Tensions remain high as hopes dashed for breakthrough in China and India stalemate - The Guardian theguardian.com/world/2021/jul…
The clash did not result in all-out declarations of war, but pledges of de-escalation and multiple rounds of failed military talks have instead been overshadowed by a year of troop, artillery and infrastructure buildup.
While Indian army officers say they cannot match the high-tech Chinese infrastructure, they at times admitted to copying their way of living.
“For instance, we saw Chinese would dig trenches and then put tents in them,” said an Indian army officer. “We realized it helps warm up the canopy and since then we have been doing that way.”
For locals in Ladakh, who have spent a year witnessing soldiers, tanks, helicopters and heavy artillery brought up along the frontier, fear remains palpable.
In some of the tensest areas, a buffer zone has been agreed to prevent troops coming to blows. But locals say this does not reflect the reality on the ground and are dismissive of any talk of de-escalation.
The China India border standoff is secondary to the US-Chinese rivalry says Renda's Jin Canrong, as he points out that Beijing doesn't want to escalate,
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» Modi accused of treason by opposition over India spyware disclosures | India | The Guardian theguardian.com/news/2021/jul/…
The stories, published in the Guardian and in partner media outlets around the world on Sunday and Monday, revealed details of hundreds of verified Indian phone numbers that appear in leaked records of numbers.
In a statement, the opposition Congress party accused the Modi government of being the “deployer and executor” of a “spying racket”.
The chapters are: 1. Seize Power (Hitler), 2. Crush Your Rivals (Saddam), 3. Reign through Terror (Idi Amin), 4. Control the Truth (Stalin), 5. Create a New Society (Gaddafi), 6. Rule Forever (Kim Il-sung and family). afr.com/life-and-luxur…
Idi Amin was nicknamed “Big Daddy” or “the gentle giant”, before he revealed his true nature, which resulted in the disappearances of about 300,000 Ugandans.
Colonel Gaddafi came to power on a wave of popularity and a platform of genuine reform. He would remain in charge for 42 years, growing steadily more quixotic and brutal, until he literally died in a ditch.
In contrast with the U.S. states that have explicitly banned vaccination mandates or passports, the European Union is using digital covid certificates, with scannable QR codes that quickly show if someone has been vaccinated, tested negative or recovered from covid-19.
As in Greece and Italy, vaccination would become mandatory for health workers in France by fall. Most everyone else here would still be in a position to decline vaccines.
Both England and Wales recorded the hottest day of the year on Sunday, beating records set on Saturday, and forecasters predict it could be even warmer throughout the week up to Thursday.
Booster shot debate takes center stage as global Covid cases rise - Financial Times ft.com/content/ec0cf6…
The World Health Organization has challenged the ethics of administering third shots, while billions of people in lower-income countries are still waiting for their first.
Last week, Pfizer said it planned to apply for emergency use authorisation in August from the US Food and Drug Administration to give people a third dose.