Latest news with #China-Pak
India Today
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
News Menu, May 23: PM's northeast economic push; China-Pak covert deal
On May 23, 1934, the infamous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde met their end in a police ambush in Louisiana, their bullet-riddled car symbolising a turbulent end to a risky romp. Here's India Today's sizzling news menu, served with grit and a nod to history's wild Platter: Operation Sindoor's World ChaseIndia's anti-terror Operation Sindoor hits the global stage, with four of seven all-party delegations briefed by the Ministry of External Affairs today. India Today tracks the teams as they expose Pakistan's terror links. Three teams are already abroad, guns blazing Geopolitical Ghee: China-Pak Satellite PlotIndia Today uncovers a meeting between Chinese and Pakistani military officials to expand China's satellite coverage for the Pakistan Army. This covert deal, aimed at boosting surveillance, adds fuel to regional fire. Is this ghee a strategic masterstroke or a recipe for trouble? The pot's in Sky: IndiGo's Turbulent TaleIndia Today explains the chaos aboard the Delhi-Srinagar IndiGo flight, battered by severe turbulence that cracked its nose cone. Pakistan rejected the pilot's request to use its airspace and forced the plane through a stormy corridor, reports the news agency. All passengers and crew evacuated safely in Srinagar, but the incident grounds trust in Masala: Salman's Home IntrusionA 36-year-old woman's attempt to storm Salman Khan's residence on May 21 spices up Mumbai's gossip mills. Claiming a personal invite and a six-month bond with the star, her arrest fuels drama. India Today probes this Bollywood heist—is it a fan's wild chase or a script gone awry?advertisementKashmiri Kahwa: Cross-Border Terror ChaseAn anti-terror op in Kishtwar's Chatroo forest grinds on, with no terrorists nabbed yet. India Today's ground report notes one Army jawan's sacrifice, as searches resume at the Indo-Nepal border, security forces are on high alert after intelligence reports indicated that over three dozen Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals are attempting to infiltrate the India-Nepal International Border. Dog squads hunt for Sizzlers: Tamannah's Sandalwood RowControversy over Tamannaah Bhatia's deal as brand ambassador for Mysore Sandal Soap. Dirt flies as politicians foam why no Kannada actor got the Nadu sex scandal: A DMK leader's wife accused him of threatening her and other women to sleep with politicians. The National Commission for Womwn asks the state DGP for an 'immediate, impartial and transparent' Kerala, a political slugfest over cracks in a newly built National southern states are sizzling with intrigue, politics, the scents of sandalwood and a heinous Soup: Rahman's Legal TroubleThe Delhi High Court will hear a plea challenging a penalty on music composer AR Rahman in a copyright infringement case filed by Ustad Faiyaz Wasifuddin. The case concerns the song Veera Raja Veerafrom the 2023 Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan Cuppa: Northeast's Economic PushPrime Minister Narendra Modi kickstarts the Rising North East Investors Summit today at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, aiming to transform the region into an investment hotspot. This two-day event targets Rs 5-lakh crore in commitments across sectors. With 2,500 delegates, including global investors, the Northeast's GSDP is ready to roar. This chai's brewed with Mix: India's Weather ShootoutNature pulls no punches, with Delhi expecting light rain and thunder till May 25, while Bhopal recovers from Thursday's 40 kmph dust storms that toppled trees and cut power. India Today reports orange alerts for Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar, with Raigad under a red alert. Himachal's Shimla faces rain till May 28, and Kerala braces for monsoon in days. Northern India counts 27 storm deaths, while Chardham Yatra logs 11.50 lakh pilgrims and 41 fatalities. Unlike Bonnie and Clyde's final stand, this weather is Bite: Covid's Sneaky ReturnCovid-19 creeps back, with Ahmedabad reporting four new cases, Gurugram isolating two, and actor Nikita Dutta and her mother testing positive. India Today flags Kerala's rising infections, urging masks and caution. This pandemic's no Bonnie, but it's still dodging the Buffet: Corporate Gains and GamblesIndia Today dissects Ashok Leyland's Q4 results, spotlighting its market moves. Health-tech startup Even Healthcare's debut grabs buzz, while private banks' five-year performance shows winners and losers. This booty's no bank robbery, but it's packed with high Bite: No Fuel For CarsIn Delhi, no petrol for petrol vehicles over 15 years and diesel vehicles over 10 years at fuel stations from July and Clyde's 1934 demise marked the end of a reckless run. But it was all swag and gun till it lasted. Let's revisit an iconic scene from the cult classic on the duo:'We're gonna take what we want, and anybody who gets in our way is gonna regret it,' Bonnie smirks, tossing her hair. Clyde leans in close, whispering, 'Ain't nobody fast enough to stop us, sugar'.Tune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Narendra Modi
India.com
09-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
India-Pakistan Conflict: A Ticking Time Bomb For Chinese Strategy
New Delhi: Following Pakistan's aggression in Indian territories from Thursday evening, tensions between the two nations have significantly escalated. India's calculated and controlled attack on terrorist infrastructures across the border as part of the ongoing 'Operation Sindoor' to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam attack has drawn global reactions, including from China. China's Foreign Ministry termed India's airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as 'regrettable'. A ministry spokesperson expressed 'concern' over the current situation. 'India and Pakistan are neighbours and will always be. Both are also China's neighbours. China opposes all forms of terrorism,' said the spokesperson. China urged both countries to 'remain calm, exercise restraint and avoid actions that could further complicate the situation'. Experts believe China would never want Pakistan to become unstable, as that would jeopardise billions of dollars in Chinese investment. The country has invested approximately $68 billion in Pakistan from 2024 to 2005. This includes major investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Instability would threaten China's dream of establishing overland connectivity to Central Asia. Experts are of the view: 'Tensions in this region directly affect China's investments and strategic goals. China would never want its interests to be compromised.' China-Pak Diplomatic And Strategic Ties Diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan began on May 21, 1951. Over the decades, defence cooperation and diplomatic relations have grown, and Pakistan has become increasingly economically dependent on China. Though China supplies weapons to Pakistan, it has never directly supported it in a war against India. As India has grown closer to Western countries, Pakistan has leaned more heavily on China. China has backed Pakistan at critical junctures such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) proceedings or financial bailouts. However, it has maintained a balance in its relations with India too. The experts argue that China would never want a war or even the threat of war between India and Pakistan. It would damage its interests and raise major concerns in Central Asia. They add that China is already in a trade war with the United States and would prefer to maintain stable ties with India during this time. China is interest-driven and avoids entanglement in conflicts. Therefore, it has never supported Pakistan militarily against India. China wants to develop its Xinjiang province, which borders both India and Pakistan. That is only feasible if its CPEC and BRI projects in Pakistan succeed. India has long opposed the two projects. And China would not want that opposition from India to grow stronger. China-Pak Trade Ties At present, China is Pakistan's largest trading partner and its top import source. Bilateral trade between China and Pakistan, according to Chinese customs, reached $23.1 billion in 2024, a year-on-year increase. China's exports to Pakistan rose 17% to $20.2 billion, while imports fell 18.2% to $2.8 billion. With around $5.6 billion, electronics and machinery made up a significant portion, including 35% semiconductors and 27% smartphones and telecom equipment. Other key exports included $2.4 billion worth of nuclear reactors, boilers and mechanical equipment and $1.3 billion worth of iron and steel products. When trade with a country is this large, it is only natural to want a stable environment to secure economic interests. Many Chinese projects in Pakistan are already under threat. Rising tensions would only increase risks, especially as Chinese citizens in Pakistan already face security threats. Strategic Interests Pakistan has become closer to China and is maintaining an increased distance from the United States. The two countries not only conduct joint military exercises but also have major defence deals. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 81% of Pakistan's weapons imports over the last five years came from China. Four out of every five weapons Pakistan acquired were Chinese-made. China supplied PL-15 and SD-10 missiles, equipped with modern Beyond Visual Range (BVR) technology, capable of striking airborne targets from long distances. China gains access to Gulf countries through Pakistan. And therefore, it is in the best interest of China to maintain peace and stability in Pakistan as instability would prevent the former from realising economic benefits. For instance, the Gwadar port is ready, but it can only be fully utilised if peace prevails. Therefore, China is consistently urging restraint from both sides and aims to stay out of regional conflicts. He says China's current trade tensions with the United States make it even more reluctant to create friction with India, which is one of its major trade partners. India seeks strong global support like Israel receives against terrorism. However, China's diplomatic tilt toward Pakistan often dilutes India's global standing.
India.com
26-04-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Bad news for Pakistan as India gets ready to fit 'mega laser weapon' in..., missiles of Pakistan army will be...
Bad news for Pakistan as India gets ready to fit 'mega laser weapon' in..., missiles of Pakistan army will be.... New Delhi: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is making a special type of Directed Energy Weapon – DEW that will strengthen the fighter jets. The weapon will be installed in fighter jets to destroy enemy missiles coming in the vicinity. The laser-based weapon will have the capability to destroy enemy's Tactical Ballistic Missiles – TBMs mid-air. It is being called the 'Megawatt Airborne Laser Weapon', which aims to eliminate tactical ballistic threats. Ability To Target Threats From Long Distances The question arises why this weapon will be fixed in fighter jets? When the line of sight of this weapon increases, it can target threats from a long distance. According to officials, the development of the airborne megawatt laser weapon will begin after the 300kw DEW is made. DRDO Has Already Made This Laser Weapon India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed prototype directed energy weapons with 2kW and 5kW capabilities, effective against small drones. Further development includes 25kw to 50kw laser weapons designed to neutralise rockets and artillery, and larger 100kw and 300kw systems intended for naval deployment against aircraft and missiles. The Threat Of China-Pak Missiles Is Increasing It is noteworthy that, the megawatt airborne laser weapon is being made at a time when the threat of ballistic missiles from Pakistan and China is increasing. In such a situation, India has taken a big step to counter them. India also has powerful ballistic missiles such as Prithvi and Akash comes first.
