia-like FTA with India,' says Kemi Badenoch

Let's shift our focus to India. People in the country are becoming more internet and smartphone friendly. For many Indians, the smartphone is the gateway to the internet. But there is now a new observation. India's rocketing internet-user growth has stalled. We tell you more about it in this video.

Internet growth stalls in India as smartphones get costlier | Tech It Out

Along the Line of Control, according to new satellite images released by a researcher, China is reportedly building a dam on a tributary on the river Ganga which is close to its border with India and Nepal.

China is building dam along India's border since 2021, says report

Are India & China heading towards a 'water war'? Satellite images show China is building a dam near Arunachal border. In response, India has also expedited hydro-power projects in the state.

Gravitas: Are India & China heading towards a water war?

Google has lost its antitrust battle in India. The tech giant can no longer force device makers to pre-install Google apps.

Gravitas: Google loses anti-trust battle in India

In a major setback for Google, it has lost its bid to block the Indian Android Anti-Trust ruling. India's top court rejected Google's challenge of a law tribunal's verdict.

Major setback for Google in India as top court rejects Google's challenge

The sacked Factory workers in India have sued General Motors and also its Global CEO for not paying the court audit compensation, according to a

Fired Indian workers sue GM & Global CEO; GM India owes workers about $3 million in wages

The India's directorate general of civil aviation has imposed a fine of about 37,000 on Air India. The fine is for the airlines' failure to comply with applicable rules in the 26th of November urination case.

WION Dispatch: Air India fined over urination case

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday discussed cooperation in infrastructure, connectivity, energy, industry and health with his Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry. Jaishankar also conveyed India's commitment to increase investment flows to hasten the debt-ridden island nation's economic recovery.

WION Dispatch: Indian EAM Jaishankar meets Sri Lankan counterpart Ali Sabry

Vincenzo de Luca, the ambassador of Italy to India, has stated that his nation will support India's G20 Presidency and has praised it for bringing up concerns affecting the developing world.

Italian Envoy: Will contribute to India's G20 Presidency success

China is building a new dam in Tibet on a tributary of the Ganga, close to the tri-junction of its borders with India and Nepal. A geospatial intelligence researcher, has shared new satellite images of China constructing a dam on the Mabja Zangbo river.

Reports: China building Dam near border with India, Nepal

An Indian diamond businessman's 8-year-old daughter has given up a life of luxury and become a monk. Why is the diamond heiress willingly renouncing the world? Molly Gambhir tells you more.

Gravitas: Diamond heiress gives up the life of luxury to become a monk

Six people, which included three children, lost their lives after their throats were accidentally slit by glass-coated kite strings during India's annual kite-flying festival.&nbsp;Hundreds of people flocked to rooftops and terraces to fly their kites during the Uttarayan festival in India's western state of Gujarat during the weekend.

As per reports, the victims bled to death after their necks got entangled in razor-sharp kite strings, officials said Indian news agency Press Trust of India (PTI). Around 176 people suffered injuries due to cuts from strings or because they fell.

A few participants coat the strings of their kite with powdered glass so that the cords of the opponent can be sliced in the air. The practice was banned in 2016, however, critics claim that it is rarely enforced.

A two-year-old girl lost her life when her neck was cut by a kite string while she was on a scooter with her father, said an official from Bortalav police station, as cited by the PTI.

ALSO READ| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/kai-po-che-gujarat-fills-with-colours-of-international-kite-festival-552464">Kai Po Che: Gujarat fills with colours of International Kite Festival</a>

It was said that the girl, whose name was Kriti, died while receiving treatment for injuries at a hospital on Sunday.

In another case, a three-year-old girl suffered a cut on her neck by the string when she was walking alongside her mother in the town of Visnagar on Saturday. The girl was rushed to the hospital where the doctors declared her dead on arrival, said a police official in Visnagar.&nbsp;

Seven-year-old boy, Rishabh Verma, was riding on a scooter with his parents when the string suddenly struck him, said an official from Aji Dam police station.&nbsp;

As per the police, the department received similar reports from Kutch, Gandhinagar and Vadodara districts, where three people died in similar circumstances.&nbsp;

While speaking to the Guardian, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) India's campaigner Nikunj Sharma had earlier said that people can suffer severe injuries by the use of 'Manja' made of nylon string and not cotton to fly kites.&nbsp;

“Unlike cotton strings these are non-biodegradable, don’t break easily and continue to cause injuries months after the festival,” said Sharma. &nbsp;

WATCH | PM Modi inaugurates kite festival in Jakarta

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In the largest city of Gujarat, Ahmedabad, the police department warned people to avoid using the coated string during the kite&nbsp;festival.

“Do not use deadly Chinese Manja to fly kites,” the department stated. The participants were urged by police to remain careful while flying kites, adding that the “momentary fun” of cutting someone else' kite can come at the cost of a life.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Six people, which included three children, lost their lives after their throats were accidentally slit by glass-coated kite strings during India's annual kite-flying festival.

Six people, which included three children, lost their lives after their throats were accidentally slit by glass-coated kite strings during India's annual kite-flying festival. Hundreds of people flocked to rooftops and terraces to fly their kites during the Uttarayan festival in India's western state of Gujarat during the weekend. As per reports, the victims bled to death after their necks got entangled in razor-sharp kite strings, officials said Indian news agency Press Trust of India (PTI). Around 176 people suffered injuries due to cuts from strings or because they fell. A few participants coat the strings of their kite with powdered glass so that the cords of the opponent can be sliced in the air. The practice was banned in 2016, however, critics claim that it is rarely enforced. A two-year-old girl lost her life when her neck was cut by a kite string while she was on a scooter with her father, said an official from Bortalav police station, as cited by the PTI. ALSO READ| Kai Po Che: Gujarat fills with colours of International Kite Festival It was said that the girl, whose name was Kriti, died while receiving treatment for injuries at a hospital on Sunday. In another case, a three-year-old girl suffered a cut on her neck by the string when she was walking alongside her mother in the town of Visnagar on Saturday. The girl was rushed to the hospital where the doctors declared her dead on arrival, said a police official in Visnagar. Seven-year-old boy, Rishabh Verma, was riding on a scooter with his parents when the string suddenly struck him, said an official from Aji Dam police station. As per the police, the department received similar reports from Kutch, Gandhinagar and Vadodara districts, where three people died in similar circumstances. While speaking to the Guardian, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) India's campaigner Nikunj Sharma had earlier said that people can suffer severe injuries by the use of 'Manja' made of nylon string and not cotton to fly kites. “Unlike cotton strings these are non-biodegradable, don’t break easily and continue to cause injuries months after the festival,” said Sharma. WATCH | PM Modi inaugurates kite festival in Jakarta In the largest city of Gujarat, Ahmedabad, the police department warned people to avoid using the coated string during the kite festival. “Do not use deadly Chinese Manja to fly kites,” the department stated. The participants were urged by police to remain careful while flying kites, adding that the “momentary fun” of cutting someone else' kite can come at the cost of a life. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India: Three children among 6 killed as glass-coated kite string slits throats during kite festival

The Union government of India will not allow social media platforms to circulate any information that is identified as false, as per the new draft proposal of the IT rules of India released this week.&nbsp;This is the latest step in the many measures introduced by the Narendra Modi government being perceived as efforts to control the big technological firms.&nbsp;

Any kind of information which has been marked as "fake or false" by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) or other agencies, which have been authorised for the purpose of fact-checking by the government or "by its department in which such business is transacted", will not be allowed on social media under the draft.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/propaganda-piece-and-colonial-mindset-india-slams-bbc-documentary-on-2002-gujarat-riots-554189">'Propaganda piece and colonial mindset': India slams BBC documentary on 2002 Gujarat riots</a>

After the information was identified as fake, "reasonable efforts" would have to be made by social media platforms or other "online intermediaries" to ensure the people do not "host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update or share" any such information, it stated.&nbsp;

The government had in October announced that it would set up a panel to hear users' complaints regarding social media firms' decisions related to content moderation. The social media firms already need to appoint executives and in-house grievance redressal officers to co-ordinate with officials of law enforcement.&nbsp;

WATCH | WION Fineprint | India the world's most populous country?

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Repeatedly, the government has faced tussles with different platforms which failed to fulfil their demands regarding the removal of certain accounts or content which were allegedly spreading misinformation.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Union government of India will not allow social media platforms to circulate any information that is identified as false, as per the new draft proposal of the IT rules of India released this week.

The Union government of India will not allow social media platforms to circulate any information that is identified as false, as per the new draft proposal of the IT rules of India released this week. This is the latest step in the many measures introduced by the Narendra Modi government being perceived as efforts to control the big technological firms. Any kind of information which has been marked as "fake or false" by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) or other agencies, which have been authorised for the purpose of fact-checking by the government or "by its department in which such business is transacted", will not be allowed on social media under the draft. ALSO READ | 'Propaganda piece and colonial mindset': India slams BBC documentary on 2002 Gujarat riots After the information was identified as fake, "reasonable efforts" would have to be made by social media platforms or other "online intermediaries" to ensure the people do not "host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, store, update or share" any such information, it stated. The government had in October announced that it would set up a panel to hear users' complaints regarding social media firms' decisions related to content moderation. The social media firms already need to appoint executives and in-house grievance redressal officers to co-ordinate with officials of law enforcement. WATCH | WION Fineprint | India the world's most populous country? Repeatedly, the government has faced tussles with different platforms which failed to fulfil their demands regarding the removal of certain accounts or content which were allegedly spreading misinformation. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Indian government mulls identifying and banning ‘fake’ news on social media platforms

The new statistics from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) show that costlier smartphones have stalled the increase in new Internet users in the country. Watch to know further.

WION Fineprint | Internet growth stalls in India as smartphones get costlier

Thanks to centuries of cultural relations between what is now Pakistan and what remains India, there is almost always a poetic reference point to discuss the frosty diplomatic relations between the two countries divided by the bloody Partition of British-ruled India in 1947.

One shair, or Urdu couplet, is appropriate to discuss the strange, contradictory behaviour of Pakistan Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif who has called for "serious" bilateral talks with "sincerity of purpose" in what appeared to be a candid interview with Saudi Arabian-owned, Dubai-based Al Arabiya TV.

On the one hand, he spoke of his country having "learned lessons"&nbsp;on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-pm-sharif-calls-for-serious-and-sincere-talks-with-indian-pm-modi-on-burning-topics-553457">futility of the wars it has fought with India</a> and how they had only brought only "misery, poverty and unemployment" to Pakistan, setting the stage for what briefly appeared as a gesture of modesty that might lead to peaceful subcontinental reconciliation in the backdrop of a deep economic crisis in Pakistan.

On the other hand, the Pakistan Prime Minister's Office soon moved to clarify on Twitter (quoting Sharif's previous records) that any such talks can take place only under United Nations resolutions on the Kashmir dispute and that too after a reversal of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that conferred a special self-governance status for Jammu and Kashmir.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indians-view-us-as-second-significant-security-threat-ahead-of-pakistan-shows-survey-553608">Indians view US as second significant security threat ahead of Pakistan, shows survey</a>

As the French say: The more it changes, the more it remains the same.

Or better still, let me quote 19th Century Urdu poet Daagh Dehlvi (whose surname comes from his birthplace Delhi). Daagh's famous <a href="https://www.shairiforu.xyz/2021/12/khoob-parda-hai-ki-chilman-se-dagh-dehlvi-ghazal.html"> </a>love couplets&nbsp;on the strange ways of a relationship were popularised by Farida Khanum, who is appropriately enough a consummate Pakistani singer of ghazals.

Khoob parda hai ki chilman se lage baithe hain

Saaf chhupte bhi nahin saamne aate bhi nahin

Translation:

What coyness this is, to abide, by a curtain beside her face

Which neither she clearly hides nor openly displays.

This diplomatic purdah in which Shehbaz seems to display love only to backtrack into what digital age kids might call "ghosting" is typical of Pakistani diplomacy.

But seriously, India is in a who-cares mood on this, and the backtracking or rebalancing or whatever you might want to call the Pakistani PM's blow-hot-blow-cold act comes amid unprecedented confusion on where Islamabad's centre of power might be heading and this is even more strongly reinforced by failed previous attempts at peace.

For the record, India and Pakistan signed the Shimla Treaty in 1972 after Pakistan's humiliating defeat in 1971 in the Bangladesh war and at the core of the pact was the insistence that problems will be resolved through bilateral negotiations. Any condition linked to the UN resolutions that go back to the Independence times flies in the face of such bilateralism. And it doesn't help that the man who represented Pakistan at Shimla, then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was overthrown in 1978 by General Zia-ul-Haq who ushered in what is referred to as a policy to "bleed India through a thousand cuts" (a philosophy that was seen in the subsequent Pakistan-backed militant attacks in Kashmir and elsewhere in India).

Similarly, months after then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee rode a bus to Lahore in February 1999 with a truckload of cultural ambassadors in what seemed like a major peace initiative, Pakistan's generals led an incursion in Kashmir's Kargil region that resulted in a war-like conflict that eventually led to Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz's brother, being overthrown as elected prime minister by General Pervez Musharraf who went on to rule Pakistan as president for several years.

ALSO WATCH | Imran Khan: Pak President Arif Alvi to ask PM Shehbaz Sharif to obtain vote of confidence

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So, one might be justified in asking Shehbaz Sharif if his words carry any weight at all in a country where the generals call the shots anyway. His prime opposition leader, ousted PM Imran Khan, is shouting for the world to hear that he was cleaned out by the army to make way for Sharif's fractious coalition. The former cricketer-turned-deposed-PM's popular street protests and the army's historic role make one serioulsy doubt Sharif's credibility and relevance as a long-term representative of Pakistan's political will.

It doesn't help that Pakistan's economy is in a deep crisis to the point where it has foreign exchange reserves of just about $10 billion -- not enough to cover even a month's imports.

In fact, given the vagueness of Sharif's remarks and the manner he did it -- in an interview to Al Arabiya TV -- my inference would be that talking about talks in the Arab media was only a way to impress inquisitive foreign donors. Pakistan is said to be approaching friendly countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, for additional foreign exchange deposits to tide over its financial crisis until it seals a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that is not about to hand over things on a platter anyway.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/islamabad-responds-to-allegations-of-indian-woman-accusing-pakistan-high-commission-staffer-of-misconduct-552089">Islamabad responds to allegations of Indian woman accusing Pakistan High Commission staffer of misconduct</a>

So we are not even back to Square One. Reading the tea leaves is hardly the way for us to look at Pakistan's diplomacy when what it needs is a quantum jump.

Al Arabiya TV is not the middleman or interlocutor for Shehbaz Sharif to seek talks. If he has to seriously display the sincerity he talks of, he might as well write an open letter to his counterpart Narendra Modi in India. But seriously, if real power is any indication, Modi's counterpart would be General Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan's army chief, not the stand-in brother of a disgraced former prime minister leading a hotchpotch coalition steeped in an economic crisis.

One can only cite Urdu's oft-quoted poet Mirza Ghalib in response to Sharif's laboured efforts.

Hamko ma’aloom hai jannat ki haqeeqat lekin, dil ke khush rakhne ko, ‘Ghalib’ yeh khayaal achcha hai

(We all know the reality of this place called Heaven. Yet, to keep the heart feeling happy and content, the idea of Heaven is a beautiful one).

Heaven can wait. So can talks that talk of heaven.

(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.) &nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Thanks to centuries of cultural relations between what is now Pakistan and what remains India, there is almost always a poetic reference point to discuss the frosty diplomatic relations between the two countries divided by the bloody Partition of British-ruled India in 1947.

Thanks to centuries of cultural relations between what is now Pakistan and what remains India, there is almost always a poetic reference point to discuss the frosty diplomatic relations between the two countries divided by the bloody Partition of British-ruled India in 1947. One shair, or Urdu couplet, is appropriate to discuss the strange, contradictory behaviour of Pakistan Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif who has called for "serious" bilateral talks with "sincerity of purpose" in what appeared to be a candid interview with Saudi Arabian-owned, Dubai-based Al Arabiya TV. On the one hand, he spoke of his country having "learned lessons" on the futility of the wars it has fought with India and how they had only brought only "misery, poverty and unemployment" to Pakistan, setting the stage for what briefly appeared as a gesture of modesty that might lead to peaceful subcontinental reconciliation in the backdrop of a deep economic crisis in Pakistan. On the other hand, the Pakistan Prime Minister's Office soon moved to clarify on Twitter (quoting Sharif's previous records) that any such talks can take place only under United Nations resolutions on the Kashmir dispute and that too after a reversal of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that conferred a special self-governance status for Jammu and Kashmir. ALSO READ | Indians view US as second significant security threat ahead of Pakistan, shows survey As the French say: The more it changes, the more it remains the same. Or better still, let me quote 19th Century Urdu poet Daagh Dehlvi (whose surname comes from his birthplace Delhi). Daagh's famous love couplets on the strange ways of a relationship were popularised by Farida Khanum, who is appropriately enough a consummate Pakistani singer of ghazals. Khoob parda hai ki chilman se lage baithe hain Saaf chhupte bhi nahin saamne aate bhi nahin Translation: What coyness this is, to abide, by a curtain beside her face Which neither she clearly hides nor openly displays. This diplomatic purdah in which Shehbaz seems to display love only to backtrack into what digital age kids might call "ghosting" is typical of Pakistani diplomacy. But seriously, India is in a who-cares mood on this, and the backtracking or rebalancing or whatever you might want to call the Pakistani PM's blow-hot-blow-cold act comes amid unprecedented confusion on where Islamabad's centre of power might be heading and this is even more strongly reinforced by failed previous attempts at peace. For the record, India and Pakistan signed the Shimla Treaty in 1972 after Pakistan's humiliating defeat in 1971 in the Bangladesh war and at the core of the pact was the insistence that problems will be resolved through bilateral negotiations. Any condition linked to the UN resolutions that go back to the Independence times flies in the face of such bilateralism. And it doesn't help that the man who represented Pakistan at Shimla, then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was overthrown in 1978 by General Zia-ul-Haq who ushered in what is referred to as a policy to "bleed India through a thousand cuts" (a philosophy that was seen in the subsequent Pakistan-backed militant attacks in Kashmir and elsewhere in India). Similarly, months after then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee rode a bus to Lahore in February 1999 with a truckload of cultural ambassadors in what seemed like a major peace initiative, Pakistan's generals led an incursion in Kashmir's Kargil region that resulted in a war-like conflict that eventually led to Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz's brother, being overthrown as elected prime minister by General Pervez Musharraf who went on to rule Pakistan as president for several years. ALSO WATCH | Imran Khan: Pak President Arif Alvi to ask PM Shehbaz Sharif to obtain vote of confidence × So, one might be justified in asking Shehbaz Sharif if his words carry any weight at all in a country where the generals call the shots anyway. His prime opposition leader, ousted PM Imran Khan, is shouting for the world to hear that he was cleaned out by the army to make way for Sharif's fractious coalition. The former cricketer-turned-deposed-PM's popular street protests and the army's historic role make one serioulsy doubt Sharif's credibility and relevance as a long-term representative of Pakistan's political will. It doesn't help that Pakistan's economy is in a deep crisis to the point where it has foreign exchange reserves of just about $10 billion -- not enough to cover even a month's imports. In fact, given the vagueness of Sharif's remarks and the manner he did it -- in an interview to Al Arabiya TV -- my inference would be that talking about talks in the Arab media was only a way to impress inquisitive foreign donors. Pakistan is said to be approaching friendly countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, for additional foreign exchange deposits to tide over its financial crisis until it seals a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that is not about to hand over things on a platter anyway. ALSO READ | Islamabad responds to allegations of Indian woman accusing Pakistan High Commission staffer of misconduct So we are not even back to Square One. Reading the tea leaves is hardly the way for us to look at Pakistan's diplomacy when what it needs is a quantum jump. Al Arabiya TV is not the middleman or interlocutor for Shehbaz Sharif to seek talks. If he has to seriously display the sincerity he talks of, he might as well write an open letter to his counterpart Narendra Modi in India. But seriously, if real power is any indication, Modi's counterpart would be General Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan's army chief, not the stand-in brother of a disgraced former prime minister leading a hotchpotch coalition steeped in an economic crisis. One can only cite Urdu's oft-quoted poet Mirza Ghalib in response to Sharif's laboured efforts. Hamko ma’aloom hai jannat ki haqeeqat lekin, dil ke khush rakhne ko, ‘Ghalib’ yeh khayaal achcha hai (We all know the reality of this place called Heaven. Yet, to keep the heart feeling happy and content, the idea of Heaven is a beautiful one). Heaven can wait. So can talks that talk of heaven. (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.

Pakistan's talking of talks with India is a case of vagueness wrapped in contradictions inside a crisis

The Indian government has slammed a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "We think that this is a propaganda piece, designed to push a particular discredited narrative."

WION Dispatch: Indian MEA denounces BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar embarks on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka to further expand bilateral engagement with the neighbour country. Watch this report to know further.

WION Dispatch: Indian EAM Jaishankar embarks on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka

The IT rules released in India this week have said that the country will ban any news that it identifies as "fake" on the social media. Watch to know further.

India: News flagged as fake by government to be banned on social media

Many universities in India’s southern Kerala state have decided to extend menstrual leave&nbsp;to female students.&nbsp;Earlier, the Kerala government said it was considering giving menstrual leaves to female students in all state universities coming under the Department of Higher Education.

"Taking into consideration the mental and physical difficulties faced by female students during menstruation, necessary steps will be taken to implement&nbsp;menstrual leave in all universities," higher education minister R Bindu said in a Facebook post on Monday.

&nbsp;The move came after the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) and the A P J Abdul Kalam Technological University decided to grant menstrual leave for girl students.

In CUSAT, girl students have been given a 2 per cent relaxation in attendance requirements. This means that while students, in general, are required to maintain 75 per cent attendance to appear for examinations, girls will now be required to hold only 73 per cent of attendance.

The decision was taken after requests from the students’ union. CUSAT has over 8,000 students and more than half of them are girls.

"Having considered the requests for menstruation benefits to female students, the Vice-Chancellor has ordered to sanction an additional 2 per cent of condonation of shortage of attendance to female students, in each semester, subject to reporting to the Academic Council," a recent order issued by the joint registrar of CUSAT had said.&nbsp;The education minister hailed the order.

Following CUSAT’s order, female students in other universities in the state also raised similar demands. In December, Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) in Kerala’s Kottayam became the first university in the state to grant maternity leave&nbsp;of 60 days to degree and postgraduate students of 18 years and above.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Many universities in India’s southern Kerala state have decided to extend menstrual leave to female students. Earlier, the Kerala government said it was considering giving menstrual leaves to female students in all state universities coming under the Department of Higher Education.

Many universities in India’s southern Kerala state have decided to extend menstrual leave to female students. Earlier, the Kerala government said it was considering giving menstrual leaves to female students in all state universities coming under the Department of Higher Education. "Taking into consideration the mental and physical difficulties faced by female students during menstruation, necessary steps will be taken to implement menstrual leave in all universities," higher education minister R Bindu said in a Facebook post on Monday. The move came after the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) and the A P J Abdul Kalam Technological University decided to grant menstrual leave for girl students. In CUSAT, girl students have been given a 2 per cent relaxation in attendance requirements. This means that while students, in general, are required to maintain 75 per cent attendance to appear for examinations, girls will now be required to hold only 73 per cent of attendance. The decision was taken after requests from the students’ union. CUSAT has over 8,000 students and more than half of them are girls. "Having considered the requests for menstruation benefits to female students, the Vice-Chancellor has ordered to sanction an additional 2 per cent of condonation of shortage of attendance to female students, in each semester, subject to reporting to the Academic Council," a recent order issued by the joint registrar of CUSAT had said. The education minister hailed the order. Following CUSAT’s order, female students in other universities in the state also raised similar demands. In December, Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) in Kerala’s Kottayam became the first university in the state to grant maternity leave of 60 days to degree and postgraduate students of 18 years and above. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

In India’s southern Kerala state, many universities grant menstrual leave to students

India's automobile giant Maruti Suzuki on Wednesday said that it is recalling over 17,000&nbsp;vehicles manufactured between 08 December 2022 and January 12, 2023, over a possible defect in its airbag controller.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The company in its statement said, "the Company has announced to recall a total of 17,362 vehicles manufactured between 8 December 2022 and 12 January, 2023. The affected models are Alto K10, S-Presso, Eeco,Brezza, Baleno and Grand Vitara."&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com//business-economy/japanese-automaker-subaru-recalls-271000-vehicles-over-high-risk-of-combustion-542979">Also read |&nbsp;Japanese automaker Subaru recalls 271,000 vehicles over high risk of fire, cautions owners</a>

The statement further added that the recall is being undertaken to inspect and replace the Airbag Controller (affected part) free of cost in case of defects, Mint reported.

The company said that if there is any defect, it might result in the non-deployment of the airbags and seat belt pretensioners at the time of a car crash.&nbsp;

The affected customers will be contacted by the automobile giant for authorised workshops and action. As of now, they are advised to not drive or use their respective vehicles till the affected part is replaced.&nbsp;

The recall comes after Maruti Suzuki India on Monday announced that it has increased the prices of its vehicles by almost 1.1 per cent. This is the second price hike undertaken by the carmaker in the ongoing fiscal year.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/after-japans-subaru-now-us-general-motors-recalls-825000-trucks-and-suvs-543231">Also read |&nbsp;After Japan's Subaru, now US' General Motors recalls 825,000 trucks and SUVs</a>

Similarly, Japanese automaker Subaru and US General Motors also recalled thousands of vehicles with suspected defects in the cars.&nbsp;

Subaru recalled some 271,000 vehicles over the high risk of fire.&nbsp;

The US's&nbsp;largest automobile manufacturer, General Motors recalled almost 825,000 vehicles, 740,000 from US and 85,000 from Canada over headlight issues.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

India's automobile giant Maruti Suzuki on Wednesday said that it is recalling over 17,000 vehicles manufactured between 08 December 2022 and January 12, 2023, over a possible defect in its airbag controller.

India's automobile giant Maruti Suzuki on Wednesday said that it is recalling over 17,000 vehicles manufactured between 08 December 2022 and January 12, 2023, over a possible defect in its airbag controller. The company in its statement said, "the Company has announced to recall a total of 17,362 vehicles manufactured between 8 December 2022 and 12 January, 2023. The affected models are Alto K10, S-Presso, Eeco,Brezza, Baleno and Grand Vitara." Also read | Japanese automaker Subaru recalls 271,000 vehicles over high risk of fire, cautions owners The statement further added that the recall is being undertaken to inspect and replace the Airbag Controller (affected part) free of cost in case of defects, Mint reported. The company said that if there is any defect, it might result in the non-deployment of the airbags and seat belt pretensioners at the time of a car crash. The affected customers will be contacted by the automobile giant for authorised workshops and action. As of now, they are advised to not drive or use their respective vehicles till the affected part is replaced. The recall comes after Maruti Suzuki India on Monday announced that it has increased the prices of its vehicles by almost 1.1 per cent. This is the second price hike undertaken by the carmaker in the ongoing fiscal year. Also read | After Japan's Subaru, now US' General Motors recalls 825,000 trucks and SUVs Similarly, Japanese automaker Subaru and US General Motors also recalled thousands of vehicles with suspected defects in the cars. Subaru recalled some 271,000 vehicles over the high risk of fire. The US's largest automobile manufacturer, General Motors recalled almost 825,000 vehicles, 740,000 from US and 85,000 from Canada over headlight issues. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India's Maruti Suzuki recalls more than 17,000 vehicles over possible airbag controller defect

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