"Have Serious Dispute With China, There's Tension On Border": S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has asserted that India's stance on the Line of Actual Control, which separates India from China, will remain undeterred.

Mr Jaishankar was speaking at an interaction session with intellectuals in Dharwad. A programme was organised by the BJP Mahanagar unit at Dharwad on Sunday.

"We have serious a dispute with China and after 2020, there is tension on the border," he said, adding, "Our relationship with China is not normal and it could not be normal if there is a large military force at the Line of Actual Control."

In context with the Chinese aggression on the Line of Actual Control, Mr Jaishankar said, "In 2020, even when Covid was going on, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had no hesitation in moving the Indian Army and Indian Air Force in very large numbers to the borders to make sure because the only answer you can give to a neighbour who brings military, in violation of agreements, to the Line of Actual Control, is to counter deploy the military."

Mr Jaishankar also said, "Our soldiers were deployed on the China border in a manner in which that are well looked after and they have the right kind of equipment to deal with challenges they face. Until we get a satisfactory solution, our posture on that border will not change, we will maintain whatever we have to maintain because that is really the conviction of the Prime Minister."

While answering a query on border security and relation with neighbouring countries, Mr Jaishankar said, "We have many neighbours, with most of them relations are extremely good. With two of them, we have problems and I think we should be hesitant in accepting that and describing that."

"First, Pakistan where problems are very obvious. It is also a fact that we have been much more tolerant of it than we should have been," he added.

The External Affairs Minister also said, "We have to be firm, we have to expose them, we have to delegitimise terrorism. If we couldn't take a strong stand, don't expect the world to take a strong stand because we are the primarily affected party."

"Big difference after 2014, we have been absolutely relentlessly uncompromising on this issue," said Mr Jaishankar, adding, "For us whichever forum we have been strongly keeping terrorism as a focal point. Even in the G20, we have also made sure that world recognises today that terrorism is just not acceptable."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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As China's Birth Rate Falls, Students Given Off To "Fall In Love": Report

Political advisors to the government have made many recommendations to increase the birth rate, as population concerns in China have already reached a high point. Now, several colleges are also coming up with a unique plan to support the national concern.

Nine colleges in China are giving students a week off to "fall in love" in April.

According to NBC News, the Mianyang Flying Vocational College, one of nine colleges run by the Fan Mei Education Group, first announced the spring break on March 21, which has a specific focus on romance. The time off, which lasts from April 1 to April 7, encourages students to "learn to love nature, love life, and enjoy love through enjoying the spring break."

"I hope that students can go to see the green water and green mountains and feel the breath of spring. This will not only broaden students' horizons and cultivate their sentiments, but also enrich and deepen the teaching content in the classroom," Liang Guohui, deputy dean of Mianyang Flying Vocational College, said in a statement.

Homework for students includes writing diaries, keeping track of personal development, and making travel videos.

This effort is an attempt to serve the purpose of finding ways to boost the birth rate.

The government has come up with more than 20 recommendations to boost birth rates, though experts say the best they can do is slow the population's decline.

China dug itself into a demographic hole largely through its one-child policy imposed between 1980 and 2015. Authorities raised the limit to three in 2021, but even during stay-at-home COVID times, couples have been reluctant to have babies.

Young people cite high childcare and education costs, low incomes, a feeble social safety net, and gender inequalities as discouraging factors.

The proposals to boost the birth rate, made at the annual meeting of China's People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) this month, range from subsidies for families raising their first child, rather than just the second and third, to expanding free public education and improving access to fertility treatments.

Experts took the sheer number of proposals as a positive sign that China was treating its ageing and declining demographics with urgency, after data showed the population shrinking for the first time in six decades last year.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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Gwalior Women Play Football In Sarees, Video Goes Viral

During a remarkable football match that took place in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior last week, spectators were surprised to see women playing football while wearing sarees. Breaking all stereotypes, the video of women clad in sarees playing football has gone viral on social media.

The women can be seen joyfully kicking the ball through the ground in the video. Their motivation increased not only the standard of the game but also the fervour in the entire stadium. The crowd cheered enthusiastically as the women in sarees kicked goals.

Watch the video here:

'When drape can signify both strength and femininity!'

A group of women turned football players in Gwalior recently. They were spectacular on the field with their athletic skills. It was a 2 day tournament.

The tournament was called "Goal in Saree".pic.twitter.com/18N36cpqQJ

— Naturally Sudhaish (@NaturallySudha) March 29, 2023

The match was a part of the two-day football tournament that was named "Goal in Saree."

Commentary for the revolutionary football competition was provided by Kishore Kanyal, Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

"That is not an easy sport to play in a saree. Hats off to them. It's amazing how they could play in that attire," commented one user.

"Powerful video, proof that a saree can signify multiple feelings," wrote another user.

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AI Images Showing Mark Zuckerberg Walking The Ramp Take Internet By Storm

Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is generally seen in a regular attire of t-shirts, jeans, and sneakers; it's a little different to see him wearing a designer Louis Vuitton outfit and also walking on the ramp. But the artificial technology has made it possible, causing a lot of confusion among internet users because the images appear very real.

It would be challenging to distinguish the fake images produced by AI from real ones since they are so uncannily realistic. Zuckerberg can be seen maintaining the flawless expression that models frequently sport during the rampwalk.

Mark Zuckerberg doing rounds on the runway, pure fashionista.

💬Prompt in alt https://t.co/GQB0nXRzHs pic.twitter.com/xYE3zkaGAm

— Linus (●ᴗ●) (@LinusEkenstam) March 29, 2023

It's not the first time artificial intelligence (AI) images have swept the internet. Many of the expert artists who have employed this technology have produced sometimes unimaginable images.

A few days ago, AI enthusiast Jyo John Mulloor posted a series of images showing Game of Thrones characters, including Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, Arya Stark, and many others, in royal Indian attire.

"If George R. R. Martin has hired an Indian costume designer for Game of Thrones," the caption of the post read.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jyo John Mulloor (@jyo_john_mulloor)

In the caption, Mr. Mulloor revealed that he created the pictures using an AI application called Midjourney.

Mr. Mulloor had posted a series of images showing famous people, including Mahatma Gandhi, B. R. Ambedkar, Mother Teresa, and Elvis Presley, taking a selfie.

"Upon retrieving my old hard drive, I discovered a treasure trove of selfies sent to me by friends from the past," the artist wrote in the caption of the post.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jyo John Mulloor (@jyo_john_mulloor)

Apart from the aforementioned names, the pictures also featured Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin, former US President Abraham Lincoln, scientist Albert Einstein, Jamaican singer Bob Marley, and Argentine Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara, among others.

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Delhi Reports 416 Fresh Covid Cases In A Day, Highest In Over 7 Months

Delhi recorded 416 fresh Covid cases on Saturday, the highest in over seven months, with a positivity rate of 14.37 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department.

Also, one Covid-related death was reported, stated the department's latest bulletin that had two additional sections to describe the fatality -- "Primary cause of death is Covid - zero; primary cause of death is not Covid. Covid finding is incidental - one".

It mentioned that the death count now stands at 26,529. The health department did not share a bulletin on Friday.

The death count due to the infection stood at 26,526, according to the Thursday bulletin.

Delhi had recorded 295 coronavirus cases on Thursday with a positivity rate of 12.48 per cent. On Wednesday, the city had logged 300 cases, the first time since August 31, and two deaths while the positivity rate had mounted to 13.89 per cent.

On August 31, the city had logged 377 cases.

Delhi had recorded 214 cases with a positivity rate of 11.82 per cent on Tuesday, 115 cases with a positivity rate of 7.45 per cent on Monday, 153 cases with a positivity rate of 9.13 per cent on Sunday and 139 cases with a positivity rate of 4.98 per cent on last Saturday.

The Delhi government is keeping an eye on the spurt in Covid cases in the national capital and is "prepared to face any eventuality", Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said on Friday.

Only three deaths have been reported over the last four-five days. In all three patients, co-morbidities were "very severe" and it has been assessed that the fatality was due to co-morbidities and perhaps Covid was "incidental", but one can't say that, he had said.

Addressing reporters after chairing a review meeting on the Covid situation in Delhi, Kejriwal had said there was no need to worry for now and that the city government was taking all required steps.

Delhi has witnessed an increase in the number of fresh Covid cases over the last few days amid a sharp rise in the figure of H3N2 influenza cases in the country.

The number of fresh cases had seen a decline over the last few months in Delhi, and it had dropped to zero on January 16, the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic.

With the fresh cases, the city's Covid tally has increased to 20,10,312. The data showed that 2,895 Covid tests were conducted on Friday.

Ninety-five of the 7,986 beds are occupied in dedicated Covid hospitals in the city, while 717 patients are in home isolation, the health department said. The number of active cases of the infection currently stands at 1,216, it added.

Amid a gradual increase in the number of Covid cases in Delhi, medical experts say the new XBB.1.16 variant of the virus could be driving the surge.

However, they maintain that there is no need to panic and people should follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and get booster shots of the vaccines.

They also say this rise in the number of cases could be a result of more people getting themselves tested for Covid as a precaution when they actually get infected with the influenza virus and develop fever and related symptoms.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said the rise in the number of influenza cases is due to the Influenza A sub-type H3N2 virus.

The H3N2 virus is leading to more hospitalisations than the other sub-types. The symptoms include a runny nose, persistent cough and fever.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Pak's Inflation At 50-Year High, 20 Killed In Stampede For Food In 10 Days

Pakistan's year-on-year inflation hit 35.37 percent in March -- the highest in nearly five decades -- as the government scrambled to meet International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions to unlock a desperately needed bailout.

Month-on-month inflation was 3.72 percent, according to government data released Saturday, while the average inflation rate for the past year was 27.26 percent.

Years of financial mismanagement and political instability have pushed Pakistan's economy to the brink of collapse, exacerbated by a global energy crisis and devastating floods that submerged a third of the country in 2022.

The country needs billions of dollars of financing to service existing debt, while foreign exchange reserves have dwindled and the rupee is in freefall.

Poor Pakistanis are feeling the brunt of the economic turmoil, and at least 20 people have been killed since the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in crowd crushes at food distribution centres.

"The way inflation is rising, I believe a famine-like situation has been simmering," said Shahida Wizarat, a Karachi-based analyst.

At least 12 people were killed Friday in a crowd crush in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi at a factory distributing Ramadan alms.

The South Asian nation -- home to more than 220 million -- is deep in debt and must enact tough tax reforms and push up utility prices if it hopes to unlock another tranche of a $6.5 billion IMF bailout and avoid defaulting.

Inflation is expected to stay at "elevated" levels, the finance ministry said, "owing to market frictions caused by relative demand and supply gap of essential items, exchange rate depreciation and recent upward adjustment of administered prices of petrol and diesel."

 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Bad News For Kohli's RCB! Star All-Rounder To Miss Part Of IPL 2023 Season

Ahead of his side's Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 opener against Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) head coach Sanjay Bangar said that Sri Lankan all-rounder will be available for the side only after April 9 due to his international cricket commitments. RCB will take on MI in their IPL 2023 campaign opener on Sunday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. "Wanindu Hasaranga will be unavailable for us till the ninth of this month," said Bangar in the pre-match press conference. Hasaranga was the leading wicket-taker for RCB last season and was the second-highest wicket-taker overall with 26 scalps in 16 matches at an average of 16.53 and an economy rate of 7.54. His best bowling figures in the last season were 5/18.

England pacer Reece Topley will be a like-for-like replacement for Australian quick Josh Hazlewood, who will be missing out on the first half of the league due to an achilles injury, said the coach.

"We sort of anticipated it (Hazlewood missing IPL games) and it was factored in the auction and pre-auction meetings. Reece Topley provides a like-to-like replacement for him. I am sure that his left-arm bowling will add to the strength of our bowling," said Bangar.

On the status of Rajat Patidar, who is also expected to miss the first half of IPL due to a heel injury, Bangar said that the batter is undergoing treatment at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and the franchise is awaiting clarification from him.

The coach also added that star Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who recently made his return to cricket in the ODI series against Australia after a leg injury sustained last year, has been cleared to play by Cricket Australia (CA) and will play on Sunday.

Bangar revealed that the franchise wanted to sign New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell during the auction last year, but had to sign Will Jacks, an England all-rounder due to the auction sequence. The all-rounder is now in the team as a replacement for an injured Jacks."

"Bracewell is a versatile player. He can bat at the top and lower down the order. We will be looking to make the best use of him," added Bangar.

On playing at the home ground of M Chinnaswammy Stadium after a gap of over three years, Bangar said, "Boys are excited. The build-up was very nice. We had this RCB Unbox event and also the Hall of Fame event that the team management did. The response to these events was nice and it gave goosebumps to the new boys who have not experienced the atmosphere at the Chinnaswammy Stadium. Hope fans will continue providing the energy like they do always."

Last year, RCB qualified for playoffs and lost to Rajasthan Royals in qualifier 2 by seven wickets.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Squad strength: 25 players (overseas 8)

Players bought during IPL 2023 auction - Reece Topley (Rs 1.9 crore), Himanshu Sharma (Rs 20 lakh), Will Jacks (Rs 3.2 crore), Manoj Bhandage (Rs 20 lakh), Rajan Kumar (Rs 70 lakh), Avinash Singh (Rs 60 lakh).

Players retained - Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Suyash Prabhudessai, Rajat Patidar, Dinesh Karthik, Anuj Rawat, Finn Allen, Glenn Maxwell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, David Willey, Karn Sharma, Mahipal Lomror, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood, Siddarth Kaul, Akash Deep.

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