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Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
Our border is with Tibet, not China: Arunachal CM Pema Khandu takes swipe at Beijing
Arunachal CM Pema Khandu (File photo) Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,200km border with Tibet, not China, chief minister Pema Khandu declared Wednesday in a surgical swipe at Beijing for repeatedly laying claim to the northeastern state, and also creating what he called a ticking "water bomb" in the form of the world's largest dam project on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra in India) river. "Officially, yes, Tibet is under China now. That can't be ruled out... but originally we shared a border with Tibet," he told PTI in Delhi on his way back from the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebration in Dharamshala. "In Arunachal Pradesh, we share three international boundaries - with Bhutan approximately 150km, with Tibet... and on the eastern side, with Myanmar approximately 550km." Khandu, in his third consecutive term as CM and credited with strengthening BJP's hold on the state, made the remarks while seeking to "correct" the interviewer the moment he referred to Arunachal Pradesh bordering China. Pointing to China's "forcible" occupation of Tibet in 1950, Khandu said that if one looked at India's map, "none of the Indian states directly shares borders with China". The CM's statement comes amid China's intensified bid to stamp its authority on the Dalai Lama's succession. Union minister and fellow Arunachal Pradesh native Kiren Rijiju, said recently that the decision on who should be the Dalai Lama's successor should be solely his and in accordance with established Tibetan Buddhist convention. No government, including China's communist regime, should have a say, he said. On the dam China is building on the Yarlung Tsangpo, the Tibetan name for the Brahmaputra, Khandu warned that the project poses an 'existential threat' to Arunachal and its neighbouring northeastern states. He termed it 'a bigger issue' than anything else other than the Chinese 'military threat' hanging over the region. Khandu said Beijing not being a signatory to any international water treaty meant it 'cannot be trusted'. 'No one knows what they might do... Suppose the dam is built and they suddenly release water, our entire Siang belt would be destroyed. The Adi tribe and similar groups would suffer devastating effects,' he said. The CM said that after discussions with the Union government, Arunachal Pradesh conceived the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project as a bulwark against China's intentions. 'Since we cannot make China see reason, it is better that we focus on our own defence mechanisms and preparations,' he told PTI.


Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
USA vs Brazil: Tensions rises between two nations after Donald Trump remarks
Live Events FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Tensions between the United States and Brazil intensified on Wednesday after Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the U.S. embassy's chargé d'affaires over a statement defending former Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro , who is on trial for alleged efforts to overthrow democracy, Reuters reported. The move coincided with U.S. President Donald Trump 's fresh tariff threats against Brazil, further straining bilateral relations. Trump, speaking to reporters at an event with West African leaders at the White House, said he would be "releasing a Brazil number" either later on Wednesday or early Thursday."Brazil, as an example, has not been good to us, not good at all," Trump stated, adding that the tariff rates to be announced this week were based on "very, very substantial facts" and past history. The diplomatic spat traces back to Sunday, when Trump criticized the summit of the BRICS group of developing nations in Rio de Janeiro. Calling the group "anti-American," Trump threatened additional tariffs of 10 per cent on member nations, including President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was defiant on Monday as he wrapped up the summit when he answered reporters who asked about Trump's tariff threats."The world has changed. We don't want an emperor," he said. "We are sovereign nations," Lula added. "If he thinks he can impose tariffs, other countries have the right to impose tariffs too."President Trump said in a social media post on Monday that former President Bolsonaro, who is on trial on charges of plotting a coup to stop Lula from taking office in January 2023, was the victim of a "witch hunt." The American Embassy in Brasilia issued a statement on Wednesday to the local press echoing his remarks."The political persecution of Jair Bolsonaro, his family and his supporters is shameful and disrespectful of Brazil's democratic traditions," the American Embassy's press office said in a statement in local media reported earlier on Wednesday that the Foreign Ministry would summon the official for clarifications regarding the embassy's comments. The ministry didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.A1. Brazilian President is Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.A2. President Donald Trump said in a social media post on Monday that former President Bolsonaro, who is on trial on charges of plotting a coup to stop Lula from taking office in January 2023, was the victim of a "witch hunt."
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Illinois Tech's Mumbai campus aims for 300-student inaugural batch in 2026
US-based Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) is beginning preparations for opening its Mumbai campus in fall next year with an initial intake of around 300 students, Raj Echambadi, president, Illinois Tech, told Business Standard in a video interview. 'The institute is expecting to begin site exploration, and recruitment of faculty and staff in the next two-to-three months, so that active recruitment of students can start for an intake in the next fall,' Echambadi added. Likening its upcoming Mumbai campus to a node in Illinois Tech's overall network, he said that many American students will get opportunities to study in India for a semester or a year, whereas many Indian students can go to the Chicago campus in exchange programmes. Key challenges for the institute could be the US administration's recent rules mandating social media vetting for student visa appointments, and President Donald Trump's recent run-ins with educational institutions. Calling it a short-term speed bump, Echambadi said there are not going to be many impediments, even for Indian students who come and study in the Chicago campus. Almost 20 per cent of the students in Illinois Tech's undergraduate (UG) and graduate programs are foreign students, of which close to 5-8 per cent are from India. 'There is anxiety among students and parents due to word of mouth. While I think there is going to be a very short-term dip in terms of student interest, there is no certainty that it is going to have a major impact in the long term,' he added. While at the Mumbai campus the institute will offer both UG and graduate degrees, most of its courses will focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Addressing concerns over fees, the institute said that while its tuition rates are still being finalised, they are looking at a cost range that would be very reasonable for the Indian market. 'Comparing it to the US cost, you are talking about one-third or a little over one-third of the cost that the students would pay at our India campus,' he said. Estimated tuition rates for an UG student at Illinois Tech is $51,648, according to the institution's website. Other additions such as housing, food, books, and transportation can inflate that bill to an estimated range of $64,894-77,624, depending on whether the student is living on or off campus. Echambadi added that the institute is working with its alumni network, and government scholarships to make affordability one of the key factors. 'Owing to the size of our Indian alumni, and because of the CSR (corporate social responsibility) rules in India, we are committed to fundraising in India in order to ensure that no qualified student in the country is ever turned away because of lack of access to resources,' he said. Illinois Tech's entry into India comes two years after the University Grants Commission (UGC) released rules facilitating the entry of foreign higher education institutions (HEIs) into the country as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 reforms. Under these regulations, foreign institutions seeking to establish campuses in India must rank within the top 500 globally — either overall or in specific subject areas — and demonstrate outstanding expertise in their fields, subject to UGC approval. While around 10-12 foreign HEIs, mostly British and Australian, have got letters of intent (LoIs) from the Union education ministry, Illinois Tech is currently the only American university to announce a campus in India. Speaking on the traction within US HEIs, Echambadi said that there is a lot of interest from American universities to come to India. 'We have had many calls from American universities asking us about the process we followed,' he added.