logo
India issues advisory for citizens in Cambodia amidst border clashes

India issues advisory for citizens in Cambodia amidst border clashes

News182 days ago
Agency:
PTI
Last Updated:
Phnom Penh, Jul 26 (PTI) India on Saturday advised its citizens in Cambodia to avoid travelling to border areas as the clash between Thailand and Cambodia over a disputed border entered its third day.
The flare-up, which began on Thursday, has killed at least 32 people — 19 in Thailand and 13 in Cambodia — according to reports.
'In view of the ongoing clashes at the Cambodia-Thailand border, Indian nationals are advised to avoid travelling to the border areas," the Indian embassy here said in an X post.
It also urged Indian citizens to contact the mission in case of any emergency at +855 92881676 or email cons.phnompenh@mea.gov.in.
On Friday, India issued a similar advisory to its citizens in Thailand, asking them to exercise caution and avoid travelling to seven provinces of the country. PTI GRS GRS GRS
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

What China And Global Media Are Saying About PM Modi's Visit To Maldives
What China And Global Media Are Saying About PM Modi's Visit To Maldives

India.com

timea few seconds ago

  • India.com

What China And Global Media Are Saying About PM Modi's Visit To Maldives

New Delhi: On July 26, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 60th Independence Day celebrations of Maldives as the chief guest. His presence at the event grabbed headlines not only in India and Maldives, but across the world. The visit stood out for several reasons. Maldives' President Mohamed Muizzu had built his 2023 election campaign around the slogan 'India Out'. After coming to power, he had sent strong signals distancing the country from India. He also moved swiftly to forge closer ties with China. His early months in office were marked by a decision to send back Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives. This was viewed in New Delhi as a potential pivot toward Beijing. That same leader has now invited the Indian prime minister as guest of honour at the nation's biggest official event. The symbolism was unmistakable. It marked a moment that was closely tracked in foreign capitals, especially as China continues its attempts to deepen influence across the Indian Ocean region. Chinese State Media Responds Beijing's Global Times, a state-run publication, published a commentary criticising the tone of Indian media coverage surrounding the visit. According to the publication, some Indian platforms had portrayed the trip as a strategic setback for China and a diplomatic win for India. In its analysis, the Global Times accused Indian media of engaging in zero-sum thinking, suggesting that any gain for India must mean a loss for China. It cited comments from Qian Feng, director at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, who argued that the Maldives naturally prioritises relations with its neighbours but also pursues a diversified foreign policy, including engagement with China's Belt and Road Initiative. 'These approaches are not in conflict,' he said. Singapore and U.S. Media Weigh In Singapore-based Channel News Asia headlined its coverage: 'India's Modi reshapes ties with Maldives.' Their report highlighted how Modi's visit included new infrastructure partnerships, financial commitments and signs of renewed warmth between the two countries. PM Modi inaugurated a new defense ministry building and Indian-funded projects and announced economic support. According to Channel News Asia, the visit was viewed in New Delhi as reassurance that Maldives would not drift too far into China's orbit. The channel highlighted how Muizzu's early months had raised concerns after he ordered the withdrawal of Indian military personnel. The Washington Post echoed this view. In a detailed report, the paper called the two-day trip 'strategically vital' and said it pointed to India's broader goals of asserting presence across key sea routes in the Indian Ocean. It highlighted the announcement of a $565 million line of credit from India to fund development projects. The publication said the visit may mark the beginning of a shift toward restoring normalcy in bilateral ties. A Look From the UK British daily The Independent took a broader view, framing the visit in the context of recent diplomatic turbulence. The publication emphasised that tensions had risen after the Indian government promoted Lakshadweep as a tourism hub, which some in the Maldives perceived as an attempt to redirect Indian tourists away from their beaches. Celebrities in India had even called for a boycott of Maldives as a travel destination. The report added that President Muizzu chose to visit China before making a trip to India, something that had not gone unnoticed in New Delhi. Muizzu's post-China announcement about reducing dependency on India for essentials like medicines and food also drew concern. But things began to improve when Muizzu attended Modi's swearing-in ceremony earlier this year. That visit set the stage for a gradual warming of ties, culminating in the current trip. A New Phase for India-Maldives Relations Pakistan's Express Tribune said Modi's visit ended on a note of clarity and mutual affirmation. It quoted President Muizzu calling the trip 'a defining moment' in relations between the two nations. In social media posts shared at the conclusion of the visit, Muizzu acknowledged the importance of people-to-people ties and long-term cooperation across sectors. In a reciprocal message, PM Modi said India would stand by the people of Maldives in their aspirations. Germany's Deutsche Welle (DW) provided a strategic lens on the visit. It emphasised Maldives' critical location along shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean. Despite its image as a tourist haven, the report described Maldives as a 'geopolitical hotspot' nestled across 1,192 islands. DW pointed out how this geography has made it a focal point in the growing rivalry between India and China. Their report argued that the region is becoming less about leisure and more about maritime strategy and political influence. What Experts Are Saying According to a commentary by Aditya Shivamurti, associate fellow at Observer Research Foundation (ORF), Maldives' policy initially leaned strongly toward China. He explained how 'India Out' had dominated discourse in 2023, and India's presence was sharply reduced. But by 2024, Shivamurti observed a shift. The domestic economic situation in Maldives worsened. Parliamentary dynamics changed. Chinese promises failed to meet expectations. These developments pushed Muizzu to reassess foreign policy. The analysis added that India responded with pragmatism. It avoided escalation and focused instead on diplomatic engagement and support. In return, the Maldives leadership began acknowledging India's critical role in areas like health, development and infrastructure. ORF's report concluded that both countries are now trying to separate foreign policy from domestic politics. While the Maldivian Democratic Party has historically been seen as pro-India and the ruling PNC as leaning toward China, Muizzu seems to be moderating that binary. He has taken steps to respect India's sensitivities, and India, in turn, has extended support. As per Shivamurti's view, the visit was more than symbolic. It was a recalibration. It offered not just headlines, but signs that pragmatism, diplomacy and shared interests are still possible in a region crowded by rival influences.

India-US trade deal: Commerce Ministry advised against accepting ‘unilaterally framed obligation' on digital taxes
India-US trade deal: Commerce Ministry advised against accepting ‘unilaterally framed obligation' on digital taxes

Indian Express

time28 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

India-US trade deal: Commerce Ministry advised against accepting ‘unilaterally framed obligation' on digital taxes

Legal advisers to the Commerce and Industry Ministry have suggested that Indian negotiators dealing with their US counterparts should not accept Washington's proposal that prohibits India from reintroducing equalisation levy-style taxes, such as the 'Google tax', in the future, a person aware of the negotiations told The Indian Express. The advice was offered on the grounds that the provisions drafted by the US did not state that both parties should refrain from applying digital taxes on each other. Rather, they sought a legal commitment only from the Indian side and were seen as a 'unilaterally framed obligation', the source said. While the US offers a range of digital services in India and American tech companies have long lobbied against any taxes on such services, India also exports a wide range of digital services to the US — particularly in the IT sector — generating the majority share of its total services exports earnings from the US market. Another concern raised with the government was that agreeing to such unilateral provisions could set a risky precedent for future trade negotiations, where similar demands could be made by other trading partners during talks with New Delhi, thereby complicating future negotiations. In a move to assuage US concerns about India being a high-tariff nation, the Central government in March proposed abolishing the equalisation levy on online advertisements as part of the amendments to the Finance Bill, 2025. An equalisation levy is a measure to 'equalise' the tax treatment of resident and non-resident e-commerce companies. As part of the 35 amendments to the Finance Bill, 2025, the Centre proposed removing the 6 per cent equalisation levy (EL) it charges on digital ads, effective from 1 April 2025. A query emailed to the Commerce and Industry Ministry remained unanswered till press time. 'Digital taxation is typically discussed outside the framework of a trade agreement. It is a nation's sovereign right to decide on such matters, and India should reserve that right. Bringing it under the scope of a trade agreement weakens your position. We need to examine the digital trade chapters of the US and Australia, which India must study carefully. Australia has provided the US with a carve-out that allows for protections for US services. We also need to secure our IT/ITeS and technology exports from taxation in the US, our largest market' Arpita Mukherjee, professor at Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) said. Notably the US has forced Indonesia to several steep terms on digital trade. Indonesia has committed to address barriers impacting digital trade, services, and investment, a White House statement said. 'Indonesia will provide certainty regarding the ability to transfer personal data out of its territory to the United States. Indonesia has committed to eliminate existing HTS tariff lines on 'intangible products' and suspend related requirements on import declarations; to support a permanent moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions at the WTO immediately and without conditions; and to take effective actions to implement the Joint Initiative on Services Domestic Regulation, including submitting its revised Specific Commitments for certification by the World Trade Organization (WTO),' the White House statement read. The United States Trade Representative (USTR), in its report on non-tariff barriers, had earlier cited the 6 per cent equalisation levy as a discriminatory measure against US firms. The USTR report said that most digital services taxes are designed in ways that discriminate against US companies, often singling out American firms for taxation while excluding domestic companies engaged in similar lines of business. The US has also raised concerns about digital services taxes with a number of trade partners, particularly the EU. 'The disproportionate capture of US firms by the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) is also noted as undermining US competitiveness due to increased compliance costs not borne by EU competitors,' the USTR said. Differences between India and the US assume significance as New Delhi continues to face the risk of 26 per cent reciprocal tariffs. After Indian negotiators completed another round of discussions in Washington last week, a US team led by the US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Brendan Lynch, is expected to visit India in mid-August to continue negotiations for a trade agreement. While India and the US have agreed on a wide range of tariff lines, the negotiations — which currently only involve market access for goods — remain stuck over sensitive sectors such as agriculture and automobiles, which are key job creators in India. Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, covering policy issues related to trade, commerce, and banking. He has over five years of experience and has previously worked with Mint, CNBC-TV18, and other news outlets. ... Read More

Visitors to Chitradurga fort find digital hurdle difficult to breach
Visitors to Chitradurga fort find digital hurdle difficult to breach

Deccan Herald

time30 minutes ago

  • Deccan Herald

Visitors to Chitradurga fort find digital hurdle difficult to breach

Hubballi: A section of visitors to the historical Chitradurga fort either return without seeing the legendary 'Obavvana kindi' or argue with guards at the gate to gain free entry as self-ticketing (by scanning QR code) fails to issue tickets due to poor internet connectivity and lengthy process of uploading details on the ASI-pay ministry of culture, under which the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected monument comes, has launched self-ticketing only system across India to minimise deployment of human resources at ticket counters, reduce operation cost (purchase of ticket rolls and vending machines) and reduce queue fort is one of the 25 monuments across India to pilot this initiative. However, forget the benefits, visitors to the fort are facing hardships..A security guard at Chitradurga fort said seven out of 10 attempts fail due to poor takes at least 8-10 minutes for each transaction to complete as visitors have to fill in their details along with uploading identity proof and mobile numbers on the ASI-pay app..'Many visitors don't carry smart-phones or do not have phone-pay/G-pay. The network coverage at the fort is poor. So, it becomes very difficult to manage the crowd,' said another many as 16 centrally protected monuments in Karnataka have entry them, two monuments — Chitradurga fort and Tipu Sultan palace in Bengaluru — allow visitors only under self-ticketing have to scan a QR code placed at the entry gate via digital payment apps and buy the 25 monuments selected by ASI across India for this pilot project, two are in ASI intends to implement self-ticketing system across all 250 centrally protected ticketed monuments in the country..A senior ASI official said the key main intention of the Ministry of Culture to implement ASI-pay app is to give Indian visitors Rs 5 discount and foreign visitors Rs 50 multiple ASI officials and guides at Hampi and Vijayapura informed DH that the app, instead of helping visitors, was resulting in hardships..'Earlier, we used to deploy two staff to issue tickets at Vijayapura monuments. Now, with the government insisting on self-ticketing, we are deploying five staff on weekends to help tourists,' said a Dharwad circle officer of app has also reduced mass booking of tickets. Only five persons can book a ticket per a guide at Hampi, says visitors are facing problems while booking tickets at Lotus Mahal and Vittala temple complex due to poor network coverage..'A majority of visitors buy tickets at the counter though they are a bit costlier than booking through QR scanning method,' he says and adds the process should have been as simple as making a digital ASI officer at Hampi circle said the complaint had been brought to the notice of higher-ups..'The network issue wasn't brought to our notice, we will look into it,' he says..A senior officer in Bengaluru circle, under which Chitradurga fort and Tipu Sultan palace come, says they are just following orders from the ministry of culture..'We have been asked to issue tickets at these monuments only via QR code scanning. Officials in Delhi or regional directors can take a call on reactivating booking counters,' he says.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store