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West Asia conflict: Actors in a new script

West Asia conflict: Actors in a new script

Deccan Herald4 hours ago

The developments in West Asia validate the words of British statesman and politician Lord Palmerston – 'a nation has no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests.'

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China's Top HK Official Says Security Will Ensure City's Success
China's Top HK Official Says Security Will Ensure City's Success

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timean hour ago

  • Mint

China's Top HK Official Says Security Will Ensure City's Success

China's top official for Hong Kong affairs said the city needs to prioritize national security to ensure prosperity. The China-imposed national security law helped Hong Kong maintain its status as an international financial hub, Xia Baolong, director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office in Beijing, said Saturday on his third trip to the semi-autonomous city in three years. 'Profound changes are occurring inside and outside Hong Kong. It is necessary to fully implement the One Country, Two Systems principle, guided by national security, to provide favorable safety protection for achieving better development of Hong Kong,' Xia told a government forum marking the fifth anniversary of Beijing's implementation of the 2020 national security law, which silenced dissent in the once-freewheeling territory. His comments build on China's emphasis on national security in recent years, after massive pro-democracy protests roiled the former British colony in 2019. A continuing crackdown on perceived threats and the introduction of supporting legislation has stifled political dissent and led to the imprisonment of dozens of former activists. Earlier this month, Beijing's national security office in the city carried out its first known joint operation with local police to investigate a case of alleged foreign collusion. In the same week, authorities invoked a security law to ban a Taiwanese-made video game they accused of advocating for overthrowing the government. Xia's speech at the forum represents the most public appearance he has made during his five-day trip that began Wednesday, which has included meetings with political and business leaders. He also held discussions with university presidents earlier in the week, in a move seen as reinforcing Beijing's vision for Hong Kong as an innovation and talent hub. Appointed as Beijing's top man in Hong Kong in 2020, Xia's tenure has seen growing integration between the Asian financial hub with the rest of China. He has urged the city to accelerate the development of its so-called Northern Metropolis, a sprawling area bordering the mainland city of Shenzhen. Xia's visit comes as Hong Kong grapples with economic headwinds, buffeted by a slowing Chinese economy and a prolonged property slump. The city is also caught in the crossfire of the US-China trade war, with tariffs imposed by the Trump administration now applying to Hong Kong-made goods, further blurring the lines between the city and mainland China. Still, some observers argue Hong Kong could paradoxically gain from the deteriorating US-China relationship. Having declared the city 'over' last February, former Morgan Stanley Asia Chairman Stephen Roach said recently that the territory may benefit because of its unique position as China's most important window to international finance. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

Once branded as terror hub, Azamgarh now a fortress of courage, says Yogi Adityanath
Once branded as terror hub, Azamgarh now a fortress of courage, says Yogi Adityanath

Hindustan Times

time2 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Once branded as terror hub, Azamgarh now a fortress of courage, says Yogi Adityanath

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said people of Uttar Pradesh were earlier scared of taking the name of Azamgarh or identifying with the place but under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it has become the fortress of 'indomitable courage'. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurating the Gorakhpur Link Expressway in Azamgarh on Friday. (ANI PHOTO) He was speaking at the inauguration of the Gorakhpur Link Expressway at Salarpur in Azamgarh. Taking a swipe at the Opposition, he alleged the previous (non-BJP) governments used to partner with D-company and Dawood gang instead of nurturing development, breached security and made Azamgarh a stronghold of terror but added that there was a sea change now. 'They did not do development, they nurtured Mumbai's D Company, they nurtured Dawood's gang with D Company, they did partnerships with them, they used to break the security, whenever there was a terrorist incident, Azamgarh would get a bad name, these youth of mine faced an identity crisis,' he alleged. 'Today if someone breaches the security of the country, the identity of Azamgarh will not be in danger, rather the person creating the crisis will be given a ticket to hell. This is the new India and Prime Minister Modi has also given a clear message to the enemies of the country through Operation Sindoor that if someone instigates terrorism, inspires and encourages terrorism, then (we) will enter and kill them, whether it is a surgical strike, air strike or Operation Sindoor. The brave soldiers of India will enter the enemy's den, flush them out and finish them off,' Adityanath said 'Today, if someone tries to play with the security of the state, then Yamraj's ticket is already booked for him, ' Adityanath said. 'In 2007-08, Ajit Rai was murdered in Shibli National College for advocating the singing of Vande Mataram, but now no one can dare to do such a thing,' he said, adding that Azamgarh had to beg for its identity earlier but now the situation has changed. 'Remember what the conditions were eight years ago. The youth of UP and the residents of the state would suffer from an identity crisis. People used to feel scared to take the name of Azamgarh and UP,' he said. He also said, 'When Veer Kunwar Singh, the hero of the first war of independence in 1857, fought the British till Azamgarh to defeat them, there was no connectivity. If this Purvanchal Expressway had been there at that time, the people of Azamgarh, along with Veer Kunwar Singh, would have beaten the British and then this country would have become independent in 1857 itself. There was no connectivity at that time.' He further said the construction of the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Mahakumbh Prayagraj, the development of Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Kashi, Maa Vindhyavasini Dham and Chitrakoot Dham, all these are giving the state a new identity today. 'Our work has also started in Mathura-Vrindavan. Maharaja Suheldev University and Medical College in Azamgarh are strengthening the identity of culture,' he said. He mentioned the recruitment of 60,244 police personnel in Uttar Pradesh recently. The chief minister said that without recommendation or money, youth of every caste and community, including 12,045 women, have been recruited in Uttar Pradesh police in a transparent manner. Before 2017, uncle and nephew used to go out for recovery, but now Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is happening, he alleged. After 2017, the double engine government gave a new identity to Azamgarh's saree, black pottery and Hariharpur's musical gharana, he said. Earlier, they were ignored, but when Nirahua (former Azamgarh MP Dinesh Lal Yadav) and Neelam Sonkar became MPs, development in the district picked up pace, he added. Yogi also saw a sand and photo exhibition about the construction work of the link expressway. In his address in Bhagwanpur, the chief minister further mentioned that over 2.16 lakh appointments have been made in the police department alone, with a total of more than 8.5 lakh government jobs filled in the last eight years. He praised Prime Minister Modi's vision for enabling the state to balance cultural heritage with modern development. He pointed to examples like Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura, Prayagraj, Naimisharanya, and Chitrakoot, where the integration of tradition and progress is clearly visible. 'No society can move forward by forgetting its history,' he said, adding that the journey of heritage and development will continue together. PRESIDENT TO INAUGURATE UP'S FIRST AYUSH UNIVERSITY IN GORAKHPUR ON JUNE 30 Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday announced that Uttar Pradesh's first Ayush University, located in Bhathat, Gorakhpur, will be inaugurated by the President of India on June 30. HTC

State wants global architects for Maha Vista, to float fresh tender
State wants global architects for Maha Vista, to float fresh tender

Hindustan Times

time2 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

State wants global architects for Maha Vista, to float fresh tender

MUMBAI: The response to the state's grand plan for a Maha Vista has not been 'maha' enough. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance government will therefore float a fresh tender, inviting architects from all over the world to submit designs for a makeover of the Mantralaya precinct in South Mumbai. The idea is to redevelop the precinct on the lines of the Central Vista in New Delhi. Mantralaya building. (Photo by Bhushan Koyande/HT Photo) The nodal agency for the project is the state public works department (PWD). Chief engineer Ranjeet Rahane said, 'The tender we floated earlier drew a response from just three Indian architects. The government wants more architects, and global ones. So we will be issuing another tender.'' Plans to completely remodel the Mantralaya precinct, in the offing for a long time, began to take shape in February last year, when deputy chief minister and finance minister Ajit Pawar announced the Maha Vista project in his budget speech. With the space crunch at the secretariat assuming alarming proportions, and given that the building itself is more than 60 years old, the government plans to redevelop the secretariat and annex; the iconic Vidhan Bhavan, or state legislature; and the row of British-era ministerial bungalows on Madam Cama Road opposite the secretariat. After the Mantralaya fire in 2012, several government departments such as medical education, public health, rural development and water supply have been operating from independent premises. Currently, the secretariat is undergoing major renovations to accommodate the ballooning staff of the ministers, many of whom have been assigned cabins being built in the corridors. The row of colonial-era ministerial bungalows opposite Mantralaya too will be razed, making way for residential towers to accommodate IAS officers and ministers. They will be equipped with modern amenities and adequate parking facilities. Since the precinct is defined by art deco norms, the rules are likely to be tweaked so that the towers align with the area's architectural identity. Since colonial times, the area where the ministerial bungalows stand and its periphery were marked for a garden. Over time, the Mahatma Gandhi Garden was developed near the LIC Building, while part of the space opposite was developed into Jawaharlal Nehru Garden. The rest was taken over to build the state BJP office, and other offices for political parties.

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