Press freedom index 2018

Beijing: China said it would apply sanctions against 11 US citizens including officials from Monday in response to Washington`s move on Friday to impose sanctions on 11 Hong Kong and Chinese officials whom it accused of curtailing political freedoms in the city. … [Read more...] about China imposes sanctions against US officials over Hong Kong

According to Zhao, China's decision stems from the wrongdoings of the U.S. side. The sanctions, effective from Monday, are applied to U.S. officials, including Senators Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Tom Cotton and Pat Toomey, Representative Chris Smith, and Carl Gershman, President of the National Endowment for Democracy, Derek Mitchell, President of the National Democratic Institute, Daniel Twining, President of the International Republican Institute, Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, and Michael J. Abramowitz, President of Freedom House. … [Read more...] about China sanctions 11 U.S. officials with egregious records on Hong Kong affairs

Notwithstanding all this, China is far from being quarantined. Hardly any country in Asia is willing to openly confront China, and side with the U.S. Many countries, especially those in East Asia, are unwilling to be seen taking sides at this juncture, their explanation for this being that China was always known to be over-protective of the South China Sea, considering it a natural shield against possible hostile intervention by outside forces inimical to it. Neither the presence of U.S. aircraft carriers in the South China Sea, the presence of China’s missile sites in recently reclaimed areas, or the wariness that most Association of Southeast Asian Nations display vis-à-vis China, has been enough to make countries in the region openly side with the U.S. and against China. Meanwhile, China is determined to press home its advantage, irrespective of international law or regional concerns. … [Read more...] about Isolating China, as proposition and the reality

— Shah Faesal (@shahfaesal) July 10, 2018“..You have allegedly failed to maintain honesty and integrity in discharge of your official duty and thus acted in a manner unbecoming of a public servant. Now therefore, you are asked to explain your position within a period of 15 days positively after receipt of this communication, failing which the action as warranted under rules shall follow,” the notice issued on Tuesday said. … [Read more...] about IAS topper gets government notice for tweet against rape, calls it love letter from boss

One of the holiest pilgrimages in Hinduism, the yatra attracts pilgrims from India as well as across the world. There have been terror attacks on the route of the yatra in the past. The last attack took place in 2017 on a bus from Gujarat in Anantnag district that left seven pilgrims dead. … [Read more...] about Amarnath Yatra: Special religious ceremony to be performed in Jammu on Friday