In response to the high demand for holiday travel to Madagascar, Emirates has announced a fifth weekly flight on its Dubai – Antananarivo route. The additional frequency will run from December 13, 2024 to January 10, 2025 and will provide more capacity on the route, allowing for over 1,800 seats per week. This temporary increase in capacity, which will utilize Emirates' Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, will also boost connectivity to the Seychelles and other popular destinations in Emirates' network. With an ethnically diverse population, the increased capacity is expected to cater to the demand from travellers flying to countries such as Sri Lanka, France, and China.
Despite a cautious start, the Indian women's hockey team managed to defeat China in a close 1-0 match and claim the Asian Champions Trophy title for the second time. Player-of-the-tournament Deepika scored the lone goal for India, bringing her total to 11 goals in the tournament. Despite China's efforts, the Indian team was able to control the game and secure the victory. The team's struggles with penalty corners continued, but their overall performance was strong enough to earn them the championship.
"US and China Reach Rare Consensus on Nuclear Arms and AI Technology in Bilateral Talks" In a surprising turn of events, the leaders of the US and China, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, have agreed that human control should remain a priority in decisions regarding nuclear weapons. This statement comes after months of US pressure for China to engage in nuclear arms talks. The two nations also stressed the importance of developing military AI technology with caution and responsibility. However, it is uncertain whether this agreement will lead to concrete measures, as talks on nuclear arms control are not expected in the near future. Despite China's advancements in its nuclear arsenal, its officials maintain a "no first use" policy and claim their deterrence strategy is minimal and defensive.
The announcement of Pakistan's plan to conduct a trophy tour of the ICC Champions Trophy through PoK has caused a stir, with India registering a strong protest with the ICC. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has condemned the move and urged for appropriate action to be taken. The controversy has also sparked tensions on social media, with BJP leader Amit Malviya calling out Pakistan's "loss of face". There are concerns that the strained relations between India and Pakistan could affect the hosting of the tournament.
Despite making an impressive aerobatic display at the Airshow China 2024, the Su-57 fighter jet faced global ridicule and embarrassment due to its questionable build quality and stealth capabilities. Social media users pointed out far from hi-tech bolts and filler between panels, rendering the plane detectable to radars and negating its stealth abilities. This further adds to the long and troubled history of the prized Russian aircraft.
In a strongly-worded statement, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lashed out at Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, accusing her of contesting the Wayanad bypoll with the support of Jamaat-e-Islami. He alleged that the Jamaat had issued directions to members to vote for the UDF candidate and that the terrorist outfit had openly supported the Congress party in the state. This accusation came after a report stated that the disengagement process between India and China in the Depsang and Demchok areas of the Eastern Ladakh sector had been almost completed, leading to a reduction in tension along the border. Vijayan also referenced Congress' alliance with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which he claimed had links to the Jamaat.
In a recent ranking of universities in Asia, China's Peking University was named the best university in the region, followed by the University of Hong Kong and the National University of Singapore. On the other hand, India's IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay secured the top two spots among Indian universities, while five other Indian institutes made it into the top 100 list. With China dominating the top rankings, the competition for the best universities in Asia continues to grow.
In a speech addressing personnel from various branches of the Indian armed forces, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the country's commitment to protecting its borders and the strength of its armed forces. He expressed gratitude towards the army for their sacrifices and outlined plans for modernizing and unifying the three branches of the military. This comes in the wake of recent border tensions and successful disengagement between India and China.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held their first bilateral meeting in five years at the Kazan BRICS Summit in Russia to discuss the ongoing border tensions between the two countries. The leaders highlighted the need for mutual trust and respect in guiding their relations and agreed to work towards resolving differences and disputes in order to maintain peace and stability in the region. The two sides also expressed a desire to strengthen strategic communication and explore cooperation to address developmental challenges.
After days of negotiations, India announced Monday that an agreement had been reached with China on patrolling arrangements along the Line of Actual Control. However, China did not mention this in a media briefing in Beijing the following day, raising questions about the implementation of the pact. In New Delhi, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi emphasized the need for trust-building measures between the two countries in order for the agreement to be successful.